Chase Bierenkoven

We're so used to reading things in Miles per Gallon (MPG) that new EV range figures are hard to conceptualize. To be fair, it could just be me, and I'm very bad at math. However, when you type "MPG to..." into Google, one of the first things you get suggested is "MPG to MPGe." But what does that mean? What's MPGe, and how is it different from the numbers given by automakers like GM, Tesla, and Ford, to name a few. Well, it's time to find out. Buckle up.

Toto Wolff and the Mercedes Formula 1 team are used to being at the top. Frankly, the team is damn near unbeatable and has been for the last several years. Not many have risen to challenge them, Red Bull most recently, has done so with some success. However, this dominance on track comes with financial gains off track. For example, team boss and CEO Toto Wolff is worth right around $400 to $500 million. Did Mercedes Formula 1 boss Wolff get there not just through blood, sweat, and tears, but through some less than legitimate means as well?

If I'm being honest, I don't like selling cars. If I had it my way I'd just keep collecting them, but I'm probably in the minority here. Odds are, you've realized what a stressful experience the whole ordeal can be. Negotiating is never fun, and tire-kickers make life hard, especially in this market. Honestly, there's a lot of ways for you to end up on your ass if you're selling. This is how to do it safely.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is the new hot truck. Or is it? Frankly, it's hard to tell right now. Models are listed for well above sticker, but is that because of demand or dealers? Per usual, the semiconductor shortage has a lot to do with it, as does the easing (for now) of pandemic restrictions. Buyers want vehicles to get out and about in, but it seems that dealers want their taste before that can happen. Question is, can Hyundai help?

New cars have a problem. By now, I'm sure you're aware that we simply cannot manufacture enough semiconductors to combat the chip shortage. Nowhere has the impact of this been felt more than in the automotive industry. Sure, you may not be able to get that new PS5 either, but the auto industry is inarguably the hardest hit by the shortage. Moreover, automakers are getting creative to meet demand and keep consumers in dealerships.

We're all sick of the chip shortage by now. It's severely affected both the new and used car market, and that's just a start. Moreover, the shortages have spread to other industries. You can't get a computer graphics card right now for the same reason you can't get a Ford Bronco. Unfortunately, you won't be getting that PS5 anytime soon either. The resale markets are insane for just about anything that uses electricity right now. So, that begs the question: when will all this finally stop?

Toyota has a reputation. Despite some recent bad press, the brand's stellar reputation was only bolstered by the launch of the enthusiast-oriented Toyota GR 86. However, part of the Japanese brand's reputation lies in its stellar safety systems. Moreover, that reputation exists for a reason. Now, the 86 has been revealed with both an automatic and manual transmission. However, the manual-equipped 86 models are lacking some pretty key safety features, some of them for no real reason.

The Mines Rover represents a big step in EV autonomous vehicle usability. Currently, the Rover is part of the nation's largest fleet of autonomous vehicles. And yes, before you ask, these vehicles are fully autonomous. They require no driver intervention except in the instance of an emergency. Moreover, they're designed to only operate at low speeds, replacing shuttles on the Colorado School of Mines campus. Interesting, yes, but how feasible is public autonomous transport?

First, I just want to say that I don't believe Toyota intentionally gives their vehicles to militant forces in the Middle East. Clearly, the brand is making an effort to prevent that, as we've seen through their recent statements regarding the second-hand sales of the Toyota Land Cruiser. However, it does beg the question: why do we see so many ISIS and Taliban militants with Toyota trucks, both old and new? It turns out, things are much more complicated than you'd think.

The Tesla Model S is a hell of an EV. Currently, the top-tier Plaid model is just about the fastest thing in a straight line out there. However, its biggest competitor isn't another luxury EV like a Lucid or Rivian. No, it's something a little more... economical. The Nissan Leaf. Frankly, it's pretty surprising. The two really could not be more different. However, given the wealth divide we see in America, maybe it makes sense.

As EVs become a larger and larger part of our lives, there's naturally more competition in the marketplace. No, I'm not just talking about the sheer number of new EV makers out there. I'm also talking about charging. Outside of Tesla's proprietary Supercharger network, Americans increasingly have more choice in where they charge. However, for now, there's really only one manufacturer who's really figured it out. I'll give you three guesses.

We've kind of been programmed to think that EVs are cheaper than gas cars. For example, the cost of parts is less than gas vehicles simply because there's less bouncing around under that hood. It's just a brushless motor and some electrons. Gross oversimplification, I know. Moreover, we've been told that the cost to go places is less. That's true, but the infrastructure needed to support electric vehicle charging isn't cheap. Biden's electric vehicle plan will cost trillions. However, the electric vehicle push is already costing automakers billions.

EV maker Rivian has set its sights high. The brand wants to take down Tesla's market share, and fast. To do that, they need to make cars. To do that, they need a place to build them. In light of that, the brand has begun construction on a second factory out on the Texas plains. However, this isn't a solo venture. Rivian, like many EV automakers, got a nice helping hand from Uncle Sam. To the tune of millions.

Nissan just hit Toyota where it hurts: right in the nostalgia. The new Nissan Z debuted in New York last night, and its sights are set on the Toyota Supra in every metric. From power to price, to performance, you can bet we're about to witness a JDM battle we haven't seen since I was in diapers. Moreover, this new "halo car" signals a tonal shift for Nissan, which desperately needs to revive the brand.

$70,000 is a lot to spend on camping. Granted, I'm coming to you from the perspective of a young person just starting their career. However, $70,000 goes a very, very long way. We're talking about two brand-new Toyota GR86 sports cars. Or a down payment on a home. Hell, you can have your pick on just about any life-changing purchase for $70k. I went to college for under $70,000. Moreover, I camp, and I'd estimate my entire camping setup, stoves, tent, chairs, the lot, cost about $1,000. So, the question is, can the Loki Basecamp Icarus justify that big ol' price tag?

The Pebble Beach Concourse d'Elegance is as bougie as it sounds, if you'll allow me to butcher the French language. While we're talking about French-adjacent things, let's talk about the winner of this year's concourse, a Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahnkurier from 1938. Why is it French-adjacent? It's rumored to be a gift from France's most famous conqueror: Adolf Hitler. Yeah. The Nazi. Buckle up, this one's gonna be wild.

Let's be honest. Tesla needs some good press right now. Unfortunately, the brand is nearly constantly under fire for its self-driving software and somewhat spotty build quality. Not to mention the Twitter antics of Elon Musk, or Doge Tony Stark as I once heard him called. Thankfully, the Tesla Model Y is here to deliver that PR win for the brand. Currently, it's the most-registered EV in the first half of this year.

Tesla Autopilot is under fire. Again. This time, rather than a few journalists relaying stories from behind a keyboard (hi), things are a lot more serious. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a formal investigation into Tesla's proprietary adaptive cruise control software. Unfortunately, this comes after a series of accidents, some of them fatal. We've heard about these stories before, and admittedly, I've covered several of them. But now, Tesla is in real hot water with the Feds.

While I haven't said it here, I think one's personal data is the most valuable thing about them. Companies pay for it, and they steal it. Remember all that TikTok nonsense? Now, the Washington Post has discovered that your Chevy Bolt knows a lot more about you than you might think. It's scary stuff to be sure, but it's a part of modern life that's become inescapable. Or is it? Now, it's time to find out.

First, I just want to say that I don't believe Toyota intentionally gives their vehicles to militant forces in the Middle East. Clearly, the brand is making an effort to prevent that, as we've seen through their recent statements regarding the second-hand sales of the Toyota Land Cruiser. However, it does beg the question: why do we see so many ISIS and Taliban militants with Toyota trucks, both old and new? It turns out, things are much more complicated than you'd think.