Tag Archives: discontinuing

Audio, News

Apple Music’s Cheapest Plan Has Been Discontinued

Apple has discontinued the Apple Music Voice Plan without publicly stating a reason. This decision comes in the wake of recent price hikes for several of Apple’s subscription services.

One such service is Apple TV+, the company’s streaming platform that has gained popularity with shows like “Ted Lasso.” Its monthly price will be raised from $6.99 to $9.99. This increase has been met with disappointment from existing subscribers, as Apple TV+ has a smaller library compared to its competitors.

Apple Arcade and Apple News will also see price increases, with prices going up to $6.99 and $12.99, respectively. Apple has been encouraging its users to subscribe to Apple One, a bundle that offers a discount and includes access to services like Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+. However, the monthly rate for Apple One has also increased, with individual plans now costing $19.95 and Family plans costing $25.95. The Premier plan, which includes Fitness+, News+, and additional iCloud storage, has been raised to $37.95. These price changes are effective immediately for new customers, while existing subscribers will see an increase in their bills within a month.

Subscribers who were on the Apple Music Voice Plan and want to continue using Apple Music will need to upgrade to either the $10.99 per month Individual plan or the $16.99 per month Family Plan. However, students can still take advantage of the cheaper $5.99 per month Student tier, which offers more features than just Siri control.

Motorsport

Electrified Nissan Pickup Coming After EV SUVs

Nissan is shaking up its pickup offerings by discontinuing the Titan for the 2024 model year. The future of the brand’s truck lineup is electrification, judging from statements from a high-placed executive.

“One thing you can be sure about is we’re going to keep investing in the truck segment,” said Ivan Espinosa, the Nissan Motor Company global product strategy and product planning boss, to Automotive News. “How do we evolve … is the question that we are discussing internally. Eventually, we will have to electrify the truck.”

When Espinosa refers to electrification, it’s unclear whether he means a full EV or a hybrid powertrain. For example, Nissan’s rival Honda just announced the Prelude Concept. While the model initially seemed to be completely electric, a later clarification revealed the car was actually a hybrid.

Espinosa made additional statements about the electrified truck during a media roundtable at the Japan Mobility Show that Motor1.com attended. He said the model would come after offerings in more significant segments like SUVs. “The pickup might be a little bit on the later portion,” he said referring to the arrival timing.

There are conflicting rumors about how Nissan intends to position the electrified truck. One report indicates that it would be a mid-sized pickup with a fully electric drivetrain that would give buyers an alternative to the Frontier. The other story claims the automaker would make the next-gen Frontier into an EV that would possibly arrive for the 2030 model year.

Nissan is already preparing to update its Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Mississippi to build electric vehicles. The factory currently produces the Frontier, Titan, and Altima.


Motorsport

Audi R8 To Get “One More Adventure” In Short Film That You Can Help Make

The Audi R8 will end production with the 2023 model. The automaker is discontinuing the supercar, but it’s not going quietly into the night. On Instagram, Audi is asking R8 fans for their input on how the company should film the car for one last adventure.

From today until Friday, September 15, Audi is allowing fans to vote on various aspects of the R8’s final adventure. Today, the brand started soliciting votes for the film’s location and opening shot. The locations include winding roads, city streets, the racetrack, and the desert, while the choices for the opening shot are sunrise, golden hour, blue hour, and midnight.

 

Audi is collecting votes through Instagram’s polling feature. It’s unclear what other aspects of the film fans can vote on in the coming days as the company asks its followers to help it take the R8 “on one more adventure.” Audi teased the R8’s last lap earlier this month as “something special.”

The 2023 Audi R8 GT RWD will be the last hoorah for the supercar and the most powerful rear-wheel-drive version. The automaker plans to produce just 333 for the entire world, with 150 coming to the United States.

Powering the supercar is Audi’s naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine. It makes 602 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. Audi says the coupe can sprint up to 60 miles per hour in 3.3 seconds and 124 mph in 10.2 seconds. It has a 199-mph top speed.

Audi launched the R8 in 2006 as a 2007 model, a 4.2-liter V8 powering the new supercar. It made 414 hp, with the 2009 model receiving a step up in performance with the 5.2-liter V10 that offered 525 hp. It wouldn’t be until 2011 that Audi would launch the first R8 GT, which had 552 hp on tap.

Audi set the R8 GT apart from other variants with unique badging, special aerodynamics, and a 55-pound reduction in weight. The supercar features a black Four Rings emblem and an R8 GT badge on the back. Audi offers the 2023 R8 GT in Suzuka Gray, Daytona Gray, and Tango Red metallic colors.

The R8 GT isn’t cheap, commanding $251,395 (the price includes the $1,495 destination charge). That’s a lot of money, but it’s the price some people will pay to own one of the last R8s ever made.