President Biden Takes the Ford F-150 Lightning Out For a Spin: ‘This sucker’s quick’

by Gabrielle DeSantis

President Joe Biden got an exclusive look at the all-new Ford F-150 Lightning on Tuesday. He was also lucky enough to take the all-electric pickup truck out for a spin. But President Biden didn’t just get to test drive the F-150 Lightning. He also used his visit to Ford’s Michigan-based plant to advocate for electric vehicles (EV) in the U.S.

President Biden took the stage to talk about EVs

President Biden drives the electric Ford F-150 Lightning. | NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images

Now, the president didn’t just visit Ford’s Dearborn plant to test drive the Ford F-150 Lightning. The real reason for his visit was to advocate for EVs in the U.S. He focused on the production of EV batteries and semiconductor chips. 

He called for increased investments in local semiconductor production to ensure the U.S. auto industry doesn’t face another chip shortage, similar to the one it’s facing now. The president reiterated support for new EV incentives, too, adding, “The future of the auto industry is electric. There’s no turning back.” 

Biden also jokingly remarked during his speech that he would like to drive the electric F-150 if he could “lose the Secret Service and go out to the track,” CNBC reports. Fortunately for the president, Ford was more than willing to make that happen. Though, the president didn’t actually ditch Secret Service once he got behind the wheel. 

‘This sucker’s quick,’ said President Biden after test driving the F-150 Lightning

RELATED: The 2021 Ford F-150 Is a Stronger Alternative to the Toyota Tundra

President Biden is a car guy, making it no surprise that he would want to test drive the Ford F-150 Lightning himself. Fortunately, the president was treated to a test drive when making an unscheduled visit to Ford’s driving course, which is where the automaker’s safety tests are usually conducted, CNN reports.

After taking the EV pickup out for a spin, the president told reporters, “This sucker’s quick.” When reporters asked if he would buy the F-150 Lightning for himself, Biden said he would. “Man, you’re going to like it.” The president added, “It feels great. I’ll tell you what, these electric vehicles, now I don’t know if anyone has a stopwatch, but these vehicles can go from 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds,” the president continued.

But, as it turns out, that last bit of information wasn’t supposed to be shared ahead of the pickup’s official reveal. The good news is that a Ford representative said it was OK and laughed, CNN reports. However, they did not confirm whether the president’s estimations match official estimates, Kelley Blue Book reports.

RELATED: Driving the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid Changes the Game

When does the Ford F-150 Lightning go on sale?

RELATED: The Ford Lightning Might Strike Again as an F-150 Electric Truck

Here’s the thing, the Ford F-150 Lightning hasn’t actually been revealed just yet. That will happen at 9:30 p.m. EDT, May 19. The reveal will take place at Ford World Headquarters and will be broadcast live across multiple social media channels. It will also be live-streamed in Times Square in New York City and Las Vegas Boulevard. 

Further, production of the all-new pickup is scheduled to begin next spring. Meaning, the Ford F-150 Lightning likely won’t go on sale for quite some time. Until then, we’ll just have to live vicariously through President Biden, one of the first to be treated to a Ford F-150 Lightning test drive.

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Who makes a faster sports car, BMW or Porsche?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Porsche and BMW make expensive, fast, and fun to drive cars. There is no denying that. But which automaker makes the faster sports car? Take a look at some of the faster cars in the 2021 BMW and Porsche lineups to see which has the faster sports car.

Is Porsche a faster sports car than BMW?

The Porsche GT 911 RSR is a track car, but is it a faster sports car than BMW offers? | James Moy Photography/Getty Images

What makes a sports car a sports car, anyway? Depending on who you ask, a sports car is a car built to go fast. It is often smaller or lower to the ground than a regular car. It is certainly faster than a daily-driving car and also more expensive.

If we look at the 2021 lineup from Porsche, we can better understand what a sports car is. The brand has an impressive lineup as far as sports cars go. The 718 Cayman GT4 has been dubbed “Perfectly irrational” by Porsche itself.

The 718 Cayman GT4 gets 414 horsepower, 309 lb-ft of torque, and has a top track speed of 189 miles per hour. It gets from 0-60 in 4.2 seconds with the naturally aspirated boxer 6 engine. For the starting price of $101,200, we can safely assume this is a sports car.

The 911 Turbo S Cabriolet gets 640 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque from the twin-turbocharged boxer 6. The 0-60 speed of 2.7 seconds, and it has a top track speed of 205 miles per hour. The starting MSRP is $219,800.

One of the more sought-after cars is the 911 GT3. The GT3 gets 502 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of torque. The same Naturally aspirated boxer 6 engine has a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds. It also has a top track speed of 197 miles per hour. The price? $161,100 to start.

What is the fastest BMW for 2021?

RELATED: 10 Fast Cars Under $10,000

BMW has a solid lineup of competitive cars. However, for the most part, the sports car versions will come from the upgraded M lineup. The 2021 BMW M3 has 473 horsepower and gets from 0-60 in 4.1 seconds. The M3 Competition Sedan has 503 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds.

The 3.0-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine is paired with the eight-speed M STEPTRONIC automatic transmission for the Competition Sedan. The 2021 M3 has a six-speed manual transmission. For the M3, the MSRP is $69,900. The Competition starts at $72,800.

The 2022 BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe gets 617 horsepower from the M TwinPower Turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine. BMW says it has a track-ready cooling system, a Twin-Scroll Bi-Turbo, and a dual oil pan that maintains oil pressure during intense maneuvers. It also has an eight-speed M Sport transmission.   

The M4 has a similar base model and Competition Couple. The M4 has 473 horsepower and gets 0-60 in 4.1 seconds. For the M4 Competition Coupe, this car slides in at 503 horsepower. It got an impressive 3.8 seconds for the 0-60 time. Both come with the 3.0-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo inline-6 engine. The M4 starts at $71,800, and the Competition Coupe starts at $74,700.

Who wins the race?

RELATED: Edmunds Recommends the Porsche Taycan Over the Tesla Model S

The faster sports cars based on numbers is almost a wash. Porsche came in with the 718 Cayman GT4 (414 horsepower), 911 Turbo S Cabriolet (640 horsepower), and the 911 GT3 (502 horsepower).

BMW entered the race with the M3 Competition Sedan (503 horsepower), BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe (617 horsepower), and M4 Competition Coupe (503 horsepower).

If we take the average of the three Porsche models, we get 518 horsepower. The same process for the BMW nets us an average of 541 horsepower. Thus, BMW, hypothetically, has the faster sports car.

However, this is just a random selection of the faster cars in the 2021 lineup. All of these likely have upgrades and trims that might net you more horsepower straight from the factory.

The post Who makes a faster sports car, BMW or Porsche? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Recall Alert: Kia Sorento and Optima Models Are Catching on Fire

by Gabrielle DeSantis

We agree the Kia Sorento and the Kia Optima are both smoking hot vehicles. They are great options to consider. However, if you currently own a Kia Optima or Sorento, check the model year. Some have a recall due to the risk of going up in flames. 

Recall for the Kia Sorento and Optima due to fire risks 

2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid | Kia

According to Road Show, it’s best to currently park your 2014 – 2015 Kia Sorento or 2013 – 2015 Kia Optima outside because they could catch fire. This recall affects about 440,370 Kia vehicles, and they need to go back to the dealership for maintenance. 

The Sorento and Optima models may have a brake fluid leak that could damage the hydraulic electric control unit. If the fluid leaks onto the component, then the HECU could short and start sparking. 

As a result, the sparks could start a fire in the engine compartment. The Hyundai Motor Group is currently unaware of any fires related to the issue, but owners are still advised to park their vehicles away from buildings and other vehicles. 

What should you do if your Sorento or Optima is at risk? 

A grey 2020 Kia Optima driving down a city street
2020 Kia Optima | Kia

RELATED: How Many Miles Will a Kia Sorento Last?

If you own one of the Kia Sorento or Kia Optima models at risk, you may receive a letter informing you of this issue around July 2. But that’s a long time to wait if your vehicle could ignite. So, you can visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) site here to enter your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). 

You could see an ABS warning light appear to notify you about the issue. Owners may also notice a burning smell or smoke to indicate that their vehicle is experiencing the brake fluid leak. So, pay extra attention to your Kia Optima or Sorento. 

If your vehicle is affected by this recall, you will need to return to a Kia dealership. You don’t have to go to the same place where you purchased your vehicle. A local dealership will be fine. A technician will check the HECU for leaks. If necessary, the HECU will be replaced. 

But if your vehicle doesn’t show any signs of leaking brake fluid, you may still receive a new multifuse for the HECU to prevent the possibility of a short and fire to prevent this issue from occurring in the future. The good news is that you will not be charged for this work. Also, Kia will reimburse any owners who have already had this issue fixed. 

What other Kia and Hyundai vehicles are catching on fire? 

A yellow 2021 Kia Seltos crossover SUV kicking up mud in a field
2021 Kia Seltos | Kia

There are a few. The Kia Seltos and Kia Soul may have improperly heat-treated piston oil rings that could cause a fire in the engine compartment. This affects about 147,000 new vehicles. The 2019 – 2021 Hyundai Kona and Veloster vehicles are at risk for this issue too. So are 2019 – 2020 Hyundai Elantra and 2013 – 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport models. 

On March 9, 2021, another recall was issued for 2017 – 2021 Kia Sportage and Cadenza models, according to the NHTSA. This recall affects about 379,931 models that aren’t equipped with smart cruise control.

The electrical circuit in the hydraulic electronic control unit may short circuit, leading to an increased risk of fire in the engine compartment. If you have one of these models, don’t be concerned. The recalls will safely take care of the issues.

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How Much Does It Cost to Import a Nissan Skyline Into the U.S.?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It seems everyone wants a piece of the JDM pie these days. With the end of the U.S. 25-year import restriction in sight for many of the Japanese halo cars of the 90s, the import market is hotter than ever. The first generation of the Nissan Skyline GT-R, the R32, became legal for import in 2014.

In 2021, the second generation of the GT-R, known as the R33, became eligible for import as well, and Skylines make up a massive part of the JDM import market. But just how much does it cost to bring Godzilla stateside?

Is it expensive to import a Nissan Skyline GT-R?

1998 Nissan Skyline GTR | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images

Thankfully, the market for the Nissan Skyline is so strong that many can be found on American shores for sale, and dealerships have popped up across the country catering specifically to JDM imports. These cars can be bought and sold just like any other domestic U.S. vehicle once they have undergone the importation process. However, should you want to bring in a GT-R of your own, there are a few more hoops to jump through.

Many JDM-specific dealerships are happy to handle the import kerfuffle for you, greatly simplifying the process. TopRank Importers out of Cypress, California, is one of the leading importers in the U.S. right now. Shipping costs generally stay at a fixed rate, plus an additional import tariff. This import tariff is where things can get tricky, as TopRank points out. The current import tariff rate is 2.5 percent and may shift in the future as the auto import market continues to heat up.

According to Sean Morris, owner of TopRank, there is a flat $5,500 fee for export from Japan and import into the United States. This flat fee will also cover transport to their dealership in California.

An image of a Nissan Skyline GT-R parked in a photo studio.
1999 Nissan Skyline GTR-34 | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images

RELATED: This R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II Could Crack $500,000

When importing a Nissan Skyline, there is one last issue that TopRank points out as significant. Depending on the state, emissions regulations can hamper the importation process. Some states, like California, will not allow you to import a car if it does not meet certain environmental constraints. The most common are CARB (California Air Resources Board) certification and OBD2 emissions testing. Costs on these tests will vary from state to state, but you won’t have to pay extra for emissions tests on an imported vehicle.

The R34 generation of Nissan Skyline GT-R is arguably the most coveted. It’s the one everyone wants, and for a good reason. From the silver screen to the racetrack, the R34 is one of the most domineering figures in import car culture. Unfortunately, the R34 is still relatively too new to meet the 25-year import rule. However, TopRank has a solution for this as well. They are offering storage of your new R34 GT-R in Japan until the car is old enough to import.

Is it worth storing your Nissan Skyline in Japan?

An image of the tail lights on a Nissan Skyline GT-R at a auto show.
Nissan Skyline GT-R | Noriko Hayashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images

TopRank is vague about the upfront cost of storing the car in Japan. Storage is a fantastic option, especially for those looking to get ahead of the impending spike at R34 prices once they become legal for import. They’ll even keep the car’s Japanese registration up to date so you can visit your new ride and tear up the Tokyo streets.

Importing a car from anywhere can be a headache, but thanks to TopRank, all it takes is money. No matter the model year, the Nissan Skyline is a dream car for many. Thankfully, the cost of importing is minuscule compared to the satisfaction of owning a piece of Japanese automotive history.

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