by Gabrielle DeSantis

Have you ever watched a commercial that just stuck with you? One of those ads that don’t prompt you to “skip” because it’s so engaging? Everyone’s talking about one such commercial featuring Jeep‘s plans for an electric future. If you haven’t watched it, you should.

The commercial introduces revolutionary EV advancements for the future of the brand’s portfolio of vehicles. Adding to the ad’s allure, the song that plays throughout brings an element of familiarity to the whole Jeep experience. What song is that, and who sings it?

Celebrating 80 iconic years of Jeep

Jeep logo | Getty Images

Stellantis North America recently shared news of an iconic milestone for the Jeep brand. It was 1941 when Jeep first launched a military partner. And that makes this year its 80th anniversary. The company is introducing an electric “present and future” with a new commercial that promises big EV advancements over the next several years to commemorate the rich and successful history.

Automaker officials are looking to enhance the brand’s presence in the SUV market and plan to do so with electric and EV lineups. Jeep will be expanding the portfolio to include new segments, including the premium SUV space with an entirely new Grand Wagoneer and Wagoneer. Other exciting contributions include an all-new Grand Cherokee with plug-in-hybrid 4xe technology. And the company roadmap aims to have a fully electric, zero-emission Jeep in every segment by 2025. To help visualize just how “electrified” its future will be, the company launched this new commercial that has everyone talking and speculating.

The latest commercial has everyone talking

If you haven’t tuned to see this commercial on YouTube, it’s worth a watch. It depicts a young couple going through life’s milestones with their respective jeeps, from the first date to a baby announcement. But throughout their many adventures, Jeep introduces the future of electric, off-road models. With ruggedly remote charging stations to autonomous off-road driving capability, the company is planning some pretty amazing EV experiences in the coming years. 

While you’re watching the drone compatible Jeep or the biometric scan technology from behind the wheel, you’ll hear the song, “Give Me the Future.” The lyrics alone seem to work perfectly with the big picture idea behind Jeep’s plan for the future. And that voice might sound familiar as well. 

If you’re wondering who sings the song in the commercial, you’ll likely recognize the band. According to All Music, Bastille is a popular group, with several chart-toppers in their discography. The band members hail from London, and their music genre tends to be alternative/indie. The band released three albums, Bad Blood, Wild World, and Doom Days.

What electric pursuits can consumers expect from Jeep?

Some of the new technology Jeep promises to explore over the next several years is groundbreaking. Electric charging stations in remote locations are just the start. Jeep vehicles will soon be able to charge from other Jeeps, pair with drones for increased visibility, and feature biometric tech.

The commercial also shows this couple enjoying outdoor adventures with their autonomous jeeps, capable of coming and going without a driver. There are smart tires for improved crawling capability, drone pairing, and fully reclining seats for the best panoramic views. These enhancements won’t happen overnight, but CNBC says the automaker has 4xe plans for the Jeep Wrangler starting this year.

This latest Jeep commercial is creating a buzz because of the technology the company plans to embrace in the future when it comes to EV. The commercial also resonates because of the song, so perfectly sung Bastille. The combination might have you thinking about exploring your own Jeep adventures in the future, complete with electric and zero-emissions capabilities. 

RELATED: Electrified 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Plug-in Hybrid Model to Debut at New York International Auto Show

The post What Song Is Playing in the ‘Jeep | Life Electrified’ Commercial? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade is one of the highest-rated mid-sized third-row SUVs on the market, starting at an affordable price and working its way up through the four available trim levels. At its most basic, the Palisade is a reliable option for families who need a bit of extra space, and it offers comfort along with several luxury features and driving aids. The base model Palisade itself is worth buying for many drivers looking to stay on a budget, but there are several trim levels that offer more options, luxuries, and features, for drivers who are looking to get just a little bit more.

The base model 2021 Hyundai Palisade

Hyundai Palisade | Raymond Boyd, Getty Images

The base model of the 2021 Hyundai Palisade is the SE, with a starting price of $34,450, it is one of the more affordable third-row SUVs on the market. If you’re working on a budget, the base model of the Palisade offers plenty for the price, including an 8-inch touch screen equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, forward collision mitigation, lane-keeping assistance, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, and several other features.

The SEL trim

Hyundai Palisade
Hyundai Palisade | Raymond Boyd, Getty Images

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade SEL is the second trim level option, with an MSRP of $43,925. Like the base model, the SEL has a seating capacity for eight, unlike the higher trim levels, which switch over to second-row captain’s chairs, reducing the seating capacity to seven. It also has several more advantages over the base model, including:

  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Rear cross-traffic alerts
  • Auto-dimming rearview mirror
  • Heated front seats
  • Dual-zone climate control
  • Keyless entry
  • Keyless ignition

The Limited trim

The Limited trim for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade offers everything that the SEL trim does and more. It does come at an increased price of $48,790, but that does include many more high-end luxuries and tech features that buyers are willing to splurge on.

  • Blind-spot monitoring is upgraded with a blind-spot camera
  • 360-degree camera system offers top-down view of the car for easier parking
  • Ventilated front and rear seats
  • Heads-up display
  • Dual-pane sunroof
  • Automatic wipers
  • Adjustable ambient lighting
  • Upgraded Harman Kardon audio system

The Calligraphy trim

The highest trim level for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade is the Calligraphy, and even though it comes at the steepest price of $49,865, it only offers a handful of other features more than the Limited trim does, and all of the changes are purely cosmetic. Upgrading to the Calligraphy trim gives the Palisade a more high-end luxury aesthetic that some buyers are willing to pay for, as it does a lot to change the appearance of both the exterior and interior of the car. For this trim, the front and rear fascia are slightly altered, including a trim-exclusive grille and different wheel design options. On the inside, the headliner is upgraded to a beautiful faux suede, and the door inserts are replaced with quilted leather.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade has trim levels that range from the more affordable and modest to the more luxurious, fitting the needs and wants of buyers looking for a third-row seat SUV but unwilling to compromise on features and luxuries — and, for the competitive price of the Palisade, you shouldn’t have to. Among the various trim levels, this spacious SUV has something to offer for everyone in the family, from the front row all the way to the back.

RELATED: Is the 2021 Hyundai Palisade Worth Paying Over MSRP?

The post The 2021 Hyundai Palisade Has Four Trim Levels Worth Buying appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Tesla is always full of surprises. Tesla updates are just about as common as iPhone updates these days. These updates can come in the form of much-needed software patches or goofy add-ons. Not only does Tesla create some of the coolest electric vehicles on the market, but it also creates the most complicated EVs.

Newest round of tricks and treats

Tesla interior | Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images

Tesla comes out with new features more frequently than any automaker. The Palo Alto, California-based electric car and clean energy company likes to interact with its customer base as frequently as possible. The automaker has even added new features to its vehicles solely based on tweets from consumers. From Dog Mode and Arcade Mode to Bioweapon Defense Mode, Tesla features are unparalleled at this point.

Constantly unveiling new tweaks and updates is also a great way for the automaker to stay in headlines. According to Electrek, this latest round of tricks and treats for Tesla drivers introduced Car Wash Mode and brought Disney+ into the cabins of Teslas. Car Wash Mode simply preps your Tesla for a ride through the car wash.

A range display update now displays both distance units and battery percentage, similar to how a cell phone can display battery capacity in multiple ways. The dashcam was also updated to record key events like an accident in case evidence is needed. This round of updates added Russian, Romanian, and Hungarian to Tesla’s extensive list of languages recognized by its software.

Is owning a Tesla expensive?

A white 2021 Tesla Model X driving down a highway.
2021 Tesla Model X | Tesla

Considering the frequent updates and the novelty of some of Tesla’s EVs, one would assume Tesla ownership is pricey. Tesla ownership started off extremely expensive. It is growing to be more affordable as the automaker focuses on making its lineup more accessible to average citizens. Tesla’s first vehicles were luxury performance electric vehicles. Today it is leaning more toward creating affordable commuter cars and SUVs.

Tesla insurance is expensive, rivaled only by BMW insurance. Its repair prices can be downright outrageous. Tesla ownership is expensive, but the infrastructure behind Tesla ownership reduces long-term costs for drivers. For one, the Tesla Supercharger network makes EV refueling cheaper than gas engine refueling and almost as convenient.

Tesla is also drastically reducing prices with new models. The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are the cheapest and most popular models thus far. Both vehicles cost under $40,000 (when Tesla prices aren’t fluctuating) and are eligible for federal and local electric vehicle tax incentives. Based on the company’s current progression, Tesla ownership will gradually become more affordable until Tesla models are ubiquitous.

How long do Tesla batteries last?

A powertrain with an electric motor and battery of a VW ID.3 electric cars at the Volkswagen factory on July 31, 2020.
An electric car powertrain | Jens Schlueter via Getty Images

Tesla batteries are designed to outlive conventional gas-powered automobile transmissions, but few models have been around long enough to test the company’s bold claims. Tesla has been notoriously clever with its phrasing when it comes to advertising vehicle capabilities. Some Tesla models have racked up over 400,000 miles, but with that high mileage came repair fees equivalent to a new compact car’s purchase price. Tesla batteries can last for extremely long times when put to the test, but the repair fees make long-term ownership a hassle.

RELATED: Only Tesla Model X Owners Know About These Features

The post New Tesla Update Includes Car Wash Mode and Disney+ appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Back in 2015, a regular guy named Mark Oberholtzer sold his 2005 Ford F-250 truck to a dealership in Texas. As he waited for the paperwork, he started scraping the name of his company off the side of the pickup truck. A salesman assured him that the dealership would remove the decal later. Oberholtzer collected his paperwork and left the dealership.

The traveling Ford F-250 pickup truck from Texas

According to CNN, Oberholtzer took the Ford F-250 truck to AutoNation Ford Gulf Freeway in Houston back in 2013. He traded the 2005 Ford F-250 in for a new 2012 Ford F-250 and tried to remove the decal, but a sales associate said he did not need to. Oberholtzer went home with his new truck and thought nothing of it. According to documents, AutoNation sold the Ford truck at auction in November 2013. The pickup truck traveled from Houston, Texas, to Mersin, Turkey.

Later in 2014, a journalist for the Long War Journal posted the tweet above. It showed people firing a weapon out of the back of Mark Oberholtzer’s Ford F-250. The Tweet read, “Chechen Jaish al Muhajireen wal Ansar using plumbing truck against regime in #Aleppo.” It showed Mark-1 Plumbing on the truck and a local Houston phone number in all the truck’s glory.

The photo went viral after that, and the calls started pouring in for Oberholtzer. His business phone and personal line starting blowing up with threatening phone calls at all hours of the night. The court documents claim that people were “irate and yelling expletives at whoever answered the phone.” In addition, people were “singing in Arabic for the duration of the phone call or voice message recording” and “making threats of injury or death.”

Mark sued AutoNation over his Ford F-250

A 2005 Ford F-250 | Ford

Oberholtzer filed a lawsuit against AutoNation Ford Gulf Freeway for negligence, fraud, libel per se, invasion of privacy. The lawsuit told the same story as above. “At no time did Velasquez or any other agent, servant, or employee of the Defendant tell Plaintiff (Oberholtzer) that Defendant would leave the deals on the truck, which would be transferred in some fashion to international jihadists conducting welfare upon innocents in Syria.”

The long and short of the lawsuit is that if AutoNation Ford Gulf Freeway had removed the decals on the Ford F-250, none of this would have happened. It isn’t clear how the truck ended up traveling from Texas to Syria. In 2015, the Department of Homeland Security went to Oberholtzer’s office to speak with him. The Homeland Security Agents spoke with Oberholtzer for about an hour.

The story of Mark Oberholtzer and AutoNation is a strange one

The Ford F-250 truck continued to appear in coverage during the war. It even showed up in propaganda videos put on the internet. Oberholtzer continued to get calls for years and did not change his phone number. In 2017, the parties settled the lawsuit out of court. It is an unusual case indeed. By most standards, the usual practice is to remove the decals on any vehicle before reselling it.

Perhaps the moral of this story is to always remove personal decals on vehicles before selling the cars. If you happen to own a Ford F-250, definitely remove the decals before selling the truck to AutoNation.

RELATED: Remember the $1 Million Bugatti Veyron Killed by a Pelican? It’s Back, Baby

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