Modern Cars Remade for Fast and Furious Era Car Enthusiasts

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Fast and Furious franchise is a movie series that many modern-day car enthusiasts grew to know and love. Unlike some other popular automotive-enthusiasts movies and shows, part of what made the original Fast and Furious movies so popular was that it features cars that were not only already active in the car scene but also affordable to most fans and enthusiasts. The franchise may have moved on to newer, more expensive cars like the Lykan Hypersport, many aspects of the tuner and custom car scene still revolve around the capable and popular cars from the series. Luckily for us, over the past few years, many automotive manufacturers have begun to bring back these beloved cars with new technology, modern style, and some much-needed upgrades, taking the car world by storm.

A 1970 Dodge Charger R/T used on screen by Vin Diesel as the signature car of his character Dominic Toretto in the Fast and The Furious (2001) and A 1994 Toyota Supra MK IV used on screen by Paul Walker in The Fast and the Furious (2001) | Ollie Millington, Getty Images

The new Nissan Z

The rear 3/4 view of a yellow-and-black 2023 Nissan Z Proto Spec
2023 Nissan Z Proto Spec rear 3/4 | Nissan

The new Nissan Z has been so hyped up that it’s hard to ignore, and it’s also been rather controversial. While renderings and concepts have been released since the idea came out to be more than just a dream for Fast and Furious fans, the design seems to be either loved or hated. Regardless of individual taste, the newly remade Nissan Z shares a lot of the iconic design aspects that fans have come to know and love from the older generation Nissan 350Z and Nissan 370Z, and even though the highly modern design touches may take time to get used to, there is no doubt that this car will be turning heads at every car show and meeting once it hits the road.

The start of the Fast and Furious: the Toyota Supra

The Toyota Supra prices only increased with its popular role in the Fast and Furious franchise and never seemed to come back down again. The capable engine is only one thing that fans of the vehicle love about the car, along with getting to share the culture of the car scene many modern enthusiasts grew up with. While it was produced in collaboration with BMW — which has lead to many annoying jokes about how the new Toyota Supra is actually just a BMW Z4 in disguise — it offers a rather unique style that, although is not at all similar to the original Toyota Supra, is still rather striking and unique.

The remade Acura NSX

The Acura NSX is a seemingly forgotten supercar gem, but Fast and Furious fans can’t help but love the underrated supercar. If you’re wondering if anyone still cared about the original Fast and Furious cars, the reinvention of the Acura NSX proves that they truly do. Although it isn’t as affordable as many of the other popular options from the brand, the NSX, like the Dodge Viper featured in some of the movies, gave fans a little bit more excitement with the world of entry-level supercars. The Acura NSX is back on the chopping block again, however, with the last version of the vehicle revealed not very long ago.

RELATED: How the Fast and Furious Changed Car Shows Forever

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Chevy Bolt’s Billion-Dollar Battery Replacement Debacle Is Bad News for Joe Biden

by Gabrielle DeSantis

GM brand Chevrolet will spend $1 billion on electric vehicle battery replacement for Chevrolet Bolt models. This news is unsurprising as GM has issued several Chevy Bolt recalls earlier this year. President Joe Biden praised GM’s Bolt for being American-made and union-built at a recent meeting with American automakers. Here’s why GM’s colossal recall is bad news for President Joe Biden and the entire U.S.

The Chevrolet Bolt: The undeserving favorite

The Chevrolet Bolt | Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/LA Daily News via Getty Images

GM’s Chevrolet Bolt wasn’t considered a horrible electric vehicle, at least until recent recalls. The Chevy bolt was affordable and seemingly reliable. It even received Car of the Year from MotorTrend, back in 2017, shortly after its debut. The Chevy Bolt was set to become the quintessential middle-class American EV because of its price and decent range, not to mention its General Motors lineage.

Early models have an EPA-estimated range of 238 miles on a single charge (extremely uncommon at the time). It appeared that GM had struck gold and created the compact car of the future while being an automaker with strong roots in the past. If we learned anything this year, it’s that everything can change in a matter of a few months. Today the Chevrolet Bolt has become an undeserving American favorite.

Reviewers and consumers alike gleefully proclaimed that Tesla now had serious competition when the Chevy Bolt arrived. At the time, Chevy was providing more value and bang for your buck. Today, the Chevy Bolt’s reliability is not only questionable, but it’s also scary. Plenty of Chevy Bolt models have spontaneously caught fire.

So how do you own a Chevrolet Bolt without worrying about your house going up in flames? You don’t. The truth is, GM has tried to mitigate this issue and now finally realizes that it has to recall every Chevy Bolt model or face even more disaster. The Chevy Bolt is the only EV that falls under President Biden’s American-made and union-built expectation…and right now, it’s a huge failure.

GM’s billion-dollar debacle

A redy Chevrolet Bolt.
The Chevrolet Bolt | Chevrolet

According to Roadshow by CNET, General Motors is replacing 68,667 Chevrolet Bolt battery modules for the 2017-2019 model years. GM is also working to replace battery packs of more recent models. This may be the downfall of the Chevrolet Bolt as its credibility as a reliable EV is being burnt to a crisp.

GM estimates spending $1 billion to remedy this Chevrolet Bolt battery pack issue. Considering that the Bolt isn’t the highest-selling EV, this is an incredibly risky investment. On the one hand, GM cannot risk having drivers own vehicles that can catch on fire. On the other hand, even after the recall, it’s hard to imagine that any consumer would want a Chevy Bolt since its reputation has suffered so much.

The Chevy Bolt’s battery issue could not have happened at a worse time as automakers like Ford and Tesla are selling more EV units. It would be incredibly easy for the Bolt to be forgotten by consumers in favor of more exciting Ford and Tesla electric vehicles…that aren’t so flammable.

GM recall is bad news for President Joe Biden

US President Joe Biden speaks about the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan from the East Room of the White House August 16, 2021, in Washington, DC.
US President Joe Biden | Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

President Joe Biden is thankfully a strong supporter of electric vehicles. He is a believer in the electric future. He has ambitions and expectations for the U.S. regarding the reduction of carbon emissions. The only issue is, his expectations don’t seem that feasible. The President’s expectations seem more like a politician’s promises than achievable goals set considering all the factors and parties involved.

The President of the United States doesn’t seem to be a huge fan of Tesla and Elon Musk. Tesla does not use unionized workers. President Biden wants electric vehicles to be American-made and union-built. Tesla models occupy both the first and second best-selling EV positions. Tesla is a huge contributor to the electric future, and if Elon and President Biden can’t find a way to be collaborative, the country may miss out. Should Tesla be receiving more support from the U.S. government to meet mutual goals in carbon emission reduction?

RELATED: Is Your Chevy Bolt In Danger Of Spontaneously Combusting?

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The 2022 Nissan Frontier Is Finally a Good Truck, but Now Faces Stiff Competition From the Hyundai Santa Cruz

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Consumers and critics long regarded the Nissan Frontier as an unappealing fossil of a truck. It sorely lacked interior technology and couldn’t perform as well as rivals. Finally, the redesigned Frontier looks much better. But now it has to face a midsize Hyundai pickup.

The 2022 Santa Cruz is Hyundai’s first truck, or “sport adventure vehicle,” as the automaker has marketed it. The Santa Cruz might not be an established name yet, but its fresh design already sets it apart from the Nissan Frontier. Here’s how the two trucks stack up.

The new Nissan Frontier

2022 Nissan Frontier | Nissan Motor Corporation

The 2022 Nissan Frontier’s engine remains unchanged, a 310-hp V6 paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It can get 18/24 mpg city/highway at best, slightly lower than other trucks its size. Automatic four-wheel drive is available, and the maximum towing capacity remains 6,720 pounds. All Nissan Frontiers can haul up to 1,460 pounds, The Car Connection reports.

Despite the identical frame, Nissan promises the new suspension components will provide a smoother ride. Car and Driver confirms this, praising its seamless acceleration and refined steering. Testers also found the updated Frontier Pro-4X a worthy off-roader compared to previous incarnations.

Nissan completely updated the Frontier’s interior, swapping out clunky plastics for more soft-touch surfaces. It also upgraded the standard touchscreen to eight inches and added more USB ports, plus smartphone integration. The Car Connection also appreciated nice options like the Fender sound system and wireless charging pad. All Nissan Frontiers now offer a bevy of useful safety features, though automatic emergency braking is strangely absent.

According to Nissan, the new Frontier will start at $27,840 for the Crew Cab model and $29,340 for King Cab. Adding 4WD will cost $3,000 extra for Crew Cabs and $3,200 more for King Cabs. All trims and body styles should be available at Nissan dealerships next month.

The unconventional Hyundai Santa Cruz

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz comes with a 191-hp turbo-four instead of a V6, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. A larger turbo-four on tap produces 281 hp and comes with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The base engine might be underpowered, but it gets great gas mileage at 21/26 mpg city/highway.

With the bigger turbo-four and optional all-wheel drive, the Hyundai Santa Cruz can tow up to 5,000 pounds. That’s enough to compete with the Honda Ridgeline, but its short bed is a point of contention amongst truck fans. It measures only four feet long and can carry up to 1,586 pounds. The Santa Cruz with the base engine can haul 1,906 pounds.

This makes it slightly less capable, but it also has a versatile in-bed trunk and locking tonneau cover for added security. The truck’s unique styling actually won TCC’s approval, particularly the bulldog-style grille. On the inside, the Santa Cruz’s comfort is comparable to a midsize SUV.

Hyundai officially released the 2022 Santa Cruz in April and has delivered more units all summer. The base trim costs only $23,990. Models with the upgraded engine start at $35,680.

So, which pickup truck is better?

Thanks to the Hyundai Santa Cruz’s short bed, the Nissan Frontier offers more utility. However, the latter truck’s performance is still slightly underwhelming. The 2022 Frontier is also more expensive than rivals, Jalopnik notes.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is still a great, affordable vehicle for SUV shoppers who want a truck-like aesthetic. But we’ll have to wait until the 2022 Nissan Frontier comes out to determine which truck is more popular.

RELATED: 2 Pickup Trucks Under $10,000 Consumer Reports Rates as the Least Expensive to Maintain

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This Chevy Suburban Drowned When the Owner Tried Filling the Radiator

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Today we are mourning the loss of an innocent Chevrolet Suburban. What started as a normal day for this SUV ended in disaster. The owner tried using a river to fill the Chevy Suburban’s radiator, and things did not go well. 

R.I.P Man accidentally drowns his Chevy Suburban

This may be a surprise to some, but the Chevy Suburban can’t swim. It’s an excellent SUV for towing, taking family vacations, off-roading, etc. But it can’t turn into a submarine or another aquatic vehicle. 

According to Kima News, emergency crews responded to an SUV that was spotted after being submerged into the Yakima River in Washington. Drivers could see that light blue Suburban sticking out of the water near Century Lander, in the gap south of Yakima and Union Gap. 

The Yakima Country Sheriff’s Office was shocked to discover that the SUV was intentionally submerged nose-first into the water. The driver told them that he recently replaced the thermostat in the vehicle and needed to fill the radiator with water. 

You could get a jug of distilled water and use that to fill a radiator. Dipping the front end of a vehicle into the water to fill it isn’t the safest method. The Suburban has been towed out of the river, and the extent of the damage is currently unknown. 

Avoid putting water in your radiator 

If your Chevy Suburban, Ford F-150, Jeep Wrangler, or any vehicle is running hot, please don’t fill the radiator with dirty water. If you use contaminated water, it can chemically remove the electrons from the metals of the cooling system components. 

Distilled water will eventually lead to damage as well. The cylinder heads and engine block will be at an increased risk of overheating and damage. Also, most tap water contains minerals that will leave deposits inside the radiator, leading to corrosion. This can shorten its life span and ruin its ability to cool. 

You can put distilled water in your radiator if you have no other options available. But you will want to use the highest quality water possible. A bottle of distilled water is a much better option than dirty river water. 

You only want to resort to using water if you have a short distance to drive. Once you arrive at that location, ensure that the radiator is flushed and refilled with the correct mixture of coolant and water. 

How does water ruin vehicles? 

A car drives through deep water on a flooded road | JUSTIN TALLIS, AFP, Getty Images

We aren’t sure what exactly was damaged when the Chevy Suburban was dunked in the river. But we do know that a lot of significant damage can occur when a vehicle is flooded. Usually, water that goes past the floorboards causes problems because that’s where the electronics begin. 

Water can damage the engine, airbags, electrical system, and other crucial components. Minor flooding can also lead to rust, mold, and a few new interesting smells. Typically after a car dries out and a mechanic can inspect it for damage, the vehicle is considered to be totaled. 

If your car is flooded, don’t start the engine until it has been clean and inspected. Running the engine with water in it can cause more damage. Have the vehicle towed to a location where it can dry out. Have all fluids flushed and make sure the components are cleaned. Then have a technician inspect the electrical components for water damage.

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