Tree top on roadway contributes to two vehicle crash near Kickapoo
According to the ISP's preliminary investigation, at approximately 10:03 p.m., a Ford Taurus and a Hyundai SUV were both driving eastbound on I-74 when the Taurus struck a tree top that was on the roadway. Shortly after that, the SUV struck the Taurus.
No injuries were reported in relation to this crash, and the roadways were not closed.
Severe Weather Alert Day: Destructive winds and tornadoes expected Friday night
No other information is available at this time.
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Motor Trend
3 hours ago
- Motor Trend
The $35K Chevy Equinox EV Nails the Basics. Is It Better Than a Loaded Ford Mustang Mach-E?
Let's address one thing right off the bat: If you're a budget-constrained shopper looking for a new electric car that's perfectly pleasant to drive and will help save on gas and maintenance, you could do worse than the $34,995 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT. In other words, this Equinox is popular for a reason. However, things get more interesting if you're looking for the best value and can afford a couple hundred dollars more per month. Is the Equinox's larger brother, the Blazer EV (or its Honda Prologue cousin) worth considering? Or the Tesla Model Y? And how about the updated-for-2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E? Yes, how about that Mustang Mach-E. While GM has launched an onslaught of electric SUVs for its Cadillac, Chevy, and GMC brands, Ford quietly refined its lone electric SUV, the Mustang Mach-E, since 2021. Prices for the latter start at about $42,000, but unlike the Equinox, few buy the base versions of the Mach-E. Instead, many shoppers step a trim up to the Mustang Mach-E Premium for its creature comforts, its available dual-motor all-wheel-drive performance, and a 300-mile EPA range rating from Ford's optional extended-range battery. But is the Mustang Mach-E—or any of the similarly priced SUVs from GM, Tesla, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, or others—worth the price premium over the lowly Equinox EV LT if you have more cash to spend but are reluctant to part with it without good reason? Spec Showdown With truly 'cheap' EVs from Ford or Slate still some time away, and the Nissan Leaf bound to get a price increase for 2026, the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT is effectively the entry-level electric car in our market at $34,995. You get a lot of vehicle for your money. Under the hood, the Equinox EV features a single permanent-magnet motor that produces 220 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. It's paired with an 85-kWh battery pack good for a peak charge rate of 150 kW on a 350-kW charger (more on that later) and up to 11.5 kW at home. The Feds say the front-wheel-drive Equinox EV LT can clear 319 miles on a full charge (in fact, every Equinox EV is EPA-rated for at least 300 miles of range, even AWD models). Inside, you get room for five, the same fancy-looking 17.7-inch Google OS infotainment system from more expensive Equinoxes, and not much else beyond the essentials like single-zone A/C and the active safety equipment necessary to top industry crash tests. Standout features available on other Equinox EVs, like GM's award-winning Super Cruise hands-free driving aid aren't available on the LT. Neither are Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which GM doesn't offer on most of its cars. Many base compact electric SUVs don't stack up particularly well to the Equinox EV LT. The starter Mustang Mach-E Select, for instance, largely matches the Chevy in creature comforts and sports a more powerful but less efficient rear-mounted permanent-magnet motor good for 264 hp and 387 lb-ft of torque. But it uses a smaller 73-kWh battery pack, giving it just 260 miles of EPA-estimated range. Stepping up to the Mustang Mach-E Premium ($44,490 to start) unlocks the ability to upgrade to Ford's larger 88.0-kWh battery pack (a $4,250 extra), giving single-motor Mach-Es up to 320 miles of range. Once you've already justified the range upgrade, it's easy to see how Mustang Mach-E owners might justify spending another $3,250 to add another permanent-magnet motor up front, giving the fastback EV a healthy 365 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque while still clearing 300 miles in EPA testing. It easily snowballs from there. In addition to the long list of standard features that come on all Mach-E Premiums (exterior and interior trim upgrades, heated and cooled front power seats, heated steering, a B&O audio system, and a phone-mirroring-friendly infotainment system), our Mustang Mach-E test SUV came with Ford's latest BlueCruise 1.5 hands-free Level 2 driver assist system ($2,495) and a handful of style upgrades, bringing its as-tested price to $58,670. Chevy vs. Ford: Range and Charging Results With range such a primary concern for EV drivers, we'll start our Equinox EV LT and Mustang Mach-E Premium comparison test by answering the big worry on EV shoppers' minds: The Feds say both can clear 300 miles on a charge, but can they really do so when it's time for a road trip? Our 70-mph real-world Road-Trip Range test is designed to answer that question. We begin with each battery at 100 percent and run them at a steady 70 mph down the highway until we hit 5 percent to see how far we can travel. The 319-mile-rated Equinox EV ended up traveling 262 miles, while the 300-mile rated Mustang Mach-E covered 252 miles, both perfectly average results for the segment. Our fast-charging test results, on the other hand, are barely average for the segment. Both manufacturers claim an unimpressive 150-kW peak charge rate for their EVs (the Hyundai Ioniq 5, for example, can hit 257 kW), but due to the voltage of the Chevy's battery pack it can only hit that rate when hooked up to a 350-kW charger. Thus, the Equinox adds only 94 miles of range in 15 minutes, 157 miles in 30 minutes, and needs a leisurely 48 minutes to go from 5 to 80 percent charge—the point at which most EV drivers continue with their journeys. The Mustang Mach-E isn't much better, adding 95 miles in 15 minutes, 158 in 30, and needing 43 minutes to reach 80 percent. The Ioniq 5, on the other hand, achieves that threshold in just 24 minutes. Both vehicles recharge easily overnight from the average household Level 2 charger, and both can recharge from Tesla-style NACS chargers with an adapter. With neither offering a particularly noteworthy charging experience, the Mustang Mach-E gets the slight edge here by virtue of being able to charge just as quickly on 150-kW chargers as it can on 350-kW (and quicker) chargers, but it is notable that the cheaper Chevy doesn't offer a worse charging experience than the Ford—that certainly wasn't always the case with EVs. You're correct if you set your eyes on these two vehicles and think the Mustang Mach-E just looks sportier. In nearly every acceleration and handling test we performed (though notably not in our 60–0-mph braking test), the Ford outperformed the Chevy. You can see the full breakdown in the chart below. The Ford certainly feels sportier in the real world, too. Its dual-motor all-wheel-drive system has enough power to throw you back in your seat and allow the Mach-E to keep up with V-8-powered Mustang GTs (and, more practically, accelerate to pass slower traffic) without hesitation. Its steering is direct and has satisfying weight to it too, which, combined with its firm yet comfortable ride, makes the Mach-E genuinely fun to drive. 'The Mach-E has a ton of character and athleticism, which isn't easy to pull off with EVs,' senior features editor Kristen Lee said. The Mach-E's BlueCruise 1.5 system also works wonderfully; it clearly signals to the driver when you can and can't take your hands off the wheel, can automatically change lanes, and just drives in a predictable, humanlike manner. That's not to say the Mach-E lacks flaws. Some editors wished for more adjustability from the Mach-E's one-pedal drive mode, and better feel from the mushy brake pedal with the system turned off. We also clocked wind and tire noise in the cabin at freeway speeds—mostly because the Chevrolet is so serenely quiet. Whereas the Mustang Mach-E has a sporty edge, the Chevrolet Equinox EV drives a lot like the conventional gas-powered compact SUVs you're used to. It accelerates smoothly off the line, though it lacks the Ford's pep. If you get greedy with the gas pedal—like, say, if you're attempting to keep up with someone in a Mach-E—you'll quickly feel the steering wheel tug at you as the Equinox EV's traction control system tries to fight it. This torque-steer tendency somewhat ruins the otherwise relaxed steering feel on windier roads, but more annoying is its tendency to rear its head when making 90-degree left or right turns at intersections. Equinox EV owners will learn to live with this trait, but it makes us question why GM didn't fit the motor in the rear instead. Aside from torque-steer issues, the Equinox is otherwise perfectly pleasant to drive. Its one-pedal-brake mode has multiple settings allowing owners to fine-tune the system to their liking (we were perfectly happy with the default setup), while those who prefer a more gaslike experience will find natural brake pedal feel with plenty of stopping power. The Chevy's ride is also compliant, soaking up bumps and ruts without transferring the forces of those impacts into the cabin. Chevy's basic lane keep assist and radar cruise control is no match for Ford's BlueCruise system; it's a shame GM's class-leading Super Cruise system isn't available until you step up into the Equinox EV LT2. Cabin Vibes We're used to the interiors of base-model cars being outfitted with hard plastics, small screens, and button blanks, but the Equinox EV LT's cabin is a refreshing change from the status quo. Sure, its black-on-black interior might look outfitted for a Metallica concert, and yes, the plastic steering wheel feels like it came from an arcade, but the large infotainment system, fancy-looking front HVAC vents, soft-touch door handles, and high-quality switchgear do yeoman's work to add real value to the cabin, ensuring it doesn't feel cheap. Although it doesn't have Apple CarPlay, we found the Google-based infotainment system is pretty easy to use. Logging into our Google accounts let us sync our Google Maps, and the Equinox had a 'halfway decent solution,' as Buyer's Guide director Zach Gale put it, for reading text messages in the form of a little display that pops up and reads your texts to you. The system, which is canted slightly toward the driver, was notably a bit difficult for passengers to operate, especially if they wanted to adjust the volume knob that's a reach even for the driver in the top-left portion of the center stack. In back, the rear door openings are on the slightly smaller side, but once you're inside you find plenty of space for adults, bottle holders in the doors, and rear HVAC vents—but little else in the way of creature comforts (to be fair, what more do you need at $34,000?). The cargo space is notably smaller than the Ford's, though it makes up for it with a higher roofline and a large underfloor cargo space. Notably the Chevy doesn't have a front trunk like the Ford. The Mustang Mach-E's aggressive-looking roofline and raked rear glass might lead you to think it's small inside, but Ford did a great job at making its EV space efficient, with more overall cargo room than the Chevy and a back seat that's friendly to taller adults. While the Ford's rear door openings seem wider than the Chevy's, the push-button electronic door handles are needlessly annoying. Interior space dimensions can be found in the chart below, but both SUVs feel equally roomy. As you expect given the price gap between the Ford and Chevy, there's a larger emphasis on both interior style and creature comforts in the Mustang Mach-E. The Ford's interior is finished in a lovely mix of materials, with cloth, textured carbon-esque plastics, faux leather, red stitching, and metallic trim. The redesigned-for-2025 center console features more storage options than the Equinox (something we didn't realize we were missing until we got into the Ford), with cubbies and slots for all of life's necessities and wireless phone charging that isn't available on the Chevy unless you step up to the LT2 trim. We generally like Ford's infotainment system and its snappy responses, intuitive layout, and real Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though some MT editors said they couldn't get used to the way the Mach-E's large central knob also controls HVAC or heated-seat functions if you tap a button to engage those features first. Which Electric SUV Is the Better Value? The Ford is more fun to drive, has a nicer interior, and charges slightly quicker, but it can't go as far on a charge as the Chevy and costs $23,675 more as equipped (or about $430 more per month over a 60-month loan). The Equinox EV, meanwhile, has a comfortable ride, spacious cabin, and doesn't leave you wanting for much beyond Apple CarPlay, smoother power delivery, and quicker charging from more DC fast chargers. But is it worth spending extra if you can afford it on a more expensive electric SUV like the 2025 Mustang Mach-E Premium eAWD extended range? Yes, in our view. Speaking as consumers, we prefer the Ford's more space-efficient interior layout, better infotainment experience, BlueCruise system, and the fact we can pull up to any DC fast-charging tower and consistently get the same charge speed (even though it's slower than many of the Mach-E's and Equinox's competitors). As enthusiasts, we also find the Mustang's extra power, rearward power bias, and better handling to be worth the price difference. We really like the Chevy Equinox EV LT and won't hesitate to recommend it to price-sensitive buyers because it offers exceptional bang for your buck. But for those who can afford to spend a bit more, it's worth doing so. 2nd Place: 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT Pros So affordable Easy to drive Great one-pedal brake mode Cons Lots of torque steer Fast-charging speeds need improvement Lacks phone mirroring Verdict: An absolute bargain that price-conscious shippers shouldn't skip—it really is that good. 1st Place: 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium eAWD Extended Range Pros Sporty to drive Lovely interior More consistent charging performance Cons Fast-charging speeds could also use improvement Noisier than the Chevy Not as efficient, either Verdict: The Mustang Mach-E is more expensive than the Equinox EV, but you certainly get more for your money.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Lucid Will Keep $7,500 Tax Credit Going—for Those Leasing Gravity SUV
Lucid Motors will offer $7,500 tax credit, which expires at the end of September for all EVs, for lessees of the Gravity SUV through a special program. The Gravity Advantage Credit initiative requires lessees to order a Lucid Gravity by September 30 and take delivery between October 1 and December 31 to still get the $7,500 credit. Lucid's second EV, which starts at $81,550 for the Touring model, faces an extended cast of German competitors but has the advantage of being produced stateside and is therefore not subject to import tariffs. The long-popular $7,500 tax credit is going away in a matter of weeks, thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill, but perhaps not for all EVs and not at once. Automakers are understandably concerned about the effect it might have on the sales of some if not all vehicles—those deep in six-figure territory never really benefitted from it. But the demise of the credit is expected to have an effect on quite a few automakers just as the end of the year clearance sales gain momentum. As a result, some lessees interested in Lucid's luxury SUV can still take advantage of the credit through the Lucid Gravity Advantage Credit initiative, launched just a few days ago. "We want to reassure customers who have already ordered a vehicle, which may not be built and delivered by the end of September, that they will still benefit from the $7,500 leasing tax credit, despite the impending expiration," the automaker said in a statement. The initiative offers those who qualify and order a Lucid Gravity by September 30 and take delivery between October 1 and December 31 to still get the $7,500 credit. "Our unique position stems from having specific color and trim combinations that only enter production in Q4," the automaker explained. It is worth noting that this deal applies only to lessees of the Gravity, rather than buyers of the model, as it starts at $81,550 for the Touring model, and stretches all the way up to $141,550. With a dual-motor layout and 828 hp and 909 lb-ft of torque, the three-row SUV is powered by a beefy 123-kWh battery, which is good enough for 437 miles in the EPA cycle in seven-passenger form. But the Gravity will do 450 miles if optioned in five-passenger form. And it's NACS-compatible from the factory as well. "With the production of Lucid Gravity gaining significant momentum and increasing demand from both new and returning customers, Lucid aims to eliminate potential inconveniences and ensure customers can still benefit from the $7,500 leasing credit even after the federal EV Credit program expires on September 30," the EV maker said. Given the generous number of pricey, three-row electric SUVs on sale at the moment, the focus is already on the next Lucid model, expected to be badged Earth and arriving as a 2028 model with a starting price just below the $50,000 mark. Since the start of Lucid Air sales, the brand's offerings have been perceived as expensive, perhaps even hindering vehicle sales. The Earth is expected to finally address some of these concerns. Once it arrives, the Earth will face an even greater cast of competitors than it does today, and will do so in what could be a very challenging tariff environment for foreign models. Due to the expectation that it will be built not in Arizona—like its first two EVs—but in Saudi Arabia, the tariff situation by 2027 or 2028 could certainly complicate matters for the automaker in terms of affordability. Can Lucid cut into Tesla's market share in the next five years, or will it perpetually be a lower-volume EV maker? Please comment below.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Bloomberg
Tesla Prices New Model Y With Eye on Winning Chinese Families
Tesla Inc. priced its updated, six-seat Model Y sport utility vehicle in the same range as local rival Li Auto Inc.'s extended-range L8 model, to win over middle-class families in China's hyper-competitive market. The new variant of Tesla's top-selling model will be available for as low as 339,000 yuan ($47,182), the company posted on Chinese social media platform Weibo on Tuesday, with deliveries anticipated as early as September.
