Ford Is Spending $850M On the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Electric Truck, Here’s Why

by Gabrielle DeSantis

In an exclusive Reuters report, sources revealed that Ford has doubled its production target for the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning EV truck. Ford has adjusted its production targets because of the strong demand for the full-sized electric pickup truck. And, according to several people and suppliers familiar with the Blue Oval’s plans, the automaker also plans to spend an additional $850 million to meet its production targets ahead of the truck’s showroom debut in 2022.

The Ford F-150 Lightning is an electric truck for the masses

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro | Ford

The Ford F-150 has been America’s bestselling truck for decades. However, it’s the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning that’s here to change the truck scene. In fact, the all-new Lightning is the brand’s electrified version of the Ford F-150. 

The Lightning marks the first-ever all-electric F-Series truck too. The new electric truck starts at $39,974 and comes equipped with a standard range battery and dual motor power 4×4. According to Ford, it’s targeting 426-horsepower and an EPA-estimated 230 miles of range with the standard Lightning model. 

An extended-range version will also be available. That version is targeting 563-horsepower and an EPA-estimated range of 300 miles. The long-range version is, however, more expensive and starts at $49,974. As for why Ford is spending $850 million on the all-new Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck? Let’s find out.

Why Ford is spending $850M on the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning EV truck

According to insider sources, Ford is “pleasantly surprised by the demand for the Lightning.” And while the automaker anticipated initially annual production of more than 40,000 Ford F-150 Lightning EV trucks, the brand has since adjusted its production plans. 

In fact, according to Reuters’ sources, Ford’s new plan includes building out 15,000 F-150 Lightning models in 2022, 55,000 in 2023, and 80,000 in 2024. Ford will then reportedly target 160,000 vehicles in 2025 when the second-generation Lightning makes its showroom debut. According to Reuters source’s, the automaker plans on spending an additional $850 million to ensure it meets its production targets amid solid demand for the electric truck.

“We are excited with customer demand for the F-150 Lightning and already have 120,000 customer reservations, and we will continue to look for ways to break constraints and meet customer demand,” The automaker said in a statement provided to Reuters.  

Ford is also spending over $22 billion on electric vehicles

Ford is investing $22 billion in electrification through 2025 as part of its plan to lead electrification in areas of strength. The company is electrifying its most iconic products – the Mustang, F-150 and Transit – with many more to come in the years ahead. In addition to offering zero-emissions versions of its most popular vehicles, Ford is harnessing electrification to deliver more of what customers love about them: Performance, capability and productivity.
Ford EV Family | Ford

When it comes to electric vehicles, Ford is a big spender. In fact, in May, the brand revealed its EV strategy, including spending over $22 billion on EVs. Ford’s EV strategy focuses on leveraging some of its most prominent nameplates, including the electric F-150, the Ford E-Transit van, and the Mustang Mach-E. Ford says it also looks forward to offering zero-emissions versions of many of its most popular Ford models. 

Ford isn’t just investing in new electric vehicle models either. It’s also investing in battery cell technology. In fact, the automaker recently announced the establishment of its global battery center in southeast Michigan, where it will develop new battery cell manufacturing techniques. The brand also recently increased its investment in Solid Power, an industry-leading producer of batteries for electric vehicles.

“A key part of Ford’s goal to drive the adoption of electric vehicles is to target the large market for fully electric commercial vans and pickups. Ford is planning to bring the benefits of electric vehicles to these customers with an accessible price point, improved productivity, and lower cost of ownership.”

Ford

Are electric vehicles here to change the game?

While it’s certainly exciting to see Ford up its production targets for the Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck, Ford isn’t the only automaker with plans to introduce electric pickups to its lineup. Both General Motors and Tesla have plans to sell electric pickup trucks. Start-ups like Lordstown Motors, Canoo, and Rivian are also introducing their electric trucks to the market.

RELATED: Is the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Better Than the PowerBoost Hybrid?

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2022 Toyota GR Corolla Hot Hatch: How Fast Will It Be?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Toyota Corolla is one of the best-selling cars in the world. The automaker doesn’t have to build a faster, more exciting version to sell more of them. But the Corolla has a legitimate high-performance heritage if you look back far enough. They were even rear-wheel drive, once upon a time.

With the latest Corolla hatchback, there’s an excellent foundation for performance, but US versions thus far have been decidedly unexciting. Turbocharged powertrains now exist that would transform it into something truly special. Toyota could build a legitimate Volkswagen GTI killer. If adequate support is behind the project, it has the resources to build something that would rival or even beat the Golf R.

What is the GR Corolla?

The 2019 Toyota Corolla after its unveiling at the 2018 New York International Auto Show | Angerer via Getty Images

Since its release in 2019, the latest Toyota Corolla has exemplified mediocrity. Aside from a few sporty colors and the available six-speed manual, it’s a disappointing drive from an enthusiast’s perspective. The naturally aspirated 168-hp engine is woefully inadequate for 2021 and the driving experience is not engaging or thrilling in the least.

With the GR Corolla, Toyota presumably intends to change that. GR or Gazoo Racing is the firm’s performance and motorsports subsidiary. GR just won the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans for the fourth time in a row. The outfit is also in charge of performance road cars like the GR86 and Supra. When the racing-inspired GR Yaris was released, but not allowed for sale in the US, enthusiasts weren’t happy. In response to the uproar, Toyota committed to developing a hot hatch that will be sold stateside.

How fast will it be?

Lexus TA24 turbo engine
The wild card option – Lexus’ TA24 2.4-liter turbo engine | Toyota

If Toyota sticks with the 1.6-liter inline-three cylinder turbocharged engine from the GR Yaris, it could produce anywhere from 250 to 300 hp. While that would be mildly entertaining in the heavier Corolla, it’s unlikely to break any performance benchmarks. At that power level, the car would hardly stand up to the VW GTI, much less a Golf R.

However, there’s another option in Toyota’s parts bin, thanks to Lexus and the public’s voracious apetite for small SUVs. The new NX350 uses a larger version of Corolla’s TA-series engine, displacing 2.4-liters and blessed with a turbocharger. It would be capable of at least 350 hp in stock form and should fit in the Corolla chassis as well. The larger engine would give the VWs, and possibly the Subaru WRX STI, some true competition.

Will the GR Corolla be AWD?

Lexus NX350 turbo all wheel drive system
Lexus NX350 turbo all-wheel drive system | Toyota

That’s an excellent question, and nothing is certain. Speculation over the past year suggests that it might be. The Toyota GR Yaris has all-wheel drive, which could presumably be transplanted into the Corolla’s larger chassis. If the automaker intends to make a statement with the GR Corolla, all-wheel drive would be a smart move and guarantee the best possible acceleration.

The Lexus NX350 also has AWD, paired with the aforementioned 2.4-liter turbo engine and 8-speed transmission. In the off-chance that Toyota chooses that larger engine, at least the hardware exists to make an AWD version happen. Even if downsizing of certain components was required, it’s an interesting possibility.

Final thoughts

Regardless of how many cylinders it ends up with, as long as the GR Corolla has a turbocharger, it should be a massive leap forward. That said, if Toyota wants to rekindle its image in the minds of enthusiasts, they should hold nothing back on this one.

Collaborating with Subaru and BMW on previous sports cars may have saved time and money. But at the end of the day, they’re not really Toyotas. A class-leading AWD GR Corolla, with a turbo four-cylinder engine, will show the world Toyota can still make a high-performance car on its own.

RELATED: Easy Mods That Make Your Car Instantly Drive Better

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Are Teslas Actually More of a Fire Hazard Than Gas Cars?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Do Teslas really catch on fire more than gasoline-powered vehicles? Tesla has faced many hurdles establishing itself as a successful electric vehicle and clean energy brand. It has produced some of the most innovative features and tech in the entire automotive industry. The company has also faced major scrutiny over its Autopilot feature and battery pack fires. How likely are Teslas to catch fires, and are they more dangerous than the average gas car?

Tesla’s rise to the top of the electric vehicle market

2021 Tesla Model S | Tesla

Tesla is very much still new to the automotive industry compared to automakers like Ford and General Motors that have been around for over a century. The brand still isn’t two decades old and has disrupted the market in many ways. In just 13 years, the company has produced several popular electric vehicles that have captured consumers’ attention.

CEO Elon Musk and the hardworking folks at Tesla recognized that the niche electric vehicle market wouldn’t be niche for long. President Joe Biden recently announced that he would like 50% of all new vehicles to be electric by 2030. Electric vehicles are taking over the automotive industry, and Tesla has positioned itself as the top EV automaker. The company had to learn the hard way that novelty often comes with scrutiny.

When rare instances such as battery fires do happen to Tesla models, they attract media attention. In contrast, major vehicle recalls for gas-powered vehicles are often overlooked because they are more common and ordinary. The real question that consumers want answered is, are Tesla electric vehicles actually more prone to catch fire than the average gas-powered vehicle?

Tesla fires: Common or a rare occurrence?

Tesla fire aftermath.
Tesla fire | Via AFD

As we are witnessing firsthand with vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt, it is tough to sell a vehicle that is likely to burst into flames. According to InsideEVs, the reason Tesla is still selling major units is that Teslas don’t actually catch fire often. In the year 2019, the United States experienced close to 190,000 vehicle fires. Teslas only accounted for a small portion of the total amount of vehicle fires.

The reality is, internal combustion engine vehicles are much more likely to catch on fire than electric vehicles. Since Tesla is such a popular and controversial automaker, its vehicles catching on fire provide much more shock value than other automakers. How many times have we overlooked airbag recalls that could have led to fatalities by major automakers?

From 2012 to the year 2020, there was close to one vehicle fire for every 19,000,000 miles traveled. From 2012 to the year 2020, there was one Tesla vehicle fire for every 205,000,000 miles traveled. Not only are Tesla battery fires a rare occurrence, but Teslas are actually safer than gas-powered vehicles when it comes to catching fire.

Should you be afraid of electric vehicle fires?

Car crashed and burst into flames.
Detectives inspect the scene where a car crashed and burst into flames | William West/AFP via Getty Images

Electric vehicle battery pack fires have become an issue. However, not all electric vehicle battery packs are made the same way. Tesla claims to isolate cells in battery packs to avoid a chain reaction in the event that one cell actually does overheat.

When choosing an electric vehicle, it’s best to do research. Evidence will tell you that vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt are extremely prone to catching fire. Teslas, on the other hand, are just as safe as any other vehicle on the market when it comes to vehicle fires. Its Autopilot feature is another story. Electric vehicle fires will be minimized after GMs recent recalls and bad publicity. After all, no automaker wants to produce the vehicle that is most likely to combust spontaneously.
RELATED: Are There Too Many Tesla Model S Fires To Hide?

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Gas Station Safety Tips for Stopping to Refuel Any Time of Day or Night

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Staying safe at the gas station is more than just turning your car off before you pump gas and not using your cellphone at the pump. Gas stations themselves can be dangerous, especially for travels, and the best way to ensure you, your family, and your belongings stay to stay vigilant no matter the time of day or not, even if it is a gas station you travel to frequently. These gas station safety tips are rather simple, but they are easy things to forget, especially for something as typically mundane as pumping gas, which many of us do every week.

Don’t leave your purse or important belonging where they are easily accessible

Gas station | Fadel Itani, NurPhoto, Getty Images

It’s easy to just grab our credit card or cash out of our wallets and purse when we stop at the gas station and throw the rest on the seat — after all, it’s not exactly the safest idea to just be standing there with your purse, either. It is important to secure all of your belonging, ensure the windows are rolled up, and lock your vehicle to ensure no one has access to it, can jump in the vehicle when you aren’t looking, and can’t take anything out of it such as your wallet or purse. If you have to have the window done, such as for having a pet or child in the car, it is best to roll down the window closest to the pump so that you can keep an eye on everything.

Pay attention to the gas station and pump you pick

Waiting until the absolute last moment is never a good idea when it comes to running out of gas, as it can leave you stranded or stuck at a sketchy-looking gas station. Of course, when you’re traveling, you may not always have many options of the gas station. If you have the choice, it’s always better to pick a well-lit gas station that has more traffic and is off of the main road. Some gas stations don’t have shops attached that are open 24/7, meaning there are no attendants in case of emergency, so if you can wait and find one that is completely open, it isn’t a bad idea. Picking a pump that is well lit and in view of the attendants and cameras is also important for your personal safety.

Stay off of your phone and pay attention to your surroundings

Paying attention to your surroundings seems like a simple safety tip, but when it takes several minutes to pump your gas, it is easy to get distracted, especially on our cell phones. With large obstructions to our view like our vehicles and the gas pumps themselves, we don’t have the best view of our surroundings when we are stopped at the gas station, meaning we have to be extra attentive to our surroundings. This isn’t just important at night, either, as staying aware of what’s going on around you at the pump during the day is just as crucial to gas station safety.

Besides safety, it is also important to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after stopping at the pump, especially in the midst of the current pandemic, as gas station pumps aren’t as thoroughly sanitized as other surfaces inside many businesses.

RELATED: These Three States Offer Free Windshield Replacements with No Deductible

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