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Cars

Transaxle Vs Transmission: What’s The Difference?

Aside from the engine itself, a car’s transmission is the most important part of the drivetrain. Without a transmission, the car won’t be able to move. While transmissions have been around since the advent of motorized transportation, they are more complex than just a metal box of gears. In rear-wheel drive cars, the transmission is connected to the engine’s output shaft and transmits rotational power to the rear differential, which then delivers power to the rear wheels. In contrast, front-wheel drive cars use a transaxle, which not only delivers power to the drive wheels but also acts as an axle for the vehicle.

Compact Power Delivery

In older muscle cars, the engine’s power comes from the rear of the vehicle. In most economy cars, the engine is sideways or “transversely” mounted. A transaxle in these cars is connected to the engine’s output shaft, but instead of running the entire length of the car, it delivers rotational power to an automatic or manual gearbox, and then through a short shaft to the wheels. This method is more compact compared to a conventional transmission but achieves the same result of making the wheels spin.

It is worth noting that transaxles are not exclusive to front-wheel drive cars. The $300,000 800-horsepower super Ford Mustang GTD, for example, uses a transaxle to distribute weight more effectively. It even has its own dedicated cooler mounted to the dual-clutch eight-speed gearbox.

Cars

Toyota’s Mega Cruiser: Challenging the Hummer in Size and Capability

The Mega Cruiser, with its oversized dimensions and rear-wheel steering, holds its own against AM General’s SUV, the Hummer. Both vehicles share similar features, such as an engine mounted farther back in the chassis, portal axles for increased ground clearance, an onboard tire inflation/deflation system, and full-time all-wheel drive.

To achieve its impressive ground clearance, the Mega Cruiser elevates its drivetrain, resulting in a substantial transmission tunnel that divides the passengers. Unlike the Hummer, the Mega Cruiser’s transmission hump ends before the rear seat, allowing for a spacious four-across bench seat.

Beneath the Mega Cruiser’s expansive hood, we discover an interesting engine choice: a 4.1-liter four-cylinder turbocharged diesel. While the engine’s displacement is relatively large for a four-cylinder, it still falls short in terms of power for such a massive and heavy vehicle. With a horsepower rating of 153 and a torque rating of 282 pound-feet, it is understandably underpowered.

Just how underpowered is it? According to a test conducted by Road & Track, the Mega Cruiser took a whopping 20.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH. In a recent altitude test in the Colorado Rockies, a Mega Cruiser struggled to even reach 60 MPH, maxing out at 50 MPH with the throttle wide open.

On the bright side, the compact diesel engine managed to achieve a combined city/highway fuel economy of 13 MPG, which, considering the size and weight of the vehicle, is not terrible. However, it doesn’t quite reach the fuel efficiency levels of a Prius, as stated by Slashgear.

[Featured image by Hunini via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 4.0]

Motorsport

2024 Mitsubishi Triton Sports Truck Shown Alongside Specialized Versions

Mitsubishi revealed the new Triton, showcasing not only the regular production model and the rally truck but also a variety of fully accessorized versions. The midsize pickup, also known as the L200 and Strada in some markets, was presented in a “Lifestyle Zone” with different styles. One notable version featured a club cab with an aggressive body kit and a lowered sports suspension.

Mitsubishi plans to make these accessories available for purchase, allowing 2024 Triton owners to customize their pickups to have a SEMA-inspired look. Additionally, there was a single cab model modified for overland use, complete with a snorkel, tent, bull bar, and extra lights. Another version based on the double cab configuration had off-road enhancements such as a raised suspension and a slimmer front bumper for better approach angles.

Another high-riding Triton double cab was equipped with a truck bed topper and was towing a small camper trailer to demonstrate the versatility of the sixth-generation model. Joining these upgraded versions was a purpose-built rally car set to participate in the Asia Cross Country Rally. This double cab model featured Ralliart branding, a six-speed manual gearbox, the Super Select 4WD-II system, and a 2.4-liter diesel engine with 201 horsepower (150 kilowatts) and 347 pound-feet (470 Newton-meters) of torque.

Mitsubishi emphasizes that the Triton is truly all-new, featuring a tougher ladder frame, a lighter high-tensile steel body, and an overhauled suspension with a front double-wishbone setup and a rear leaf spring arrangement. The models equipped with Super Select 4WD-II also include Active Yaw Control (AYC) and offer five modes for the 4×4 system along with seven driving modes.

The 2024 Triton will face tough competition right from the start, as the Ford Ranger has already transitioned to its next-generation model. The Ford-built Volkswagen Amarok is also based on the Ranger and serves as the foundation for the new Amarok, except in South America where VW Commercial Vehicles still produces the first-generation Amarok.

[Related: 2024 Mitsubishi Triton L200 Debut]

Motorsport

2025 Lamborghini Huracan Successor Spied For The First Time [UPDATE]

Update: Added 12 additional photos in a new gallery, available below.

Lamborghini is busy with the launch of the Revuelto V12 plug-in hybrid supercar and finalizing the Urus PHEV. Additionally, they are also testing the replacement for the Huracan. Car paparazzi recently captured the baby Lambo being tested on public roads. Surprisingly, the prototype seems to have the production body rather than provisional panels typically found on early test mules.

The test vehicle is easily recognizable with yellow “high-voltage” stickers, indicating its use of a hybrid powertrain. To add some amusement, Lamborghini placed stickers on the headlights to deceive the casual observer into thinking they are Gallardo headlights. However, closer inspection reveals the real lights are located lower. The front bumper features massive air intakes and incorporates hexagonal daytime running lights.


News

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

Switching to an electric vehicle (EV) not only offers environmental benefits but also reduces running costs. While the cost of living crisis has affected both EV and ICE (internal combustion engine) car owners, fuel costs continue to impact ICE car owners more heavily.

Charging an electric car at home is often cheaper than at public charging stations. This is especially important considering that more than 90% of EV drivers primarily charge their vehicles at home. By charging overnight when electricity rates are lower, EV owners can start each day with a full charge.

However, the cost gap between running an EV and an ICE car is closing. Initially, the higher purchase price of electric cars compared to their fossil fuel counterparts affected the cost difference, with a battery-powered Peugeot e-208 costing an additional £11,000 compared to the petrol version. Additionally, using public chargers can be more expensive, especially rapid DC units that can charge up to 80% capacity in less than half an hour.

With the UK Government planning to ban the sale of pure ICE cars by 2030, and energy markets experiencing global events, it is crucial to understand the costs associated with charging an EV.

How much will it cost to charge my car at home?

The majority of EV owners charge their cars at home, saving money compared to traditional petrol or diesel cars. The cost of charging at home depends on the car being charged and the electricity supplier’s tariff. Even with recent increases in electricity prices, EV owners still save money compared to filling up a traditional car.

For example, charging a 64kWh Kia e-Niro with a claimed range of 281 miles would cost approximately £20 for a full charge, based on the current average cost of 34p per kWh (according to the Government’s Energy Price guarantee as of the first quarter of 2023). While this is more expensive than a couple of years ago, when off-peak tariffs were as low as 12p per kWh, the cost of a full charge is still reasonable compared to fueling an equivalent petrol hatchback for the same distance, which would cost around a third more.

Featured

Car News That Mattered This Week (June 5-9): New Launches And Unveils, Spy Shots And More

Aside from new launches and unveils, we saw a spy shot debut of a new Mahindra electric SUV

The past week witnessed some of the most awaited announcements and unveilings from Maruti and Honda. Volkswagen also launched its new colour editions, while Maruti announced the unveiling date of its new flagship product in India. In the same week, we saw a few interesting spy shots of upcoming cars from Hyundai and Mahindra.

Let’s have a look at all important highlights of week:

Honda Elevate Unveiled

Honda Elevate

Honda has finally unveiled its all-new offering in India in the form of a compact SUV, called the Elevate. It’s the first brand new Honda product for India after 2017. We have also detailed its exterior and interior, and compared its dimensions to those of its rivals. On the sidelines of the unveiling, Honda also confirmed that the SUV will directly have an EV variant by 2026 while skipping on the hybrid powertrain altogether.

Maruti Jimny Prices Out

Maruti Jimny

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, Maruti finally launched the Jimny in India, with its deliveries having begun as well. The Jimny is a 5-door off road SUV which has a seating capacity of four people. We have also compared its prices with those of its prime rival.

Volkswagen Virtus And Taigun Get New Variants And Colours 

The German marque has revealed the prices of new colour and limited editions of the Taigun and Virtus. Talking about the Virtus, it also gets one more transmission choice with its 1.5-litre variant.

Maruti’s Premium MPV’s Unveiling Date Out

Maruti MPV teaser

Maruti has confirmed the unveiling date of its new premium MPV in India, which will be based on the Toyota Innova Hycross. It will most likely feature the same powertrains as the Toyota’s MPV.

Honda Talks About Its Future India Plans

Honda has laid out its future Indian plans by announcing the arrival of five new SUVs by 2030. We already know two of the five SUVs, making us wonder what the remaining three could be.

Spy Shots Of The Week

This week we saw new spy shots of the facelifted Hyundai i20, which was spied  for the first time in India. Another spied model was the Mahindra BE.05, which was caught on camera for the first time showing  interesting design details.

Premium Launches This Week

2023 BMW M2

Apple Unveiled New Updates For CarPlay

Previewing the new iOS 17 at WWDC 2023 event, Apple showcased new features for  CarPlay and Maps application, which are focussed on improving your drive experience.