Automotive enthusiasts?

So Xiaomi is building a car now.

A goddamned smartphone company building a car…

@Khauntzat Adramélekhizarovich Searmaev
Curious to see if it makes it into production before apple’s car

@Barry Tone
No airflow to brakes

Hyundai showed this sweet looking concept they call the N Vision 74. It’s inspired by the Hyundai Pony, the first mass produced car in South Korea.

Unfortunately, like most attractive concept cars, it won’t be made and even if it were, refilling the hydrogen part of the hydrogen/electric hybrid powertrain would be a problem.

My wheels are now black

@MagpulPony
Nice!

The V8 Raptor R adds about $32,000 to the price of the regular Raptor. Over $30,000 for what’s basically an engine swap, bringing the Raptor to a starting MSRP of $109 grand and that’s not counting the inevitable dealer markup.

I was kind of hoping for a Raptor version of the Ranger, but I’ve no doubt Ford will add a ridiculous mark up to that too.

It’s hard to get excited for new vehicles when all the good ones are absurdly expensive.

@kleptomage
There’s already a Ranger Raptor

@kleptomage
Not to mention the tons of inefficient drag

New Type R looks awesome. Better than Integra with the 1.5L but I’ll take the Integra with the 2.0 turbo in the future any day over the Type R.

@MagpulPony
not in USA though. Colorado ZR2 Bison is the reigning champion of midsize trucks, Ranger is due for an upgrade though.

@MagpulPony
she’s clean! I like the grey and black color combo too! I bet you’re enjoying the wonderful driving weather out there!

@kleptomage
At least we know the mpg of Magpul’s Raptor is going to be better than this V8 monster Raptor R!

@The magic 🅱oi
You’d be surprised what actually comprises an aerodynamic car. Sure this is no model X or Prius, but specially for being downforce oriented:

It has a reasonable front end lip might, act as pressure rounding, and stopping air from forming a low pressure area around the sides of front fenders and top of hood.

The side vented heat exchanger exhausts beat bottom exits any time of the day, and allow for flat bottom pans.

Front fenders have a decent curvature,I observe either a full sideskirt or front wheel tails.

The passanger area is vetically tapered, and closes partially on the rear.

The wipers are not exposed to the airflow, the mirror struts have little frontal area, all windows being flush, with no protruding pillars helps a lot too.

The rear fenders I would agree with. Something is not right.

Those fanwheels have decent surface aero, rotational drag depends on a lot of factors.

I assume flat bottom, but the difusser’s desing and low general rear area should help reduce wake drag specially from the wheels, even if it’s clearly focused on downforce.

I know it’s just a concept btw.

@FuckItsDaytimeAgain
That’s a more in depth answer than I was going to give.

It appears fairly aerodynamic without looking like a half used bar of soap.

@kleptomage
That’s up to the design requirement. If you want a low-drag car with a lot of interior space, you will end up with a bar of soap.

@FuckItsDaytimeAgain
I was more thinking about the flat front end

@kleptomage
cries in ford probe IV

@FuckItsDaytimeAgain
Ikr

2023 Toyota Crown

This will be replacing the Avalon when it’s finally phased out. All models come in Hybrid and AWD standard, from what I understand.

Holy shit! After all these years, the Crown is finally being sold outside of Japan?!

@Goku Black
You can’t tell from that picture, but the Crown is sized between a sedan and a crossover, like the Honda Crosstour. I’m not sure raising a sedan a few inches is enough to make someone choose it over a regular crossover like the RAV4.

@kleptomage
I certainly would choose a Crown over a RAV4. We have enough SUVs and CUVs on the road, dammit!

@Goku Black
I think my next vehicle is going to be a truck or crossover because sedans can’t compete with their comfort and practicality.

For comfort, sedans are too damn short. I have the seat in my Sonata lowered as far as it can go and there’s only about an inch between my head and the roof. I get in by falling hands first into the seat and crawling into place. Everyone who gets in my car complains how low it is too.

For practicality, a truck or crossover has more ground clearance and 4WD or AWD for bad roads and weather. A truck bed or hatch is far better for carrying cargo than a car’s trunk.

Back to the Crown, Toyota is smart to address some of the shortcomings of a traditional sedan by raising its height and giving it AWD standard. I wouldn’t buy one though. It looks too garish for my taste.

Comfort seems to have almost been “offensive” to car designers for the last 20 something years. Perhaps that’s not the best word to use, but considering how comfortable my 1990 Mercury is compared to anything I hear of today, this is a might touch ridiculous.

Modern Cars: Eh, they work.

1960s - 1990s Cars: My 1990 Grand Marquis Wagon literally cured my back trouble that happened when I slept so funny that I couldn’t walk right; my muscles were messed up. Oh, and I have no issues with ceiling height, though I didn’t measure the distance between my head and the ceiling.

@Barry Tone
I believe it. My mother’s fourth generation Mercury Sable was a better car than most sedans today. It had a softer suspension and nice seats for a comfortable ride, the cabin was tall enough, the visibility was better because the windows were larger, and the Ford V6 felt responsive.

I miss my old ’96 Grand Marquis, now.

@Goku Black
Please prove me wrong but it’s economy figures ponted to it just being a Rav4.