Ford F-150 Lightning debut to be projected on 64,000-square-foot screen at HQ
The Glass House becomes a silver screen
The Ford World Headquarters building will be one of three live broadcast locations for the F-150 Lightning electric truck debut on May 19. Signaling the importance of the F-150 to the Blue Oval brand, workers in Dearborn have been busy covering the HQ building’s glass with a 64,000-square-foot projection screen for the event.
Ford is a huge presence in the Detroit metro area, so when anything odd happens at the company’s 12-story headquarters building, called the Glass House, it can cause quite a stir. So when The Detroit Free Press noticed over the weekend that workers in high-vis vests and hardhats were covering the building’s heat-absorbing windows with a white screen, the speculation began. They were able to get the size of the screen from the inside source, but not much more info.
Since then, it has been all but confirmed that the screen will be used to livestream the F-150 Lightning reveal, to be simulcast at Ford headquarters, New York’s Times Square and on the Las Vegas Strip. The timing is just too perfect for it to be anything else.
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Toyota twin-turbo V8 patent unearthed
One last ICE hurrah, or vaporware?
An unremarkable patent focusing on a minor engine part has revealed that Toyota is at least considering a twin-turbo V8. While the filing is most likely just a large company protecting its intellectual property, it could also be a small glimmer of hope that Toyota, a storied company that’s made some glaring missteps with enthusiasts in recent years, can leave the ICE party with a bang for the ages.
The patent for a secondary PCV separator, whose function is to isolate exhaust gas from lubricating oil, was discovered by a member of the GR86 forum. In this case, it’s not engine oil that’s the culprit, but turbocharger oil. From a twin-turbo V8.
The patent starts out with an almost embarrassingly hilarious stick figure drawing of a car and where said engine would be located (in the front, under the hood, duh). It has the words “Internal Combustion Engine” printed on a rectangle in case there was any doubt.
However, the second figure shows a dual turbo setup nestled in the valley of a V8. It’s a prime location for reducing turbo lag and optimizing throttle response (and should necessitate a substantial hood bulge as well).
Now, interestingly, the forum member believes this engine will be installed in the next Tundra (and presumably Sequoia), but our own research indicates that the pickup will have a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 under the hood. With all due respect to the GR86 members, we’re going to stand by that assertion and cross our fingers that the patent hints at something even better.
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2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz trims, features, paint colors detailed on consumer site
Here’s what’s included in the various grades
Last month, Hyundai finally unveiled the 2022 Santa Cruz pickup six years after showing it as a concept, but it didn’t take nearly as long to get the product onto its consumer site. Now, we can see what the different trims offer, and what the plucky truck looks like in its various exterior paint colors. Unfortunately, we still don’t have pricing or fuel economy, but we can still look at what you can get in your Santa Cruz.
The Santa Cruz’s base trim level is the SE. It comes powered by a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. That powertrain produces 190 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. This most basic version of the truck features an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Safety features such as automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist are standard. Even this most basic Santa Cruz offers a 3,500-pound towing capacity and 1,748-pound payload. It, like the rest of the Santa Cruz lineup, can be had with front- or all-wheel drive.
Moving up to the SEL, you still get the 2.5-liter four and conventional eight-speed transmission, but you get some other technology and convenience features. SEL includes proximity key with push-button start, a heated, eight-way power driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support, heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals, blind-spot collision avoidance assist and Hyundai’s Bluelink connected car system. A 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster is available. The configurator shows an optional Activity Package for thee SEL but doesn’t say what’s in it beyond “added technology and storage solutions,” adding that more details will come soon.