The 2022 Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition Shows That Black Is the New Green

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It was only a matter of time before the Toyota Prius joined the ranks of its stablemates by taking on the “murdered out” look. For the 2022 model year, Toyota has given the Prius a blacked-out treatment by debuting a new “Nightshade Edition.” And while the Prius has always been known for being a “green car,” this year, it’s showing us that black is the new green.

The 2021 Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition is all looks

2022 Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition | Toyota

RELATED: The 2021 Toyota Sequoia Nightshade Edition Puts Appearances First

For those that are unaware, there are 10 other models in Toyota’s lineup that have all received Nightshade Editions, so it comes as no surprise that the Prius finally got it. And while we all wish that this package meant some type of performance upgrade, unfortunately, it doesn’t. In fact, it’s mainly for appearances.

That doesn’t mean that it’s not cool, though, as the Nightshade treatment includes blacked-out badges, black wheels, darkened headlight accents, and mirror caps. The blacked-out effect extends to the interior of the car as well.

The Nightshade Prius is dark on the inside as well

a side shot of the 2022 Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition
2022 Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition | Toyota

RELATED: The 2021 Toyota Avalon Nightshade Is the Coolest ‘Grandpa’ Car on …

Every Nightshade Prius will have a black SofTex interior and a semi-gloss black center console. The interior will also feature heated and powered front seats, chrome door handles, and a SofTex-trimmed steering wheel. According to Toyota, the Prius Nightshade will come standard with a 7-inch touchscreen display and a six-speaker JBL sound system.

As always, Apple Carplay and Android Auto are standard and you’ll even get Amazon Alexa compatibility. Keeping your mobile devices charged won’t be much of an issue either as the Prius Nightshade comes with one USB 2.0 port and two 2.1-amp USB charging ports in addition to an auxiliary input jack. If your phone has wireless charging capability then you’ll also enjoy the Qi wireless phone charging tray that can even accommodate larger phones.

The Prius Nightshade Edition is as safe as ever as it also come standard with Toyota’s Star Safety System. This system includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, traction control, brake assist, and an auto start/stop system for better fuel savings. Additionally, the Nightshade Prius is equipped with Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0, which includes a pre-collision system, dynamic radar cruise control, and bicycle detection, to name a few.

a rear shot of 2022 Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition
2022 Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition | Toyota

How much will the Prius Nightshade Edition cost?

There’s no official word yet as far as pricing for the Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition. However, it should fall into the mid-to-high $20,000 range as it’s typically a mid-tier trim. Every Nightshade Prius will be offered as either a front-drive or all-wheel-drive model and buyers can choose between three colors: Midnight Black Metallic, Silver Metallic, or, interestingly enough, Super White.

Of course, we would personally choose the black exterior color as that completes the darkened look better than the other two colors. However, the Nightshade package does provide a nice contrast to the silver and white options. It’s also worth noting that Toyota only plans to make 3,400 Nightshade Edition Prii, so if you want one, you should probably act fast.

The post The 2022 Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition Shows That Black Is the New Green appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Are Those Dumb Stick Figure Decals in Rear Windows Dangerous?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

You know those dumb stick figures in the back windows of minivans, right? The ones that represent the driver’s family sometimes there are even dogs and cats in them, too. Some people have no filter when it comes to dumb trends. But did you know that there is a false rumor, and it is false, that child traffickers mark potential victims with those stick figures in minivan back windows? 

This is a false rumor that persists

Stick figures in minivan back window | MB

We’re serious, the idea that this happens has some people panicking. Again, it is a false rumor, but a persistent one nonetheless. The rumor says that child abductors and child sex traffickers were tipped off as to who to target based on those stick figure decals. 

Yahoo News picked up the story from seeing TikTok users and other social media sources spreading the false rumor. Supposedly, child abductors put a code above certain stick figures to mark potential next victims. Usually, it is “1F” written into the dirt above a figure in the back window. It stands for “one female.” 

Some social media sites say that these decals are like a “shopping list” for child abductors and child predators. The kind folks at Snopes label the viral social media rumor false. “When we try to boil down this rumor to its origins, we see that the claim is based on something someone saw on Facebook, written by a person claiming that their friend had heard from a stranger that the code “1f1b” was being used by sex traffickers to flag future targets.” 

So the “source” is no source at all

sad face stick figures
Sad face stick figures | MB

The source is as stupid as the stick figures themselves; something someone saw written by a person whose friend heard it from a stranger. Can an actual “source” be this oblique? You can only conclude that the rumor has no credibility once you see Snopes’ determined source.

When Yahoo News dug further, there is a TikTok of a “dad” that starts off with, “Here’s something you might not know but could save your life.” Posts like that can tend to get one’s attention. He explains the 1F mark and says, “If you ever see this on the back of your car someone is marking you.” Yikes!

With social media and lazy readers, this is one way rumors start

Minivans parked in a row
Minivan rears | MB

This is how dumb rumors spread. Especially, in the age of social media and lazy people believing anything they read instead of doing an iota of research. But it could have a good outcome.

Many of the responses proclaim, “Looks like I’m going to take those stickers off of my car today.” That’s great because then we don’t have to look at them. So maybe there is a silver lining behind these insipid decals. 

Fear-mongering at its finest is the best way to describe these rumors. But just to be on the safe side, shouldn’t you go ahead and peel those stickers off today? Just in case? 

RELATED: 4 Hilarious Car Stereotypes

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BlueOvalSK Will Revolutionize the Electric Ford

by Gabrielle DeSantis

With all the headlines Ford has been making regarding its upcoming EV production, it’s no surprise that they’ve also announced new plans for battery manufacturing. BlueOvalSK is the new venture between Ford and SK Innovation, a Korean energy company. BlueOvalSK will produce Ford electric vehicle batteries in the U.S.

Ford logo on stage at Ford World Headquarters | Bill Pugliano via Getty Images

The number of EVs in Ford’s lineup is increasing

A Ford F-150 Lightning outside at night. Ford electric vehicles will be getting batteries from BlueOvalSK.
Ford F-150 Lightning | JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images

RELATED: The Future Is Electric: Ford to Announce Two New EV Platforms

The news comes as Ford is making plans to grow their electric vehicle lineup. Although EVs currently make up less than ten percent of Ford’s lineup, they plan to grow that number to forty percent by 2030. Ford intends to spend $30 billion on electric vehicles by 2025 to make that dream a reality. BlueOvalSK will produce electric vehicle batteries for Ford’s new vehicles.

In yesterday’s Capital Market’s Day, Ford announced two new electric vehicle platforms. These platforms will allow Ford to manufacture a wide range of electric vehicles. These two platforms mean Ford can use the same chassis and components to offer electric versions of favorite Fords.

Last month, Ford announced Ford Ion Park, an electric battery research center. Recently Ford said they want to be a leader in the electric vehicle business.

A 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. Ford's electric vehicles will be getting new batteries thanks to BlueOvalSK.
2021 Ford Motor Mustang Mach-E GT First Edition | Zhe Ji/Getty Images

Ford is rolling out EV after EV. Currently Ford makes the Mustang Mach-E and the E-Transit electric van. Ford will be releasing an electric F-150 Lightning in 2022. Also at the Capital Market’s Day, Ford announced that they will be producing an electric Ford Explorer, their best-selling SUV. 

Ford even hinted at an electric Ford Bronco by showing the outline of a large, “rugged” SUV with a spare tire. 

SK Innovation will produce electric vehicle batteries for Ford

The SK Innovation logo. SK Innovation is partnering with Ford to create BlueOvalSK.
The SK Group logo | SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images

While not new to the EV market, SK Innovation is just set to be a major player in the electric vehicle battery market. SK Innovation is currently building a factory in Georgia. While the venture is new, Ford says that they could grow to have ten production plants around the country. 

With all these electric vehicles, Ford’s going to need a whole lot of battery power

And it will get it, thanks to BlueOvalSK. Ford foresees needing 240 gigawatt hours’ worth of battery production, with 14-GWh specifically in North America. BlueOvalSK will start by producing 60 GWh in traction battery cells and array modules by the mid-2020s. 60 GWh is enough to power 600,000 vehicles. 

Currently SK Innovation has a capacity of 40 GWh a year. According to Reuters, it plans to increase that to 125 GWh by 2025. This would allow it to produce enough batteries for 1.8 million electric vehicles.

The move will make Ford more competitive with GM, which aspires to have 100% of vehicles electric by 2035. GM is partnering with LG Energy Solutions for their battery production, Ultium Cells. While Ultium Cells already has two sites determined for battery factories (in Ohio and Tennessee), BlueOvalSK has yet to name a location.

SK Innovation was recently ordered to pay nearly $2 trillion to LG Energy Solution after a trade secret dispute. Once that matter settled, it freed up SK Innovation to continue its plans of selling EV batteries in the U.S.

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2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4: Which Compact SUV Did Consumer Reports Choose?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

With so many choices to consider, shopping for a new compact SUV can be overwhelming. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be, especially if you find yourself considering options such as the 2021 Subaru Forester and the 2021 Toyota RAV4. In fact, Consumer Reports recently compared these two options and chose the best compact SUV of the two. Let’s find out which model Consumer Reports recommends.

2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4: Which compact SUV did better in road tests?

2021 Subaru Forester | Subaru

Now, the 2021 Subaru Forester did do better in road tests than the 2021 Toyota RAV4. While Consumer Reports gave the RAV4 a 72 overall score in road tests, it gave the Subaru Forester a 90 overall score in road tests. There’s no denying that’s a sizeable difference.

According to Consumer Reports, however, there are plenty of reasons why it gave the 2021 Subaru Forester a higher score than its Toyota competition. Although the RAV4 benefits from improved handling, it’s the Subaru Forester that’s responsive around corners and steady even on bumpy roads.

Now, while Consumer Reports did give the Subaru Forester a higher score in its road tests, the RAV4 does have the edge when it comes to available powertrains. Unlike the Subaru Forester, this year’s new RAV4 is available as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle.

2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4: Which compact SUV is more reliable?

RELATED: 2021 Honda CR-V vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4: Which Hybrid Is the Real Range Topper?

Next, let’s talk about reliability. The good news is that the 2021 Subaru Forester earned a Very Good predicted reliability rating. Such a high rating isn’t all that unusual for this compact SUV, either. In fact, more often than not, Consumer Reports has given the Subaru Forester either a Very Good or an Excellent reliability rating.

As for the 2021 Toyota RAV4? Unfortunately, this year’s new model did earn a lower reliability rating than its Subaru competition. Such a low score isn’t all that uncommon for the RAV4, either. As a matter of fact, the RAV4 hasn’t been able to land an Excellent reliability rating since the 2018 model. 

2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4: Safety features that inspire confidence

RELATED: Consumer Reports Ranks the Subaru Forester Ahead of the Honda CR-V

These compact SUVs offer no shortage of safety features. Opt for the 2021 Toyota RAV4, and you can expect confidence-inspiring safety features like a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alerts with steering assist, lane tracing assist, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, and road sign assist. With so many safety features to its name, it’s no surprise that the IIHS recognized this year’s RAV4 as a Top Safety Pick. 

The 2021 Subaru Forester comes standard with a slew of safety features, too, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alerts with steering assist, lane tracing assist, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, and road sign assist. As for how the IIHS rated the Subaru Forester? Well, it awarded it its highest safety honor, tapping it as a Top Safety Pick+ for the 2021 model year.

2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4: This compact SUV has the better interior

RELATED: The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Has a Few Pitfalls to Consider

Although the 2021 Toyota RAV4 offers up plenty of headroom, its interior could be better. In fact, according to Consumer Reports, its rugged styling hurts rear visibility. It also hurts the compact SUV’s cargo capacity. Consumer Reports added that its higher ground clearance and lower roofline also make it hard to get into and out of both the front and rear seats.

The 2021 Subaru Forester boasts plenty of headroom too. Rear seats are also pretty comfortable and offer up plenty of foot room. Consumer Reports added that this year’s model features nicely contoured seatbacks that provide lots of support even for longer drives. Perhaps the only downside to the Forester’s interior is its silver plastic trim. According to Consumer Reports, it does make the interior look a tad “low-rent.”

How to choose the best new compact SUV for your driving needs

When it comes down to it, Consumer Reports says you can’t go wrong with the 2021 Subaru Forester. While the Toyota RAV4 does have plenty to offer, it’s the Subaru Forester that has the edge when it comes to road-test scores, safety ratings, reliability, and interior comfort. But does that mean it’s the right fit for you? Not necessarily. To choose the best new compact SUV for your needs, we recommend taking both of these models out for a test drive.

The post 2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4: Which Compact SUV Did Consumer Reports Choose? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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