The Highest Trim Level of the 2021 Nissan Kicks Recommended by Edmunds Is Still Affordable

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Most buyers might forget that the 2021 Nissan Kicks even exists, but it is one of the most budget-friendly SUV options in the Nissan lineup, definitely making it worth a second glance. From the outside, it looks similar to other SUVs from the brand, with styling cues in the body lines and headlines shared with the more popular models from the brand to make it noticeably Nissan even if you don’t realize what model it is upon first glance. The 2021 Nissan Kicks isn’t just affordable at the base model MSRP, and, according to Edmunds, the most expensive trim level is the best one to buy, and it’s still pretty affordable.

How much does the 2021 Nissan Kicks cost?

Nissan Kicks | Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg

The 2021 Nissan Kicks is one of the most affordable SUV options on the market, even among other Nissan SUVs. It has a starting MSRP of $21,450 for the base model, which makes it cheaper than buying some luxury SUVs that are several years old. It is far from the most popular option, however, and most people forget that the Kicks is available to begin with, often times looking for the more common Nissan Murano. If you were to compare the trim level options based solely on price, there isn’t a big jump.

  • 2021 Nissan Kicks S: $21,450
  • 2021 Nissan Kicks SV: $23,205
  • 2021 Nissan Kicks SR: $25,265

Standard features and options for the 2021 Nissan Kicks

When it comes to recommended trim levels from Edmunds, there is a balance of features and costs to ensure you’re getting the best value possible. Most people might just assume that the highest trim level option for every vehicle has the most to offer, but they aren’t always the most affordable option. Often times, the mid-level trim options are the best value because they offer a tad more luxury and features than the base model, include key features buyers are looking for, and are among the more affordable choices.

For the 2021 Nissan Kicks, however, there isn’t a big distance in price between the base model, mid-level trim, and highest trim level, and according to Edmunds, the top trim SR is the best bang for your buck. The SR includes all of the standard safety features and luxuries that the lower trim levels offer as well, which include many of the important driving aids buyers are looking to get from new vehicles:

  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Rear-cross traffic alerts
  • Lane departure warning
  • Automatic emergency braking
  • Rear parking sensors
  • Reverse automatic braking

What does the SR offer that makes it stand out?

The 2021 Nissan Kicks highest trim level, the SR, ‘kicks’ the SUV up a notch with a few added luxuries to make you feel like you’re driving a much more refined and luxurious vehicle for the price. The front seats are traded in for sportier options, and you won’t be shy to show off the upgrade to the surround-view monitoring system which gives you an aerial view of your vehicle and its surroundings.

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Richard Hammond Is Restoring Classic Cars on Discovery+

by Gabrielle DeSantis

These days, buyers looking for restomods or other well-restored classic cars are rather spoiled for choice. But most of that work happens behind closed doors or through still images on websites or Instagram. There aren’t many shows that focus on how classic car restoration works, apart from maybe Jay Leno’s YouTube series. However, just such a program is about to debut on Discovery+. And it’s helmed by a familiar car enthusiast favorite: Richard Hammond.

Richard Hammond doesn’t just do The Grand Tour

Richard Hammond with his classic 1967 Ford Mustang at ‘The Grand Tour’ Season 3 premiere | Jeff Spicer/WireImage

The name Richard Hammond should ring familiar to anyone who’s a fan of The Grand Tour. After he, Jeremy Clarkson, and James May stopped hosting Top Gear, they created the automotive Amazon Prime show. Now in its fourth season, The Grand Tour has seen the trio perform all kinds of escapades. For example, Hammond rolled an electric Rimac hypercar down a hill in one episode.

However, just like May and Clarkson, Richard Hammond is involved in several other projects outside of The Grand Tour. For one, the trio run a motoring site, DriveTribe. Hammond also co-hosts another Amazon Prime show, The Great Escapists, with former MythBusters host Tory Belleci. Said show has the duo trying to survive and/or escape from a deserted island after a shipwreck.

But when Richard Hammond isn’t working on TV programs, he’s working on his classic cars. His collection includes vehicles like a 1967 Ford Mustang, a 1969 Porsche 911T, and a 1962 Jaguar E-Type, Road & Track reports. He also has some vintage motorcycles, such as a 1929 BMW R52.

And soon, some of these machines might make an appearance on Discovery+.

His new show on Discovery+ is about his own classic car restoration business

Hammond has already worked on one show for Discovery+: an engineering-focused one called Richard Hammond’s BIG!, Deadline reports. However, his new show, tentatively titled Richard Hammond’s Workshop, focuses on cars. More specifically, on classic car restoration, and how to grow a business focused on it.

This new program sees Hammond start a classic car restoration business near his Herefordshire, UK home with a father-and-son team. The father-son duo, Neil and Anthony Greenhouse, will be running the garage, with occasional help from the locals. And the show won’t be limited to restoring customer vehicles. Hammond’s personal cars and bikes will also appear for maintenance and restoration work. After all, the show was inspired by fans’ interest in the Jaguar XK150 Hammond recently restored, Motor1 notes.

Richard Hammond’s Workshop will also have a historic side. Hammond’s grandfather once worked at British automaker Jensen Motors. And part of the new Discovery+ show will be dedicated to delving into Jensen’s history.

When will the show premiere?

As of this writing, Discovery+ hasn’t released an official release date for Richard Hammond’s Workshop. And again, that name is only a placeholder. However, according to Motor1, the show should air “sometime later this year.”

Launching a new TV show is hard enough without trying to get a new business off the ground alongside it. But shining a nuts-and-bolts, behind-the-scenes light on the classic car restoration scene will likely entice more than a few viewers. Hopefully, we’ll get some more information about Hammond’s new show soon.

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RELATED: Here’s What the Grand Tour Thinks of the Tesla Model X

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China’s Silk Road Is About to Be the Longest Supercharger Route

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The longest Supercharger route in the world exists now. If you’ve been itching to drive your Tesla 3,000 miles but were concerned about a lack of chargers, you can finally fulfill your dreams (as long as you live in China). Tesla’s Supercharger route runs loosely along the Silk Road and will give drivers the opportunity to see loads of beautiful scenery and history.

Tesla Supercharger route in China | Tesla

How long will the longest Supercharger route be?

For starters, Tesla’s Supercharger route will be an astonishing 3,100 miles long, according to Bloomberg. It will traverse China from east to west. 27 Superchargers, which are Tesla’s electric vehicle chargers, will be spread out. This will allow drivers to drive great lengths without having to worry about running out of power. 

Teslas are incredibly popular in China, though they’ve faced recent setbacks. In 2020, Tesla sales in China doubled from 2019. In March of 2021 alone, Tesla sold 35,478 cars according to CNBC, though that number dropped to just 25,845 in April. Tesla is facing criticisms in China due to questions about their safety. Teslas have also been banned from government property, such as military bases.

Is there still a market for Teslas?

Despite this, there is a market for electric vehicles, and Tesla is determined to deliver. This new Supercharger route should help to combat range anxiety. Range anxiety is the fear of not being able to recharge one’s vehicle and being stuck somewhere. It’s one of the main reasons that people considering switching to electric vehicles don’t make the change. 

These 27 Superchargers in one long stretch will give drivers not only more charging options, but the motivation to want to take a long road trip in their Tesla. Charging stations will be spread out roughly every 100-300 km (or 62-186 miles). In total, China has about 840 charging stations in China. Although charging time varies per vehicle and conditions like the weather, it takes approximately 20 minutes to charge a Tesla to 50%. 

What cities are in the world’s longest Supercharger route?

Elon Musk’s ultimate goal is to build a charging route from Shanghai to London. This would cover 6,000 miles. Although there are Superchargers in some areas of this route, more are needed in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.

Tesla’s Supercharger route runs along the Silk Road. The Silk Road is famous for having been a major trade route connecting China to the West. The Silk Road carried not just goods (including, of course, silk), but also ideas and inventions. 

The current 5,000 km Silk Road Supercharger route will incorporate nine cities. It begins in the east coast city of Zhoushan and then continues west. Along the way, Tesla drivers (and any passengers lucky enough to come along) can see the Kumtag Desert, the Turfan Volcano, and Sayram Lake. It ends in Horgos, bordering Kazakhstan on the west. 

It’s possible that Tesla has incorporated so much history into its new Supercharger route to try to regain their image in China. It will be interesting to see whether this new access to charging stations improves Tesla’s sales in China, or at least encourages people to take a road trip. 

RELATED: Tesla Scraps Radar, Ships Cars Without It

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Build Your Own Mini-Robot Dog Like Boston Dynamics

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Bittle is a tiny robot along the lines of the Boston Dynamics robot dog but in a palm-size package. It’s not a toy, as it requires assembly and also code downloads. You download demo codes to bring it to life. Petoi organizes challenges for open source codes to make Bittle do a myriad of skills. 

Bittle’s spring-loaded legs and body move like a real dog

Petoi Robot Dog Bittle | Petoi

There are lots of tutorials and project ideas online to make Bittle’s spring-loaded legs and body move like a real dog. It stores the ability to balance, walk, jump, and do tricks. It also stores muscle memory and detects and/or reacts to outside stimuli. You can wirelessly upload motion plans through Bluetooth or WiFi. 

It’s a bit offbeat from what you expect MotorBiscuit to cover. But, it’s a moving, powered machine, so it fits our coverage. It also allows enthusiasts to explore robotics. And it is an introduction to open source functions and code development.

We posted this unboxing on Facebook to give you an idea of what it looks like before assembly. The box of 10 Servos are driven by commands from the controller board. Nothing is off-the-shelf stuff. It’s all tailored to the Bittle. Note the Servos’ custom shape.

What comes with the Bittle kit?

three Petoi Robot Dog Bittle
Petoi Robot Dog Bittle | Petoi

All of the screws, springs, and connectors are included, as is the USB cable to download codes. But there are also BlueTooth and WiFi dongles to accept coding as well. There is even a screwdriver in case you don’t have one. Other than the screws needed for attaching the servos and a few other components, everything clips into place. 

The custom battery is also included. It slides for weight bias to help balance the Bittle. The plastic head is a clip that holds a camera or other components including a sensor for motion detection. You can also integrate a GoPro camera into the head as well. Neither the camera nor motion-sensor are included but can be purchased for a nominal price separately.

The Ny-board or controller board ties all of the functions together. The tail of Bittle is the receiver for code. There is also a remote control. Injected molded plastic body, legs, head, are sturdy and well-done. Bittle comes in blue/black/yellow or black/yellow like ours. The body houses the battery pack and control board.

There are different codes you can upload that control certain aspects of Bittle functions

Bittle heads with control circuits clipped into its jaws
Petoi Robot Dog Bittle | Petoi

Instructions and information are all on the Petoi website and in online forums. Once assembled, you download code from the internet. As mentioned there is a BlueTooth uploader or you can hardwire Bittle to your computer. There are different codes you can upload that control certain aspects of Bittle functions.

And there are a number of modules you can buy that range in price from just a few dollars to around $10 each. Specifically, we’ll be purchasing the module for motion detection or following.

Bittle control circuit board
Petoi Robot Dog Bittle | Petoi

There is a Bittle community to share different codes developed by owners. You can also modify the source codes to alter specific functions for a custom function. 

If this sounds intriguing check out our unboxing and then go over to the Petoi site to learn more about Bittle, the forums, instructional info, and the coding community.  We’ll update you after we build ours and download some functions.

RELATED: Ford Has Robot Dogs Fetching Photos

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