The Xbox Series S toaster can accommodate two bread slices concurrently and provides an auto-centering information and a devoted Bagel button. Other methods embody an anti-jam mechanism, computerized temperature regulation, and non-stick-coated plates. Thanks to the huge slots, the official description claims it will possibly additionally warmth waffles and muffins, amongst associated gadgets.
Walmart says shipments kick off on January 9, and there is additionally an choice so as to add further safety protection value three years for simply 5 {dollars}. We’re unsure in regards to the stock state of affairs on this one, but when this beautiful equipment has caught your fancy, you higher get within the queue rapidly and cough up the money, lest it goes out of inventory.
Interestingly, the Xbox Series S toaster is just not the weirdest meme merchandise Microsoft has placed on the shelf through the years. Microsoft just lately served its followers with the cutesy Xbox Series X fridge, arguably one of many coolest gaming-inspired devices ever.
Last week, Pagani debuted the roadster version of the Imola hypercar while simultaneously holding a major business event: the Asia-Pacific launch of the Utopia. Founder Horacio Pagani attended the premiere with his son Christopher and the pair answered questions from media representatives, telling Bloomberg that an electric hypercar from Pagani isn’t coming anytime soon. Why? We think you all know the answer.
Thanks mostly to the generous use of carbon fiber, the new Imola Roadster tips the scales at 2,776 pounds before adding all necessary fluids. In terms of weight, these figures put it in the supermini league but obviously, this is a mighty capable hypercar with a V12 engine under the bonnet.
In fact, low weight has always been among the most important advantages of Pagani’s vehicles, and switching to a battery electric powertrain, Horacio said, will have a negative impact on the car’s weight and overall performance. “It’s so different that you are losing a little bit of fun,” Horacio told the publication.
Last summer, a report from Autocar claimed Pagani had abandoned its EV research efforts, which it started in 2018. However, Horacio contacted us and told us the automaker would continue to invest in electrical technologies and develop batteries and electric motors for use in the future. But it seems that it will still be a while until the company releases a zero-emissions hypercar.
During the Utopia’s Asia-Pacific debut in Hong Kong, Horacio also discussed the automotive industry from a more global perspective. He was asked about the Chinese EV industry and said that “car prices are cheaper than European brands, and therefore the producers of European cars need to pay a lot of attention and put a lot of effort in to try to remain in this specific market and stay competitive.”
The country currently has the largest EV market on the planet and Horacio believes “there are a lot of opportunities for the Chinese brands in the EV segment and actually they are doing it very well when it comes to product and pricing.”
The Lenovo Legion Go has a full-fledged Windows desktop operating system, making it convenient to install any desired programs. This sets it apart from the Valve Steam Deck with SteamOS, which can be frustrating when venturing beyond Steam’s ecosystem. With the Legion Go, you also get three free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, creating a hassle-free gaming experience without any extra effort. The device accommodates multiple game storefronts, including Steam, Epic Game Store, Humble Bundle, GoG Galaxy, Uplay, and EA apps.
However, using Windows 11 on a touchscreen device like the Legion Go can be challenging and awkward. While Lenovo has a custom launcher called “Legion Space” to enhance the Windows 11 experience, it feels rushed and underdeveloped. Although there are dedicated buttons on the controllers for Legion Space and the settings sidebar, they are not frequently used. In comparison, the Steam Deck’s SteamOS offers a smooth, console-quality experience with optimized “Deck-verified” games. There is hope for Lenovo to improve Legion Space and provide a similar experience to SteamOS while maintaining accessibility to all game storefronts.
Back in April 2023, KTM thrilled many riders and also probably broke a few hearts when it announced the 890 SMT. It looked impressive, but at the time, the intention was for a European release, not a North American one.
International motorcycle manufacturers sometimes have phased international rollouts, so just because a bike isn’t released in your market right now doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
Now that it’s late November 2023, KTM has announced that the 890 SMT is officially headed to North America. The bike has a primarily black and gray color scheme on the bodywork with pops of KTM orange on the wheels and accents.
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Engine
The 2024 KTM 890 SMT is powered by the same 889cc LC8c parallel twin engine that powers the 890 Adventure R. It makes a claimed 105 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 73.7 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 rpm. Amenities like an up and down quickshifter and cruise control are available as options.
KTM’s goal in bringing back the SMT was to bridge the gap between the 790 Duke and the 890 Adventure R. In short, it’s a KTM crossover, supermoto-style.
Chassis
The frame is CroMo steel, and the suspension is a fully adjustable WP Apex setup with 43mm upside-down open cartridge front fork and a WP Apex rear shock. Riders get full adjustability at both ends, with 180mm (about seven inches) of travel.
The 2024 KTM 890 SMT rides on a pair of bright KTM orange 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin PowerGP rubber. Braking is handled by four-piston front brake calipers and 330mm discs on the front and a two-piston caliper and a 260mm disc on the rear.
The handlebars offer a full 30mm (1.18 inches) of range spread across six different positions of adjustability. The fuel tank and single-piece supermoto seat position the rider more deeply into the bike. LED lighting is present all around from the factory.
Electronics and Rider Aids
In the cockpit, the 890 SMT features a five-inch TFT dash that KTM says is both scratch and glare resistant. The bike comes with three standard ride modes: Rain, Street, and Sport, with an option to unlock a Track mode.
Cornering motorcycle traction control (CMTC), cornering ABS, and supermoto ABS come standard, as does Bluetooth smartphone connectivity via the KTMConnect app.
Pricing and Availability
KTM North America has not yet revealed pricing information on the 2024 890 SMT in our market. However, the good news is that it should be available in KTM North America dealers beginning in December 2023, so you should be able to see it in person and ask lots of questions of your local dealer soon.
Rapid evolution within the automotive industry is simultaneously a nursery for new technology and a graveyard for obsolete equipment. Case in point: as we await the arrival of true self-driving cars with advanced systems, other features that were once standard are gradually disappearing.
Such is the case with the manual gearbox. This multi-speed transmission system, in which shifting requires the driver to manually select gears, is becoming a rarity in many markets. And it’s not just North America, where automatic transmissions have long dominated the motoring landscape. Information from JATO Dynamics shows that this type of transmission is losing popularity everywhere.
Two-Pedal Europe
Europe is a great example of this transition. In 2000, almost all new cars registered were equipped with a manual transmission. Specifically, the percentage was 89 percent and some countries such as Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, and Portugal exceeded 95 percent. Norway and Switzerland were exceptions, where approximately 25 percent of new cars were automatics.
This percentage remained high for a few years until different types of automatic transmissions reached the market. In 2017, the overall manual take rate had fallen to 78 percent of new cars, and it’s plunged since then. In 2022 it was down to 34 percent, and through the first half of this year, we’re sitting at 32 percent.
There are several reasons for this. Drivers are more aware of the advantages and ease of operation of an automatic. Traffic jams are getting worse in many cities. And the price gap between manuals and automatics is shrinking. The influx of EVs, led globally by Tesla, certainly adds to this. These vehicles don’t need transmissions with multiple gears to use power from torque-happy electric motors, be it automatic or manual.
Auto In North America
JATO data shows that in the year 2010, only 6 percent of new light-duty vehicles sold in the United States featured a manual transmission. This percentage dropped to 4 percent in 2019, then 2 percent in 2020. For the last two years, the manual gearbox has barely registered in the US market with take rates of just 1 percent. And this year it’s even less, showing just 0.9 percent through the first half of 2023.
Not Dead Yet
On the other hand, cars with manual transmissions remain a valid choice for buyers in emerging economies. Markets such as Latin America or South Africa still see a sizable portion of new vehicles registered with row-your-own gearboxes, accounting for more than 30 percent of sales. Although the price gap between manuals and automatics has decreased dramatically over the past 20 years, it is still an important aspect to consider among low-income consumers.
Will the eventual arrival of affordable electric cars change the situation? Seeing the significant drop in manual-equipped cars in China – where lower-priced EVs are gaining popularity – certainly paints a bleak picture for those who enjoy three-pedal driving.
The author of the article, Felipe Munoz, is an Automotive Industry Specialist at JATO Dynamics.
The development of the Audi A6 E-Tron Avant electric wagon is happening alongside the EV variant of the sedan. While the prototype is camouflaged, it appears that the production-spec body is hidden underneath.
When it comes to electric vehicles, aerodynamics are crucial as they help reduce drag and maximize the range. The A6 E-Tron Avant features a sleek front with a trapezoidal inlet in the lower fascia as the only opening. The stacked headlights, with thinner lamps on top, give the vehicle a distinctive look. The hood is low and has a flat design.
The Fisker Ocean comes with a unique feature called ‘California mode’. With just a touch of a button, the car opens its sunroof and lowers seven of the eight panes in the glasshouse, giving you a near open-air driving experience without actually removing the roof. Another interesting feature is the car’s infotainment screen that can rotate to a landscape orientation when parked, allowing you to stream your favorite TV shows while waiting for the car to charge. These features may seem gimmicky but they add novelty to the overall experience.
However, Fisker hasn’t neglected the substance elsewhere. The company aimed to bring value to the family EV class with the Ocean, and it delivers on that front whether you opt for the entry-level or mid-level price.
In the UK, the mid-level, twin-motor, Ultra-spec model starts from just under £50,000. In comparison, competitors like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y, BMW iX1, and Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD have higher starting prices ranging from £51,000 to £65,000. Despite the lower price, the Fisker Ocean offers 106kWh of usable battery capacity and up to 440 miles of WLTP-certified electric range. These figures are on par with more expensive electric vehicles like the Mercedes EQS.
During testing, the Fisker Ocean demonstrated its capability of achieving a range of 375-400 miles on a warm day, comprising a mix of urban, motorway, and country road driving. For those with on-street parking or apartment lifestyles, this car is convenient as it only requires charging once or twice a week. Fast charging is possible at up to 200kW using DC charging or at a nearby on-street AC charging post, making it a suitable option for those accustomed to traditional combustion-engine cars.
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