What is the Range of the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Many automotive consumers are opting for electric vehicles these days. Whether it’s a desire to make a smaller imprint on the planet or to experience something new, the increasing attractiveness of EVs is apparent. Like many other automakers, Hyundai now offers an EV with the Kona Electric subcompact SUV. Along with its pleasing driving dynamics, emissions-free driving, and accessible pricing, the Kona Electric has an impressive range.

Alleviate range anxiety with the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric

2022 Hyundai Kona Electric | Hyundai

A frequent concern with electric vehicles is range anxiety — or the fear of running out of electric power before you can make it back home or reach a charging station. The Kona electric helps alleviate this concern with its estimated range of 258 miles. 

The high range of the Kona Electric can primarily be attributed to its permanent-magnet synchronous motor. It efficiently draws power from a 356-volt lithium-ion polymer battery. Also, the motor more than holds its own for performance, with an output of 201 hp and 291 lb-ft of torque. With its high torque output and near-instantaneous torque delivery, the motor enables the Kona Electric to achieve quick acceleration.

Another thing that helps the range of the Kona Electric is its regenerative braking system. Whenever a driver applies the brakes on the Kona Electric, the kinetic energy that is created by braking is captured and then routed to the battery.

How long does it take to charge the Hyundai Kona Electric?

ECO TECHNOLOGY EV badge on 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric
2022 Hyundai Kona Electric | Hyundai

You can charge the Kona Electric at home or one of the charging stations throughout the United States. The amount of charging stations varies depending on the location that you live in the country. If you charge at home, you can plug the Kona into a standard home outlet. With this method, it takes the Kona Electric to go from a 10% to 100% charge in around 9 hours and 15 minutes. Considering the long at-home charging time, it’s advantageous to charge the Kona Electric overnight, so you’re ready to go on a full charge the following day. 

Charging stations provide a considerably faster charging time. With a Level III 50 kW charging station, the Kona Electric can go from a 10% to 80% charge in around 64 minutes. With a Level III 100 kW charging station, it completes the 10% to 80% charge in around 47 minutes. 

In cold weather, electric vehicles typically have a lower electric range, for the battery is less efficient when the temperature drops. The Kona Electric addresses this with its battery warmer system, which comes standard for the SEL Convenience and Limited trims.

Electric vehicle advantages of the Hyundai Kona Electric

With its electric powertrain, the Kona Electric offers several advantages. The most obvious is the more negligible negative impact on the environment with its zero emissions. Another is that you don’t have to stop for gasoline. If you have a short daily commute, it’s likely that you’ll rarely have to stop at a charging station, other than for long trips. With its near-instantaneous torque delivery — and high torque output — the Kona Electric can accelerate quickly. 

The Kona Electric is easier to maintain compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. It requires no oil changes — and with no engine components, there are fewer things that can break down. 

If you live in a larger city, you can skim through congested traffic more quickly, for the Kona Electric enables you to drive solo in an HOV carpool lane. Also, the Kona Electric has financial advantages. If you purchase the Kona Electric, you could be eligible for up to a $7,500 federal tax credit, along with whatever EV tax credit that your home state offers.

RELATED: There’s 1 Loud Reason to Upgrade to a 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric

The post What is the Range of the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Look Inside: Ford Power Stroke Diesel with Catastrophic Damage

by Gabrielle DeSantis

What you’re seeing is an example of either maintenance neglect or long periods of idling. As such, this is likely not to look like the insides of your 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine. Or, any engine for that matter. But you can see the effects of a diesel engine that spent a majority of its time idling or running low-speed activity. 

With only 27,000 miles on it this diesel engine looks like it has hundreds of thousands more

Ford PowerStroke Diesel engine failure | Ford Boss Me/Youtube

This diesel engine was used in a 2016 Ford F550 with only 27,000 miles on it. It was a tow rig that saw long periods of idle. Scheduled service maintenance seems to have been minimal. Of course, with less than 30,000 miles on the ticker, one would not expect their engine was preparing to turn into junk. 

What should have happened in an application like this is for a maintenance schedule that chronicles its long periods of idling. More frequent oil and filter changes, and replacing coolant, would all have helped avoid this failure. Especially diesel engines are much tougher on oil than gasoline engines.

Here’s what Ford recommends for long durations of idle

Ford PowerStroke Diesel engine failure
Ford PowerStroke Diesel engine failure | Ford Boss Me/Youtube

We’ve taken screenshots of the Ford Boss Me YouTube channel to show what it discovered after digging into the PowerStroke. Ford says that one hour an engine idles is the equivalent of driving 25 miles. For a vehicle that regularly idles five or six hours at a time on a regular basis then 30 days is the recommended oil change interval. 

To help toward achieving that goal Ford installs hour meters in its trucks. Looking inside of the oil pan you can see all of the gunk, with the oil pickup almost completely blocked. The dark grey color indicates the oil is past its useful life. That color shows the oil has lost its lubrication value. It is instead picking up microscopic bits of metal.

That turbo is toast, indicating no lubrication. With the heat and high RPMs generated by a turbocharger, sufficient lubrication is critical. Oil was being squeezed out of gaskets and breathers because there was no place to go. Pressure gets built up and the remaining oil seeks out new paths. 

This diesel engine is junk!

While we only get a glimpse of the engine compartment, it is covered in oil. The black, sticky stuff has been flung everywhere. The owners brought the truck in wonder why white smoke was coming out of the exhaust and there were puddles of oil when the truck was parked. Here’s why kiddies. 

From appearances, it looks like this engine is a goner. Cleaning out the dirty oil, cleaning up the oil pickup screen, and replacing some of the gaskets and turbochargers might extend the truck’s life. But at this advanced stage of damage, a short block might be a better, though a more expensive way to go.

RELATED: The Most Common Diesel Truck Problems

The post Look Inside: Ford Power Stroke Diesel with Catastrophic Damage appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

The Three Most Coveted JDM Wheels

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When it comes to JDM cars, style can be just as important as performance. Sometimes the style comes from the performance itself. As the saying goes, “form follows function.” That being said, one of the most popular modifications for JDM project cars is wheels. There is a whole world of limited edition, hard to find JDM wheels out there that fans covet.

In a subculture where style is so essential, wheels are a lot like shoes. Like “sneakerhead” culture, fans do their best to hunt down the newest and rare vintage JDM wheels. Some people resell limited JDM wheels for exorbitant amounts of money. Some shops strike deals with JDM wheel manufacturers to create a custom color or become the exclusive retailer for a special edition drop. There are so many layers that we could talk about it for a very long time. 

Instead, we’ll just fill you in on three of the most coveted JDM wheels on the market today to give you an idea of what wheel enthusiasts hunt for.

Work Meister S1

Work Meister S1 wheel | Work Wheels

The first wheel we’re looking at is from a company producing aftermarket wheels since the 1970s. Work Wheels is one of the most respected Japanese brands, and the thirst for their designs is proof. If you meet a Japanese car enthusiast and ask for their personal top five list of JDM wheels, it is almost certain that something from Work Wheels will make that list.

Among all of their designs, the Work Meister S1 is the most sought-after. The Work Meister S1 features three-piece construction, which makes them nearly infinitely customizable. If someone has the right contacts, they can commission a custom set of Work Meister S1’s specific to the buyer’s project car. Barrel lengths, offsets, and more are interchangeable. Furthermore, the curved five-spoke wheel face is perfect for accommodating large aftermarket brake calipers. 

Enkei RPF1

Enkei RPF1 in bronze with a red Enkei logo on the inner most lip. A favorite among JDM wheels.
Enkei RPF1 | Enkei Wheels

Enkei is a brand that has had deep roots in motorsports since the very beginnings of its company. Enkei has been involved in WRC, GT racing, drifting, but they are most recognizable from their participation in F1. Most casual fans do not know this, but Enkei has provided F1 team wheels for a long time. 

To commemorate their involvement in Formula 1, Enkei developed the RPF1 for road cars. The RPF1 shares a similar design to the wheel that Enkei provided for Formula 1. The RPF1 features the same split six-spoke, one-piece design as Enkei’s Formula 1 wheel but much less concave and larger diameter. The RPF1 has remained in Enkei’s lineup for the better part of a decade and is easily one of the most wanted JDM wheels someone can get their hands on.

Volk Racing TE37

Dark bronze TE37 wheel by Volk Racing and Rays Engineering. An icon among JDM wheels.
Volk Racing TE37 | Mackin Industries

If there was ever a design that deserves to be on everyone’s favorite JDM wheels list, it is the TE37. If JDM wheels are like sneakers, then TE37s are like “Air Jordans”. Everyone wants a set; they are very expensive and come in endless colors and editions. 

Like the Enkei RPF1, the TE37 is commonly found in motorsport applications, and the road car version is virtually unchanged. While not used in Formula 1, the TE37 is a staple of GT racing in Japan and was famously used by Nissan’s factory NISMO race team on the Nissan Skyline R34 GT race car. There was a time when customers could buy a set of magnesium TE37s called “TE37 MAG,” but due to the high cost, Volk Racing eventually took them off the market. That makes TE37 MAG wheels extremely rare and very expensive on the second-hand market. They also equal instant cred for anyone who can find them.

Now that you know a little more about JDM wheels make sure you keep an eye out the next time you visit your local car meet. You might just catch a glimpse of some of the rarest wheels on the planet.

RELATED: Nissan Should Bring Back The 240SX

The post The Three Most Coveted JDM Wheels appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

This 1987 Land Rover Defender Looks Cherry but Has a Major Red Flag

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Everyone has that dream car they’ve always wanted, and it isn’t always the newest model on the lot. In many cases, it’s a classic, like the 1987 Land Rover Defender. As it happens, there is one currently available for sale on duPont Registry for anyone who can afford to buy it. Should you really be sinking a lot of money into an older vehicle, however?

Land Rover Defenders has a complicated history

A Land Rover Defender V8 Heritage model | Jaguar Land Rover

The Land Rover Defender wasn’t actually the ‘Defender’ until 1983, according to Motor Trend. Before that, it was a part of the Land Rover Series. The first Series, known simply as Series I, ran from 1948 to 1958. The Series II took up the mantle from 1958-1971. The Series III was released in 1971 and ran through 1985. 

While the Defender saw much initial success, Land Rover decided not to sell it in the U.S. until 1993. However, it was a short-lived love story, as the Land Rover pulled the Defender from American soil because national safety regulations were updated, and the model didn’t quite meet those standards. 

In 2016, the Defender was retired from production. Its popularity was too great to ignore, however, and Land Rover has since brought it back. A new Land Rover Defender is being sold in America, and its fan base couldn’t be more delighted. However, if you’re looking for an older model, one is available from duPont Registry that was never sold on U.S. soil.

1987 Land Rover Defender

The 1980s are often considered to be a great decade for movies, music, and of course, cars. The 1987 Land Rover Defender 110 was one of them. Its tough-looking exterior and gorgeous interior were more than enough to make it a popular vehicle in its prime, and that hasn’t changed.

It’s now available for sale on duPont Registry. The sales site reports, “Options on this special customized 1987 Land Rover Defender 110 include Masai Roof Rack with Rear Ladder Fold-Up Steps at All Doors Safari Snorkel Single Din Sony Receiver with CD Player Outlast Rear Seats Gloss Black Fender Flares Defender Signage AND MORE! This special, fully custom 1987 Land Rover Defender 110 is a Metallic Red exterior with a Black Leather interior and is waiting to take you anywhere in style! You will also have peace of mind as this 1987 Land Rover Defender 110 is a 100% CarFax certified vehicle, with no accident or damage history!”

While this may seem like a rare find you should jump on, you might want to proceed with caution. The mileage is listed at 181,982 miles. For anyone looking for a daily driver, this is definitely not a good vehicle to invest in. If this is something you’re just looking to show off in, on the other hand, that’s a little different.

duPont Registry has more cars from the 80’s

Fans of cars from the eighties will be delighted to learn that duPont Registry has more vehicles on its list that come from that most gnarly of decades. Some of them are from automakers that have long shut down their doors, such as DeLorean. The DeLorean DMC-12 is extremely rare, as it is the only vehicle produced by DeLorean and is a 1981 model.

A more familiar name is the 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi. While Ferrari isn’t exactly fond of its used vehicles being sold outside its own dealerships, given the fact that this one is 38 years old, it might be a good way for those not on Ferrari’s most valued list to own one.

Other vehicles from the eighties still available include a 1980 Jeep CJ-5 – Golden Eagle Theme, a 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera, a 1981 Datsun 280ZX, a 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster, a 1986 Ducati TT1, and a 1989 Nissan Skyline R32 GTE.

RELATED: The 2021 Land Rover Defender and Discovery Just Hit a Major Setback

The post This 1987 Land Rover Defender Looks Cherry but Has a Major Red Flag appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by