Day: May 20, 2022

VW taps into the nostalgia trend with plans to resurrect the Scout, this time as an EV

By Michael J. Moody 1 month ago

A Scout drives past a Ford Bronco and a Jeep Wagoneer. You might assume Lyndon B. Johnson is president. But wait. The Scout is heading to a charging station to plug in.

Welcome to 2026.

Volkswagen’s
VWAGY,
+0.72%
supervisory board has voted to resurrect an iconic American automotive badge — Scout. This time, though, it won’t wear a tractor company’s name. And it will wear a plug.

In recent months, VW has toyed with building an electric pickup for sale in the U.S. Rumors have suggested it could be based on the Amarok, a pickup VW sells overseas. A VW design executive even playfully posted a rendering of the upcoming ID.Buzz electric van with a bed on the back.

What all those rumors missed is that, through a circuitous round of mergers and acquisitions, Volkswagen owns the rights to the International Harvester name and its legacy of early SUVs.

The
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2023 Audi RS5 Competition Package: Faster, Louder, Lighter

By Michael J. Moody 1 month ago

The Audi RS5 is already kind of a big deal, but that’s not enough for some people. Competitive people. The kind of people who think an RS5 could be faster, handle better, have a more authoritative bark. Of course, there’d have to be some aesthetic differentiators, probably incorporating black and carbon fiber accents and a few faux cows worth of Alcantara. Bigger brakes? Yes please. Well, pat yourself on the back, admirer of enhanced Audis, because you just described the two-door 2023 RS5 Coupe and five-door Sportback’s new Competition Package.

Numbers? Yeah, the Competition Package is doin’ numbers. Top speed is up 25 mph to 180 (or, up 6 mph from the old Dynamic Plus Package—that’s so last year). It’s 0.8 inch lower, too, and Audi tore out some sound insulation to save 18 pounds. That’s dedication. Here’s another series of numbers for you: 13.1:1. That’s

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Leaked Image Suggests 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R Gets 5.2L V-8

By Michael J. Moody 1 month ago

Ford confirmed early last year that the Ford F-150 Raptor R will be powered by a street-legal V-8. That’s great news for enthusiasts who yearn for the deep rumble of a V-8 instead of the wheeze of a V-6, even a high horsepower V-6 with stats akin to a V-8. However, Ford isn’t participating in the conversation surrounding which V-8 its rad off-road truck will get, telling us more details will be coming later this year.

About a year ago, we speculated that the Ford F-150 Raptor R would get a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 Predator. In the the Mustang Shelby GT500, this aluminum DOHC 32-valve Predator engine produces 760 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque. This would beat the output of the Ram 1500 TRX’s pushrod 16-valve supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 “Hellcat” number of 702 hp, but fall short of its 650 lb-ft of torque. However, since

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Ask the Law: Can I file a case if motor insurance company refuses to pay compensation?

By Michael J. Moody 1 month ago

Question: I have a comprehensive insurance for my car. A month ago, I gave my car to a friend who had a driver’s licence and was 18 years old. This friend met with a major accident that resulted in serious damages to my car and some other cars as well. Currently, the insurance company has refused to pay any compensation on the ground that the driver who caused the accident was too young and the insurance company’s protection plan did not cover such accidents. My question is: Am I legally entitled to file a civil lawsuit against the insurance company to force it to pay compensation? Please advise.

Answer: You are legally entitled to file a civil case against the insurance company to force it to pay compensation because since the driver had a valid driving licence under UAE law, it means that his age was within accepted limits. Consequently,

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