Drew Dowdell

Aside from the wheels being 3 sizes too large and it slammed too low, I love the attention to detail. I would have wanted closer to era appropriate wheels/tires in both size and style. I'm not saying drop it all the way back to 15", but some retro 18"s would have been fine. Those look at least 20" and they foul the front fender on turns.

I am not a crook... by modern standards..

In your case I couldn’t tell the difference.

I'm not familiar with this term, which is odd since I live in the Keystone state.

One of the frequent comments regarding battery-powered trucks is that their range is significantly diminished when towing. This is true with petroleum-powered trucks as well, of course, but the prevalence of standard gas stations removes range anxiety for those who fill up with dead dinos. Eventually, as high-speed EV chargers sprout up across the country, as Mercedes-Benz plans to help with by adding 400 charging stations nationwide, those concerns should be addressed. But that doesn’t help buyers who want a battery-powered truck today. RAM plans to help ease that range anxiety. Yesterday, RAM unveiled the RAM 1500 Revolution Concept at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show. While the concept is electric only, the production version, tentatively named RAM 1500 REV, would offer an option for a gas-powered range-extender. RAM CEO Mike Koval Jr. told Autoblog that the option will be available at launch along with the purely battery-powered model. RAM sees this solution as a way to make inroads in the burgeoning EV truck market while the charging network is still being developed. Technical details of the engine weren’t offered. Still, the most likely scenario is a purely separate generator unit whose only job is to provide electricity to the batteries in a towing or heavy payload situation, or if the battery charge has reached a minimum. Autoblog wonders if a physical connection from the generator to the wheels is possible. Still, this is unlikely due to the electric motor being mounted transversely between the front wheels. While anything truly is possible, we think a 4-cylinder mounted transversely powering the front wheels of a full-size pickup is pretty unlikely. If you’re a pickup truck buyer who tows frequently, could the RAM 1500 REV with a range-extender option change your mind about range anxiety? Sound off below. View full article

I would imagine its fine at 45 degrees latitude. ?

I'm not a fan of glass roofs as someone with light sensitivity. I have blue eyes and I've had lasik. I wear sunglasses even on cloudy days.

It's also a weight thing. Thick rotors are heavier in a time when every ounce counts against MPG. If GM went through all the trouble and expense to figure out a process to bond multiple metal types together to make their vehicles lighter but didn't cut 7-10 pounds off the weight of all four rotors combined it wouldn't be a very wise investment.

Yeah, I've heard the same. I've been doing my own brakes lately and I figure if I'm pulling the caliper, I might as well do two more bolts and do the rotor as well. Even the cop-spec winter weather coated AC Delco rotors for my truck were only like $75ish each from Rock Auto.

Probably summer then... but it wouldn't be the first time a concept was shown in January (traditionally Detroit show) and then production version in April (traditionally NYC show). I don't remember when either of those shows are anymore, but probably one of them. I can't see them taking it to the Texas State Fair, another traditional place to unveil trucks, they'll get booed.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sony and Honda Mobility announced the brand name for their electric vehicle joint venture, "Afeela". Afeela plans to demonstrate a new relationship between people and mobility with its corporate purpose “Move people, through the pursuit of innovation with diverse inspirations.” During the announcement, Afeela showed their concept car that will serve as the basis for a production vehicle slated to go on the market at the beginning of 2026. The soft lines of the concept are designed to make occupants feel like they are in a cocoon of safety. The interior has an airy, minimalist design to reduce distractions. A new human interface, HMI*4, will provide a personalized in-car experience with augmented reality and cloud-service connectivity to provide entertainment beyond driving. The platform is equipped with a powerful new Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Chassis for maximum computing power, and it will need it to run the 45 cameras and sensors inside and out. Updates over the air will come via the built-in 5G network. Driving autonomy is a big push in the industry currently, and the Afeela concept is no exception. Afeela promises Level-3 automated driving in limited conditions and Level-2+ in certain situations, such as urban driving. Afeela did not release mechanical specifications such as battery capacity, expected range, or power outputs. Still, they did indicate that it was all-wheel drive, meaning that it likely has a dual motor setup. The Afeela concept is roughly 193 inches long and 75 inches wide, making it about the same size as a Ford Fusion, but with a wheelbase 6 inches longer than the Fusion, the Afeela promises to have a very spacious interior. For Honda, this partnership with Sony helps Honda with its slow start in the electric vehicle segment. Honda’s first EV, the Prologue was developed in partnership with General Motors using their Ultium BEV platform and is due out in 2024. View full article