The 2021 Ram 1500 Classic Review Just Overtook the 2021 Ford F-150 Review on Consumer Reports

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Ford F-150 made waves this past week with Ford’s announcement of the new electric Ford F-150 Lightning. Meanwhile, the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic review just snuck up on the 2021 Ford F-150 review and overtook it for the 3rd place spot on Consumer Reports’ best full-size pickup trucks for 2021. 

The 2021 Ram 1500 Classic is one of the best full-size pickup trucks

Consumer Reports just published its 2021 Ram Classic review, and, like most pickups on Consumer Reports, the Ram 1500 classic didn’t get a rave review. However, it did well enough to earn the third spot behind the Toyota Tundra and Ram 1500 with an overall score of 57/100. 

2021 Ram 1500 Classic | CR

Unlike the big daddy Ram 1500 – or the 2021 Ford F-150 for that matter – the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic only has two motor options. The base model comes standard with a 305-hp 3.6-liter V6, while a 395-hp 5.7-liter V8 is also an option. Both engine choices come paired with an eight-speed manual transmission. 

The 2021 Ford F-150 review 

A dark 2021 Ford F-150 driving down a field lined road
2021 Ford F-150 | Ford

RELATED: The Consumer Reports 2021 Ford F-150 Review Points Out 1 Critical Flaw

Consumer Reports was not overly kind to the most popular pickup truck of all time. In fact, the 2021 Ford F-150 only got a 55/100 on its review. CR found some issues with the reliability history, which really held the F-150 back. 

According to CR, the 2021 F-150 comes in many different shapes and sizes, but the best version, but the best version is the one with the 325-hp, twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. There are six engine options for the F-150 making it a much more complicated lineup than the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic. 

Which is the best pickup truck for towing? 

The Ram name is synonymous with work within the truck world. The 2021 Ram 1500 Classic can tow up to 10,050 lbs when properly configured with the V8 and optional rear axle. While the Ram is a tough truck, the 2021 Ford F-150 can pull up to 12,400 lbs when equipped with the max towing package for the hybrid PowerBoost version earning it best in class towing. 

Even though the Ford out pulls the Ram, the two trucks are basically neck and neck until it comes to the ride and comfort aspect of these pickup trucks. 

The ride and cabin comfort is where Ram 1500 Classic pulls ahead by just a nose. As we have mentioned many times, Consumer Reports highly values comfort and cabin finishing. The Ram and Ford are so close in so many ways. In fact, the Ford even beats on things like towing and fuel efficiency, but the Ram has a lovely cabin. 

Comfort matters even in pickup trucks

In this category, the Ram 1500 Classic review clarifies that it is the best of the two pickup trucks. CR says the road noise is subdued, the ride is the most comfortable on the market, and the steering is direct and relatively direct for a pickup truck. 

The Ford F-150 doesn’t completely fall apart here, but it struggles to hang with plush Ram. CR says that the 2021 F-150 is a bit clumsy, and the steering gives a bit less feedback than the Ram’s.

Although the 2021 Ford F-150’s ride is much better than the outgoing model’s, the driving experience is still a bit jittery and harsh. However, the cabin is said to be wonderfully quiet. In fact, CR says, “the F-150’s cabin is quiet enough to shame some luxury cars.” 

The 2021 Ram 1500 Classic review proves which is better

CR gives the slightest edge to the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic. Although it isn’t as strong as the F-150, CR sees more value in the comfort and reliability discrepancy between them. The truth is, picking the best full-size pickup truck between these two is a difficult undertaking because of how similar they are. 

If you want something more civilized and comfortable, the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic seems to be a wise choice. 

The post The 2021 Ram 1500 Classic Review Just Overtook the 2021 Ford F-150 Review on Consumer Reports appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Elon Musk Said His 1967 Jaguar E-Type Was ‘Like a Bad Girlfriend’

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Elon Musk is a leading innovator in the EV industry. His role at Tesla has helped accelerate the future of alternative energy use in automobiles. But before getting behind the wheel of his first electric Roadster in 2008, the SpaceX founder had an extensive car collection.

Though Musk owned an enviable McLaren F1 and BMW 320i, he compared his classic 1967 Jaguar E-Type to a “bad girlfriend.”

Tesla’s eccentric CEO

Born in South Africa and residing in Austin, Texas, the PayPal cofounder is the second richest man in the world. According to Forbes, Elon Musk’s estimated net worth is $151 billion.

In 2020, the 49-year-old was worth only $24.6 billion. The considerable jump in wealth this past year is thanks to Tesla’s historic stock split. Musk also received a $750 million equity bonus, and his rocket company experienced a substantial valuation increase.

Observer reported, “Space X is now the world’s third most valuable private company, after two Chinese tech giants, Didi Chuxing and Byte Dance, the parent company of TikTok.”

In May 2020, Musk and his musician girlfriend, Grimes, welcomed a son. The unique couple named their bundle of joy “X Æ A-12.” The moniker is a blend of the unknown variable “X” and the “elven spelling of Ai (love &/or artificial intelligence),” the BBC reported.

Elon Musk also had a problematic Jaguar

RELATED: Elon Musk Was Near Death After Doctors Made the Wrong Diagnosis

Over the years, the father of seven has had an impressive automobile collection.

Business Insider reported, “The first car Musk bought was an old 1978 BMW 320i that he got for $1,400.” He kept it for two years until a wheel fell off when a Zip2 intern was driving it.

Zip2 was the Tesla giant’s first web software company that he started with his brother. With a $40,000 initial bonus from the startup, he purchased a 1967 Jaguar E-Type.

In a video interview with Forbes, Musk said that someone gave him a book of classic cars when he was a teenager. His favorite model in the book was a Jaguar E-Type roadster. He vowed that if he ever could afford that convertible, he would purchase it.

Musk compared his Jaguar to a ‘bad girlfriend’

RELATED: How Much of Tesla Does Elon Musk Own?

But Musk soon learned that his purchase “was like a bad girlfriend — it kept breaking down on me and causing me all sorts of trouble,” he told Forbes.

The 1967 Jaguar E-Type had a 4.2-liter engine, rear-wheel-drive, and a manual four-speed transmission, Automobile Catalog reports. The sleek two-seater produced 255 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. With a top speed of 145 mph, the 1967 E-Type could race from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds.

After selling PayPal for a considerable sum, Musk purchased a McLaren F1, at the time valued at close to $1 million. In 1994, Car and Driver called the F1 “the fastest production car on the face of the Earth.” 

Now, one of the world’s richest people, Musk owns two gas-powered cars. On Twitter, he revealed, “One is a Model T that a friend gave me, and the other is a Series 1 ’67 E-Type Roadster.” He called that vehicle “My first love.”

The post Elon Musk Said His 1967 Jaguar E-Type Was ‘Like a Bad Girlfriend’ appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

The 2021 Ducati Monster Has a New Spirit and the Same Soul

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It’s never been the fastest, but the Monster is one of the most popular bikes Ducati makes. So, when news broke that the 2021 model would lose a characteristic feature, some fans were understandably concerned. But as it turns out, those concerns can be largely laid to rest. Because while the 2021 Ducati Monster has a new look, it’s still got the same heart and soul.

For 2021, the Ducati Monster lost its trellis frame and some weight but gained significantly more

1993 Ducati Monster M900 | Ducati

The ‘characteristic feature’ mentioned above is the steel trellis frame, which used to be a Ducati Monster signature element. It’s been that way since the Italian company unveiled the first Monster, the M900, in 1992.

But while the naked bike used the trellis frame for decades, Ducati’s racing bikes abandoned it in 2008, Cycle World reports. And because racing informs much of what Ducati does on the street, its high-end Panigale and Streetfighter models ditched the trellis, too. Instead, those bikes use a cast-aluminum frame. And now, a derivative of that frame is found on the 2021 Ducati Monster.

A red 2021 Ducati Monster
2021 Ducati Monster | Ducati

Although it doesn’t look the same, the new frame is stiffer and lighter. Speaking of light, the 414-lb 2021 Ducati Monster weighs 40 pounds less than the outgoing model, Motorcyclist reports. And that’s not just because of the new frame; the 2021 Monster has a lighter swingarm, subframe, and wheels.

The naked bike is also slightly narrower and has a seat height as low as 30.5” with the accessory seat and lowering-spring kit. The handlebars are also slightly closer and the footpegs are slightly lower, MCN notes. And both the clutch and front brake levers are adjustable, RevZilla reports.

A red-clad rider on a gray 2021 Ducati Monster does a burnout on a racetrack
2021 Ducati Monster side burnout | Ducati

While the frame is new, the 2021 Ducati Monster still has a liquid-cooled 90° V-twin (‘L-twin’) engine with desmodromic valves. However, it’s now a 937cc L-twin rated at 111 hp and 69 lb-ft. And the six-speed transmission it’s linked to has an updated slipper clutch and a standard quickshifter, Cycle World reports. Plus, the L-twin is now a stressed member of the frame.

The 2021 Ducati Monster lost some weight and its trellis frame, but it gained some new tech. It offers multiple riding modes, adjustable traction control, launch control, and wheelie control, MCN reports. Also, its Brembo brakes now have cornering ABS. And the naked bike has a 4.3” color TFT display as well as full LED lighting and a USB socket.

It’s “a new era” for the Ducati naked bike, Cycle World says, but it’s still a Monster

For some fans, the loss of that trellis frame will be unacceptable. But it’s worth keeping in mind that the Ducati Monster was always a parts-bin special. Its original frame, for instance, was borrowed from the 888 superbike. The inverted front fork came from the 750 Supersport and the L-twin from the 900SS.

In that regard, the 2021 Monster continues the legacy. Besides the Panigale-derived frame, it has a modified version of the engine used in the current Hypermotard and SuperSport. And the TFT display’s interface is based on the one used by the Panigale V4, RideApart points out. So, rest assured, the Monster hasn’t forgotten its roots.

A red-and-white-clad rider takes a red 2021 Ducati Monster around the corner of a racetrack
2021 Ducati Monster front 3/4 | Ducati

More to the point, the updates the 2021 Ducati Monster brings haven’t changed what it fundamentally is. It’s still “an accessible, user-friendly motorcycle that appeals to Ducatisti as much as it does wannabe cognoscenti,” Cycle World reports. Only now, it’s arguably even more so.

The new frame and lower curb weight make the 2021 Monster easy to maneuver around town and on twisty roads. It’s stable in corners, with “effortless” tip-in and “predictable” side-to-side transitions. And it feels more agile and playful than the old model, RideApart muses. Plus, the narrower tank and tweaked riding position are all-day comfortable, Cycle World reports.

RELATED: The Ducati 999 Superbike Is More Affordable Than You Think

The ride is on the stiffer side and the front forks aren’t adjustable. However, the lowering-spring kit makes the ride plusher without ruining the handling, RevZilla notes. And the brakes deliver both excellent stopping power and confidence-inspiring feedback.

The clutch and brake levers are easier to pull, a boon to newer riders. Another boon? The longer clutch and valve maintenance intervals. Although the 937cc L-twin throws a noticeable amount of heat during urban riding, it’s a smooth and versatile engine with a broad powerband, RevZilla reports. And the power output is adjustable via the riding modes.

Is it worth considering?

RELATED: Is There Such a Thing as a Reliable Used Ducati?

For 2021, the Ducati Monster is only available in two trims. The base model starts at $11,895; the Monster+ starts at $12,195. That extra $300 gets you a flyscreen, auto-canceling ‘dyanmic’ turn indicators, and a passenger seat cover.

In comparison, a 2021 Aprilia Tuono 660 with cornering ABS and quickshifter is about $1000 cheaper. And the 2021 Triumph Trident 660 is even cheaper. However, both of those bikes are noticeably less powerful. And while they have most of the 2021 Monster’s electronic features, they don’t have all of them.

A silver-black-and-red 2021 Aprilia RS 660 parked by a concrete ramp
2021 Aprilia RS 660 | Aprilia

RELATED: How Well Does the 2020 Ducati Streetfighter V4 S Scrap With Its Naked Bike Rivals?

As with any motorcycle, ride before you buy. But if you were worried that losing that trellis frame mean Ducati had ruined the Monster, put those worries to rest. As the song goes, “meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” The 2021 Monster is still a Monster, just one that’s been brought up to speed.

Follow more updates from MotorBiscuit on our Facebook page.

The post The 2021 Ducati Monster Has a New Spirit and the Same Soul appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Is a 1,500-HP Bugatti Chiron Faster Than a Formula 1 Car?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Bugatti Chiron is a true feat of modern engineering, making it one of the fastest and most expensive production cars ever made. However, given its price-point and outrageous performance figures, it can be difficult to contextualize just how fast this car truly is. Let’s see how this hand-built Bugatti stacks up to the latest Formula 1 cars for a bit of fun.

The major differentiators here will be weight and aerodynamic elements. While a Chiron weighs several times what a Formula 1 car does, it has a significant advantage in one other key area.

How fast is a Bugatti Chiron?

Bugatti Chiron | Bugatti

Let’s set the stage by looking at just how fast a Bugatti Chiron actually is. To make things as simple as possible, we’ll be looking at the standard model. This is, so the stats don’t become confusing with all of the available special editions.

According to TopSpeed, a standard model has a quad-turbo W16 engine producing around 1,5000 hp. This allows it to sprint to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds and continues to an estimated top speed of 261 mph.

The most impressive feat of the Bugatti Chiron is that it can achieve these kinds of performance figures while weighing over 4358 lb. For a bit of context, that’s around the same as a Ford F-150 pickup truck. Additionally, this is even though the hand-built hypercar has a body made out of carbon fiber.

How fast is a Formula 1 car?

An image of a Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 car out on the track.
Mercedes Formula 1 car | TOLGA BOZOGLU/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

RELATED: $18 Million Ultra-Rare Bugatti La Voiture Noire Spied For the First Time

Let’s look at the Bugatti Chiron’s Formula 1 competitor. To keep things simple, we’ll be looking at the stats of this year’s best car on the grid, Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes-AMG W12.

According to ACTUF1, the first advantage actually goes to the road car in the form of horsepower. That’s because the W12 pushes out around 1,050 hp in total, or around 450-hp less than the Bugatti.

When we start looking at weight and aerodynamics, the Chiron begins to fall far behind. That’s because while the Bugatti might weigh similarly to a Ford F-150, the W12 weighs around 1,657 lb. This means that you could stack up two W12’s and still not weigh as much as the Chiron.

With those stats in mind, what comes next won’t surprise you. According to ZeroTo60Times, one of the fastest Formula 1 cars recorded can reach 60 mph in 1.6 seconds. However, a modern car typically gets there between 2.1 and 2.7 seconds. As a result, the Bugatti is slower, but not by a massive difference.

Is the Bugatti Chiron cheaper than a Formula 1 car?

An image of a Bugatti Chiron parked outdoors.
Bugatti Chiron | Bugatti

Given how fast the Bugatti Chiron is in the real world, it can begin to seem like a bit of a bargain. According to Car and Driver, a base model with no options should cost around $3 million. In contrast, TheSportsRush reports that an average Formula 1 car costs over $12 million. As a result, if you want a similar 0-60 time in the real world, an ultra-luxurious Chiron could be the answer for less than half the price.

The post Is a 1,500-HP Bugatti Chiron Faster Than a Formula 1 Car? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by