Mother Nature Made a Literal Ford F-150 Lightning

by Gabrielle DeSantis

A lot of people are excited about the upcoming 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. This truck must have the support of Mother Nature, too, because she had to strike. She used the weather to create a literal Ford F-150 Lightning in Florida. 

Florida man gets a literal Ford F-150 Lightning 

A damaged Ford F-150 | Walton County Fire Rescue

According to CBS12, a man was driving his truck when Mother Nature decided to make things interesting. Suddenly on the eastbound lanes of I-10 in Walton County, a lightning bolt hit the pavement. 

Then a piece of the road went flying through the windshield of the truck with two people inside. The driver and passenger got a literal Ford F-150 Lightning just a few days before the debut. However, it wasn’t the Ford Lightning that anyone wanted! 

The piece of road smashed created a massive hole in the windshield and shattered the rear window. Both occupants were sent to the hospital with injuries. We don’t have an update on their condition, but we hope they’re alright. 

Also, what the heck? Isn’t Florida supposed to be the sunshine state? That place manages to get wilder every day. Because Mother Nature seems to support the F-150 Lightning by making her own, let’s see what to expect. 

When does the 2022 F-150 Lightning come out? 

RELATED: The Ford F-150 Lightning Is Officially Back and Fully Charged

According to Ford, A significant event for the release of the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning will occur on Wednesday, May 19, at 9:30 P.M. ET. The Ford World Headquarters building serves as one of the three live broadcast locations for the debut. 

To prepare for the event, workers in Dearborn, Michigan have been busy covering the large building’s gas with a 64,000-square-foot projection screen for the event. The 12-story headquarters building, known as the Glass House, will make history. 

Generally, automakers reveal new vehicles at staged locations, not their administrative building. But if you can’t make it there, don’t worry. The event will be live-streamed. You can watch from home, at New York’s Times Square, or on the Las Vegas Strip. 

What do we know about the Ford EV Lighting? 

A close-up view of the badge on the side of Ford F-150 Lightning's bed
Ford F-150 Lightning bedside badge | Ford

Well, we will have to wait until next week to learn more. But so far, we know that the 2022 Ford F-150 Lighting is electric. It’s taking things a bit further than the 2021 F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid, which we’ve personally spent time with and love. 

Ford CEO Jim Farley shared that the F-150 Lightning will have the ability to power homes and accelerate faster than the classic supercharged V8-powered Lightning models. The truck will have a dual-motor setup that includes all-wheel drive. 

Also, its battery pack should provide more than 300 miles of range, topping the Mustang Mach-E’s 305-mile driving range. It should have similar tech, too, including the sizeable 12-inch infotainment screen and digital gauge cluster. 

If you want the new Ford Lightning, then you have a bit of a wait. The trucks are expected to go on sale in the middle of 2022. Pricing for the new EV hasn’t been released yet. Also, expect a futuristic look with an LED headlight bar that spans the width of the grille. 

Until then, stay safe and try not to have your current vehicle struck by Lightning. Luckily for drivers in Florida, lightning isn’t supposed to strike the same spot twice. We can’t blame Mother Nature for wanting an F-150 Lightning now. We want one too. 

The post Mother Nature Made a Literal Ford F-150 Lightning appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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President Biden Is Getting a Sneak Peek at the Ford F-150 Lightning EV Pickup

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Ford F-150 Lightning EV will be unveiled at the automaker’s Dearborn headquarters on May 19, 2021. President Joe Biden plans to visit the Michigan-based plant to get a sneak peek at the all-new F-150 EV pickup truck before the reveal. The president’s visit to the plant was first reported by The Detroit News. The visit has since been confirmed by Ford.

When will the Ford Lightning EV be revealed?

Ford F-150 Lightning | Ford

RELATED: Self-driving 2021 Ford F-150 Spotted In Development

The automaker plans to unveil the F-150 Lightning EV on May 19, 2021. The Detroit News reports that team members at the Dearborn automotive plant have spent the last few days preparing for the unveiling. Preparations have included installing a giant projector screen that will be used to highlight the all-new EV pickup truck.

The electrified F-150 is one of several new EV models the automaker has introduced in the last year. Recently introduced models include the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, which went on sale this year. The automaker also recently announced an electrified version of its Transit van. These new EV models are part of Ford’s commitment to invest more than $11.5 billion in electric vehicles through 2022. 

RELATED: Study: Most Reliable 2021 Pickup Trucks That’ll Last Over 200,000 Miles

President Biden will visit Ford to get a look at the Ford F-150 Lightning EV

The Detroit News was the first to report that President Biden would be visiting Ford’s headquarters prior to the F-150 EV launch. The president will reportedly tour Ford’s new Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, where the Ford F-150 Lightning will be built. 

During his visit to Ford’s Dearborn headquarters, President Biden is also expected to get up close and personal with the all-new EV pickup truck. The Detroit News reports that the president will meet with Ford engineers to learn more about the truck too. 

“We’re honored to host President Biden at Ford Motor Company and excited to preview for him the new F-150 Lightning and the exciting technologies that made it possible,” Mark Truby, Ford vice president for communications, shared Tuesday on Twitter. “Electrifying America’s best-selling vehicle is a milestone in our country’s transition to cleaner transportation.”

RELATED: Gross vs. Usable Battery Capacity: Why Your Electric Car Range May Vary

What is Biden’s electric vehicle plan?

If you haven’t heard, President Biden has big plans for electric vehicles. In fact, the administration recently announced its progress on investing $15 billion to build a national network of 500,000 charging stations. 

According to The New York Times, President Biden’s electric vehicle plans were first announced as part of the administration’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan. The Biden administration’s electric vehicle plans include combatting climate change by encouraging Americans to choose electric vehicles over gas and diesel-powered ones.

The New York Times added, “He aims to lower the cost of electric vehicles by offering individuals, businesses and governments tax credits, rebates and other incentives.”

CORRECTION - President and CEO of Ford Motor Company Mark Fields (R) shows US Vice President Joe Biden (L) the Ford GT, President Biden will visit Dearborn to see the Ford F-150 Lightning EV pickup next week
US Vice President Joe Biden in a Ford in 2017. | JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

When does the Ford F-150 Lightning EV come out?

While the Ford F-150 Lightning EV will be unveiled on May 19, 2021, production of the EV pickup truck won’t begin until next spring. The odds are we won’t find out when the F-150 Lightning EV will arrive at dealerships until then.

The post President Biden Is Getting a Sneak Peek at the Ford F-150 Lightning EV Pickup appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Buy Valtteri Bottas Mercedes AMG GT and Race Him in Go-Karts

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The rumor mill is churning away this morning as Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas sells his special 2018 Mercedes AMG GT. Though Bottas has not announced any plans to leave his Mercedes team, that has not stopped fans from speculating. However, that isn’t even the best part of this listing.

What makes the Mercedes AMG GT special?

The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT vehicle sold by Valtteri Bottas is up for sale | Dania Maxwell/Bloomberg via Getty Images

This is not just another AMG GT off the lot in Helsinki. Since Bottas is on the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, you can bet this GT is cool. The 2018 GT has under 10,000 miles on the 4.0L V8. Since the car is listed in Finland, where Bottas is from, the listing notes it gets 384 kilowatts. That’s just over 520 horsepower.

With a starting price of 230,000€ or $278,973 in the U.S., the AMG GT goes from 0-100 in 3.8 seconds. The Brilliant Blue Metallic coupe has 19-inch wheels in the front and 20-inch wheels on the back.

The GT has air conditioning, heated seats, and electric side mirrors. It also has a heated windshield, sport seats, and keyless start/locking. It comes with MirrorLink, a Wi-Fi hotspot, GPS, and parking assistance.

For fuel consumption, the highway gets about 7.8L or 30 mpg. On the highway, it gets 12.2L or just under 20 mpg. Bottas and the driver will sit down to discuss the car before signing paperwork while the F1 driver tells his personal stories driving the automobile. Not a bad deal if you happen to have $278,973 sitting in the bank.

A race against a Formula 1 driver

RELATED: Formula 1 Cars are Expensive, but Which Pieces Cost the Most?

If you plan on purchasing the AMG GT through Bottas, he’s offering to sweeten the deal. The F1 driver will personally turn over the keys to the buyer and challenge them to a casual go-kart race at Valtteri Bottas Racepark.

Pippo track in Lahti, Finland, is where Bottas learned to race. A crowdfunding page on Mesenaatti says that the Pippo Motorsports Center is at risk of closing due to plans to level the track for a business center.

Since 1980, drivers like, Kimi Räikkönen, Mika Häkkinen and Keke Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas, Heikki Kovalainen, Mika Salo, JJ Lehto and Leo Kinnune have raced on the track. Three of which became Formula 1 champions.

This was Bottas’ home track back in the day. The government wants to level the track ring and has already taken away the depot area. The crowdfunding page also notes that the area is home to about 10,000 and 15,000 karting enthusiasts.

Due to the impending issues, Bottas and Pippo have decided to develop the area and upgrade the track. Additionally, it would be named Valtteri Bottas Racepark to get more young fans involved.

Focusing on cleaner racing

RELATED: Formula 1: Miami Grand Prix Will Have 19 Turns

While people might not know formula 1 for its green nature, some teams are working to change that. If the crowdfunding goes through for Valtteri Bottas Racepark, there are plans to make it the cleanest motorsports park around.

“The aim is to build the world’s cleanest motorsport center in the area, the energy used by which is produced with renewable energy sources as self-sufficiently as possible, energy consumption is minimized and the vehicle is electrified.”

Mesenaatti

Currently, the race track project has raised $1,847.57 (1530 €) out of the targeted $120,756.50 (100,000 €).

The post Buy Valtteri Bottas Mercedes AMG GT and Race Him in Go-Karts appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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The Oldest Car in Mazda’s 2021 Lineup Is the Cheapest to Insure

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When it comes to insuring your vehicle, many questions arise, such as, which vehicle costs less to insure? In fact, SUVs cost less to insure than sedans. And the Mazda CX-3 is also one of the least expensive SUVs to buy. 

We’ll explain why the CX-3 is one of the cheapest SUVs to buy insurance for. What kinds of prices do you typically see with the CX-3, and what other vehicles does Mazda produce?

The Mazda lineup

Mazda makes several popular cars. Among the 2021 lineup is the Mazda3, a subcompact car that comes in sedan and hatchback body styles. Then there’s the Mazda6, a midsize sedan that competes with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry likes. Last, there’s the MX-5 Miata, a popular roadster that packs a punch. 

When it comes to crossover SUVs, there are plenty to choose from in Mazda’s lineup. The most popular is the CX-30 subcompact crossover, GoodCarBadCar reports. Next, there’s the CX-5 compact crossover. It offers an upscale interior and sharp exterior styling. The CX-9 is Mazda’s midsize crossover. It competes with the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. Then there’s the Mazda MX-30, an all-electric crossover.

But of all the SUVs in the brand’s lineup, the one that’s been around the longest is the CX-3 subcompact crossover.

What makes the Mazda CX-3 so cheap to insure?

To determine the cost of insurance annually for each vehicle on MotorTrend‘s list, MT took data based on a 40-year-old male with a good driving record and good credit. So expect the cost savings to vary among people. 

The Mazda CX-3 costs about $1,294 to insure for one year. This is partly due to the low prices for all trim levels. The base model starts at only around $20,000, which is pretty good when you compare it to one of its competitors, the Subaru Crosstrek, which starts at $22,245. 

When it comes to safety features, the CX-3 offers some of the best available. You’ll find advanced front airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact air curtains, and three-point seat belts. It also offers anti-lock brakes with brake assist, traction control system, dynamic stability control, and a rearview camera. 

The 2021 Mazda CX-3 performed well in crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it a Top Safety Pick+ award despite a few hiccups with the headlights and the latch ease of use. And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it an overall top score of 5 stars because it performed well in all tests except for a little struggle in the side barrier rear passenger test. 

Prices you can expect to pay for this model

According to Cars.com, you can get one of two Mazda CX-3 versions. One is the Sport four-door with a front-wheel drivetrain, which starts at $20,790. This model gets you 31 mpg combined from a Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 148 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque. 

The other version is the Sport four-door model with an all-wheel drivetrain. This one has the same engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, getting about 29 mpg combined. This CX-3 starts at $22,190. 

Compare that to the CX-30, which will run you around $23,000 for the base model. If you choose a mid-range trim, you can expect to pay close to $30,000. Of course, the CX-30 is larger than the CX-3 and offers more space for passengers and cargo. It also packs more power under the hood. 

In Mazda’s lineup, the CX-3 may be the oldie of the bunch, but it’s still a goodie as far as pricing, reliability, and safety features. It’s no wonder insurance companies tend to bill less for this safe, dependable vehicle. 

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