These Cars Have the Worst Visibility According to Consumer Reports

by Gabrielle DeSantis

With new technology constantly developing, the prices of adding once high-end features to vehicles like sensors that improve safety and cameras are now more common than ever. In fact, backup cameras were proven so useful in increasing visibility that they became a federally mandated requirement in new vehicles. Regardless of this new technology, having as much visibility as to what’s going on around your vehicle is crucial for your safety as well as the safety of those around you, and according to Consumer Report, these cars have the worst visibility this year.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro has abysmal visiblity

2021 Chevrolet Camaro | Joel Lerner, Xinhua via Getty

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro is a modern-day American muscle car with plenty of heritage to pique the interest of buyers, but if you’ve taken one for a test drive, there is no doubt that you experienced the sports car’s abysmal visibility. From the exterior, the new Camaro looks aggressive and modernly styled, but from the inside, it might leave you feeling a bit claustrophobic due to the lack of window space. The windshield and windows are surprisingly small and titled at angles that make them feel even smaller. The rear windshield doesn’t make much of a difference, either, as it’s hard to see behind the car even with rearview mirrors. The blind spots of the vehicle are also rather intimidating, making changing lanes a bit of a stressful task.

The 2021 Honda Clarity you probably haven’t heard about

The 2021 Honda lineup features a lot of the same vehicles that loyal fans of the brand know and love, like the Accord and the Civic, but chances are you may not have heard of the 2021 Honda Clarity. Really, the Clarity receives rather high overall scores from Consumer Reports regarding overall quality, from value to driving experience, but there is one area where it doesn’t shine: visibility. This underrated plug-in hybrid (it also comes with a hydrogen fuel cell variant) balanced the good with the bad, but what leaves buyers a bit concerned is the overall lack of visibility.

The Honda Clarity had originally been offered as a fully electric model, but lack of interest led to the brand’s inevitable decision to end production of the electric Clarity but maintains the plug-in hybrid. While it isn’t due for a complete overhaul, perhaps resolving the issue of visibility will increase buyer’s interest in the underrated sedan.

The 2021 Porsche Taycan has surprisingly low visibility

The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S was the car that changed my opinion of EVs for the better, but for a large family sedan, it has surprisingly bad visibility. The windshield itself is relatively small, and while the rear windshield looks amply sized from the outside, the steep slope of its design makes it barely usable, truly hampering outward visibility. While it makes up for the smaller, awkwardly installed windows with some cameras and sensors, it is still not enough to get this car off the list of Consumer Reports cars with the worst visibility.

RELATED: The Right Ways and Wrong Ways to Hold Your Steering Wheel Might Surprise You

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The 2022 Rivian R1T Is an Aquatic Animal

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Rivian needs to go for big air to upend Tesla. Presently, they’re off to a pretty good start with the 2022 Rivian R1T. It’s territory Tesla has yet to cross into: the electric truck. Moreover, the Rivian R1T looks to beat Tesla on all fronts. That means range, usability, quality, and most importantly range. Also, range. However, Tesla previously won out in the “cool tricks” segment, with in-car games and fart noises. Now, Rivian wins there too.

Your 2022 Rivian R1T is a watertight off-road machine

You wouldn’t think that EVs and water would mix very well, but I guess we were both wrong. The 2022 Rivian R1T (and presumably the R1S) are just about as aquatic as a fish. Rivian CEO R.J Scaringe tweeted on August, 29th the video you see above. In it, you can see an R1T test mule wading through water at some considerable speed. Based on the video, it looks like the 2022 Rivian R1T will be able to wade around 3-5 feet of water without issue.

In all likelihood, it’s the one weakness of an EV powertrain that lets the R1T wade with such ease. Normally, in a gas car, you’d need a snorkel and some skill, but not here. The electric motors are clearly insulated from the water, and that means that the wading depth isn’t affected by the powertrain. Instead, it’s more about how waterproof the rest of the running gear, and the cabin, can be made. It doesn’t sound cheap to be sure Which begs the question: Just how much are you going to have to pay for all that?

How much does a Rivian cost?

Rivian has some stiff competition in the EV market | David Becker via Getty Images

It’s well known that Rivian is well-funded. Recently, the company received a massive backing round from some big names, Amazon primarily. The company is aiming squarely at a segment that just isn’t there yet: the luxury electric truck. Yes, the Hummer EV will eventually be there for the fight. So too will the “maybe next year” Tesla Cybertruck. Generally speaking, we’re talking about six-figure trucks here (barring the Cybertruck, for now).

And that’s the case with the Rivian R1T and R1S. Both can go for north of $100,000. However, the good news is, that depends heavily on options. I spent some time on Rivian’s configurator, and my build came out to just under 100k for both the R1T and R1S. In my experience, there’s about $10,000 of “fluff” options that you don’t really need.

CEO R.J Scaringe is poised to hit Musk and GMC where it hurts

The 2022 Rivian R1T rips through the desert, kicking rooster tails high behind it
Rivian made a truck when Tesla couldn’t | Rivian

That means that most models will be coming out of the factory for under 6 figures. Per Car and Driver, that’s right about where the lower trims of the Hummer EV will be coming in. Of course, Musk says you can have a Cybertruck for under $40,000 before destination charges. However, Tesla has given us all plenty of reason to wait and see if that’s the case. Either way, Rivian are the only ones running through 3 feet of water right now.

RELATED: Rivian Got a Tax Break on Their $5 Billion Texas Factory

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Back to Court: General Motors Sues Ford Over Hands-Free Driving Feature Name

by Gabrielle DeSantis

While Ford might be very excited about its new BlueCruise hands-on tech, GM is not thrilled about it. Reuters and The Drive report that General Motors has filed a lawsuit to bar Ford Motor Co from using “Cruise” in the BlueCruise name. Obviously, Ford objects to these claims. Hence a legal battle is on its way.

General Motors sues Ford over hands-free driving feature name

GM filed a lawsuit on July 23, accusing Ford of benefiting from the positive press about its hands-free Super Cruise technology and Cruise. Together with its autonomous-taxi subsidiary Cruise, General Motors argues that “BlueCruise” closely resembles the Super Cruise moniker. This is a challenge on more than one front, given GM’s self-driving subsidiary is called Cruise. GM goes further to claim that it is the only company legally allowed to use the word “cruise” for anything associated with automated driving.

In the Reuters’ report, GM officials strongly believe that Ford knew exactly what they were doing.  In addition to trademark infringement, Ford was also accused of engaging in unfair competition. While General Motors had hoped to settle the matter amicably out of court, they explained that Ford was not cooperative, so they were left with no other option than to defend their brand.

Ford’s argument

Ford’s official representative in the case said that the lawsuit was “meritless and frivolous.”  He argued that drivers had acquired a full understanding of cruise control for decades, as every automaker offers it. The representative added that cruise is simply a common phrase used to describe compatibility. According to an article in Car And Driver, Ford felt the attack was personal. Ford mentioned that GM didn’t have any issues with other top brands using ‘cruise’ for their products in their defense.

A hotly contested niche

Ford Motor Company and General Motors are the leading automobile brands in the United States. In addition to being leaders, they are strong competitors in the automobile industry. Ford’s most superior brand is Ford, while General Motor’s top brand is Chevrolet. Semi-autonomous features such as hand-free technology have proven to be hotly contested battlegrounds, as automobile companies strive to boost prices and offer drivers high-tech bragging rights. They are also viewed as a leeway to improve the comfort of their customers with their self-driving cars. 

The fact that Ford is getting so much press on this issue does not come as a surprise. Both automobile giants companies know that hands-free driving is an important selling point for their vehicles. It is also common knowledge that the two brands have been fierce competitors for a very long time. Neither GM nor Ford wants to concede.

Ramifications of the lawsuit for GM and Ford

GM is mainly interested in protecting its IP. If GM were to win this lawsuit, it would not imply that other automobile companies would be prohibited from using the word “cruise” when describing their newly-invented autonomous technologies. However, it may slow down any automaker who wishes to use “cruise” when naming their automobiles.

If Ford wins the lawsuit, the ruling will restore the common understanding that “cruise” is a general term used to implore that the car controls a part of the driving system. The win would also mean that GM will have to develop additional strategies to stay on top of its game. Knowing how lawsuits go, there is no way of finding out what will happen until a ruling is made.

Ultimately, General Motors wants to stop Ford from using the name. According to an article in Reuters, Ford is still going on with its plans to roll out BlueCruise to Mustang Mach-E electric SUV and F-150 pickup later in the year.

RELATED: BlueCruise: GM and Cruise Tell Ford to Quit Making Fun or Else

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Alfa Romeo Giulia GT Restomod Has a 505-Hp Quadrifoglio Heart

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Sadly, we’re not getting the hardest-core Alfa Romeo Giulia, the GTAm, in the US. Though to be fair, having the Giulia Quadrifoglio isn’t exactly a bad consolation prize by any means. But if you still want a track-inspired Alfa, there’s another option besides hunting down 155 DTMs. Through restomodding, vintage icons get second chances to thrill drivers thanks to infusions of modern tech. And in the Emilia Auto Alfa Romeo Giulia GT restomod’s case, the donation is straight from the latest Giulia Quadrifoglio.

Emilia Auto is transforming the classic Alfa Romeo Giulia GT with a RUF contributor’s help

1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia GT | Stellantis

Although German firm Emilia Auto also restores Porsche 911s, the company’s founders’ true passions lie with vintage Italian cars. Among them is the modern Giulia’s namesake, the Alfa Romeo Giulia GT, part of the beloved 105 Series. In the 1960s, the Giulia GT was a fairly advanced, fun-handling, stylish sports coupe, hence why it’s still beloved today. And now, Emilia Auto, together with RUF CTR co-developer Vela Performance, is giving it a 21st-century makeover.

First, Emilia Auto strips the donor 1960s Alfa Romeo Giulia GT down to a bare shell, CarThrottle explains. Then, the company adds a new steel spaceframe chassis with an integrated roll bar. Next, Emilia Auto swaps the Giulia GT’s hood, doors, trunk lid, bumpers, and front fenders with carbon-fiber replacements. This also gives the company a chance to restyle the classic coupe for reasons that will soon become apparent.

The rear 3/4 view of a red Emilia Auto Alfa Romeo Giulia GT Veloce restomod
Emilia Auto Alfa Romeo Giulia GT Veloce restomod rear 3/4 view | Emilia Auto

Besides the new bodywork, the Emilia GT Veloce also gets a new aluminum suspension setup with KW coilovers, Carmag reports. Plus, ventilated Brembo disc brakes and custom 19” wheels, hence the fender flares. In addition, it has full LED lighting and power steering. And inside, while the GT Veloce still rocks a wooden steering wheel, it has modern gauges, A/C vents, and stereo options, Evo notes.

However, while Emilia Auto’s reimagined Alfa Romeo Giulia GT also retains its original shift knob, it doesn’t have a manual. And that’s because of what’s under its hood.  

The modern Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is bringing the Emilia GT Veloce up to speed

The 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio's 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6
2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio engine | Stellantis

Originally, the Alfa Romeo Giulia GT offered a variety of four-cylinder engines. But even the most powerful racing version ‘only’ made 180 hp. The Emilia GT Veloce’s engine, though, is noticeably more powerful.

Under its carbon-fiber hood is the same 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 found in the current Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. So, rather than 100-or-so hp, the GT Veloce has 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. Plus, Emilia Auto also transplants the Quadrifoglio’s eight-speed automatic and electronically-controlled limited-slip differential. And those Brembo brakes and power steering mentioned earlier? They’re also from the Quadrifoglio, as are the carbon-fiber shift paddles and the traction control, Motor1 says.

However, there are two significant differences between the Emilia GT Veloce’s and Giulia Quadrifoglio’s powertrains. One, the modern car doesn’t offer AWD, but the restomod does. And two, the GT Veloce weighs over 600 pounds less than the Quadrifoglio, CarThrottle reports. So, it might be even faster.

How much is this Alfa restomod?

That extra speed, though, comes with an extra-large price tag. Emilia Auto is only making 22 Giulia GT restomods for the whole world, with deliveries starting in the second half of 2022. And they start at the equivalent of $475,000. For comparison, the 2021 Giulia Quadrifoglio starts at $75,250.

Admittedly, there are cheaper Giulia restomods. You could almost get two Alfaholics GTA-R 290s for the price of one Emilia GT Veloce, MotorTrend says. And while the GTA-R 290 doesn’t have AWD, 500-plus hp, or an automatic, it’s arguably truer to the original Giulia’s character.

Still, until Alfa decides to bring the GTAm over, Emilia Auto’s restomod might be the most extreme Giulia available.

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RELATED: The Totem Giulia GT Electric: An All-Electric Rethink to the classic Alfa Romeo

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