Bon Voyage: The Ford Maverick Is Going to Argentina

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Insert ship noises here. The 2022 Ford Maverick is going on a journey. Luckily, the Ford Maverick was launched in the United States so people can have the chance to get it before supplies are sent to Argentina and other South American countries. 

The 2022 Ford Maverick is going to other countries 

2022 Ford Maverick FX4 Package | Ford

Despite Ford’s decision to end production in Brazil, Ford South America will source various vehicles from other markets. The 2021 Ford F-150 and Ford Mustang Mach 1 have already launched in Argentina, and the 2022 Ford Maverick will join them next year. 

Daniel Justo, President of Ford South America, shared that the arrival of the Maverick represents another step toward the strategy of working on the pillars of success of the company in the world, including innovative and versatile products. 

Justo continued to explain that loyalty and attracting new customers are equally essential points for Ford that are strongly supported by quality products and services that deliver tremendous added value. 

He noted that the Maverick is an innovative pickup with extreme versatility for its dimensions. The interior and exterior provide cutting-edge technology and performance. They were impressed by its capabilities during testing. 

Will this move impact American supply? 

It’s no secret that most automakers are facing production delays due to the ongoing semiconductor chip shortage. Also, over 100,000 reservations have already been made for the 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid. 

But the Maverick may not face issues that other vehicles have. It shares tons of parts with the Ford Escape and Bronco Sport. For example, each of these vehicles rides on the same platform. 

So instead of sources new parts, they can continue using trusted sources to receive the materials needed to build the Maverick quickly and efficiently. It may also provide a lower price for these supplies. 

The Maverick, Escape, Bronco Sport, and Lincoln Corsair are currently built at the plant in Hermosillo, Mexico. But Ford Motor Company is investing $580 million into the Ford Pacheco Assembly Plant in Argentina in preparation for the 2023 Ford Ranger. Perhaps the Maverick will be built there as well. 

Will the South American Maverick be a cooler truck? 

2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid XLT
2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid XLT | Ford

The 2022 Ford Maverick that’s offered in Argentina may have more powertrain options and more robust off-roading variants. The Maverick won’t face as strict emission standards in South America, allowing for the possibility of turbo diesel engines. 

The Ford Maverick doesn’t have a manual option, but this could happen in Argentina. Manual options are more popular outside of America. Ford Ranger models in other countries are popular manual trucks. 

Also, the Ford Ranger Raptor serves as an example of one of the coolest trims we don’t have in America. It includes extra off-roading goodies such as a 2.0-liter Bi-turbo diesel engine, aluminum control arms with protruding shock absorber towers, and Fox shocks with Position Sensitive Damping. 

We hope to receive a hard-core off-roading variant of the 2022 Ford Maverick, but we will have to wait and see. Until then, this seems like a smart move by Ford. If the Maverick fails here, it could excel in South American markets where tiny off-roading trucks are extremely popular.

RELATED: The 2022 Ford Maverick Is Stronger Than Expected

The post Bon Voyage: The Ford Maverick Is Going to Argentina appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Has Anyone Ever Died at Monster Jam?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Fans of monster truck racing often flock to events such as Monster Jam to enjoy cheering for impressive stunts and competitions. Despite the entertainment value, organizers place emphasis on safety, both for drivers and spectators. Though most such spectacles go off without a hitch, sometimes events can go awry. And unfortunately, some mishaps have led to fatalities.

Monster Jam and its most famous trucks

Iron Man at Monster Jam | Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Monster Jam is a monster truck rally series featuring racing and stunts designed to wow spectators of all ages. Events take place nationwide, from San Jose to Baltimore. Each monster truck in the show contributes to the entertainment in its own way

Arguably the most popular truck participating in Monster Jam is Grave Digger. The driver, Tyler Menninga, seems to defy the laws of gravity when he balances the truck on its two front wheels for extended periods. 

Another Monster Jam fan favorite is Monster Energy. In a memorable stunt featured on Monster Jam‘s site, driver Todd LeDuc sent his vehicle flying into the air at heights seemingly unattainable for a vehicle of Monster Energy’s weight. 

The show also features female drivers such as Becky McDonough, known for achieving an extremely impressive double backflip in El Toro Loco. 

Monster trucks have been known to cause fatalities

Amazingly, serious incidents resulting from these types of stunts in monster truck shows are rare. Nevertheless, they have been known to occur and have occasionally resulted in fatalities.

In one tragic 2009 Monster Jam incident, 6-year-old Sebastian Hizey died from head injuries after he was struck by debris that flew from one of the monster trucks. His distraught family described the object that killed the boy as a seven-to-12-pound Frisbee-sized metal ring. An adult spectator also sustained injuries in the incident and was transported to a hospital for treatment. 

“Feld Motor Sports, which promoted the event, said in its own statement: ‘This type of incident has never happened before in the history of Monster Jam events,'” The Seattle Times reported.

Just over a week later, another monster truck fatality occurred, but not at Monster Jam. In this incident, a truck show promoter, George Eisenhart Jr., died at one of his own events after being hit by a truck, ABC News reported. The accident occurred at the Motor Sports Monster Truck & Thrill Show in Madison, Wisconsin. 

But the deadliest incident in monster truck history occurred in 2013 in Chihuahua, Mexico. According to Monster Trucks Wiki, eight people were killed and 79 injured when a driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the crowd. The driver was believed to be under the influence of alcohol, and the event did not include many of the safety precautions that are standard at Monster Jam events. 

Safety precautions are critical at monster truck shows

Though the show in Mexico lacked safety precautions, Monster Jam and similar shows in the United States follow strict rules to protect drivers and spectators. For example, according to Monster Truck Guide, trucks come equipped with roll cages to protect drivers and engine kill switches that show organizers can use to shut off the vehicle immediately to protect audiences. 

A driver’s uniform is also a critical safety component. Drivers must wear fire-resistant safety suits and helmets to help them survive in the event of an engine fire. In addition, they wear fire-resistant gloves coated in a tacky grip to help with wheel maneuvers. 

In addition to the use of engine kill switches to protect crowds, the Monster Truck Racing Association also requires a 30-foot safety zone between the show and spectators. This requirement was implemented to prevent a recurrence of accidents such as the one that killed Sebastian Hizey. 

With the implementation of these and other safety precautions, serious incidents at U.S. monster truck shows have thankfully remained rare in recent years. Nevertheless, drivers, organizers, and audiences should be sure to take all necessary precautions to remain safe while participating in and enjoying the spectacle. 

RELATED: How Much Does a Monster Truck Cost? 

The post Has Anyone Ever Died at Monster Jam? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Ultimate Toyota GR Supra Engine Swap: Formula Supra

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Toyotas and motor swaps have been best friends for a very long time. Even today, it is impossible to go to a local drifting event and not find a Nissan or even BMW that doesn’t have Toyota Supra’s legendary 2JZ turbocharged inline-six engine under its hood. Dropping Toyota engines in other cars is something that is not likely to go away any time soon. What cars would someone drop the Toyota GR Supra engine into?

What about taking a different engine and dropping it into a Toyota? It seems blasphemous, but it is not unheard of. In fact, a very popular Formula Drift driver is working on doing it for the second time. In case you’re wondering, we are talking about Ryan Tuerck.

Toyota GT4586

When the Toyota GT 86 was fresh out of the dealerships, Formula Drift driver Ryan Tuerck did the unthinkable. He got the 86 straight from the factory and cut it up. Let go of your pearls; it is not what it sounds like. Tuerck had an excellent reason for putting that Toyota GT 86 under the knife. He wanted to do what could be argued is one of the craziest engine swaps ever done in the history of modern tuning.

Ryan and his team ripped out the Subaru-developed D4S boxer engine and replaced it with a high-strung V8. Not just any V8, mind you, but the 4.5 liter, 560 horsepower engine from a Ferrari 458 Italia. We’re aware of how shocking that might be to some of you reading this, so we won’t mind if you need a moment. 

The ultimate Toyota GR Supra engine swap

Formula Supra | Ryan Tuerck YouTube channel

After doing something as wild as dropping a Ferrari engine into a Toyota GT 86, it is hard to imagine what could be done next that could ever top that. However, if you’re Ryan Tureck, you already had an idea in mind before the last car build even started. We suppose we should expect a builder of unorthodox racecar projects always to be a few steps ahead of the rest.

Ryan heard about a race engine company based in England called Judd Power. Judd has produced race engines for several motorsports, including Le Mans and Formula 1. Specifically, Judd Power created a V10 engine that was particularly successful in Le Mans racing and has an incredible sound. As soon as Ryan learned about that motor, he knew he wanted it at the heart of a future project.

Toyota GR Supra becomes ‘Formula Supra’

You may not believe this, but a V10 Le Mans racing engine is very expensive. Who would have thought? If Ryan wanted to have one under the hood of his next project, he would have to do something drastic. So he did. Ryan sold one of his Formula Drift Competition cars just to buy a Judd V10 engine. Though, that was all he was able to afford with the proceeds. 

Luckily Tureck has a very good relationship with Toyota, so the automaker sent him a brand new GR Supra for the project. Then, just like with the GT 86, the metal surgery began. The project which Tureck has dubbed “Formula Supra” isn’t finished yet, but it is getting close. To recap everyone who might have followed along from the start, Ryan has released an update video that goes through each milestone of the build to where it is today. If you have even a passing interest in racecar engineering, we recommend giving his video a watch.

We are looking forward to seeing and hearing Ryan’s Formula Supra start for the first time once it’s ready.

RELATED: Cars and Bids: 1995 Toyota Celica GT-Four JDM Gem

The post Ultimate Toyota GR Supra Engine Swap: Formula Supra appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Ford Mustang Mach-E Eluminator Electric Motor: The Future of Conversions

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Ford recently released the Eluminator electric crate motor for the 2021 Mustang Mach-E GT. While this is cool in itself, it also paves the way for more people to do gasoline-powered to electric-powered swaps for fun. Keep an eye out at SEMA for more electric motor conversions.

The Eluminator, the new Mustang Mach-E Electric Crate Motor

The M-9000-MACHE Eluminator crate motor for the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach E GT | Ford Performance

The M-9000-MACHE Eluminator is a crate motor for the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach E GT. The numbers provided by Ford Performance Parts are as follows. The peak power is 210kW (281 hp) with 430Nm (317 lb-ft) of torque. The Eluminator offers a max speed of 13,800 rpm with a gear ratio of 9.05:1. The motor itself weighs 93 kg or 205 lbs. As far as the Mustang Mach-E electric crate motor price? That will run you $3,900.

Included with the crate motor are a few essential build items. The Eluminator offers the HV motor to traction inverter harness, LV harness/connector, and a vent tube assembly. Ford mentions on the product page that it does not include the control system, battery, or traction inverter. These are all pretty essential pieces that Ford has decided not to include, so don’t overlook this. Grab an old Tesla battery and be on your way. Ford also wants you to know the motor doesn’t come with a warranty.

Some other important facts are that the package measures 22″ x 22″ x 32 and is 220 pounds when fully packed. The Eluminator electric crate motor ships in from Mexico.

The Mustang Mach-E Eluminator electric crate motor

While the Eluminator electric crate motor is remarkable in itself, it also represents a tremendous shift in builds. There have been a few companies working on ICE-to-electric motor swaps lately. David Beckham Is upcycling classic cars Into electric vehicles with the company Lunaz. Other companies are doing similar things, converting old classics into EVs that appeal to a different audience. Not only is this good for the environment, but it breathes life into old cars that might not get any attention these days.

With Ford releasing an electric motor, the company encourages people to try electric even if people might not be ready for a fully electric vehicle. Some buyers are not into the styling and look of EVs because these vehicles tend to look a particular way.

Get ready for more electric motor conversions

Supposedly, this won’t be the first or last of its kind. Many brands are pivoting to offer some time of engine swap like this to the general public. While Ford hasn’t given too much information about the Eluminator besides what is on the product page, don’t miss the coverage at SEMA.

The Eluminator will debut at the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas this November. In 2020, a Chevrolet Blazer with an electric Bolt motor was at the same show. Chevy planned on selling the Bolt motor in a similar electric crate motor, but it hasn’t shown up anywhere yet.

There are a few options on the market right now for electric motor conversions, but this number is going to increase exponentially soon. Since Chevy can’t get the eCrate motor to the market, the Mustang Mach-E Eluminator might take the lead.

RELATED: Best Electric Cars and SUVs You Can Buy Under $50k

The post Ford Mustang Mach-E Eluminator Electric Motor: The Future of Conversions appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by