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14Feb
The Most Rugged-Looking SUVs of 2023

Mainstream SUVs continue to evolve into a class of vehicles that blur the lines between comfort, convenience, and ruggedness. You can get a luxury SUV with all the bells and whistles that you expect in an upscale ride, but in the same class, you can also get a brawny vehicle designed to tackle any type of rough terrain. Some SUVs have more rugged features than others. Here’s a look at some of the most rugged 2023 models. Read More
What’s the Best Car for Your Family? Here Are 10 Suggestions
8Feb
What’s the Best Car for Your Family? Here Are 10 Suggestions

If your initial thought when looking for the best car for your family is to choose a minivan, you’re on the right track, but there might be others.

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Toyota Thinks EVs Could Be Bad For the Environment
7Feb
Toyota Thinks EVs Could Be Bad For the Environment

Almost every automotive company in the world is considering making an EV to rival the likes of Tesla, but Toyota, arguably the most successful car company in the world, isn’t too quick to jump on the bandwagon.

There is a reason you don’t see fully electric vehicles at Toyota Dealerships. While Toyota does well in the hybrid car market, they haven’t yet participated in the worldwide movement that is EVs. Companies such as Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, and Hyundai, for starters, are throwing themselves into making EVs like there is no tomorrow. While this seems like a noble pursuit, with EVs being better for the environment and all, there is a major flaw that not everyone is talking about. Data from Toyota has uncovered that EVs are not as good for the environment as we thought they would be. In fact, in the long run, they could cause big problems if gone unchecked, which, right now, they are.

Toyota makes some of the most impressive and reliable cars on the planet. They’ve been around for a long time and they don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. Let’s hope their newfound data is just as trustworthy.

The Problem With Batteries

Toyota’s chief scientist, Gill Pratt has a lot to say about EVs. While it’s fun and all to make EVs willy-nilly, Gill Pratt thinks automakers should be diversifying their energy sources, rather than all using the same kind. For starters, companies should still be trying to utilize hybrid and hydrogen energy sources.

In the long haul, batteries, particularly ones made from lithium, won’t last us forever. In fact, they might be worse for the environment than traditional combustion engines! Pratt claims that there will likely be a shortage of batteries, due to a shortage of lithium, paired with the lack of charging stations in America, which will make EV production a challenge for both companies and consumers.

Pratt also states that making so many lithium batteries for these EVs will cause more CO2 output than regular production already does. These are the things consumers don’t know.

Toyota’s Plan

Toyota does have plans to make an EV, though. It’s been announced that Toyota will release a sedan-sized EV for the Chinese automotive market. This car is unlikely to reach global appeal, and Toyota seems fine with that, anyways. While they are in the works for an EV, Toyota doesn’t seem too interested in making one for the world.

Toyota wants to hold out, see what happens, and then decide what they will do. As a seasoned company in the global automotive market, Toyota isn’t too hurried or desperate. Will there ever be a fully electric vehicle in American Toyota dealerships? Maybe in the future, but right now Toyota wants to stick to its guns, which is making reliable cars and trusting its process. You can still find hybrids made by Toyota, but you’ll have to wait for an EV.
Mercedes-Benz EV has a New Acceleration Increase Package
2Dec
Subscribe for Speed? Mercedes-Benz EV has a New Acceleration Increase Package – And Nobody Seems to be Happy About it

It started with car loans – breaking up a big purchase into smaller, more manageable payments over a longer period of time. Then, it became additional features – Bluetooth connections and customizable radio packages that enhance your driving experience.

Now, it’s speed – by paying more, your car can drive faster, and its engine performs better, according to a new package being rolled out at Mercedes dealer locations that sell EQE models. But what does that actually mean for drivers, BMW as a company, and the future of vehicle subscriptions?

What the Acceleration Increase Package Actually Does

The Acceleration Increase Package is a $1,200 per year subscription that makes acceleration quicker and improves torque for Mercedes-Benz’s EV models. For some, like the EQE 350 4Matic SUV, this can make a vehicle go 0-60mph in 5 seconds instead of 6.

That’s a pretty big improvement in acceleration and performance, and it’s one that anyone who enjoys fast cars would love! It’s also a great selling point for a luxury vehicle brand – you’re already visiting a Mercedes dealer for a good car, so why not get a package that makes it even better?

Here’s the problem: the hardware and technology are already in the vehicle from when you buy it. You just can’t use it until you pay an additional fee. BMW already made vehicles able to run this well – they just won’t sell them to you as-is.

If that sounds strange or unfair to you, you’re not alone. Subscription services for vehicles have already been getting negative feedback, and BMW’s latest package is just one of many.

BMW’s Other Packages and Subscription Attempts

BMW isn’t the first vehicle manufacturer to offer subscription services related to pre-installed features. Earlier in 2022, for example, GM announced a mandatory OnStar subscription for models like Buick and Cadillac.

This isn’t even the first package or feature BMW has provided for a monthly fee! Features like heated seats and steering wheels, as well as dash cam access, have either a one-time or monthly cost for BMW drivers. The company also had plans to charge vehicle owners a subscription fee for the use of Apple CarPlay, but ended up scrapping them.

So if this isn’t the first vehicle subscription service the company has tried to push onto consumers, the real question to ask is this: will it be the last?

The Future of Subscription Services and Laws for Vehicles

Earlier in 2022, New Jersey lawmakers began introducing legislation to ban vehicle subscription services just like the one BMW is offering. The bill would specifically prohibit automakers and dealers from charging ongoing fees for hardware that’s already present in vehicles at the time of purchase.

This means that not only would BMW be unable to offer the Acceleration Increase Package, but Mercedes dealers wouldn’t be able to tack on their own fees once vehicles are in their showrooms.

Is this the future of EVs that manufacturers intended? Or is it merely an unfortunate sign of the times? Hopefully, it’s the latter, and new laws and negative feedback can help carmakers make positive changes away from this trend.