A Tesla Airplane Might Come Sooner Than You Think

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It’s a bird … it’s a plane … it’s a Tesla? If Elon Musk gets his way and can work out the physics, you might soon see a Tesla airplane flying past. The Roadster, which Musk famously strapped to a SpaceX Falcon Heavy and launched into space in 2018, might also be the first hovercar the EV maker produces. In fact, Musk has claimed it’s actually part rocket.

And though Musk is known for making some outlandish statements, a Tesla airplane might not be as far-fetched as it sounds. 

How many modes of transportation does Tesla produce?

Tesla CEO Elon Musk | Britta Pedersen-Pool/Getty Images

Though Tesla has mostly stuck to cars, it’s also producing the Semi and the Cybertruck. You can also get a Tesla Model S for Kids, which uses Tesla’s Flight Speed lithium-ion battery to achieve a top speed of 6 mph. For adults, there are four current EVs available: the Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y. 

In addition to producing the Semi and Cybertruck, both expected in late 2021, Tesla is developing the second-generation Roadster, expected in 2022. And the new Roadster will have the option of adding rocket thrusters to propel the car from 0 to 60 mph speed in only 1.1 seconds, Musk claims. Tesla discontinued the original Roadster in 2012.

Elon Musk’s comments about building airplanes

In 2018, Musk first hinted at an electric airplane he envisioned would fly at supersonic speeds at high altitudes, Observer reported. He also envisioned vertical take-off and landing. A plane of this nature would require a battery with an energy density greater than 400 Wh/kg. Currently, Tesla’s top batteries have only 260 Wh/kg. But according to Musk, Tesla’s team of battery researchers is close to producing a 400 Wh/kg battery.

Is there a timeline for a Tesla airplane?

It depends on whom you ask. Musk has claimed — on Twitter, of course — that batteries with an energy density of 400 Wh/kg will likely be in large-volume production in three to four years and that they’ll have a high cycle life. That latter part is important because how often a battery can be recharged, and provide the same performance, is based on its cycle life. But just because Tesla will produce the battery in high volumes in a few years doesn’t mean we can expect a plane in the same time frame.

Boom Supersonic will produce supersonic planes for United Airlines that will be net-zero carbon. But not from a battery, from 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel. And before the purchase is finalized, the planes must pass safety, operational, and sustainability tests. These aircraft are expected in 2025 but won’t fly until the following year, and passengers won’t be allowed on them until 2029. That time frame is based on everything going according to plan with no problems along the way.

So, even if the Tesla airplane follows a similar timeline, it probably won’t be operational before 2026, and this timeline is for a plane that’s already been designed. As far as we know, Tesla doesn’t have solid designs, but you never know for sure with Elon Musk. But seeing a Tesla airplane earlier than 2026 would be a surprise. And it would be a good idea for passengers to wait a few more years before flying on a plane powered by only a battery. 

RELATED: 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid Records Unreal 0-60 MPH Time

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The 2021 Subaru Forester Is Packed With Safety Features

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Subaru Forester is a Consumer Reports recommended compact SUV. It has a great road test score, predicted reliability, and owner satisfaction. What about its safety features? The Subaru Forester is packed with safety features, making it a great choice for SUV shoppers.

2021 Subaru Forester | Subaru

What safety features are important to have?

Consumer Reports includes a whole bunch of safety features that they find important to look for in a new car. These include forward collision warning, which can detect a potential collision. By 2022 twenty car manufacturers have vowed to make it a standard in all of their vehicles. 

Automatic emergency braking can pre-charge the brakes once it detects a potential collision. Some AEB systems even apply the brakes for you if you don’t respond to the warning in time. 

Pedestrian detection can detect pedestrians that are in, or may enter, the path of the vehicle. Some can detect cyclists. 

Lane departure warning uses cameras to monitor the vehicle’s position between road lines. If the cameras determine that the vehicle is straying across the lines and doesn’t have its turn signal on, it alerts the driver. 

Blindspot warning alerts a driver if a car is moving into their blind spot. Rear cross traffic warning will alert the driver of cars approaching the side and rear of the vehicle when the vehicle is in reverse. 

Antilock brakes keep the wheels from locking while hard braking. Traction control limits how much wheels spin during acceleration so that the driver can retain control. Daytime running lights are lights that come on whenever a vehicle is running for maximum visibility. 

Which safety features does the 2021 Subaru Forester have?

The Subaru Forester comes standard with most of the safety features that Consumer Reports recommends. Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking for the city and highway, and pedestrian detection are all standard. 

Lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and a rear view camera are also standard in the 2021 Subaru Forester. So are anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, and daytime running lights. 

What safety features are missing in the 2021 Subaru Forester?

There aren’t a whole lot of vehicles that come with all of the safety features (though there are some). The 2021 Subaru Forester falls into the category of having almost all of the Consumer Reports recommended safety features. 

So what’s missing? Most notably, blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning. The good thing is, you can still get them, you’ll just have to pay for them. Both blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning are optional in the 2021 Subaru Forester.  As mentioned above, these are both important safety features, so you’ll likely want to opt for these. 

If you’re shopping for a new SUV, you can be assured that the 2021 Subaru Forester is packed with safety features. Just make sure you opt for blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning so that you’re as protected as possible.

RELATED: Consumer Reports’ Highest Rated Crossover With the Most Safety Features

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2 Toyota Engineer Moms Created an App to Help Install Car Seats

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Recently, two Toyota engineers who are also moms set out to solve a problem that still plagues parents today. The pair created an app to help consumers properly install child car seats. Though today’s car safety measures have vastly improved, properly installing child safety seats remains an important step. This mom-developed Toyota app will do just that.

Properly installing a car seat can be tough

Car seats aren’t safe unless they’re properly installed | Brianna Soukup/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

Car seats have come a long way in terms of safety. But they’re safe only if installed correctly within the vehicle. In general, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers under the age of 4.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there are right and wrong ways to install various car seats, including rear-facing and front-facing models. Convertible seats, boosters, and all-in-one models only seem to prompt more questions about installation instead of making it easier for parents to secure their children.

The LATCH system improved things, but not everything

Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) legislation officially went into effect in 1999 for all new-model vehicles, and lower tether features became mandatory in 2000. The system accomplishes two objectives. First, this built-in tethering solution would eliminate seat-belt incompatibilities, simplifying things for parents faced with an assortment of car seat types. Second, the LATCH system would make the process of proper installation easier. 

Most parents are still unknowingly doing it wrong. Even with today’s LATCH systems, Consumer Reports points out that connecting seats to vehicle anchors correctly is still a chore, especially when the hooks aren’t visible. In some studies, 46 percent of installations using the LATCH system were still incorrect.

Toyota engineers who are also moms created a helpful app

Toyota engineers Jennifer Pelky and Lindsay Bavian developed Toyota for Families. This handy app shows parents how to use car seats correctly. Thanks to their experience as moms, Pelky and Bavian understood the confusion over the proper use of child safety seats, California News Times recently reported.

So during the pandemic, the two set out to develop a user-friendly tool — complete with prompts about seat type and mounting method — to take the guesswork out of safe installation. For now, the app is available for use with the 2021 Toyota Sienna. But the automaker expects to include integration in other models, too.

Car seat-friendly vehicles families will love

Though most vehicles must include LATCH systems, some car models are easier for families to use. For example, the 2021 Honda Civic earned an “Acceptable” LATCH rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. But the Toyota Camry, an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, received the highest “Good+” rating in LATCH ease of use. The Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Avalon also earned “Good” IIHS ratings for their LATCH user experiences. 

Overall, car safety matters, especially where children are concerned. But those safety measures only work with proper car seat installation. Time will tell if other automakers follow suit with their own car seat apps.

RELATED: The Best Car Seats for Toddlers and Little Kids 

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The Toyota Tundra Was the Worst Best Pickup Truck for 2021

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When Kelley Blue Book ranked the best pickup trucks for 2021, the Toyota Tundra made the list. However, it made the bottom of the list. That’s still a good sign for the Tundra, but what other full-size, light-duty pickup trucks made the list?

The worst best pickup truck was the Toyota Tundra

The 2021 Toyota Tundra made the list of best pickup trucks | Toyota

Kelley Blue Book ranked a few of the full-size, light-duty pickup trucks on the market. These trucks won’t fit into everyone’s lifestyle as trucks like the Toyota Tundra don’t have the towing capacity of larger trucks. The Tundra is a reliable truck with a high resale value, even many years down the line. The V8 engine gets the job done, and this truck is made in the U.S.

Some of the main drawbacks KBB noted included the lack of engine options and limited towing/payload. However, that is to be expected for a light-duty truck like this. The fuel economy could be better, too. But with a Toyota Tundra, you get reliability, quality, and durability all rolled into one.

Starting MSRP: $39,565 | Rating 3.9

Not the best pickup truck, but a good option is the Nissan Titan

The 2021 Nissan Titan comes with a lot of pros but not a lot of changes. The new Safety Shield 360 driver aid is available but not always standard, along with a bigger infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. The Titan does offer an industry-leading five-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

As previously mentioned, the Titan hasn’t been changed or updated much recently. The ride is a bit dull and can’t compare to the smoothness of rival trucks. Nissan does offer a variety of trim levels to suit different needs and budgets.

Starting MSRP: $40,875 | Rating 4.0

A solid pickup truck, the GMC Sierra 1500

Kelley Blue Book says that the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 has a “professional yet premium attitude.” GMC offers the Sierra in a variety of trim levels and engine configurations. The GMC Sierra1 500 has a solid combination of useful technology and hardware that make it a comfortable truck to drive around. It has a bit of a lower towing and payload rating than the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. If that’s important, the diesel and four-cylinder options have higher tow ratings for the Sierra.

In 2021, the Sierra has new trailering technology that makes towing easier, and it offers Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Most of the safety features that were optional last year come standard this year. It also received a nice redesign after last year.

Starting MSRP: $37,595 | Rating 4.2

The all-around truck, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 was described as a great all-around pickup truck. Chevrolet offers a wide variety of engines with solid towing capacities, plus a multi-camera trailering system. The multi-flex tailgate is new for 2021, plus the enhanced towing features. Many of the top-trim safety features from 2021 are now included in the 2021 model.

Starting MSRP: $36,495 | Rating 4.3

A driver favorite is the Ram 1500

Kelley Blue Book ranked the 2021 Ram 1500 second on the list of full-size light-duty pickup trucks. The half-ton diesel option is efficient and tows well, while the TRX model comes with 702 hp. Wireless infotainment and tons of convenient storage locations onboard make the Ram a good buy. The upper-trim levels like the TRX tend to exceed a lot of budgets.

Starting MSRP: $36,740 | Rating 4.5

The best pickup truck for 2021, the Ford F-150

The 2021 Ford F-150 is at the top of the list for the best pickup trucks, but that’s no surprise. The F-150 has the best in class towing, payload, and power out of all of the trucks. Ford even offers a new PowerBoost hybrid option. The F-150 offers an onboard generator for added convenience. The F-150 gets a little bit when you go up the trim levels, and it also gets a little pricey. However, the 2021 Ford F-150 has a lot to offer.

Starting MSRP: $38,345 | Rating 4.7

While the 2021 Toyota Tundra rounded out the bottom of the best pickup trucks list, the critics still found many positives. The 2021 Ford F-150 remains king of the best pickup trucks on the market, which probably comes as no surprise to anyone. Light-duty full-size pickup trucks are a game-changer, and this segment will only expand in the future.

RELATED: 2021 Ford F-Series Super Duty Truck Wheels Might Fall Off

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