The 2022 Ford Maverick Already Has Over 36,000 Reservations – Arrives Later This Year

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It is no secret that brand-new pickup trucks have gotten quite expensive over the past few decades. As a result, even entry-level models can fall out of budget for a significant portion of the car-buying market. However, the 2022 Ford Maverick aims to fix this problem by offering a brand-new offering starting under $20,000. As you might imagine, this announcement draws out new buyers and even current ones away from used trucks.

According to Motor1, Ford has already received over 36,000 reservations for the small truck. At this pace, this small truck has received more reservations in less than some models manage to sell during a full year. As a result, listening to what consumers want and are willing to pay for it has put the American carmaker in a great spot.

How much does the 2022 Ford Maverick cost?

2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

As mentioned in the intro, the 2022 Ford Maverick comes in under $20,000, or $19,995, to be exact. However, that is for the base XL trim. Despite being an entry-level model, you still get the most efficient powertrain available, a 2.5-liter hybrid inline-four that consumes an average of 40 mpg in the city. Moving up to the next trim level, the XLT bumps that base price up to $22,280. At the top of the food chain, you’ll find the Lariat, which comes in at $25,490.

In terms of options, you have a fairly short list, which helps keep overall costs down. The two main options you’ll want to look out for are the all-wheel-drive system for $2,220 and a powerful 2.0-liter engine for $1,085. It seems the goal here was to allow customers to move through the trim levels without having to shell out massive amounts of cash.

Thanks to this price point, the 2022 Ford Maverick is now more accessible to first-time buyers that needed an easy way into the world of new trucks.

Over 36,000 people have reserved one already

An image of a Ford Maverick outdoors, the brand's smallest new truck.
2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

If you want a 2022 Ford Maverick, you can go online and reserve one right now. Unlike other trucks, reserving the Maverick doesn’t require you to put down a deposit. You simply go to the carmaker’s site, fill out your information, and you are technically on the list. In total, Ford claims it has already received well over 36,000 reservations at the time of writing.

To put this number into perspective, CarSalesBase reports Honda managed to sell 32,168 units of its Ridgeline truck last year. This means that the Maverick already has the potential to outsell some established models in its very first year.

As you might imagine, these reservations don’t mean anything at the end of the day if they don’t eventually turn into orders. However, we won’t have to wait long to see if they actually do.

When will the 2022 Ford Maverick arrive?

An image of a Ford Maverick outdoors, the brand's smallest new truck.
2022 Ford Maverick | Ford

RELATED: Why the Ford Maverick Should be Ford’s Next Electric Truck

As its model year might suggest, the 2022 Ford Maverick is supposed to go on sale later this fall. If you’ve got a reservation in place, this simply means that someone from a local dealership will probably contact you at some point over the next few months to finalize the exact spec you want. The best part of this arrangement is that you can custom-tailor your new truck instead of having to make do with whatever is available at a dealership. Now we’ll just have to see how well this truck performs in practice.

The post The 2022 Ford Maverick Already Has Over 36,000 Reservations – Arrives Later This Year appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Mazda Plans to Go Electric With a Little Help From Toyota

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It is no secret that the auto industry believes that electric vehicles are the future of personal mobility. However, various manufacturers across the world have come up with drastically different plans of getting there. While some have decided to embrace EVs entirely, others are moving slowly by working on hybrid models. Mazda seems to be one of the latter, opting to start its electric push with hybrid models with help from Toyota.

According to CarBuzz, Mazda’s plan surrounds a push to have 25 percent of its vehicles be completely electric by 2030. Given that relatively low percentage, it won’t surprise you to learn that the Japanese carmaker is currently working on a brand-new internal combustion engine.

Here is how Mazda plans to go electric and how Toyota fits in

2020 Mazda CX-30 | Mazda

If we look at how Mazda plans to go electric, it’s a fairly simple plan. According to CarBuzz, the Japanese carmaker introduces various new models on its new electric architecture starting in 2025 and continuing through 2030. The goal of this push is to have at least 25 percent of its lineup be completely electric.

In the shorter term, CarBuzz reports that Mazda will roll out its Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture sometime between 2022 and 2025. This architecture will reportedly underpin at least five hybrid models, five plug-in hybrids, and three EVs. If you’re wondering where Toyota fits into this equation, CarBuzz reports that some of these new Mazda models will feature Toyota’s hybrid system.

Additionally, the recently announced Corolla Cross will get a Mazda variant which will become one of these new hybrid models. If this seems a bit confusing, all you have to know is that all of the brand’s upcoming models will feature some form of electrification moving forward.

Are there any all-electric Mazdas on sale?

An image of a Mazda MX-5 Miata outdoors.
Mazda MX-5 Miata | Mazda

If you want to buy an electric Mazda today, you can’t just yet. However, the brand’s first EV, called the MX-30, is set to arrive sometime later this year. Unfortunately, it’ll only go on sale in California before hitting other states. According to Car and Driver, this electric crossover is set to house a 35.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor on its front axle. The result is a total power output of around 144 hp.

As Car and Driver points out, the MX-30’s rumored battery pack is relatively small. As a result, it should only offer up to around 100 miles per charge. While this might seem like a small amount, it is more than enough to cover the average commute. However, other competitors like the Bolt EV and Kona Electric already outperform these stats.

Mazda also has plans to go upmarket

A gray-blue 2021 Mazda 6 Carbon Edition
2021 Mazda 6 Carbon Edition | Mazda

RELATED: The Mazda MX-5 Miata Doesn’t Seem to Actually Be That Popular

In the midst of Mazda’s new electric vehicle plan, the carmaker is also unveiling a new SkyActiv Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture with rear-wheel drive, says CarBuzz. This comes alongside a brand-new inline-six engine which should help push the current Mazda6 and next-gen CX-5 to a higher price point. The goal here seems to compete with what Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz offer at the affordable end of their lineup.

As a result, this new plan doesn’t ditch internal combustion by any means. Instead, it seems to want to integrate it as long as possible.

The post Mazda Plans to Go Electric With a Little Help From Toyota appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Tesla Just Killed This Feature in the Model 3 and Model Y Because No One Uses It

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Automakers are full of ideas, and most of them tend to pan out, and set new trends. This isn’t always the case, however, and some ideas get canned. Tesla has recently decided to get rid of one of the more popular auto trends in two of its vehicles, and critics are wondering what this means for Tesla’s future. 

Goodbye lumbar support

In a strange twist, Tesla has decided that lumbar support will no longer be included as an option in the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y on the passenger side. Given what a popular feature this has become, especially for those with bad backs or anyone who spends a lot of time on the road, this doesn’t quite make sense. It’s a favored feature on luxury cars, after all, so why take it away.

Elon Musk explained his reasoning on Twitter, but it was rather confusing. The conversation started with a tweet from a Twitter user that stated, “I really don’t like the direction @tesla is going raising prices of vehicles but removing features like lumbar for the Model Y. On top of rumors of FSD increase to $14k without any real added features to FSD unless you’re a beta tester.” 

Musk was quick to reply with, “Moving lumbar was removed only in front passenger seat of 3/Y (obv not there in rear seats). Logs showed almost no usage. Not worth cost/mass for everyone when almost never used.”

MotorTrend isn’t buying this logic and pointed out that most drivers are going to set their lumbar support once to their own personal needs, and then don’t need to use it again. There’s no need to adjust it every time you get behind the wheel. The same logic could be applied to passengers who set it once and don’t need to do so again. Musk stands behind his decision, however, and future versions of the Model 3 and Model Y will not have the lumbar support on the passenger side.

This isn’t the only feature Tesla has cut

Tesla seems to be slashing features left and right. It wasn’t that long ago that the EV automaker announced it would no longer be using radar for some of its safety features. Instead, it will rely entirely on a camera-based setup. 

In another budget-cutting exercise, it was accidentally discovered that Tesla is using fake wood trim for the cooling system. The owner of a Tesla Model Y decided to take apart the front sheet metal, so he could figure out if he could fix the panel fit. That’s when he discovered the wood trim, which is quite shocking on a vehicle that costs $55,000.

What does this mean for Tesla going forward?

While many may disagree about Tesla and its impact on the auto industry, there’s one thing everyone can agree on: Teslas are expensive. With prices ranging anywhere from $39,990 for the Model 3 to $200,000 for the Roadster, which hasn’t hit dealerships yet, Teslas are out of the budget range for many consumers. Given these prices, consumers are expecting a lot. Yet Tesla is continuing to raise prices and slash features.

Given some of the upcoming changes, it appears that older Teslas will have superior features to newer models. This will most likely result in people buying used Teslas, or holding on to the one they have rather than upgrading. 

While this doesn’t spell the end for Tesla by any means, it does show there is still a lot of room for growth. Given that we’re still recovering from the pandemic and auto parts are in short supply, consumers may be willing to forgive and forget some of the cuts Tesla is making. How long this will hold true remains to be seen, however.

RELATED: The Biggest Tesla Complaints

The post Tesla Just Killed This Feature in the Model 3 and Model Y Because No One Uses It appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Is This Aftermarket Tesla Model 3 Yoke Wheel Cool or Downright Crazy?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you own a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y, you might be feeling a bit left out since your car isn’t available with the unusual and somewhat questionable yoke wheel. However, as the aftermarket for EVs continues to grow, you can fit even a Tesla with loads of parts. That’s exactly what Hansshow thought when it decided to construct its own version of the yoke wheel for the Model Y and Model 3.

According to CarBuzz, a YouTuber named i1Tesla posted an in-depth look at the wheel and its carbon fiber and suede construction. Since this is a product you can actually buy, it is worth reiterating that this likely doesn’t meet tested safety standards and will likely be sketchy at best if you happen to crash.

Here’s the only yoke wheel available for the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y

Since this is the world’s first Tesla Model 3 yoke wheel, let’s take a closer look via the video embedded above. The first thing that’ll strike you is the wheel’s physical construction. According to CarBuzz, this wheel will reportedly fit onto a Model 3 or Model Y since they utilize the same wheel hub. In terms of materials, we’re looking at construction that features suede and carbon fiber, a significant upgrade over the standard plastic trim.

As you might imagine, this Tesla Model 3 wheel is trying to copy the one found in the new Plaid model. While it definitely has a strange shape, it carries a similar design to the one in the new car. The main benefit of this wheel is that you can easily transfer your car’s existing airbag, so you have some semblance of crash protection in the case of an accident.

While some of the material choices are great, this aftermarket upgrade is far from cheap.

How much does this yoke wheel cost?

Tesla Model 3 Yoke Wheel | i1Tesla via YouTube

Let’s pretend you’ve thrown caution to the wind and decided to order one of these Tesla Model 3 yoke wheels. If you opt for the cheapest configuration, you’re looking at a starting price of $1,099. However, you can upgrade the finishing and materials which quickly brings the price up to $1,259. For this price, this is certainly an expensive gag.

It also goes without saying that some of the finishing showcased in the video looks rough at best. Take a look at the photo embedded above and you’ll notice that the quality of the stitching isn’t great. Additionally, the suede doesn’t line up perfectly with some of the carbon fiber panels. Given how quickly this arrived for sale, chances are bugs will be quite common.

A red 2021 Tesla Model 3 driving along the mountains, the 2021 Tesla Model 3 is one of the best new sports cars with all-wheel drive
2021 Tesla Model 3 | Tesla

RELATED: Tesla May Owe $16,000 to Thousands of Owners

If you’re wondering if this Tesla Model 3 yoke is even remotely legal, no one knows. In fact, the NHTSA hasn’t announced if the normal yoke wheel in the Model S Plaid will make it into production. For the most part, it seems Tesla is confident it will since most of the test cars and company images feature it. However, if the original is struggling, there’s likely no chance for the aftermarket one.

The post Is This Aftermarket Tesla Model 3 Yoke Wheel Cool or Downright Crazy? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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