Cyberlandr Turns Tesla Cybertruck Into RV: Hits $80 Million Pre-Sales

by Gabrielle DeSantis

An artificial intelligence company is shifting gears to manufacture a camper for the upcoming Tesla Cybertruck. It is a strange segway for a company that deals with machine learning models. The company; Stream It, wants to make attachments for the Cybertruck and has revealed its first product; this small pop-up house on wheels called “Cyberlandr.” 

Cyberlander needed to be designed from a clean sheet

The idea for the camper came to Stream It CEO Lance King. Nothing on the camper market will work with the Cybertruck, it’s just too different from conventional trucks. “[The RV industry] hasn’t innovated in 50 years,” King told Yahoo! news. “They’re not going to get a stroke of genius and create a new RV. And I thought, ‘who could do it?'”

King says that his company has lots of creative software developers, and it also has AI. He says that the key to an RV on the same plane as Tesla must have AI software. It also needs to be able to be updated annually. 

Nobody designing the Cyberlandr has any RV experience

Another reason he thinks Stream It is the best company for Cybertruck accessories is that it is not an RV company. Nobody working there has been in the RV industry. So he’s saying being an outsider makes for a better product. 

The number of pre-orders has exceeded expectations. Especially, with $80 million in deposits. Stream It hoped to snag around 100 people interested in its camper. Instead, over 1,000 buyers came forward. 

Musk’s response to the Cyberlandr was “Cool”

And it has a veiled endorsement from Tesla founder Elon Musk. When shown the video of King’s idea last month, he said it was “cool.” That in itself should get the followers of Musk to pay attention. 

What is attracting buyers is the unusual features of this $50,000 camper. First, there is a retractable set of stairs for getting into the bedroom and bathroom. The entire unit can collapse when not in use. 

For the kitchen, there is everything you would expect. A smart-faucet which you can use with voice commands, refrigerator, porcelain countertops, hidden cooktop, sink, cutting board, and drying rack. The living room features removable seats, lighting, a 32-inch smart television, and voice-activated lighting.

The kitchen and bathroom are fully-equipped

Besides sleeping for two there is also room below the bed for one adult or two children. The bathroom features heated floors, a shower, sink, toilet, and smart glass that can dim to block off what’s happening inside. 500-watt solar panels ride on top that augments the Cybertruck’s standard battery. 

In all, when opened up the camper will stand 11-feet and weigh 1,200 lbs. The company plans on manufacturing these campers near where the Cybertruck will be manufactured in Austin, Texas. Until the dimensions are shared by Tesla, or until the Cybertruck is released no plans can be finalized.  

So it is a waiting game for now. The camper has been designed so that dimensions can easily be changed based on any discrepancies that end up happening. “We’re ramping up everything to make sure we can respond very quickly to those changes and get them out as soon as possible afterward,” King says.

RELATED: Tesla Wants to Be McDonald’s: Files Trademark for Drive-In Franchise

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The 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser SUV Is a Beast When it Comes to Practical Application

by Gabrielle DeSantis

This summer, Toyota revealed the all-new 300 Series Toyota Land Cruiser SUV. This is a luxurious SUV with the designated purpose of going off-road. In order to remain true to its DNA, the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser needs to easily tackle difficult off-road scenarios. Unfortunately, the U.S. won’t get the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser. 

2022 Toyota Land Cruiser | Toyota

But it’s still fun to watch foreign YouTube videos to see what we are missing. And, to be real, it looks like we are missing out on quite a bit. The video below shows the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser beasting some soaking wet off-road trails and launching over a ramp. Yeah, this thing can actually jump.

The Toyota Land Cruiser remains an off-road king

If Toyota ever released a Land Cruiser that couldn’t handle off-road obstacles, it would be a mystery to us all. From its legendary beginnings as the Toyota Jeep BJ to the fan-favorite 70 and 80 Series generations, the Land Cruiser is rooted in off-road performance. And the new 300 Series takes the best from every generation to become the pinnacle of Land Cruiser models. 

The whole idea of the Toyota Land Cruiser is that it’s a luxurious family SUV. But it is one that can go virtually anywhere and “bring you back alive.” These insane videos of the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser absolutely crushing that practical application are fun enough to watch more than once. Plus, they effectively exemplify the fact that the Toyota Land Cruiser remains an off-road king. 

2022 Toyota Land Cruiser SUV driving off-road in the mountains
2022 Toyota Land Cruiser 300 | Toyota Global

The Land Cruiser isn’t just a car pooler. It’s a hauler designed to take you to the ends of the earth and back. When the rugged adventure concludes, the Land Cruiser gets you and your family home safe and looks great in your driveway. The 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser appears to deliver on all fronts. 

Where is the new Land Cruiser SUV available? 

The 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series luxury interior with rear entertainment in a creamy tan leather finish
2022 Toyota Land Cruiser 300 | Toyota Global

According to Motor1, there are already reports from Japan that the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser has a twelve month waiting list. The U.S. won’t get it, as we already know. But speculation is that it won’t be a common sight in Europe either. 

However, we do expect to see it across the Middle East. Africa should see the Land Cruiser 300 Series as well, as this Toyota SUV has long been a staple in places like South Africa as well as a noble steed for traversing the bush country. 

Australia is another market that we expect for the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser. We also won’t be surprised to see it in South America. Basically, anywhere that a lot of the important roads are yet unpaved. Anywhere that the backcountry is part of life and a luxury SUV to take you through the wilderness is not only desired but necessary. 

The 2022 LC 300 should have no issues with practical application off-road 

Going by Toyota’s Japanese Land Cruiser channel on YouTube, the new generation isn’t going to have trouble off-road. Plus, the last video shows the Gazoo Racing variant featuring Toyota’s electronically controlled kinetic dynamic suspension stabilization (E-KDSS) system. The GR Sport trim Land Cruiser also has front and rear electronic differential locks in addition to its upgraded adaptive variable suspension.

The 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser might weigh 441 pounds more than the preceding 200 Series model. But it benefits from frame rigidity that’s increased by 20 percent. The LC 300 also has a lower center of gravity, which drastically improves handling and drivability for a vehicle of this size. 

With driving modes ranging from Auto, Dirt, and Sand, to Rock, Mud, and Deep Snow, the new LC 300 is born for tough terrain. It’s dying to prove itself by showing off its practical application, but it’s not likely to become a commonplace vehicle on earth’s dirt roads for a while as production is just getting started. Until then, we will just keep watching it do cool stuff in videos like these.

RELATED: 2021 Ford Bronco Parking Lot Pile Up: You Might Have to Wait Until 2022 or Beyond

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It’s a Great Time to Custom Order a 2021 Ford Ranger

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re looking for a mid-size pickup truck, then the 2021 Ford Ranger is a great choice. And while it competes with heavy hitters like the Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado, and Jeep Gladiator, the Ranger holds its own with a bevy of cab configurations and a potent turbocharged engine. Now is a great time to not only buy a Ranger, but according to Ari Janessian – an auto broker with Negotiation Guides – it’s actually a good time to have one custom built.

Ford’s special APR makes financing a Ranger an attractive deal

New Tremor Off-Road Package available on 2021 Ranger creates the most off-road-ready factory-built Ranger ever offered in the U.S. | Ford

Although new car inventory shortages continue to plague dealerships, there’s still a good chance that you can get the Ford Ranger you have been wanting. Janessian notes that there are currently 2,985 Rangers models sitting at dealer lots nationwide and of those, the XLT trim level is the most prevalent. There are currently 887 four-wheel-drive XLT models on the ground and 271 rear-drive models available.

Since that trim level is the most popular, Janessian uses a Ranger XLT SuperCrew 4WD model for his sample financing breakdown:

2021 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCrew
MSRP: $41,210
Target price: $40,180
Rebate: $1,000
APR: 1.9% for 60 months
Final: $40,180
Payment: $728/month plus taxes

Starting with an MSRP of $41,210, Janessian says that you should aim for a 2.5% discount in your negotiations. “I know it seems kind of crazy that we’re really along talking about $1,000. But $1,000 from the dealer and $1,000 from Ford could land you at a decent 5%-type deal,” Janessian says in the video.

That extra $1,000 from Ford is for custom ordering the Ranger, which will result in a target selling price of $40,180. Fortunately, Ford is also offering a special interest rate of 1.9% for well-qualified buyers for up to 60 months. When calculating all of these numbers, your projected monthly finance payment for a Ranger would be $728 per month plus tax. That’s not bad, considering you’ll get the exact Ford Ranger that you want.

The Ranger’s high residual value makes leasing even more attractive

If you’re the type that would rather lease a new car as opposed to buying one, then you’ll be happy to know that leasing a Ford Ranger could yield good results. Ford isn’t offering any special rebates for leasing, however, the residual value for the Ranger is a super high 66%. If you’re wondering how that helps, here is Janessian’s lease example breakdown:

2021 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCrew
MSRP: $41,210
Target price: $40,180
Rebate: $0
Residual: 66% at 36 months
APR: 2.75%
Payment: $437/month plus taxes

The same parameters for leasing a Ranger apply as the MSRP and target selling prices are the same. However, while there are no current rebates from Ford for leasing a Ranger, the truck does have a high 66% residual value after 36 months. This means that after three years, Ford estimates that the Ranger will hold 66% of its original value.

After calculating the lease deal with a 2.75% APR (money factor), Janessian estimates that you should have a lease payment of around $437 a month with about $1,765 as a down payment.

It’s a great time to buy a Ford Ranger

Ford Ranger interior
Ford Ranger interior | Ford

Although buying or leasing a new car right now might seem futile, there is still hope if you have the patience to find a good deal. Janessian recommends using the aforementioned figures as a guide and a seek quotes from multiple dealers in your area to net the best deal.

Just remember that your discounts, taxes, and fees may vary depending on your location. If you would like to build your custom Ford Ranger, you can do so on the automaker’s website.

RELATED: 2021 Ford Ranger: Which Trim Level Should You Buy?

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Chrysler Turbine Car: Why the Government Made Chrysler Crush Its Jet Cars

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Have you ever heard about the Chrysler Turbine Car? It was big news back in the 60s but never became a full production car. The history of the Chrysler Turbine Car is not an unusual story for innovative vehicles that were just ahead of the times, which Chrysler was very into back in the day.

How much is a Chrysler Turbine Car worth?

What happened to the Chrysler Turbine Car? | REPORTERS ASSOCIES/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Chrysler made the Chrysler Turbine Car for a very short period between 1963 and 1964. The brand experimented with turbine cars around that time, and the Chrysler Turbine Car was the crowning jewel of this time. That’s partially due to the bronze color of the vehicle.

According to the history provided by MotorCities, Chrysler Corporation originally documented the information in the 1964 book called “History of Chrysler Corporation Gas Turbine Vehicles.”

At the time, there was no place to manufacture the turbine engines. For Chrysler to build a factory for turbine engines, there was an estimated cost of around $1 billion. The machines would have cost $10,000 per engine to produce. These days, these vehicles are priceless due.

The history of the Chrysler Turbine Car

While Chrysler had been working on turbine engines for a bit, the Chrysler Turbine Car was a brand new design with brand new technology. It was only offered in a bronze paint color called Turbine Bronze. It had two doors, a hardtop roof, power brakes, power steering, and power windows.

Chrysler built one car a week until all 50 vehicles were completed in October of 1964. The company called this initiative the Chrysler Turbine program. The turbine engine had many advantages and sounded like a jet, hence the name “jet car.” It had fewer moving parts, and it would run on any flammable liquid. At the time, the different fuel options were a big selling point for buyers. Some of the cars went to families to test while others went on a sort of cross-country tour. The automaker eventually had the Ghia company produce the Chrysler Turbine Car cars in Italy, which is where the problems started.

The story about the Mexican president

One of the touring turbine cars ended up in Mexico. At the time, people wanted to test the fact that the jet car would run on anything flammable. Adolfo Mateos, President of Mexico at the time, wondered if Chrysler was serious about the “any” flammable liquid fuel thing. He asked if tequila would count since it was flammable. Chrysler did some quick tests to determine that the vehicle could indeed run on tequila. Mateos took a short ride in the tequila-powered car to prove its point.

Unfortunately, Chrysler destroyed almost all of the produced versions of the Chrysler Turbine Cars. The government wanted to charge import taxes on the cars made by Ghia, which would have been incredibly expensive. Chrysler could either pay the full import duties or have the vehicles crushed. Some of the vehicles that remain do not have the turbine engine.

Chrysler would remove the engines before sending the vehicle away. The automaker made only about 70 vehicles in total. Chrysler crushed 46 of the remaining options, and nine of the cars are floating around in museums. Jay Leno has one in his collection, and another one lives in a private collection somewhere. Otherwise, the Chrysler Turbine Car remains a blip in the history of experimental vehicles.

RELATED: Are Dodge and Chrysler the Same Thing?

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