by Gabrielle DeSantis

Innovation is a driving force in the automotive industry, and a pickup truck is a fantastic example of this. These features have been driving innovation in the industry as of late. It’s clear that buyers in this segment are looking for more consumer-friendly features. The following features are some of the best in the industry and warrant a closer look.

GMC MultiPro Tailgate for pickup trucks

The bed of the GMC Sierra pickup truck is a wild place to be. Reinforced with carbon fiber of all things, the new design from the American automaker promises to add much versatility to the item buyers care most about in their trucks: the bed. The party tricks start with the opening of the bed, which can be done remotely or by hand. The tailgate can also be split in half longways; and offers a hinge that can be flipped up for longer cargo.

That’s not the end of the bed’s functionality. Far from it, actually. To accommodate yet more awkward-sized cargo, the cutout can also be folded in half longways. What’s more, the whole assembly can be collapsed downward. This handy feature allows much easier access to the bed. Alternatively, it serves as a nice place to sit, and even comes with indents for cups in the tailgate. However, the MultiPro tailgate has nothing on the next contender’s ability to help you store more.

Honda Ridgeline pickup truck trunk

Frankly, this feature is a bit aged. It debuted with the original Honda Ridgeline back in the early 2010s but has remained so popular it’s worth discussing. As seen above, a trunk has been integrated into the bed of Honda Ridgeline pickup trucks. The Japanese brand has even found a clever way to keep the spare tire handy in the same space.

Should you so desire, the spare could even be removed and placed in the bed for more in-trunk-covered storage. The feature has evolved somewhat over the last decade, too. Newer Ridgeline models have a small drain in them that can be used to remove fluids from the trunk. Of course, the tailgating possibilities here are endless. The feature is so popular it’s even made its way into the new GMC Hummer EV. Great as it is, it simply cannot match the practicality of the final feature on our list.

Trailer TMPS for Ford and GMC models

Towing is a big deal for truck owners. Whether for work or leisure, 75% of truck owners tow with their vehicle at least once a year, according to The Drive. As you may well know, keeping your trailer in good health is just as important for safety as the tuck’s wellbeing. That’s why both Ford and GMC offer trailer tire pressure monitoring systems for customers who love to haul. Best of all, the system can either be optioned from the factory or installed by your dealer ex post facto. Regardless of which feature you like best, all offer fantastic innovations in the pickup truck market, and it’ll be interesting to see what the industry brings forth next.

RELATED: These Trucks Have the Best Sound Systems Ever

The post These Are the Best, Most Innovative Pickup Truck Features appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

A Formula 1 car only succeeds at racing when its multitude of parts work in harmony. From the tires to the various electronics, everything shapes how well the race car does in the F1 Championship. And sometimes, small changes can make for significant results. We’re seeing that play out right now with F1 wings.

Do F1 wings work like the ones on road cars?

As complicated as F1 cars are, not every racing demand requires a high-tech and/or electronic solution. That even includes the race cars’ aerodynamic elements, such as the rear wings. True, F1 cars do have some active aero features, such as the drag-reduction system. But at a very basic level, an F1 wing is designed to do the same thing as a road car wing. And that ‘thing’ is controlling airflow.

As air flows over a car—any car—it speeds up to match the air flowing under the car. This creates a low-pressure zone behind the car, causing lift. That’s great for airplanes, which fly via this phenomenon, but bad for cars. And it’s especially problematic for rear-wheel-drive cars, like the ones in F1, because that reduces traction and acceleration.

F1 cars, like road cars, address this issue using rear wings. F1 wings, like road-car ones, are essentially upside-down airplane wings, Automobile explains. When the air going over the car’s roof hits the wing, some goes over and some goes under. The wing’s shape means the air going under has to speed up, generating a smaller low-pressure zone. It’s lift, but in the opposite direction—aka ‘downforce.’

However, F1 wings have the same downsides as the ones road cars use. Firstly, boundary-layer separation at the rear limits how much air the wing ‘sees.’ That’s why F1 cars also have vortex generators that improve airflow to the wings. And secondly, while rear wings generate downforce, they also increase drag, which slows the car down.

This brings us to the aero battle that’s being played out over the 2021 F1 Championship.

Flexi or multi-part, rear wings have a major role in 2021 F1 Championship strategies

The rear wings on F1 cars are part of a comprehensive aero package that includes things like vortex generators and front canards. And F1 aero kits change annually, based on rule changes and competitive experience. However, F1 teams also regularly swap out these aero features as the situation demands. And the recent Portuguese Grand Prix was indeed demanding.

As noted earlier, wings create more drag as they make downforce. But if the F1 team is OK with less downforce, the mechanics can fit a different wing. A wing with a shallower angle and/or differently-shaped fins makes less downforce, F1 Technical notes. But it also makes less drag. And that means more straight-line speed.

This is exactly what the Mercedes team did at the Portuguese GP, Motorsports explains. Lewis Hamilton’s car had a lower-downforce wing that let him speed by his Red Bull rival, Max Verstappen. However, while the tactic worked, it also kicked off an F1 wing-off of sorts.

Following the Portuguese GP, the Red Bull F1 team swapped wings throughout the Spanish GP. The team used a high-downforce wing for qualifying and a lower-downforce one during the actual race. This tactic let the team get a solid qualifying time and more speed during the race, not to mention less rear-tire wear.

Unfortunately, the second wing flexed so much that Mercedes accused Red Bull of violating F1 regulations. After all, a downward-deflecting wing makes even less drag. Red Bull fired back by accusing Mercedes’ front wings of the same, Autoweek reports. The F1 organizers resolved this by instituting new, tougher testing procedures for the subsequent French GP.

The 2021 season is entering its second act soon

Pit Lane P16 so far. A rocket start from @yukitsunoda07 at the #FrenchGP #PoweredByHonda pic.twitter.com/fQVy3E9R3v

— Honda Racing F1 (@HondaRacingF1) June 20, 2021

Although the ‘flexi wing’ issue has seemingly been addressed, the 2021 F1 Championship isn’t over. The next race on June 27^th, 2021, is the Styrian GP in Austria. And there, the teams’ aero strategies will be pitted against each other again. But there are still 14 more races after that.

Just goes to show, when it comes to F1, you can’t just wing it.

Follow more updates from MotorBiscuit on our Facebook page.

RELATED: Could F1 Driver Valtteri Bottas’ Wheel Nut Issue Happen to You?

The post How Wings Will Decide Who Wins the 2021 F1 Championship Battle appeared first on MotorBiscuit.