Latest news with #FordMaverick
Miami Herald
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Motormouth: Cars can ‘read,' but sometimes not very well
Q: In response to a recent question, you indicated that automobile displays of speed limits are GPS mediated. While that may be true, an SUV we had would consistently read an exit ramp speed sign on Minnesota Route 62 at 169 mph. Even more interesting, the car would decelerate as we passed a County 50 road sign. P.H., Edina, Minnesota A: Yeah, some vehicles mistake route numbers for speed limit numbers. Like me, they may be a bit numerically dyslexic. Or, perhaps, a remedial reading class is in order. Thanks for the chuckle. Q: I recently took my 2018 Buick Encore with 44,000 miles in for an oil change at an all-purpose auto repair facility. The service manager advised (and showed me) that my coolant level had dropped about 2 inches below the fill indicator line on the reservoir, and that as a result, I should get a complete cooling system flush. He explained that there might be acidity in the coolant, which could ultimately corrode internal engine parts. My owner's manual recommended this service at 100,000 miles. D.B., Winfield, Illinois A: I would top off the coolant with some premixed stuff. Then I would check the coolant reservoir regularly. The level is usually higher after running the engine due to expansion. The next morning, it will be lower as the coolant is sucked back into the cold engine. If you keep adding coolant, have the cooling system checked out. The service manager is right that worn out coolant can lead to internal engine problems, especially the water pump. Q: I bought a 2024 Ford Maverick hybrid truck in July 2024. It has 3,000 miles on it so far and I was wondering when it should have its first oil change. Since the engine is running on the battery part time, how do you figure the miles it has actually driven in a year? The owner's manual doesn't say anything about it. I hope you can answer me on this. R.D., Yorkville, Illinois A: It is often hard to give up control and allow the vehicle's oil life monitor to let you know when it's time to change the oil. But that is what you should do. Q: I own a 2021 BMW 430xi. It has almost 8,000 miles on it. Several months ago, the warning sign came up and it indicated my oil needs to be changed. My husband insists it does not. I had it changed about two years ago, before the warranty expired. When I contacted the dealer about it, they said the oil is "old" so, yes, it needs to be changed. My husband insists it does not. Of course, the warning sign appears every time I drive, which annoys me and worries me that I am causing harm to the engine due to my husband's stubbornness. Who is right here? D.I., Dyer, Indiana A: BMW uses a condition-based service system; it monitors the condition of the oil. The CBS system tracks your oil's life based on mileage, the amount of fuel consumed and an oil quality sensor in the oil pan. Trust it when it tells you to change the oil. Q: I have a 2018 Subaru Outback with 112,000 miles on it. I take very good care of this car and faithfully follow the manufacturer's maintenance recommendations. The dealer tells me that I need to replace the timing chain at 120,000 miles. Other sources inform me that I never need to replace the timing chain. What's your thought about this? C.H., Cologne, Minnesota A: The timing chains on the FB25 engines are maintenance-free. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
The Verge
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Verge
Slate Auto FAQ: your questions answered
Alright, we get it. Y'all are excited about Slate. We thought the little Slate Truck was cool, but based on the number of clicks and comments on our Slate Auto articles so far, you'd like to know more. Many of you wrote in with questions and more than a few people raised some doubts. So, we wanted to address as many of those as we could. Here's your one-stop shop for Slate answers based on your questions — plus a few of our own. What are the Slate's full specs, and how does it compare to a Ford Maverick or F-150? The Slate is clearly a vehicle built for everyday utility, and while it'll make for a handy machine for hauling a lot of things, big towing and heavy cargo were clearly not a top priority. Here are the key specs, compared against the four-wheel drive hybrid Ford Maverick with the 2.5-liter engine and a Ford F-150 4x2 with a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. Slate Truck Ford Maverick Ford F-150 Horsepower (hp) 201 191 325 Curb weight (lbs) 3,602 3,674 4,171 Max payload (lbs) 1,433 1,500 1,775 Max towing (lbs) 1,000 2,000 8,400 Bed length (ft) 5 4.5 5.5, 6.5, or 8 Bed width (max / min, in) 50 / 54.9 42.6 / 53.3 50.6 / 66.9 Seats 2 5 5 It's worth noting that these Ford numbers vary widely based on configuration. For example, you can get a '4K Tow Package' on the Maverick that boosts towing to 4,000 lbs, and the F-150 has hundreds of variations depending on need. Max towing on an F-150 is 13,500 lbs. The numbers above represent the figures quoted by Ford for a base, option-free vehicle. And one final note: towing substantially reduces the efficiency of the tow vehicle, due to the weight of the trailer and its additional aerodynamic drag. For an electric vehicle like the Slate, that will surely result in reduced range, perhaps by as much as half depending on the trailer. Where will the vehicle be manufactured? Slate has confirmed manufacturing will take place in a former catalog printing facility in Warsaw, Indiana, which closed in 2023. Slate hopes to renovate the facility and eventually employ 2,000 workers, with an annual production volume of 150,000 vehicles. And the company is seeking tax abatements on the factory site from the county government to begin construction. Full details on that here. That domestic production should mean that vehicles produced by Slate are eligible for the full $7,500 federal rebate — if the credit still exists late next year when the Truck enters production. Does the Slate Truck have a cellular connection? No, the Slate Truck does not have built-in cellular connectivity. LTE is an increasingly common feature in new cars, enabling auto manufacturers to do all sorts of stuff, including good things like software updates and some perhaps not so good things like selling your driving data. For the former, o-the-air updates will still be possible via the Slate smartphone app. Updates will be downloaded to the phone and then pushed to the Slate Truck via USB cable. As for the latter, that leads us to our next question. Will Slate harvest and sell my driving data? Not your driving data, no, but you can upload data about the health of your vehicle. Jeff Jablansky, Slate Auto's head of public relations and communications, gave us this example: 'A 'check engine' light comes on: if the driver has their phone plugged in and has opted in to data movement, the company will send a notification to the Slate app so they can be aware of potential service needs.' Jablansky confirmed that no data will be sold to third parties. Can I precondition my Slate Truck? One of the joys of owning a modern EV is easy preconditioning. Regardless of where your car is parked, you can get the interior warmed up or cooled down from just a few taps on your smartphone, all without having to worry about filling your garage with carbon monoxide. Can you do that in the Slate Truck? Maybe. The lack of cellular connection means you won't be able to wirelessly connect to your Truck from anywhere, but Jablansky didn't rule it out entirely, saying, 'This is something we are working on through the app.' Will Slate make models available for designing 3D-printed accessories? Ready to download some STL/3MF files today and start designing your ultimate cupholder? Us, too, but we'll need to be patient for a little bit. 'The Maker community is incredibly important to Slate, and we are on track toward delivering on this commitment closer to launch,' Jablansky says. So stay tuned on that front. Jablansky says this will also include details on third-party accessory providers and licensing. Why didn't Slate use standard DIN slots for ease of installing audio? The DIN slot, also known as the ISO 7736 or Deutsches Institut für Normung 75490 slot, has long been the standard for in-dash audio. Why, then, are there no DIN slots on the Slate Truck? Slate says it was to offer greater flexibility. 'We wanted to allow the customer to pick and choose their accessories without forcing combinations of options together in packages. This comes to life in our audio strategy to allow customers to choose to install anything from a Bluetooth speaker to a full audio system,' Jablansky says. So the bad news is if you want to use a standard DIN receiver, then you'll need to DIY an enclosure for it. The good news is if you just want to mount a Bluetooth sound bar, then you won't have to worry about filling any gaping rectangular holes in the dashboard. Is a more advanced active driver assistance system in the works? No. 'Consistent with our broader approach, we focused our engineering to make a Slate a great truck to drive,' Jablansky says. Keep those hands on the wheel, folks. Why choose a Truck to start instead of a sedan or compact SUV? Cost and simplicity, it turns out. Jablansky says that 'a two-door form factor meant less material, less complexity, lower cost.' He adds that the lockable frunk means there's sedan-like secure storage for your stuff, with the added benefit of a big bed out back. And, of course, you can add on the SUV kit if you need more seating or more covered storage. Will any special tools be required for any of the DIY upgrades and add-ons? Per Jablansky, special tools are not expected to be required. Will this thing really sell for $20,000? What about tariffs? What if the EV incentives go away? It's a dynamic world and dynamic industry out there right now, but Slate isn't backing down. 'We are committed to our expected price point of $20,000 after federal incentives,' Jablansky says, which implies an MSRP of roughly $27,500. 'If incentives go away, Slate will remain well-positioned in the U.S. with a strong proposition of value, safety, and customization.' Will those attributes be enough to woo people away from a Ford Maverick, which starts at just over $28,000? We'll have to wait and see. Jablansky says that Slate is also committed to US manufacturing, which should fend off most of the tariff fears, and that the company is still on track to start manufacturing in 2026.
Auto Blog
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
How Tariffs Are Making Trucks Like the Ford Maverick Pricier
Thanks to rising tariffs on foreign auto parts, even budget-friendly models like the Ford Maverick and Subaru Forester are transforming from practical pickups into premium purchases. Why the Ford Maverick Now Costs Over $8K More Than Last Year That 'Buy American' sticker? It's costing you more than patriotism. The scene: You're eyeing a Ford Maverick, imagining weekend road trips, when the dealer slides over a quote. The price? $8,641 higher than last year's model. Suddenly, your practical truck feels like a fiscal hostage. Welcome to the era where tariffs transform workhorses into white elephants—and Washington's trade wars roll up in your driveway. Trump's Auto Part Tariffs: A $42 Billion Burden for Buyers Let's cut through the exhaust fumes. Trump's 25% tariffs on Chinese auto parts aren't just policy—they're a masterclass in economic jiujitsu. That Subaru Forester Hybrid you've been eyeing? Its price tag ballooned by $4,000 overnight, not because of inflation, but geopolitical theater. Detroit's Big Three will pocket $42 billion in tariff costs by 2025, but here's the kicker: You're funding 90% of it through padded MSRPs. This is gaslighting with a V8 engine. 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid — Source: Subaru How 'American-Made' Trucks Use Global Parts to Dodge Tariffs Ford's F-150—that titan of truck commercials—runs on a Mexican alternator, Canadian half-shafts, and Korean tires. Only 32% of its components are U.S.-sourced, yet it sidesteps tariffs via NAFTA's 'substantial transformation' loopholes. Translation: Assemble a global parts bin in Michigan, slap on a Stars-and-Stripes decal, and charge a $2,055 'market adjustment' because freedom isn't free. Meanwhile, GM's Texas-built Escalade sources aluminum tied to Xinjiang's Uyghur forced labor camps. Your armrest? A $100K tribute to oppression and corporate amnesia. 2024 Ford F-150 XLT — Source: Ford Why Car Dealers Profit Most From Your Patriotic Purchases Meet the real winners: dealerships. When Ram's 'Born in Michigan' ads play, they omit that heavy-duty models roll off Saltillo, Mexico lines—a plant churning out 250,000 units annually. Yet dealers markup these trucks by $1,150 overnight, exploiting your red-white-and-blue reflex. It's not supply and demand. This is psychological warfare with a 72-month financing plan. Are EVs the Answer to Rising Truck and SUV Prices? Amidst the markup madness, here's your lifeline: Go electric. While GM axed the $30K Chevy Bolt to focus on luxury behemoths, Tesla's Model Y persists as a tariff-proof anomaly. Its battery? 50% cheaper per kWh than 2019, with no hidden 'patriotism tax.' Hyundai's Ioniq 5 offers 303-mile range and wireless CarPlay—a tech suite that laughs at Detroit's dated infotainment. Pro tip: Lease. Let the tariffs depreciate on someone else's driveway. Should Tariffs Be Listed on Car Stickers? Tariffs are the new dealer add-ons—unavoidable, infuriating, and dressed in patriotic veneer. Every overpriced SUV is a referendum on what we value. Do we bankroll boardroom greed masked as nationalism? Or demand transparency with our wallets? Amazon was on the money, no pun intended, with wanting to put the 'tariff burden' on the receipt. What about the true value of those tariffs on the sticker price? Your move, America. That extra 8 grand on your F-150 has a cause. 2024 Ford F-150 STX
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Ford Maverick, Other Trucks See Price Hikes as Tariffs Raise Auto Costs Nationwide
That "Buy American" sticker? It's costing you more than patriotism. The scene: You're eyeing a Ford Maverick, imagining weekend road trips, when the dealer slides over a quote. The price? $8,641 higher than last year's model. Suddenly, your practical truck feels like a fiscal hostage. Welcome to the era where tariffs transform workhorses into white elephants-and Washington's trade wars roll up in your driveway. Let's cut through the exhaust fumes. Trump's 25% tariffs on Chinese auto parts aren't just policy-they're a masterclass in economic jiujitsu. That Subaru Forester Hybrid you've been eyeing? Its price tag ballooned by $4,000 overnight, not because of inflation, but geopolitical theater. Detroit's Big Three will pocket $42 billion in tariff costs by 2025, but here's the kicker: You're funding 90% of it through padded MSRPs. This is gaslighting with a V8 engine. Ford's F-150-that titan of truck commercials-runs on a Mexican alternator, Canadian half-shafts, and Korean tires. Only 32% of its components are U.S.-sourced, yet it sidesteps tariffs via NAFTA's "substantial transformation" loopholes. Translation: Assemble a global parts bin in Michigan, slap on a Stars-and-Stripes decal, and charge a $2,055 "market adjustment" because freedom isn't free. Meanwhile, GM's Texas-built Escalade sources aluminum tied to Xinjiang's Uyghur forced labor camps. Your armrest? A $100K tribute to oppression and corporate amnesia. Meet the real winners: dealerships. When Ram's "Born in Michigan" ads play, they omit that heavy-duty models roll off Saltillo, Mexico lines-a plant churning out 250,000 units annually. Yet dealers markup these trucks by $1,150 overnight, exploiting your red-white-and-blue reflex. It's not supply and demand. This is psychological warfare with a 72-month financing plan. Amidst the markup madness, here's your lifeline: Go electric. While GM axed the $30K Chevy Bolt to focus on luxury behemoths, Tesla's Model Y persists as a tariff-proof anomaly. Its battery? 50% cheaper per kWh than 2019, with no hidden "patriotism tax." Hyundai's Ioniq 5 offers 303-mile range and wireless CarPlay-a tech suite that laughs at Detroit's dated infotainment. Pro tip: Lease. Let the tariffs depreciate on someone else's driveway. Tariffs are the new dealer add-ons-unavoidable, infuriating, and dressed in patriotic veneer. Every overpriced SUV is a referendum on what we value. Do we bankroll boardroom greed masked as nationalism? Or demand transparency with our wallets? Amazon was on the money, no pun intended, with wanting to put the "tariff burden" on the receipt. What about the true value of those tariffs on the sticker price? Your move, America. That extra 8 grand on your F-150 has a cause. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Toyota's Secret Weapon? Why a Compact Pickup Could Shake Up the U.S. Market
It's been a hot minute since Toyota has had a small pickup in the United States market, but rumor has it that's going to change in the next few years. Currently, there are just two small trucks available: the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. With midsize and full-size trucks growing in size and increasing in price, there's a massive gap waiting to be filled-and there's a reason no automaker has closed it. The lack of a small pickup in the Toyota lineup has its roots in the Chicken Tax of 1964, which insulated domestic automakers from foreign light-duty vehicle imports. As I've discussed previously, the U.S. light truck market is still feeling the ramifications of the tariff 60 years later. While South Korean automakers are exempt from the 25% tariff due to the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, hence the Hyundai Santa Cruz, Japanese manufacturers aren't as fortunate. As a result, Toyota's compact pickup would likely be produced in the United States. Toyota isn't exactly shy about using the Corolla nameplate, and rightly so, considering it's the best-selling vehicle of all time, as well as a household name. So far, we have four iterations of the moniker, including a crossover, hot hatch, hatchback, and sedan. If Toyota were to emblazon the Corolla's name on a compact truck, it'd be the fifth in the lineup. Regardless of the name, the Japanese automaker has been listening to dealer requests for a smaller truck to slot beneath the Tacoma for some time now. "We're looking at it," Mark Templin, Toyota's U.S. Chief Operating Officer, told Bloomberg. Considering Toyota is shifting towards hybrid powertrains, odds are a new compact truck would follow suit. After all, the best-selling Toyota Camry is only available with a hybrid powertrain, as is the Toyota Sienna and a handful of other models. Ford has already set a precedent for a hybrid powertrain within the segment as well. When the Maverick debuted back in 2021, a 191-horsepower hybrid powertrain came standard, while a turbocharged four-cylinder engine was available as an upgrade. For the sake of speculation, if Toyota were to release a Corolla-based compact truck, can we expect a performance model similar to the GR Corolla hot hatch? It'd certainly fill a niche, but whether such a thing is worth exploring is questionable at best. Despite their prowess and dedication to the full-size truck segment, Chevrolet and Ram have yet to introduce a compact truck. To make matters more confusing, while Chevrolet offers the Colorado, Ram has yet to introduce a midsize truck of its own. There is a glimmer of hope from Ram, though, as according to the automaker, a midsize pickup will join the ranks as early as 2027. That still leaves the compact pickup segment in a rather interesting state, though. Ford and Hyundai are the only two manufacturers with a small truck in their lineups. Whereas the Ford Maverick sold more than 130,000 units in 2024, the Hyundai Santa Cruz lagged behind with around 32,000 units sold. While it doesn't tell the whole story, badging plays a role in the compact truck segment's performance. Ford is known for making trucks, Hyundai isn't, and that alone could be the difference for Toyota, too. Toyota has been building trucks for years, and its reputation for reliability and longevity speaks for itself. If the Japanese automaker were to introduce an affordable compact pickup at Corolla-level pricing, it could end up taking the entire segment by storm. While Nissan could introduce a compact truck alongside the Frontier, it doesn't seem like the automaker is in the financial position to do so. Nissan is in a precarious position, and considering it ended production of the full-size Titan, I wouldn't hold my breath on a new compact model. Then again, Nissan did reaffirm its dedication to the United States market, so there's a chance, right? "North America is a key market, and we are taking quick actions to get us back to growth and set the stage for the exciting products to come," said Christian Meunier, chairman, Nissan Americas. It's no secret that midsize and full-size trucks have grown exponentially compared to a decade or two ago. Having recently driven a Chevrolet Colorado and Ford F-150, I can see why consumers might opt for a compact truck. Interestingly, while Ford has introduced the Maverick to fill that void, Chevrolet and Ram have been slow on the uptake. Now that Toyota seemingly has plans to introduce its own compact truck, I can't help but wonder if the two American truck brands will add a compact pickup of their own in the near future. Then there's a wild card in the mix: Slate. What effect could the compact all-electric pickup have on the segment? Currently, electric trucks are limited to full-size models, like the Ford F-150 Lightning, and are often on the more expensive side. The introduction of an electric compact truck could turn the entire segment on its head, provided it's a good offering. No matter how you look at it, the compact truck segment is picking up steam, and it's only a matter of time before it boils over. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
