Arnold Schwarzenegger Takes On an F-150

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Arnold Schwarzenegger is serious about fighting climate change. He isn’t alone: Ford CEO Jim Farley tweeted a video of Arnold lifting a Ford F-150 Lightning. Schwarzenegger is known for being the terminator and governor of California, and also his environmental activism. In a “Kicking Gas” ad coming out Tuesday, July 6, 2021, Arnold Schwarzenegger lifted an F-150 Lightning to showcase the advantages of electric vehicles.

Arnold Schwarzenegger gives a speech at the Austrian World Summit | Arnold Schwarzenegger

Ford is going electric

Before the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative World Summit on July 1, 2021 Jim Farley tweeted, “This is what happens when you put a bodybuilder, environmentalist and movie icon in a room with the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning.” Farley added that Ford is working with Schwarzenegger to battle climate change. Farley also announced that he would be speaking at the world summit.

Ford is doing all sorts of things to make their company more environmentally friendly. It has developed two new electric vehicle platforms. Ford has also started a new battery manufacturing initiative with SK Innovation. Ford has produced the new electric Mustang Mach-E, the electric F-150 Lightning will come out in 2022, and they’ll also be making an electric version of the Ford Explorer.

The Ford F-150 Lightning is sure to be a best-seller. Ford already has more than 100,000 reservations for it. Still, having an ad with one of the world’s strongest people lifting their electric pickup can’t hurt.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is well-known for battling Sarah Connor- I mean, climate change

Arnold Schwarzenegger believes the message about climate change should be more optimistic. He says that society cannot withstand a constant message of doom and gloom, and people will turn away from it. Instead, focusing on pollution as a major source of climate change allows people to unite against a common evil. He says, “In our environmental movement, we must give people hope, not despair. If we created this pollution, we can fix it. We can kill it.”

Schwarzenegger was once famous for driving a massive Hummer. Then he converted his Hummer H1 to be electric. Scwarzenegger signed pro-environment bills such as a climate change bill and the California Global Warming Solutions Act as governor of California.

The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative World Summit united Ford and Schwarzenegger against evil forces

During the world summit in Austria, Schwarzenegger interviewed Farley about Ford’s commitment to going electric. Scwarzenegger said he admires Ford’s goals, especially that of becoming all-electric in Europe. Right now Ford has a plant in Germany as well as other European countries. Schwarzenegger even offered Austria as a possible location for an electric Ford plant. He said, “We in Austria have some room if you want to build a plant, an auto plant here in Austria.”

It will be interesting to see if the Schwarzenegger/Ford climate change battle starts a new trend. The ad is sure to get a lot of attention, and perhaps other car manufacturers will follow suit. Who knows, maybe Volkswagen and Megan Rapinoe will be inspired to team up for an Olympics ad featuring the ID.4.

RELATED: Is the 2021 Ford Expedition Safer Than the 2021 Lincoln Navigator? The Difference Is In the Brakes

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Car Salespeople are Urging Buyers to Buy Hybrids and Sedans

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When it comes to new-car buying, many consumers favor SUVs and trucks over sedans. In fact, Volkswagen even stated that 58% of its sales in 2020 were SUVs and 62% of Kias sold last year were SUVs or small crossovers. And while it’s easy to jump on the bandwagon and purchase an SUV for your family, car salespeople are actually urging consumers to buy hybrids and sedans instead.

Gas prices will be going up this summer

A gas pump shows prices exceeding four dollars a gallon in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Five days after a criminal hack shut down deliveries of almost half the gasoline and diesel burned in the eastern U.S., the Atlanta area’s reserves of gas and diesel began to plummet. Photographer: Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images

It’s summertime, so it should be no surprise that gas prices are shooting up across the nation. As many Americans look to shake off their quarantine cobwebs and hit the road for a long drive, they can look forward to paying a premium at the pump. According to the Associated Press, the average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. is $3.09, however, many states like California are priced much higher.

Car salespeople say that hybrid cars are a great option

A silver Toyota Prius hybrid
Toyota Prius Hybrid | Tomohiro Ohsumi via Getty Images

Hybrid cars have always been a great alternative to buying a less fuel-efficient SUV and car salespeople are urging buyers to go in that direction. According to NBC 15 in Wisconsin, a new vehicle can save a driver around $1,500 per year in gas, which is about $125 per month on average.

Justin Jackson, a sales director at Smart Toyota, said that he’s seen an “uptick” in hybrid sales at the start of the Summer and realizes that inflated gas prices have something to do with it.

In addition to buying hybrid car, drivers can also save money at the gas station by following these tips:

  • Use the recommend gas octane for your car. Don’t use premium if the car doesn’t need it
  • Buy gas at wholesale clubs like Costco for a lower price per gallon
  • Check your car’s tires regularly to ensure they are properly inflated
  • Consolidate your trips to cut down on driving time
  • “Jackrabbit” starts and hard stops can increase fuel consumption by 40%

Hybrid car examples

A black 2022 Honda Insight parked in front of a mountain range, the Insight is one of the best new cars under $40,000
2022 Honda Insight | Honda

If you do decide that a hybrid vehicle would be best for your family, or if you just want to cut down on fuel expenses, here is a shortlist of new hybrid vehicles currently on the market:

Small cars:

  • Toyota Prius
  • Honda Insight
  • Toyota Corolla Hybrid
  • Hyundai Ioniq

Large sedans

  • Honda Accord Hybrid
  • Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  • Toyota Camry Hybrid

Minivans

  • Toyota Sienna
  • Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
A white 2021 Toyota Sienna driving in the city
2021 Toyota Sienna | Toyota

There are plenty of hybrid models to choose from and luckily, many of them can easily achieve an EPA-estimated 40 to 50 mpg on average. And while most hybrid vehicles cost more than their gas-only counterparts, the amount that you save at the pump over time can easily make up for the difference.

Considering the increase in fuel pricing and the recent new car inventory shortage, it could be a good time to make the most of your money and get a car that can save you more money over time than your current one. If anything, perhaps you can buy a hybrid now and use the money you saved on fuel to buy an SUV when gas prices dip again.

RELATED: Buying a Hybrid Car: How Long Until it Saves You Any Money?

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What is Ford’s “Rattler” Off-Road Truck?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Yesterday, Ford trademarked the name “Rattler.” Cool name. But what is it? We know that car companies file trademarks months in advance of any scheduled launch. And this filing specifically would apply to a name for “motor vehicles, namely, automobiles, pick-up trucks, electric vehicles, sport utility vehicles, off-road vehicles, and their structural parts.”

The Rattler name would make the most sense on a Maverick pickup

2022 Ford Maverick 2L-EcoBoost AWD | Ford Media

That covers a variety of different types of vehicles that Ford makes. But of all of the vehicle types listed, which one would the name Rattler best apply to? That’s easy; an off-road vehicle. It should be noted, however, that birds like raptors prey on snakes in the desert. 

So, what would it mean if Ford chose Rattler for an off-road brand? A Ford spokesperson told Motor1, “Trademark applications are intended to protect new phrases, designs, or symbols, but aren’t necessarily an indication of a new business or product plans.”

Raptor, Tremor, Rattler; what do they have in common?

2021 Ford Ranger in red, on the trails
2021 Ford Ranger | Ford

As a top-of-the-line model like the Raptor is to the F-150, it makes sense that Rattler would be applied to the top dog within the Maverick brand. But the Tremor package is found in the Raptor line, so maybe this is just another type of Raptor? As prey for birds, a sub-brand of Raptor called Rattler doesn’t make sense. 

We’ll need to wait a bit more to see what a Ford Rattler is

A yellow 2021 Ford Bronco compact SUV traveling on trail near a wooded area
2021 Ford Bronco | Ford Motor Company

At this stage, we’re just riffing. None of the car companies reveal their plans until close to a launch. So we didn’t expect Ford to spill the beans on the Rattler name just yet. But at this point, the most likely application for the Rattler name would be a high-end Maverick pickup. Whether this thinking holds up or not, we’ll have to wait and see. 

But for now, Ford is out of new vehicles to launch. The Mustang Mach-E, Bronco Sport, And Bronco have all debuted. So has the F-150 refresh and new Explorer. Except for the Mustang, everything is all-new at Ford. So it will take sub-brands like a Rattler to carry some of the news-y weight going forward.  

RELATED: 2022 Ford Maverick: Consumer Reports Is Already Pitting It Against Its Favorite Pickup Truck

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2021 Kia Telluride: Consumer Reports, KBB, and Edmunds Review Roundup

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There are a lot of opinions out there about reliable cars, SUVs, and trucks. Who has the best information? These are reviews for the 2021 Kia Telluride from trusted experts at Consumer Reports, Kelley Blue Book, and Edmunds. Overall, the critics agreed on the Kia SUV’s positive attributes, especially the long list of standard safety features.

Consumer Reports approved of the 2021 Kia Telluride

Why Did Consumer Reports Pick the Kia Telluride Over the Hyundai Palisade? | Kia

The 2021 Kia Telluride was highly rated by Consumer Reports. The predicted reliability and predicted owner satisfaction both came in at five out of five. In the road test, the SUV scored a 97 out of 100. It came in first on the list of midsize SUVs with three rows. CR found that the design of the Telluride was well-thought-out and took the drivers and passengers into consideration.

91% of owners noted that the 2021 Kia Telluride is a car worth purchasing again. CR found that the Telluride rides smoothly, and the V6 has a solid fuel economy of 21 mpg overall. The SUV has automatic emergency braking (AEB) but not at highway speeds, which seems like an oversight. It has Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Keeping Assist (LKA).

2021 Kia Telluride scores by Kelley Blue Book

Kelley Blue Book gave the 2021 Kia Telluride an expert ranking of 4.8. KBB gave the Telluride the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award and called it an “excellent value.” One of the recurring pieces of feedback is that the design of the Telluride is modern and luxurious.

The only con listed is that there is no hybrid option for the SUV yet. It doesn’t sound like that is coming for 2022, either. The Nightfall Edition was added to the 2021 lineup alone with a remote start option. The towing trailer harness was upgraded from a four-pin to a seven-pin.

The optional captain’s seats in the second row are a welcomed addition. With these, passengers can get in and out of the third row with ease. This does bring the overall capacity down from eight to seven passengers. No matter how buyers design the vehicle, it is sure to fit many budgets and lifestyles.

Edmunds approved of the Telluride

Edmunds calls the 2021 Kia Telluride a top-rated SUV. The company also gave the Telluride the best midsize 3-row SUV for 2021. With an expert rating of 8.4 out of 10, room for eight passengers, and a third row, drivers and experts love the Telluride. The highest scores were in the comfort and wildcard sections. The Wildcard section noted the SUV took inspiration from the Land Rover – and didn’t miss the mark.

Edmunds notes it “rides smoothly and is abundantly equipped with the latest technology and safety features.” Kia has an industry-leading warranty that consists of 10-years and 1000,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage. In addition to that, there is also a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty for some vehicles. Edmunds also noted the long list of standard safety features that Consumer Reports and Kelley Blue Book praised.

In conclusion, it seems drivers and critics agree about all that is the 2021 Kia Telluride. The SUV has a few faults but is a shining example of what new technology and design can be. The 2022 Telluride is well on its way to the market and seems only to have improved upon the 2021 version.

RELATED: The 2022 Ford Maverick Is Coming to Overthrow the Kia Telluride

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