Ask Nathan: Future Ram Power Wagon, Leaving Tesla For Ford & Getting Screwed By A Used Car Dealer?

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December 12, 2021

In this week’s Ask Nathan:

Will the future Ram Power Wagon be electric?
Should I wait for a Tesla Cybertruck?
Got screwed by a used car dealership.

The first question has to do with the future Ram Power Wagon. It’s actually many questions/statements from different sources.

Q: (A post on a Ram Power Wagon fan site): Do you think Stellantis will make the future Ram Power Wagon all-electric?

“The future Ram Power Wagon is the last truck I would ever consider electrifying. It’s been around for 75 years and the recipe remains the same. Tough, capable, unstoppable.” – E. Berr

“Will Stellantis discontinue the Ram Power Wagon, or make it some sort of hybrid?” – C. Costa

“We will have electrified versions of every vehicle they we in the United States by 2030.” – Stellantis

An image of the upcoming Ram EV pickup (Image: Stellantis)

A: The future Ram Power Wagon?

I’m kind of worried about Stellantis’ plans in general, to be honest. I don’t mind the idea of future electrification for many brands, but they straight-out said they will have electric versions of all of their vehicles. That’s kind of dubious for all of their heavy duty pickup trucks, to be honest.

The Ram Power Wagon is one of my favorite off-road pickup trucks. It’s not just because it is remarkably capable off-road, it simply oozes awesomeness. It’s a brute, a basher, an asphalt thug – and it’s cozy too. Sure, it laps up unleaded like a thirsty hound – it’s more frugal that the previous models. I got about 12 mpg combined driving the 2020 model… which is an improvement!

A hybrid powertrain in the Ram Power Wagon could be something…

If you think about the gains Ford and Toyota have managed by building a proper hybrid powertrain for their half-ton pickup trucks, it makes me wonder about the Power Wagon. Right now, Ram’s e-Torque system is not that efficient. Sure, there are slight gains, but it’s not exactly stellar.

The Power Wagon’s current, big-honkin’ 6.4-liter Hemi V8 makes 410 horsepower and 429 lbs-feet of torque. It moves the 7,000-lbs heavy duty truck with mucho gusto. Now, just for the purposes of comparison, the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid makes a combined 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque.

Just hang with me here.

What IF Ram made something comparable to Ford’s hybrid – but built for heavy duty trucks? Sure, there are a ton of reasons people would be resistant to this. Not the least of these issues would be concerns over complexity and reliability. Still, there are a lot of examples of both civilian and industrial hybrid systems that last a long time.

It’s just food for thought. I wonder what the folks at Stellantis are thinking.

— N

The next question comes from a Tesla fan who’s thinking about turning to Ford.

Q1: (Via: Twitter@NathanAdlen) Waiting on Tesla to make good on their Cybertruck is annoying.

I am seriously considering trading my wife’s Model 3 in for a Mach E and giving in to get a (Ford) Lightning instead of a Cybertruck. Tired of (Elon) Musk and his antics. So tired of stupid politics and game playing. Like our Model 3 and drove it over 50,000 miles in 3 years. Just hate the customer service. Kinda done.

— @OzStevensLover66

A: I hear you, and I hope it works out.

Still, there is real evidence that the Cybertruck is coming closer to production. We recently posted a story about some intriguing images and video of the Cybertruck testing. It showed many clues about the truck nearing production (mirrors, wiper, lights, etc.).

Being that I have yet to drive either the Cybertruck, or the Ford F-150 Lightning, I have no insight to share with you. On the other hand, I’ve driven both the Model 3 and Mach-E, and they are both fantastic performers. Yes, I would choose the Ford as it is a little more intuitive and I found all models to be comfy for the driver. I think the Model Y is a better competitor with the Mach-E.

Anyway, I hope it works out. Keep us in the loop!

— N

The last question comes from a friend in California who wants to know what he can do about getting screwed at a used car dealership.

Labor Day Sales is probably the best time to buy a car

Q: Just bought a 2017 Honda Pilot for $29,000. It had 70,000 miles on it.

Paid cash and got a warranty from the dealership last week. Now it’s dead and the “warranty” company won’t cover the glitch. The dealership won’t return my calls and I found a mountain of bad reviews on the place. Can you expose them!?

— Kana

A: Good news my Amigo!

Not only do you have legal avenues, you should quality under California’s used car Lemon Law requirements. Provided that you owned the vehicle for less than a month, and put less than 1,000 miles on it – the Lemon Law should apply.

I cribbed the below Lemon Law information from Douglas D. Law Esq.

Qualifying under the Lemon Law

From 2013 on, the laws of California were amended to require that even “buy here, pay here” used car dealers must offer at least a 30 day or 1,000-mile warranty that covers the essential components of the car. However, most dealers that are not “buy here, pay here” will provide a better warranty, particularly if the vehicle is Certified Pre-Owned. Either way, the Lemon Law entitles you to compensation if you bought a used car and the following qualifications are met:

You bought the car from a retailer, not a private individual. Private used car sales are not covered under the law.
There is an active warranty on the car, whether that is the original manufacturer’s warranty or an extended warranty given by the retailer.
The pre-owned vehicle has a substantial defect.
The pre-owned vehicle has spent an excessive amount of time in the shop being repaired.
Despite a “reasonable number” of repair attempts, the car still is not fixed and the problem persist

Now, quickly reply and be prepared show up at the dealership with all of your paperwork – AND a printout of the Lemon Law. Don’t be afraid to seek legal guidance, many Lemon Law specialists do free consultations.

Finally: for all of you, make that dealership famous. There are several websites that you can report them to, including the Better Business Bureau and a variety of forums like Yelp – among others. Also, consider going to the state’s various dealerships associations, like IADAC.

Check local news sources too. You would be surprised about how many journalists are gathering data for a slam dunk on that business. On top of that, if a news piece has already posted about that dealership, contact the journalist and their editor. They are probably looking for additional material for updates and so-on.

Best of luck!

— N

p.s. Update: Kana retained an attorney and got a refund, along with additional money for expenses. Well done!

Here’s a reminder of how things can turn out.

Ford Hits The Pause Button On Electric Explorer & Aviator As It Focuses On Mach-E Demand: News

By

Nathan Adlen

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December 11, 2021

2021 Ford Explorer King Ranch — (Images: Ford)

In order to meet Mach-E demand, the Ford Explorer EV and Lincoln Aviator EV will be delayed.

In a report by Automotive News Friday, Ford stated that it is planning to triple output of the Ford Mustang Mach-E in order to meet the car’s explosive demand. Per a tweet from CEO Jim Farley, means ultimately ramping up production to 200,000 units annually. It also means that the all-electric versions of the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator will have to wait. The Ford plant in Cuautitlan, Mexico was slated to produce the EV Explorer and EV Aviator. It’s switching to the Mustang Mach-E.

In that post, AutoNews notes Ford telling its suppliers that the production of the Explorer and Aviator EV will be delayed 18 months. Originally, production was supposed to start near the summer of 2023. The company also aims to move the vehicles’ production from Cuautitlan, Mexico to an as-yet-unannounced plant. As it stands right now, that timeline means the delay pushes production to December 2024.

Demand for the Ford Mustang Mach-E is remarkably high

Recently, Jim Farley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ford Motor Company tweeted that EV production will increase to 600,000 units within two years. Part of this increase is the massive demand for their new Mustang Mach-E. Despite a recent price increase, the demand remains consistently high.

As of October 2021, Ford Mustang Mach-E ranks second in EV sales, trailing only the Tesla Model Y. With the addition of the Cuautitlan, Mexico plant, Ford is aiming to overtake Tesla in the near future. With the impending arrival of the Ford F-150 Lightning — which is also in high demand — Ford’s aim of producing 600,000 electric vehicles per year could be well within reach.

It’s hard to produce Mustang Mach-Es fast enough to meet the incredible demand, but we are sure going to try. So starting in 2022 we are increasing production and expect to reach 200,000+ units per year for North America & Europe by 2023. That's 3x our 2021 output. ⚡️⚡️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/xSMbuHxdEN
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) December 10, 2021

What about the regular Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator?

The gasoline-powered Ford Explorer will continue production at the Ford Chicago Assembly Plant. The Ford Explorer is still extremely popular. Last year, Ford sold over 240,000 units in North America. The automaker is on track to match or exceed that number in 2021. While not as hot as a seller, the Aviator sold about 25,000 units in North America in 2020. The Explorer is still one of the more popular vehicles in its segment, and the Blue Oval isn’t going to jeopardize that position.

Our First Proper Look At The Next-Generation Mini Reveals Some Major Changes: News

By

Nathan Adlen

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December 10, 2021

2023 Mini Cooper — pre-production model spied — (Images: Greg Kable, via Twitter)

The Next-Generation 2023 Mini Hardtop appears to have a ton of changes.

A lot of new changes to the Mini are immediately apparent with the exterior design, but is it enough?

A new set of spy images showing next-generation car are making the rounds, and were tweeted out by Greg Kable. It’s a pretty good bet that these cars are fairly production-ready, so it should be informative of what’s coming to production. Judging by the other camouflaged Minis in other photos, those changes should also be wide-ranging across the model’s lineup. It’s apparent that the Cooper four-door and Cooper S are hanging around as well.

The main attraction is this white next-generation Cooper. While the front end is still familiar, there are some obvious changes, including the headlights. The rearview side mirrors look a bit larger, which would be a good thing. You can clearly see other significant exterior updates, and the grill is one of them.

That design update is especially noticeable with the rear end design. The next-generation Mini appears to have ditched the signature squared-off taillights for a triangular design.

New MINI @MINI @BMW @BMWGroup @GWMGlobal pic.twitter.com/GFq55Rw2ai
— Greg Kable (@GregKable) December 10, 2021

The new model still has fairly similar headlights to the current model.

It still appears that Mini kept what I call the “fish eye” headlights. The halo component is still there, but the internal design of the headlight looks different. Perhaps it’s a mix of projection and LED lights? Well, at least the dead fish eye look is now kind of angry.

The interior looks a bit different as well. If you look at the screen and steering wheel, they both look like they have been upgraded.

Mini already stated that their other products, the Countryman and Clubman will get updates in 2023 as well. The thing is, these last updates are probably the last ones for the gas models. Mini will begin its serious move to electrification shortly. That means, they want to have about 50% of their models electric by 2027. Eventually, the internal combustion Mini will be extinct.

While we savor the future possibilities, check out one of our recent roadtrips with the (current) Mini Cooper SE below:

Volvo Hit By Cyberattack, Some R&D Data Stolen That May Have An “Impact On The Company’s Operation”

By

Zach Butler

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December 10, 2021

Volvo Hit By Cyberattack, Some R&D Data Stolen That May Have An "Impact On The Company's Operation" — Volvo is investigating a recent cyberattack. (Images: Volvo)

Volvo confirmed an illegal third-party data breach in a statement.

The Swedish automaker announced it had suffered a cybersecurity breach by an unidentified attacker. According to a statement Friday, the breach resulted in the theft of a “limited amount” of Volvo‘s R&D property.

“After detecting the unauthorized access, the company immediately implemented security countermeasures including steps to prevent further access to its property and notified relevant authorities.” While it did not specify the sensitivity of the stolen data, Volvo did notably say that “there may be an impact on the company’s operation.” At this point, though, it’s not clear what that impact could be.

“Volvo Cars is conducting its own investigation and working with a third-party specialist to investigate the property theft,” the announcement continued. “The company does not see, with currently available information, that this has an impact on the safety or security of customers’ cars or their personal data.”

Nevertheless, cyberattacks are a growing concern as automakers leverage more advanced, connected technology into their cars. Volvo also did not specify which of its facilities around the world had been hit, though we may learn more as time goes on. A subsidiary of China-based Geely Holding Group, Volvo’s headquarters is in Gothenburg, Sweden, but the firm has several locations in Europe, the US and China — any one of which could have been at the heart of this breach.

Volkswagen Is Building An Electric ID.California — Would You Want One If It Comes To The US?

By

Zach Butler

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December 10, 2021

Volkswagen ID.Buzz Concept — The Volkswagen ID.Buzz (shown here in concept form) will get a #vanlife-focused ‘California’ variant. (Images: Volkswagen)

Folks have been clamoring for a Volkswagen California here in the States.

A few years ago, we had our latest chance to check out Volkswagen’s camper van (in California, no less) — despite the fact that the automaker has so far refused to actually sell it here. There might be some hope, though, as VW confirmed an electric ID.California during an electrification presentation Thursday. Assumedly based on the upcoming ID.Buzz, this all-electric California will go into production in Hanover, Germany, as that plant prepares to retool for full EV production.

Volkswagen didn’t say much else about it at this point, but putting the electric ID. moniker and its California van line together, this would be the most obvious result. The company did go into further detail about the direction its Hanover plant would go in the coming years:

“The Group’s currently most important forward-looking project will be set up in Hanover, where the first Artemis vehicle will be produced. Body manufacturing for a new Bentley model has also been confirmed. Another vehicle derivative, the ID. California, has likewise been approved for the site. In addition, Hanover will spearhead autonomous driving in the Group with the MOIA shuttles and the ID. BUZZ AD.”

VW’s doubling down on EVs

On the whole, the plant is just one part of Volkswagen Group’s electrification plan — one that has landed CEO Herbert Diess in hot water with German labor union leaders and politicians, after he suggested the company may engage in massive job cuts to compete with Tesla and other rivals as the EV market heats up. Diess will in fact keep most of his responsibilities and remain the Group’s CEO, and part of soothing the waters involves heavy investment in “e-mobility”.

In Thursday’s presentation, Volkswagen aims to hit 25% electric car sales by 2026, and it is investing 89 billion euros ($101 billion) to make it happen over the next five years.

All that said, will Volkswagen actually bring an ID.California to the United States? The ID.Buzz should arrive next year, so this may finally be our opportunity to get our hands on a version of VW’s forbidden fruit camper van. Based on the concept, it should have around 200 miles of range, according to an Electrek report.

The 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E Pricing Just Went Up This Week: Here’s How Much It Moved

By

Zach Butler

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December 9, 2021

Retail prices for the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E went up effective December 8.

Within the past week, a report emerged from CarsDirect and discussion has been ongoing on the Mach-E forums noting Ford’s intent (through a dealer bulletin) to increase pricing on the 2022 Mustang Mach-E. In some cases, that increase comes to $3,000 in certain configurations, while each trim level on its own commands a $1,000 to $2,000 price jump over the 2021 models. As of Thursday, the Mach-E’s configurator now reflects these changes, with the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E starting off at $44,995, including an $1,100 destination fee.

That’s for the base ‘Select’ trim, which gets a $1,000 bump in addition to the Premium trim, which comes next in the lineup. Beyond that, the California Route 1 and the performance GT are $2,000 more expensive, with the latter now starting at $63,095. That’s not all, though, as the Extended Range battery (where it’s an option) is another $1,000 more than it was for 2021. The GT Performance Package also gets a $1,000 bump, adding $6,000 to the GT’s normal MSRP.

In 2021, that package was a $5,000 option, bringing the 0-60 time down to 3.5 seconds from 3.8 in the standard Mach-E GT.

If you want a Mach-E, you’re in for a wait

Heading into the new model year, Ford’s electric crossover is hardly the only car to see a price hike. That said, the $1,000 to $3,000 increase negates part of the benefit of the currently available $7,500 federal tax credit. What may sting more than the price for some people is the wait time, which the Blue Oval’s site lists between 20 and 28 weeks, depending on the model. Select and Califronia Route 1 models carry a slightly shorter wait, while Premium and GT models have that full 6+ month estimated delivery time for new orders.

Due to high demand over the past several months, Ford began converting some current 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E orders to the 2022 model year. However, this price change should only affect new orders from December 8th onward. So, if you want to buy a Ford Mustang Mach-E and aren’t already in the queue, be warned: You will have to shell out more thanks to the higher MSRPs from this point forward.

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December 9, 2021

Next to the Ford Maverick hybrid, the Toyota Corolla hybrid’s base price is over $3,000 more.

Honestly, the Maverick is a better bet for my money.

Trucks are more popular than cars, and the 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid is already sold out – for good reason. It holds a lot more than a Toyota Corolla Hybrid, which is the least expensive car you can get with a hybrid powerplant. With the pricing alone, the Maverick hybrid comes out on top.

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid — Image: Toyota

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE has a base price of $23,650. It’s rated at 53 mpg combined, which is outstanding. Power, handling and comfort are not too bad, but it’s not what I would call “entertaining.” It has a meager 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, and the back seats are pretty tight. Still, it has a decent (compared to the Maverick hybrid) infotainment system – despite being an inch smaller.

In summary, it is much more efficient, rides better, provides a better driver’s interface, and it’s also easier to park.

Making the Maverick’s case

Ford’s 2022 Maverick Hybrid XL has a base price of $19,995. It’s rated at 43 mpg combined, which is damn good for a truck, but on par for a compact non-hybrid runabout. Compared with the Toyota, it’s not quite as sporty in corners, but it flies off the line. It also has more useable interior space and a massive 33.3 cubic feet of cargo space. It has a lousy infotainment system, granted, and not everyone will like the built-to-a-price interior. On top of that, it has a rather stiff ride.

Bottom line: The Maverick is more utilitarian and it has more interior room, and it’s also more affordable.

When I began doing my research on affordable hybrids, I notices the numbers presented an interesting story. It’s not that they directly compare, but with about 800 pounds between them, and major dimensional differences, I found the numbers compelling.

Here are some interesting numbers for both:

Category	Toyota Corolla Hybrid	Ford Maverick Hybrid
Horsepower	121 hp	191 hp
Length	182.3 inches	199.7 inches
Passenger volume	101.7 cubic feet	100.3 cubic feet
Curb weight	2,850 pounds	3,636 pounds
Battery size	1.3 kWh	1.1 kWh
Towing Capacities	— (Not recommended with a small sedan)	2,000 pounds
Infotainment	7.0 inches	8.0 inches

Transmission truths..

One thing that sets the Maverick apart is its transmission. While Ford calls it an “e-CVT” it’s not a CVT (continuously variable transmission) – not at all. Even TFLtruck was confused at first with this naming misguidance. Unlike a conventional CVT, which uses pullies and a metal band, Ford’s eCVT uses a single planetary gearset and two electric motors. Yep, it’s all gears, not pullies.

Oh, and the Toyota Corolla hybrid uses a similar system.

Basically, both vehicles behave the same way, with one of two electric motors either providing power, or generating power, depending on demand. They are both seamless, but they behave the same way as a normal CVT. That is to say, they tend to rev and flow like any other car equipped with a CVT. Some might find that annoying.

Conclusion:

Obviously, there are pros and cons for both. Maximum utility goes to the Maverick hybrid, while maximum efficiency goes to the Corolla Hybrid. Both are bargains. Although, when it comes to bang-for-the-buck, the 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid is in a class of its own.

In this week’s Ask Nathan:

Q: (A post on a Ram Power Wagon fan site): Do you think Stellantis will make the future Ram Power Wagon all-electric?

A: The future Ram Power Wagon?

A hybrid powertrain in the Ram Power Wagon could be something…

Q1: (Via: Twitter@NathanAdlen) Waiting on Tesla to make good on their Cybertruck is annoying.

A: I hear you, and I hope it works out.

Q: Just bought a 2017 Honda Pilot for $29,000. It had 70,000 miles on it.

A: Good news my Amigo!

Qualifying under the Lemon Law

In order to meet Mach-E demand, the Ford Explorer EV and Lincoln Aviator EV will be delayed.

Demand for the Ford Mustang Mach-E is remarkably high

What about the regular Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator?

The Next-Generation 2023 Mini Hardtop appears to have a ton of changes.

The new model still has fairly similar headlights to the current model.

Volvo confirmed an illegal third-party data breach in a statement.

Folks have been clamoring for a Volkswagen California here in the States.

VW’s doubling down on EVs

Retail prices for the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E went up effective December 8.

If you want a Mach-E, you’re in for a wait

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Next to the Ford Maverick hybrid, the Toyota Corolla hybrid’s base price is over $3,000 more.

Making the Maverick’s case

Here are some interesting numbers for both:

Transmission truths..

Conclusion:

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