Disney is going to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2023, and to mark the occasion, it has collaborated with Vespa on a limited edition Disney Mickey Mouse Edition scooter line. This collaboration is not the first between Disney and Vespa, as Vespa scooters played a prominent role in the 2021 Disney Pixar film “Luca”. The collaboration is a combination of culture and business partnership.
The Disney Mickey Mouse Edition by Vespa will be available in a limited-edition lineup of Vespa Primavera 50cc, 125cc, and 150cc scooters in 2023. Both Vespa and Mickey Mouse are iconic symbols of Italy and Disney respectively, so this collaboration brings the two icons together in a rideable form.
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The Vespa Primavera is already known for its round mirrors, which are informally called “Mickey Mouse mirrors”. The Disney Mickey Mouse Edition by Vespa takes inspiration from Mickey’s design and clothes, with a yellow front fender resembling his shoes, black and red as the primary colors reflecting Mickey’s design, and white accents representing his gloves. The scooter also features white-on-black line drawings of Mickey and his signature debossed onto the black saddle.
Michele Colaninno, Piaggio Group’s chief executive of global strategy, product, marketing, and innovation, commented, “Today, as then, this collaboration between Vespa and Disney represents the celebration of two historic companies that have a common dream: to allow everyone to express their imagination freely.”
The pricing and availability of the Disney Mickey Mouse Edition by Vespa vary by region. The 50cc and 150cc versions will be available in the US in August 2023, with the 50cc version priced at $4,699 and the 150cc version priced at $6,049. In Canada, only the 50cc version will be available at an MSRP of $5,345. For accurate information, it is best to contact your local authorized Vespa dealer outside the US and Canada.
There is nothing more quintessentially American in the vehicle universe than the pickup truck. Most of the top-selling vehicles in America are full-sized pickups, such as the Ford F-Series, Chevy Silverado, and Ram 1500. Mid-sized pickups also make it into the top ten list. At the opposite end of the spectrum, ranking low on these lists is the compact pickup.
The Hyundai Santa Cruz seems to be positioned to attempt to change this dynamic, and in doing so, change the bigger-is-better world of American pickups. Does it have the image, features, and specs needed to accomplish this goal in the land of wide open spaces and brawny trucks? Sadly, it does not seem to have what it takes.
With the Santa Cruz, Hyundai is big game hunting in the largest segment of the American vehicle market with a pint-sized predator. We all know what will happen when a fox takes on a grizzly. The Santa Cruz is a marvel of pickup downsizing. It’s a beautiful vehicle with plenty of luxury, and cool tech, and is fun to drive.
J.D. Power even rated it as one of the most reliable pickups on the road. So what’s not to love? In almost every way, the Santa Cruz is more a car than a truck, and in that lies its difficulty in appealing to people who love trucks. Except for gas mileage, in the eyes of a truck lover, it’s one truck compromise after another.
Why Americans Love Pickup Trucks, And The Santa Cruz May Break Your Heart
Hyundai
A front 3/4 outdoor shot of a Hyundai Santa Cruz
American full-sized pickups are just as luxurious as any car but also strong, bulletproof, versatile, and durable (think Ford Tough). How can a compact pickup like the Santa Cruz compete with a huge luxury battleship that can take a beating?
There are almost as many reasons why Americans love full-sized pickups as there are different models. For many truck buyers, pickups are the Swiss Army knife of vehicles. With one truck, you can rule all the roads and carry all the loads. There is nothing a full-sized pickup can’t do except possibly find a large enough parking space close to your preferred entrance.
With a full-sized pickup, you can haul the kids and all their friends in the cab while hauling enough construction material in the bed to build them a tree house. You’ll have enough ground clearance and 4×4 power to go off-road almost anywhere, as well as make it safely home through snow-covered roads without ending up in a ditch. You could even connect a snow plow and blaze your own trail.
Hyundai
A shot of the side profile of a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Driving a full-sized pickup, you will not feel like a bite-sized appetizer in the land of giant trucks. If protection from wild bumpers and wilder road rage matters to the potential buyer, bigger always feels safer, whether accurate or not. When it comes to trucks in America, perception is king.
Does the Santa Cruz deliver comparable hauling capacity, off-road ability, bigger is safer perception, or have enough space for the whole gang as a full-sized pickup? Sadly, it does not. How can it compete with something almost twice its size? A stock Santa Cruz, with its slightly below-average ground clearance of 8.6 inches, is not on many lists of the best off-road trucks, while many full-sized and mid-sized pickups top those lists.
The Santa Cruz is also hurt by an impression of being underpowered compared to its larger brethren. In showrooms filled with big V-6 and V-8 pickups, the Santa Cruz’s four-cylinder engine just doesn’t provide enough perceived fire in the belly. Even the turbocharged 2.5-liter four with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque seem weak by comparison, and this weakness appears confirmed by its towing capacity.
Compared to typical full and mid-sized American trucks, the Santa Cruz feels more like it was designed for the urban cowboy and cowgirl lifestyle than people who get their boots dirty. All this does not make it a bad vehicle, and it does not mean you can’t go off-roading with your Santa Cruz, but it does seem to put it at a serious competitive disadvantage in the eyes of the typical American truck lover. The Santa Cruz is a gorgeous, well-made piece of metal, and maybe that’s why it will break many hearts. It’s got the looks but not the coveted truck oomph.
It’s A Pickup Truck That Can’t Haul Your Cargo Or Your Friends And Family
Most people in the American truck market likely view the Santa Cruz more as a compact compromise than a full-blooded, born in the U.S.A. pickup truck. The Santa Cruz, with its limited towing capacity of 3,500 to 5,000 pounds, cannot even trailer most mid and full-sized pickups. Compared to the over 10,000 pound towing capacity of full-sized pickups, the Santa Cruz feels like it’s missing that critical towing tool that makes a pickup the Swiss Army knife of vehicles. So if you want to pull anything more than smaller travel trailers or boats, the Santa Cruz is not the best truck for the job.
When most truck lovers think of a four-door pickup, they imagine a spacious crew cab with over 40 inches of rear legroom. On paper, the dimensions of the Santa Cruz’s four-door cab sound fine, with 36.5 inches of rear legroom, but one look inside sends a different cramped message. Again, it’s a case of perception. Can four or even five adults fit inside this compact truck? In theory, yes, but it doesn’t look like they will enjoy a long ride in the back.
Hyundai
A shot of the rear seats in a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Rear Seating Dimensions
Headroom: 40.1 inches
Legroom: 36.5 inches
Shoulder room: 56.1 inches
Hip room: 53.5 inches
For many American truck shoppers, the Santa Cruz’s pint-size pickup bed is likely the biggest obstacle of them all to true love. One of the reasons people buy pickups is to have the option of hauling big things around in that big open pickup bed. It really doesn’t matter that most people use their pickups to haul little more than bags of groceries on a regular basis. It’s the potential that counts. Once again, it’s the Swiss Army Knife effect.
Hyundai
A shot of the bed in a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Not that many years ago, the standard size of a pickup bed was eight feet. That’s changed, and long beds are now 8 feet or more, standard beds are 6.5 feet, and short beds are 5.8 feet. In this field, the Santa Cruz clocks in with only 4.3 feet of bed space. That’s half the length of a long bed. This is not a truck that’s going to be hauling larger pieces of furniture, big household appliances, construction materials, or even luggage for a family of four on a road trip. With its 27 cubic feet of cargo capacity under its included tonneau cover, this is a truck that does not even give you the enclosed cargo capacity of many compact hatchbacks.
Goldilocks, the Three Bears, and most American truck buyers would have a hard time considering the enclosed cargo capacity of the Santa Cruz anything other than ice-cold porridge. Again, none of this makes the Santa Cruz a poor choice for many people. It’s just one more thing many American truck customers will find missing from their must-have list.
This Hyundai Compact Pickup Truck Is Neither Truck Nor A Car
Could American truck lovers learn to love a pint-sized Santa Cruz? If sales figures are any indication, the answer is no. Even among compact pickup trucks, the Santa Cruz is being outsold. The Ford Maverick is arguably the closest competitor to the Santa Cruz. In 2022 Ford sold 74,370 Mavericks, while Hyundai sold 36,480 Santa Cruz pickups. In that same year, a total of 2,702,515 pickups were sold in America.
So the Santa Cruz garnered only 1.3-percent of that pickup market. By comparison, in 2022, Ford sold 653,957 F-Series pickups which equals about 24-percent of the market, while the Chevy Silverado got 19-percent and the Ram 1500 took home 17-percent of all pickup sales. In 2022, only two ICE powered pickups had lower sales figures than the Santa Cruz.
So the Santa Cruz does not appear to have what it will take to attract American truck buyers in droves. Smaller is probably not the answer for breaking into the American pickup market. In the future, long before 2035 and the phase-out of ICE, big pickup trucks in America will have to become more energy efficient, but it’s unlikely that will be accomplished with smaller engines in smaller packages like the Santa Cruz. That route simply won’t fly in the land of the freeway and home of big open spaces.
For the American pickup lover, improved energy efficiency will come from electrification that delivers even more horsepower and more fun per mile. Until then, the bottom line is that the Santa Cruz may be perceived as neither a typical pickup nor a typical car, and as neither fish nor fowl, it risks satisfying few people at the American truck-buying dinner table.
The Tata Tiago EV outperforms several cars with higher performance outputs
The Tata Tiago EV is one of the most affordable electric vehicles (EVs) available in India, priced between Rs 8.69 lakh and Rs 12.04 lakh (ex-showroom). It comes with two battery pack options: 19.2kWh and 24kWh, providing a range of up to 250 kms and 315 kms, respectively.
We recently tested the Tiago EV with the larger battery pack and an electric motor rated at 75PS and 114Nm. While its 0-100kmph acceleration times may not be extraordinary, this entry-level electric hatchback is still faster than several popular cars with similar or higher performance outputs.
Here is a list of these cars and their respective 0-100kmph acceleration times:
Tata Tiago EV – 13.43 seconds
Model
Tested Figures (0-100KMPH)
Toyota Glanza MT
13.54 seconds
Maruti XL6 AT
13.67 seconds
Maruti Grand Vitara AWD
13.99 seconds
Toyota Innova Crysta Diesel AT
14.11 seconds
Citroen C3
14.32 seconds
Mahindra Bolero Neo
15.13 seconds
Tata Tiago Petrol MT
15.29 seconds
Maruti Celerio AMT
15.77 seconds
Citroen eC3
16.36 seconds
Tata Altroz DCA
18.25 seconds
Key Takeaways:
The car closest in performance to the Tiago EV on this list is the Toyota Glanza, which features a 90PS 1.2-litre petrol engine paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. The Tiago EV’s win is particularly impressive considering that manual cars usually have a quicker launch.
The Maruti XL6 is approximately 0.2 seconds slower than the Tiago EV and is equipped with a 105PS 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The Maruti Grand Vitara AWD comes with a 5-speed manual transmission and shares the same engine as the XL6.
The Toyota Innova Crysta is the most powerful car on the list, featuring a 150PS 2.4-litre diesel engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. However, the mentioned model is no longer available for sale as the diesel variant of the MPV only comes with a manual transmission now.
The Citroen C3 is almost a second slower than the Tiago EV, while its electric version lags by nearly 3 seconds. The electric version of the Citroen C3 is a direct competitor to the Tiago EV, offering less power at 57PS but more torque at 143Nm.
The only other diesel car on this list is the Mahindra Bolero Neo, equipped with a 1.5-litre diesel engine. Despite its 100PS power output and 260Nm torque, combined with a 5-speed manual transmission, it is still over a second slower than the Tiago EV in reaching 100kmph.
The petrol version of the Tata Tiago is around 1.5 seconds slower than its electric counterpart.
At the end of the list, we find the Maruti Celerio AMT. Despite having only 67PS and 98Nm from its 1-litre petrol engine, the Celerio is significantly lighter with a kerb weight of just 820kg.
A surprising inclusion on this list is the Tata Altroz DCA. It is equipped with the same 1.2-litre petrol engine as the petrol version of the Tiago, but in this case, it is mated to a refined 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. However, it is nearly 5 seconds slower in reaching 100kmph compared to the Tiago EV.
What makes the Tiago EV quicker?
The Tiago EV may not have impressive numbers on paper, but one of the biggest advantages of an electric powertrain is its instant performance delivery.
Motor1.com regularly shares spy shots of upcoming vehicles, often on a daily basis. If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest developments, here is a list of all the vehicles that have been spotted in the past week.
According to Audi’s new naming system, the A4 will now be known as the A5. These spy shots capture the production-ready version of the A5 Sportback variant.
Stephen King, the iconic horror writer, has astounded us with his imaginative and spine-chilling stories. From man-eating clowns to murderous machines, he has mastered the art of terrifying his readers. Surprisingly, one of his most famous works, “Misery,” is also one of his most grounded.
Released in 1990, “Misery” revolves around a renowned author who becomes disenchanted with his current book series and plans to kill off his main character in his upcoming manuscript. However, after a car accident, he finds himself under the care of a devoted fan, who happens to be a young woman. When she discovers his manuscript, things take a dark and twisted turn. If you have ever feared stalkers or imprisonment, “Misery” is bound to intensify those phobias. As they say, fame comes with a price.
During a presentation by Toyota BEV Factory president, Takero Kato, various updates were discussed, including the introduction of a simulated manual transmission. Kato covered a range of topics, from advancements in the production lines for Toyota’s electric vehicles to software enhancements aimed at making the cars more intelligent and efficient. Particularly notable was the discussion on an improved battery that could provide an impressive range of 1000 km (approximately 621 miles) for Toyota’s electric cars. With the U.S. government and auto industry transitioning away from fossil fuel-powered vehicles, Toyota is fully committed to producing electric vehicles and has set ambitious goals of selling 1.5 million units by 2026 and an additional two million by 2030.
Toyota is not the only automaker increasing its electric vehicle production. It is also not the sole company recognizing that EV drivers may long for the experience of a manual clutch. Other automakers, such as Dodge and Hyundai, have plans to implement simulated manual transmissions in their electric vehicles as well. Swedish company Koenigsegg has even developed a nine-speed, seven-clutch gearbox capable of mimicking a six-speed transmission. It remains uncertain whether these simulated systems will also include the possibility of stalling. Drivers may have to wait until 2026, when they release their virtual clutch too quickly, to find out.
Kia and Hyundai plan to invest $18 billion in becoming fully electric vehicle manufacturers by the end of the decade. As part of this transformation, the South Korean automakers will develop a new electric vehicle architecture capable of accommodating one of the largest batteries in the industry. The first production model to utilize this platform will be a Kia-branded sedan.
According to a report from ET News, this upcoming vehicle is internally named GT1 and is expected to be positioned in the mid-size segment, potentially as a spiritual successor to the Stinger. The report suggests that it will belong to the E-segment according to European classification, which means it could be slightly larger than the current Stinger in terms of size.
Watching Matt Walksler get his hands on a new-to-him piece of ultra-rare American motorcycle history is almost as exciting as new bike day. Walksler is known for his vast realm of knowledge in his area of expertise, making his unboxing videos even more enjoyable to watch. In this video, he explores a 1942-ish Harley-Davidson TT racer which the Museum received about six months ago. Walksler believes it is an ultra-rare 80 cubic inch version of the typical 45 cubic inch race bikes at the time.
The excitement begins as Walksler takes a quick walk around the bike in its complete form, noting the racing features such as a set of Flanders racing bars, a TT racing seat, and a short oil tank for racing which ultimately allows for better ground clearance and better cornering on a TT bike. The engine cases, although dirty and grimy, give no indication of the fascinating details on the inside that Walksler is about to share.
Assisted by a colleague, Walksler delves deeper into the bike, showing off the polished connecting rods, ported cylinders, and shortened three-ring pistons. He points out that everything inside the engine case has been lightened in the interest of going faster, from lightened flywheels to gears with holes drilled out to add lightness. However, Walksler also acknowledges that everything done to improve the bike’s speed is what people typically did in the early days of racing. They didn’t have the knowledge that we have now, making it all the more fascinating today.
Wheels Through Time plans to restore and fire up the bike in their next video. Stay tuned.
New vehicles are higher than ever earlier than. The insane competitors amongst producers results in vehicles which might be getting more and more extra aggressive. Two of the most recent and best additions to the market embrace the Tacoma TRD Pro and the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison. Both these vehicles compete throughout the similar mid-sized desert bashing and off-roading area of interest. Therefore, it might solely make sense to place them head-to-head.
The Tacoma has lengthy been one of the best vendor within the mid-size pickup truck market, and it’s apparent that Toyota has made an enormous effort in guaranteeing that the brand new truck continues the legacy. But is the hassle sufficient? In some areas, the ZR2 Bison might need the higher hand and will give the Tacoma a run for its cash. Let’s take a look.
The Tacoma Features A More Future-Proof Drivetrain, But It May Not Be The Better Option
Toyota
A shot of the engine bay of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
The new Tacoma follows the present international automobile pattern which includes downsized and turbocharged engines that scale back emissions. However, along with that, the upper trim ranges of the Tacoma with the TRD Pro included, additionally pair up a hybrid system. The hybrid system and the two.4 liter turbocharged four-cylinder collectively produce an output of 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque.
On the opposite hand, the Colorado ZR2 Bison features a 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with no hybrid choice obtainable. This setup is nice for 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. As you possibly can see, the Tacoma has a slight benefit each in torque and horsepower. Also, one may argue that its hybrid system is extra futureproof as its decrease emissions might allow it to remain on the highway for longer.
However, there is likely to be an issue right here. You see, one of many Tacoma’s greatest promoting factors is its reliability. The outgoing model featured a naturally aspirated V6 that was just about unkillable because of its simplicity. The new smaller turbo unit and the hybrid system may not be as dependable each when in comparison with the outdated mannequin but additionally to the Colorado ZR2 because the Chevrolet doesn’t have costly batteries in its drivetrain.
A entrance 3/4 out of doors shot of the 2024 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison
The Tacoma TRD Pro now encompasses a coil-sprung rear finish which when in comparison with leaf springs affords higher articulation, higher journey high quality, and higher response over high-speed off-roading. That being mentioned, the Bison ZR2 makes up for its lack of coils with hydraulic bump stops.
The suspension system within the Tacoma TRD Pro is made by Fox Shocks. Specifically, it’s the QS3 variant that’s used for off-road automobiles. The ZR2 Bison makes use of Multimatic spool valve dampers but additionally options hydraulic bump stops. The leaf-sprung rear finish of the Bison is likely to be a drawback; nonetheless, the hydraulic bump stops will give it the flexibility to dampen huge impacts with extra composure.
That being mentioned, the bump stops alone aren’t the explanation why the Chevrolet may have the higher hand off-road. The Bison comes commonplace with 35-inch tires wrapped round bead-lock succesful wheels. Front and rear lockers come as commonplace. The Tacoma TRD Pro solely options 33s and only a rear locker. Sure, the Toyota makes use of an aggressive traction management which can deal with the open entrance diff; nonetheless, it received’t be as efficient as a correct diff locker.
Chevrolet
The underbody safety discovered on a Colorado ZR2 Bison
The 35-inch tires give the Chevrolet the flexibility to roll over huge obstacles extra simply. Furthermore, they add a clearance profit which is clear when taking a look on the off-road angles of each automobiles. The Tacoma Trd Pro affords a 33.8-degree method, 23.5-degree breakover, and 25.7-degree departure angle whereas the ZR2 Bison encompasses a 38.2-degree method, 26-degree departure, and 26.9-degree breakover angle. It is price mentioning that each vehicles have in depth underbody safety in case the above angles aren’t sufficient.
With these specs in thoughts, it’s protected to say that the ZR2 Bison may have the higher hand when the going will get robust despite the fact that it nonetheless encompasses a leaf-sprung rear finish.
A shot of the dashboard in a 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
Toyota has achieved an incredible job with the inside of the TRD Pro Tacoma. Aside from the nice design, the TRD Pro additionally encompasses a 14-inch infotainment display that takes care of most features. Thankfully, continuously used features like quantity controls are nonetheless on bodily dials. However, what really sets the interior of the Tacoma TRD Pro apart are its seats.
Aside from the nice pink leather-based and camo graphics, these seats are additionally geared up with shocks that act like a gimbal isolating the driving force from vibrations and actions whereas driving. You wouldn’t anticipate an organization to pay a lot consideration to seat design, however Toyota did, and it has actually grabbed the eye of potential patrons.
Toyota
A shot of the IsoDynamic Performance Seats within the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
The ZR2 Bison’s inside can also be an excellent place to be however isn’t fairly on the degree of the Tacoma. The infotainment system here’s a smaller 11.3-inch unit and the final look inside isn’t as butch and utilitarian.
Exterior Protection Is More Extensive On The Chevrolet
Chevrolet
A rear three-quarter shot of a Colorado ZR2 Bison
Protecting the outside of an off-roader is essential if you need your panels to remain straight. This appears to be an space Chevrolet has paid nice consideration to because the ZR2 Bison affords rock sliders, and metal entrance and rear bumpers. The entrance bumper is winch appropriate whereas the rear affords nook safety in case you run out of departure angle.
The TRD Pro does characteristic a metal rear bumper with increased corners for extra clearance; nonetheless, its entrance bumper isn’t as robust and it lacks facet safety. Worth noting is the truth that if you wish to add a winch, the Tacoma would require an aftermarket bumper whereas the ZR2 Bison will have the ability to settle for it with out making any adjustments.
A entrance 3/4 shot of the 2024 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison
Deciding which truck to purchase principally relies on your wants. It is protected to say that if you need essentially the most succesful off-roader then the ZR2 Bison wins the battle. It affords extra clearance, bigger tires, and one extra locker. That being mentioned, the Tacoma’s coil-sprung rear finish and over-engineered entrance seats will definitely present higher journey high quality, each on and off-road.
Furthermore, the Tacoma TRD Pro has the upper hand in energy and is likely to be cheaper to run (when it comes to fuel and emissions) as a result of hybrid system. This makes it the only option for an all-around nice day by day driver and weekend journey truck.
Toyota
A rear-view shot of a 2024 Tacoma Tacoma TRD Pro driving off-road
So, merely put, if you’ll be tackling robust trails each weekend go for the Chevy. If you’ll principally use the truck as a day by day driver with off-road journeys that shall be on the better facet, get the Tacoma. Obviously, the Tacoma can also be nice off-road, but it surely’s not fairly on the degree of the ZR2 Bison.
Aston Martin Lagonda’s success has relied heavily on its collaboration with Mercedes. In addition to being a key technical partner, Mercedes also holds a significant share in the company and has expressed interest in increasing its stake to 20% by 2023. According to Roberto Fedeli, the Chief Technical Officer at Gaydon, Aston Martin would be in trouble without Mercedes’ support, particularly when it comes to complying with the stringent Euro 7 emissions regulations.
But working with Mercedes goes beyond just providing engines for Aston Martin. The collaboration also includes using Mercedes’ electrical architecture as the base for integration of new components, such as in the upcoming DB12 model.
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