The 2022 GMC Hummer EV Can Crab Walk, Now Learn How

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2022 GMC Hummer EV can crab walk. Basically, the thing turns its wheels by a few degrees to maneuver its massive frame through off-road obstacles. However, more likely, it’ll be used to get the big bastard out of a parking garage. Regardless, the technology behind it is something that only an EV can manage. Now, it’s time to learn how the 2022 GMC Hummer EV crab walks.

How does the Hummer EV crab walk?

GMC will show you how, but only I can tell you how the Hummer crab walks | GMC

Now, per Edmunds, there’s a prerequisite to making the crab walk feature on the 2021 Hummer EV work. That prerequisite is four-wheel steering, rather obviously. Can’t crab walk if all four wheels don’t turn, right? The Hummer EV’s four-wheel steering is critical to how all this works. So, how does that work? Your mileage on this answer may vary, but without getting under a 2021 Hummer EV, I can only disclose so much.

Basically, there’s a steering rack not only at the front wheels but at the rear. Usually, this means that wheels turn in a specific direction to either tighten the turning radius or help the car turn better under load at high speed. Think, Porsche 911 Turbo S. For the 2021 GMC Hummer EV, GMC did some clever computer wizardry that instead tells all four wheels to point in the same direction. The result? Crab walking.

The 2022 GMC Hummer EV has other great features

GMC kept the Hummer looks and ditched the Hummer reputation | GMC

Frankly, it’s almost an essential feature. The new 2021 GMC Hummer EV will come in at a hefty 9,000 lbs. It’s also 16 feet long and 7 feet wide. That’s a full foot longer than most SUVs if not two. In fact, that’s bigger than GMC’s next biggest model, the Yukon. Of course, there’s plenty of off-roading benefits, but I see most people using them in urban environments (see unfunny joke in introduction).

Frankly, I’m shocked GMC is just going to sell these to people. The 2021 GMC Hummer EV is huge, and you should need a CDL to drive it, tight spots or not. And that’s what it’ll be used for. Parallel parking is a lot easier when you can simply slide into the spot rather than backing in.

EVs need gimmicky market appeal

The massive off-road wheel of the new 2022 GMC Hummer EV
How does “WTF Mode” sound? Gimmicky, and that’s the point | GMC

EVs need these features. Automakers are being pushed not only by governments, but the rest of the industry to get people out of gas cars and into EVs. The GMC Hummer EV has gimmicky features like “Watts to Freedom Mode” (launch control) to do that. Tesla has fart noises, and, well, Volvo EVs maybe take themselves a little too seriously.

Usually, I’m not one for things like this. I’m Mr. Serious Car Man when I shop for cars, but most consumers aren’t. People love these things, and if it gets our climate under control, I’m all for “WTF” mode and crab walking.

RELATED: Real EV Range Is Often Different Than Automakers’ Estimate – Here’s Why

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The 2021 Honda HR-V Just Crushed the Subaru Crosstrek

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re reading this, play some type of music in your head to congratulate the Honda HR-V. The 2021 Honda HR-V just dethroned the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek by officially selling more units in 2021. But does the HR-V deserve to be champion? 

The 2021 Honda HR-V outsells the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek 

2021 Honda HR-V | Honda

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek was the best small SUV for months, but the 2021 Honda HR-V just flew past it. But this might not be because people like the HR-V more. The Crosstrek had the most sales for months until July. 

Subaru is facing an inventory issue. It actually has the lowest inventory of new models out of any car brand. As of July 1, Subaru had an eight-day supply of vehicles, and it’s only continuing to dwindle. 

Subaru manded to deliver about 13,402 new Crosstrek units in July. The Honda HR-V moved 13,832 new models in July. The HR-V didn’t pass the Crosstrek by much, but it’s still the first small SUV to surpass the Crosstrek in sales. 

For most of the year, the Crosstrek has been the leader in compact SUV sales. But now, for 2021, the HR-V has sold 82,273 models, and the Crosstreck has only sold 77,616 models. But more inventory could have made a difference. 

The HR-V vs. the Crosstrek 

You can get started in a 2021 Honda HR-V for about $21,220. The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is slightly more expensive and starts at around $22,245. These prices are the MSRPs and don’t include the dealership markups or destination fees. 

The HR-V comes with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 141 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 10.4 seconds. This is one of the slowest times in the segment. 

With the Crosstrek, you get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque, which isn’t much faster. But you can upgrade to the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine for 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. The base engine takes about 10.4 seconds to reach 60 mph, but the more powerful engine can reach 60 mph in about 8.4 seconds. 

You can equip the HV-R with all-wheel drive, but AWD is standard with the Crosstrek. That’s a difficult perk to beat. The Crosstrek has a smoother ride and quieter interior, but the HR-V has less body roll and more comfortable seats. 

Does the Crosstrek or HR-V have better tech?

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek on a dirt road
2021 Subaru Crosstrek | Subaru

The 2021 Honda HR-V features a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen on all trim levels but the base trim. The base trim gets a radio with a color screen. With the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, you get a 6.5-inch infotainment screen that can be upgraded to a larger 8.0-inch unit. 

Both of these tiny SUVs come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But the Crosstrek also offers SiriusXM satellite radio and built-in navigation. The system in the Crosstrek could be easier to use. 

The Crosstrek and HR-V both scored well in safety rating tests, but the Crosstrek is earned the Top Safety Pick+ title. You have to pay extra for safety features like automated emergency braking and lane-keeping assist with both models. 

If the Crosstrek had more inventory, then we think it might be ahead of the HR-V still. The base model of the Crosstrek seems to come with a little more than the HR-V. But going up in trim levels with the Crosstrek gets expensive pretty quickly.

RELATED: Honda HR-V Owners Complain About These Problems the Most

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Is the Iconic Honda RC30 Still a World-Class Superbike?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Superbikes aren’t merely fast motorcycles, though speed is certainly a designation requirement. Whether modern or classic, these bikes represent the peak of riding tech and often climbed that peak themselves. But just like with older supercars, time and improved technology often take the shine off of aging superbikes’ performance. However, some old legends still sparkle today. Is the Honda RC30 one of those, though?

The RC30: a homologation World Superbike racer and distillation of Honda spirit

1988 Honda VFR750R RC30 | Honda

Vintage high-performance Hondas hold a special place in many motorcycle riders’ hearts. And that especially holds true for racing bikes like the RC166. These machines reflect “passion fueled by obsession, precision as moral imperative, the final iteration as the only iteration,” Cycle World rhapsodizes. And if you’re looking for “peak Honda,” Motorcyclist says, the Honda RC30 is it.

Officially called the VFR750R, the Honda RC30 was built to satisfy the then-new World Superbike Championship’s homologation requirements. In essence, it was a road-legal version of a fully-fledged racing bike, much like Ducati’s Desmosedici RR. And speaking of, the RC30 is similar to another one of the Italian company’s bikes, the Mach 1. Not in terms of shape or capacity, but because both bikes were genuine racing machine copies.

The rear 3/4 view of a cutaway white-blue-and-red Honda RC30
Honda RC30 rear 3/4 cutaway diagram | Honda

Although the Honda RC30 superficially resembles the contemporary VFR750F Interceptor, the bikes share few if any parts. More importantly, the RC30 isn’t an upgraded street bike, Motorcycle Classics explains. It’s the product of a true price-no-object approach to running a racing program. And that shows in every aspect of its design.

Like the Interceptor, the Honda RC30 has a V4. But it’s a unique liquid-cooled 748cc V4 with gear-driven cams, titanium connecting rods, and magnesium valve covers. It’s a stressed member of the frame with a 12,500-RPM redline linked to a model-specific six-speed transmission. And it came standard with a slipper clutch—in 1988.

But wait, there’s more. The Honda RC30 has an aluminum fuel tank and a single-sided swingarm to speed up wheel changes at the track. Its body panels are handmade out of carbon fiber and Kevlar and feature quick-release fasteners. The Showa suspension is fully adjustable and the hinged fork bottoms keep the brakes in place while allowing quick wheel swaps, Iconic Motorbike Auctions explains.

It might be dated, but the Honda RC30 is still a magic superbike legend, RevZilla says

In road-going form, the Honda RC30 makes 86 hp at the rear wheel, MC reports. That doesn’t sound like much, but then, it only weighs 488 lbs fully fueled. That’s roughly 10 pounds lighter than the early Suzuki GSX-R750, IMA says. Plus, in unrestricted racing form, the V4 makes up to 118 hp.

With all this tech and Fred Merkel at the helm, the Honda RC30 won the inaugural 1988 World Superbike Championship. Then it won again in 1989. And it continued scoring victories at events all over the world, including several at the Isle of Man TT.

Today, some parts of the Honda RC30 are a bit antiquated, RevZilla says. The disc brakes lack cross-drilled rotors, for one, and are axial- rather than radial-mounted. As a result, they’re somewhat weak. Plus, compared to a modern sportbike or superbike, the RC30’s steering is rather slow.

But for all that, riding a Honda RC30 is still “the stuff dreams are made of,” RevZilla reports. Its ergonomics are surprisingly modern, and while the seat is rather low, it’s fairly comfortable. The V4 idles and pulls away from a stop without histrionics or excessive vibrations. And the bike doesn’t feel heavy or slow, only stable.

The true magic, though, comes when you truly push the RC30. The raw visceral exhaust makes you feel like you’re in the TT, and the throttle response “is perfect,” RevZilla gushes. Whether it’s the clutch lever, shifter, throttle, or handlebars, everything about the RC30 feels precise. It might be old, but this superbike can still dance like the best.

What’s this icon worth today?

Unfortunately for your wallet, the Honda RC30 was and is still priced like some of the best superbikes. Honda only made 3000 examples; the US received 316 bikes from that run, RideApart says. That rarity, combined with the RC30’s pedigree and the growing interest in ‘80s and ‘90s machines, means prices have risen drastically in recent years.

In 1990, the Honda RC30 started at roughly $15K in the US, the equivalent of $31,330 today. But a good-condition example these days costs about $40K, Hagerty says. And in 2018, a 14-mile example set records when it sold at Bonhams for $92,000. Though as of this writing, IMA has an example listed for $22,100 with four days left in the auction.

The good news is that Honda now offers new parts for RC30 owners, removing some repair anxiety. And that means, if you can get in the saddle, you can ride your still-super bike even more.

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

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The Ultra-Rare Ferrari Monza Is a Street-Legal Formula 1 Car Worth Over $3 Million

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Ferrari supercars are the rarest of the rare, and only a select few people can afford them. In fact, some wealthy enthusiasts have the cash but still can’t snag one of these high-performance beasts. But for those who can, the Ferrari Monza SP2 is basically a street-legal Formula 1 car worth millions. 

The Ferrari Monza has something in common with the lauded LaFerrari

A black Ferrari Monza SP2 at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed | Martyn Lucy/Getty Images

The Ferrari LaFerrari is a legend in the auto world. Packing 950 hp, it was the most powerful street-legal Ferrari when it debuted, Wired reported. Add in the fact that Ferrari made only 499 examples of this supercar, and the value skyrocketed even more.

Like the LaFerrari, the Ferrari Monza saw only a limited production of about 500 models. And though it’s not as well known as its lauded sibling, the Monza still garners attention from experts and enthusiasts, some of whom are willing to pay millions to own one.

The Ferrari Monza is as fast as a Formula 1 car

For anyone who loves convertibles, the idea of driving a Formula 1 car is a dream come true. Between the open top, the roaring wind, and a powerful vehicle at your behest, it’s easy to see why so many people dream of owning one. Unfortunately, F1 cars aren’t street-legal. 

But the Ferrari Monza is road-legal. It boasts a naturally aspirated 6.5 liter V12 engine that produces 810 horses. The speed is so fast you’ll have to drive back to the starting point to find your lunch. That’s because the Monza can go from 0 to 60 in a mere 2.8 seconds and top out at 187 mph, The Supreme Car Initiative reports.

The Monza is part of Ferrari’s Icona series and harks back to the Prancing Horse’s racing roots. Forget the windshield — you won’t need it. That’s because you’ll be wearing a helmet and goggles. But you’ll still be turning heads for all the right reasons in this incredible car. 

Without a roof, you shouldn’t drive this incredible car in bad weather. But you can enjoy your time alone in the one-seat version or bring along a friend in the two-seater.

What’s the difference between the SP1 and SP2?

For those lucky enough to afford a Ferrari Monza and be lucky enough that Ferrari would allow the purchase, the question becomes whether to choose the Monza SP1 or Monza SP2. There’s only one major difference between the two, and that’s the number of occupants that can go along for the ride.

The SP1 is a single-seat car, meaning only the driver gets to have fun. This is nice when you need to get out on your own, but you might leave behind some disgruntled loved ones.

The SP2, on the other hand, is a two-seater. You’ll still have some upset friends because you can carry only one passenger at a time, Continental Autosports reports.

Good luck getting your hands on one of these rare cars, though. The duPont Registry listed a Ferrari Monza SP2 for sale earlier this month, but it was gone by the next day.

It was a beauty, too. The sales site described it as “finished in the historical Rosso Fiorano paint with the Scuderia Ferrari airbrushed on. Carbon fiber accents can be found through the exterior and interior, including the monocoque, under-door cover, sill kick, racing seat, and more. For the cockpit, Nera Alcantara with accenting Rosso stitching and Rosso Alcantara inner details create a beautiful area for both the driver and passenger.”

The listing price? A cool $3.2 million.

RELATED: The Top 5 Most Expensive Ferraris Will Blow Your Mind

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