Jeep Makes the Gecko Green Paint Color Available for Only a Limited Time

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Jeep offers one of the most varied selections of exterior paint colors, but few models get access to each one. The Jeep Gladiator is currently available in nine colors, with a unique new shade on the way. The Gladiator tends to get good reviews, though some critics disagree about its value compared to similar trucks.

However, the Gecko Green paint color might make the Gladiator more desirable to some drivers. Stellantis recently revealed that the color was formerly reserved for only the Wrangler. However, now Gecko Green is available on the Jeep Gladiator, but only for a limited time.

A Jeep Gladiator of a different color

2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon in Gecko Green | Stellantis

Gecko Green is a neon shade, evening out the Jeep Gladiator’s ratio of vibrant-to-conventional colors. The Gladiator’s other dynamic shades include Fire Cracker Red, Hydro Blue Pearl, Bright White, and Punkin’ Metallic (an orange shade). The rest of the Gladiator’s color selection consists of black and gray variations, plus a khaki hue.

The Wrangler is also available in Gecko Green, but it’s not the first exclusive color the off-roader has received. Previous Wrangler models could also be clad in Nacho (a fun orangey-yellow) or Chief Blue (a lighter blue). According to Stellantis, customization is important to the automaker and enriches the consumer’s adventures with their vehicle.

Gecko Green is available only through a limited-time preorder of the 2022 models. Reservations for the 2022 Jeep Gladiator close in October, while Jeep will stop taking orders for the Wrangler at the end of this month.

What else is in store for the Jeep Gladiator?

Stellantis also announced that the Gladiator and Wrangler have a new windshield option. This new windshield is built with Gorilla Glass, which provides better protection against flying pebbles and other debris. On the Gladiator, it’s available for every trim except the range-topping High Altitude, which Jeep has discontinued for 2022.

We also know that the hybrid Jeep Gladiator 4xe might also arrive for the 2022 model year. It will likely have the same powertrain as the Wrangler 4xe — a turbo-four producing 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The two electric motors will also likely uphold (or even exceed) the Gladiator’s towing capacity of 7,650 pounds.

Otherwise, the Gladiator isn’t likely to have any changes for the 2022 model year. It still retains its base V6 engine capable of 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. For 2021, it got an optional EcoDiesel that makes 260 hp and an impressive 442 lb-ft of torque. 

The V6 is paired with a six-speed manual transmission, while the turbodiesel gets a smoother eight-speed automatic. All Gladiators are also ready for adventures with standard four-wheel drive and a solid-axle suspension. Several packages are available with additional equipment for easier off-roading. The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon comes decked out with locking axles on both ends, all-terrain tires, and off-road shock absorbers.

Like most Jeep vehicles, the Gladiator can have a hard or soft removable roof. However, aside from one interesting concept, Jeep has no plans for a two-door Gladiator. Although two-door Jeeps offer less interior space, some drivers prefer them for better gas mileage and lower purchase price.

How much will the 2022 models cost?

CarHp predicts the 2022 Jeep Gladiator will likely go on sale later this year with a starting MSRP of $32,060. The Gladiator Mojave could max out at $45,250, and pricing for the Gladiator 4xe hasn’t been announced.

According to Autoblog, getting Gecko Green will add $245 to the total. The Gorilla Glass upgrade costs $95. You might be able to score a Gecko Green Gladiator only if you preorder one, so don’t delay.

RELATED: The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 V8 Borrows a Lot From the Jeep Gladiator

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TWA Flight 800 Crash Wreckage Will Soon Be Destroyed After 25 Years

by Gabrielle DeSantis

On July 17, 1996, the crash of TWA Flight 800 forever changed the aviation industry. In the years following the explosion, the NTSB carefully reconstructed the doomed Boeing 747 to provide training and prevent future accidents. But after 25 years, the use of the reconstructed aircraft will soon come to an end. The NTSB plans to decommission and destroy the remains of the wreckage.

What caused the crash of TWA Flight 800?

TWA Flight 800 Boeing 747 wreckage | JON LEVY/AFP via Getty Images

To this day, the TWA Flight 800 crash remains one of the most notorious aircraft accidents in U.S. history. The Washington Post reported that the plane crashed shortly after takeoff when it exploded over the Atlantic Ocean during a flight from New York to Paris.

All 230 passengers and crew members aboard the flight died. After four years of investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board determined the cause was an explosion in the plane’s center fuel tank when a spark ignited a flammable mix of fuel and air.

The NTSB’s conclusion put to rest a conspiracy theory that the explosion resulted from a terrorist attack similar to the one that took down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. 

The TWA Flight 800 wreckage has helped with training and accident prevention

The NTSB has housed the wreckage from TWA Flight 800 in a 30,000-square-foot hangar in Ashburn, Virginia, for more than 20 years. Experts carefully reconstructed it from nearly 1,600 pieces gathered from the Atlantic Ocean and reassembled over many months, CNN reports. The reconstruction constitutes more than 95% of the original airplane. 

In reconstructing the aircraft, officials had to agree it would be used solely for training purposes rather than as a memorial open to the public, CNN explains.

The NTSB’s investigation prompted many changes in the aviation industry. For example, in 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered airplanes to be retrofitted with systems designed to reduce the volatility of the mix of air and fuel in tanks. According to The Washington Post, the NTSB called this decision “a transformational improvement in aviation safety.” 

In addition, the investigation prompted the FAA to create a system to address aging aircraft systems, such as wiring, and a formal program to support families of crash victims. 

But after more than two decades of use, the wreckage of TWA Flight 800 will be destroyed by year’s end. This is partly because the NTSB’s lease on the hangar will soon expire. Any pieces remaining after the aircraft’s destruction will be carefully scrubbed of identifying marks to prevent them from getting into the wrong hands and being sold on the black market. 

What is the NTSB, and what does it do?

The NTSB has been improving transportation safety since 1967. Though we tend to hear about this U.S. government agency most when airplane accidents occur, the NTSB investigates crashes related to transportation of all types, including highway, rail, and pipeline. 

As a result of its hard investigatory work, the agency has issued some 15,000 safety recommendations in its lifetime. Many of our most famous safety regulations stem from NTSB recommendations. These include adding aircraft floor-level escape lighting, requiring emergency position-beacons in marine vessels, raising the legal drinking age to 21, and lowering the legal blood alcohol content in drivers to .05. 

NTSB investigations are thorough and painstaking. They include gathering physical evidence, such as the wreckage of TWA Flight 800, taking photos and videos, conducting interviews with witnesses, and carrying out complex lab testing. Without the NTSB’s hard work, air travel would be less safe than it is today. 

RELATED: Boeing Just Grounded More 737 Max Planes Again – What’s Going On?

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‘Tokyo Drift’ Was Not Filmed In Tokyo

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is one of the most beloved films in the Fast Saga franchise. We would not be surprised if there are fans out there that could recite all the dialogue from the movie word for word. However, there are things that even the most ardent fans may not know about.

That is where Craig Lieberman comes in. Lieberman has been a figure in the automotive aftermarket scene for decades. Craig also served as the technical adviser for The Fast and the Furious and 2 Fast 2 Furious. Lieberman then assisted with sourcing background cars on The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Today, Craig likes to share stories and little-known behind-the-scenes fun facts on his YouTube channel.

Speaking of Tokyo Drift, in Craig’s latest video he drops a bombshell that much of what audiences watched in that film, was not actually filmed in Tokyo! Now would be the time to clutch your pearls if you have them.

Where Was ‘Tokyo Drift’ filmed?

A scene from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift | Fast Saga YouTube channel

By now most of you might be wondering where Tokyo Drift was filmed, if not in Tokyo? The truth is that the majority of the most iconic scenes from the movie were filmed in different areas of Southern California. We know that may seem unbelievable but it is actually true!

Remember the first drifting scene in the Japanese parking garage? That entire sequence was in reality, filmed in the now-abandoned Hawthorne Mall in California. All the scenes that took place in the “Han” character’s garage were all filmed in a warehouse located underneath the landmark 6th street bridge in downtown Los Angeles.

The scene in which “Han” takes “Sean” for a ride around downtown Shibuya and does some donuts around a duo of women in a Nissan Skyline was actually shot in a LA intersection. Even the final race showdown between the antagonist character “DK” and the hero was not actually filmed on a mountain road in Japan. That scene was shot in California on San Gabriel Canyon Road route 39.

How was ‘Tokyo Drift’ filmed?

A scene The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift featuring the character "Han" drifting in downtown Tokyo.
A scene from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift | Fast Saga YouTube channel

If the aforementioned scenes were not filmed in Japan, then how did the studio make those scenes look like they were in Japan? The answer is a combination of practical set dressing techniques and CGI (computer-generated images). For example, in the parking garage scene To make things look authentic, the set designers painted traffic directions on the walls and floors in Japanese characters. Real Japanese vending machines were imported from Japan and placed in the background. 

Remember all of those authentic right-hand-drive Japanese cars in that scene? While some of them were actually flown in from Japan, about 150 of those cars were from local private owners. The studio rented those JDM cars from the owners and some of them even got to be extras in the film!

Was any of ‘Tokyo Drift’ filmed in Tokyo?

Video from Craig Lieberman’s YouTube channel

While it might be disheartening to learn just how much of Tokyo Drift was actually filmed in California, we should make it clear that some of the film was shot in Japan. Nearly all the aerial shots of Shibuya City were authentic and shot from a helicopter on-location. The scenes that took place outside of “Sean’s” father’s house were also shot in Japan. 

There were also several scenes that were shot “run and gun” style in Japan to capture the authenticity of the urban surroundings. Craig goes over all of it in his video. Craig has addressed many commonly asked questions and myths about the Fast And Furious films on his YouTube channel. Though, for now, you know why much of Tokyo Drift was not actually filmed in Tokyo and how they pulled it off. It was all movie magic.

RELATED: Rejected: Why These Cars Didn’t Make It Into the Fast & Furious

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2021 Ford Ranger Tremor and 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro: What’s the Best Truck?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

These two pickup trucks have attracted a lot of attention recently. The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor and 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro are well-liked by drivers and critics. The TRD Pro is a cult favorite among pickup truck enthusiasts, while the Ford Ranger Tremor has just entered the game.

The case for the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor

2021 Ford Ranger Tremor vs. 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro | Ford

As previously mentioned, the Ford Ranger Tremor is a pretty new contender against the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. The Tremor package on the Ford Ranger includes upgraded suspension, skid plates, and tow hooks. Plus, it also includes Trail Control and Terrain Management systems to help keep the fun contained off-road.

Kelley Blue Book says the Tremor package also includes better tires, an electronic rear locking differential, metal steps, and power switches for accessories. You can also add some more performance upgrades and packages if the Tremor doesn’t offer everything needed. One drawback to the Tremor is that this configuration only comes with one engine, body, and bed choice.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor package adds $4,290 onto the Ford Ranger XLT or Lariat. The Ranger XLT starts at $30,960, while the Lariat starts at $33,160. You have to make a few additional adjustments bringing the total price to around $6,000 extra for the Tremor. This is still pretty affordable for how well-suited the Tremor truck is.

The case for the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is one of the favorite trucks in the midsize pickup segment. Kelley Blue Book says it is one of the most capable trucks in the mix and offers excellent resale value. With that, the TRD Pro isn’t very new or flashy, but it is well-quipped. Toyota tends not to fix what isn’t broken, and there is nothing broken about the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.

The Tacoma makes for a solid day-to-day work truck while also being able to handle off-roading. It has Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM), Crawl Control, and Hill Start Assist Control. It offers Fox internal bypass coilovers, a TRD Pro front skid plate, and rear or four-wheel drive. Both Ranger trucks with the Tremor package are cheaper than the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, which starts at $44,325.

Both trucks are well-suited for adventure, but pick your favorite brand

Depending on your plans for your new pickup truck, both of these will serve you well. The Ford Ranger Tremor is newer and has a lot to offer at a good price. The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro is the truck everyone will compare your Ranger to forever. Most Toyota truck buyers don’t stray from the brand after purchasing the first time. If you happen to be a Ford Ranger fan, it would make sense to stick with the Tremor.

RELATED: 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor: Critics and Buyers Agree About the Ford Truck

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