Latest news with #AppleCarPlay
Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Ford's smallest pickup truck, a popular hybrid, finally gets a grip
I could fit four others in this cabin and bring home a hefty haul from a Swedish, flat-packed furniture store. I could do a heavy Saturday morning bulk-retail run in the morning and navigate with ease Toronto's congested downtown core in the afternoon. I could head out to visit friends in rural Ontario in the evening. And I could do all this without blowing the bank; this capable compact vehicle is miserly on fuel. Driving the refreshed 2025 Ford Maverick hybrid, I'm reminded of how pragmatic this compact pickup truck is. From winding back-roads to highways to smallish parking spaces, the feeling of 'I know it's a truck, but it feels and drives like a car' is a constant. The refreshed 2025 Ford Maverick hybrid is a practical alternative in the crowded world of compact crossovers. At roughly two-thirds the price of the average new vehicle in Canada — this clocked in at more than $60,000 in 2024 — it's a smart-sized pickup truck for urban life. The all-wheel drive version consumes just 0.1 litres of fuel more per 100 km than the front-wheel drive vehicle. The 2025 model is Ford's mid-cycle refresh. Ford said Maverick hybrid-buyers yearned for more than front-wheel drive. So that's what they're getting. Inside, the highlight is a new 13.2-inch infotainment system, nearly double the size of the previous eight-inch version. It's quick and responsive and features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are lightly refreshed exterior styling cues to modernize the vehicle's appearance. Although there are still hard plastic bits on the interior, practicality scores high. On the road, the all-wheel-drive version handles similar to the front-wheel drive vehicle; it's fairly smooth, sturdy and comfortable and has ample power. It is in inclement weather and less-than-ideal driving conditions that the all-wheel-drive version comes into its own. Having power available to each wheel coupled with a terrific hybrid system truly is the best of worlds. The Maverick feels more like a car than a pickup truck. It's small footprint makes it easy to manoeuvre, especially in highly congested urban areas and it can be a viable alternative to a compact crossover. It's not cumbersome. There's no feeling of rumbling down the road. This small and sensibly sized truck is more than enough for most needs. All hybrid versions use Ford's continuous variable transmission. The front-wheel drive hybrid system can tow up to 2,000 pounds. The all-wheel drive vehicle can double that, if you choose the tow package. Payload in the 4.5-foot bed — that is the amount of weight that can safely be put there — is 1,500 pounds for front-wheel drive and 1,400 pounds for all-wheel drive. So, yes, this Maverick does all the things a pickup truck does, even though it is relatively small. Glancing at the bigger picture, the overall Maverick lineup includes a nonhybrid trim, an off-road variant and a 'street-truck' version, new for 2025, called the Lobo. As one of just two compact pickup trucks in the Canadian market — the Hyundai Santa Cruz is the other — Ford has quite the breadth of offerings in this niche market. With a starting price of less than $40,000, the all-wheel drive hybrid Maverick is an smart option for those who want cheap and cheerful paired with capable and confident. Type: Four-door compact pickup truck; front-engine, front or all-wheel drive Engine: 2.5-litre, four-cylinder; 191 horsepower, 151 pounds-feet of torque (motive force) Fuel: 5.8 litres/100 km in the city; 6.9l/100 km on the highway; 6.3l/100 km combined Transmission: Continuous Variable Cargo: 1,500 pounds payload capacity Towing: 2,000 to 4,000 pounds Price: $37,100 all-wheel drive
Auto Blog
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Walmart is selling a ‘user-friendly' $200 touchscreen car stereo for only $40, and it's the ‘perfect device'
Autoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. A touchscreen car stereo and backup camera are standard these days, and they allow you to control your music more easily, use navigation and other apps, and park effortlessly. If your current vehicle doesn't have one, it can feel like you're falling behind the times. With the Pentantan 7-Inch Touchscreen Car Stereo, you can bring the latest tech to any ride, and for a limited time this $200 device is on sale for just $40 at Walmart. Installing a new stereo has never been so affordable and easy. Pentantan 7-Inch Touchscreen Car Stereo, $40 (was $200) at Walmart The Tentantan 7-Inch Touchscreen Car Stereo allows for hands-free connectivity via Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. It is equipped with Google Assistant and works with an array of essential apps and navigation tools, allowing you to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Its 1080P full high definition display is highly responsive to touch commands and presents crisp lines and vivid colors. Its backup camera provides a clear 170-degree view, even at night, and the camera itself is waterproof so you don't have to worry about damage. On top of all that, it's easy to install, attaching to the dash or windshield via suction. Buyers have been impressed by this 'super cool' stereo, saying the 'sleek' unit is 'easy to install,' 'user-friendly,' and praising its 'reliable camera.' 'Perfect device,' wrote another reviewer. 'I've always envied my wife's CarPlay feature in her car, but I was also ambivalent about it. I tried various apps to simulate the CarPlay experience until I found a device that allowed me to install CarPlay in my old truck at a lower price. Now I'm totally in love with it. It's easy to operate, functional, and wireless. You can't ask for more.' As one buyer put it, the stereo 'offers everything I need for a modern driving experience.' For a limited time, the Tentantan 7-Inch Touchscreen Car Stereo is on sale at Walmart for a whopping 80% off, dropping the price from $200 to just $40. If you need to upgrade your stereo, that's too good a deal to pass up. About the Author Nick Hilden View Profile
The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Former Jaguar design chief launches A$160,000 Mini restomod
Ian Callum, the design chief of Jaguar until 2019, has teamed up with coachbuilders Wood & Pickett for a Mini restomod. Based on the Mk5 Mini Sportspack built from 1997 until the original car's demise in 2001, the restomod includes wide Wood & Pickett wheel arches, and new side sills. The front and rear valences under the bumpers have been redesigned for improved cooling. Both the head- and tail-lights have been upgraded to LED units, with new graphics at both ends. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Under the bonnet lives a thoroughly reworked four-cylinder engine that's grown from 1.275L to 1.31L. The increase in volume, as well as new performance cylinder heads, a unique exhaust system with two upswept tips, and revised twin-point fuel injection system boosts output to 82kW. The car rides on a new suspension kit and Ian Callum-designed 13-inch alloy wheels. Up front there's an upgraded braking package featuring 213mm grooved and ventilated discs, while the rear remains a drum-only setup. Inside there's a new dashboard that's inspired by Wood & Pickett's "Margrave" interior, and includes metal bezels for the dials and vents, piano key switches, an entertainment system that supports Apple CarPlay, and a pair of cupholders ahead of the gearshift. Other changes include new front seats, and a rebuilt and retrimmed rear bench. Extra soundproofing has been installed, as has new high quality carpet, and electric windows. The Wood and Pickett Mini by Callum has a starting price of £75,000 (A$157,500), with each car hand built and personalised to the buyer's specifications. There will be a limited production run, although no number has been specified. The brown car seen here is the first production car, and belongs to British model David Gandy. Wood & Pickett is a coachbuilder and car modification company that dates back to 1947, and made a name for itself in the 1960s for its work on the original Mini. Ian Callum was head of design for Jaguar from 1999 to 2019 when he quit to start his own automotive design consultancy. MORE: Everything Mini Content originally sourced from: Ian Callum, the design chief of Jaguar until 2019, has teamed up with coachbuilders Wood & Pickett for a Mini restomod. Based on the Mk5 Mini Sportspack built from 1997 until the original car's demise in 2001, the restomod includes wide Wood & Pickett wheel arches, and new side sills. The front and rear valences under the bumpers have been redesigned for improved cooling. Both the head- and tail-lights have been upgraded to LED units, with new graphics at both ends. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Under the bonnet lives a thoroughly reworked four-cylinder engine that's grown from 1.275L to 1.31L. The increase in volume, as well as new performance cylinder heads, a unique exhaust system with two upswept tips, and revised twin-point fuel injection system boosts output to 82kW. The car rides on a new suspension kit and Ian Callum-designed 13-inch alloy wheels. Up front there's an upgraded braking package featuring 213mm grooved and ventilated discs, while the rear remains a drum-only setup. Inside there's a new dashboard that's inspired by Wood & Pickett's "Margrave" interior, and includes metal bezels for the dials and vents, piano key switches, an entertainment system that supports Apple CarPlay, and a pair of cupholders ahead of the gearshift. Other changes include new front seats, and a rebuilt and retrimmed rear bench. Extra soundproofing has been installed, as has new high quality carpet, and electric windows. The Wood and Pickett Mini by Callum has a starting price of £75,000 (A$157,500), with each car hand built and personalised to the buyer's specifications. There will be a limited production run, although no number has been specified. The brown car seen here is the first production car, and belongs to British model David Gandy. Wood & Pickett is a coachbuilder and car modification company that dates back to 1947, and made a name for itself in the 1960s for its work on the original Mini. Ian Callum was head of design for Jaguar from 1999 to 2019 when he quit to start his own automotive design consultancy. MORE: Everything Mini Content originally sourced from: Ian Callum, the design chief of Jaguar until 2019, has teamed up with coachbuilders Wood & Pickett for a Mini restomod. Based on the Mk5 Mini Sportspack built from 1997 until the original car's demise in 2001, the restomod includes wide Wood & Pickett wheel arches, and new side sills. The front and rear valences under the bumpers have been redesigned for improved cooling. Both the head- and tail-lights have been upgraded to LED units, with new graphics at both ends. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Under the bonnet lives a thoroughly reworked four-cylinder engine that's grown from 1.275L to 1.31L. The increase in volume, as well as new performance cylinder heads, a unique exhaust system with two upswept tips, and revised twin-point fuel injection system boosts output to 82kW. The car rides on a new suspension kit and Ian Callum-designed 13-inch alloy wheels. Up front there's an upgraded braking package featuring 213mm grooved and ventilated discs, while the rear remains a drum-only setup. Inside there's a new dashboard that's inspired by Wood & Pickett's "Margrave" interior, and includes metal bezels for the dials and vents, piano key switches, an entertainment system that supports Apple CarPlay, and a pair of cupholders ahead of the gearshift. Other changes include new front seats, and a rebuilt and retrimmed rear bench. Extra soundproofing has been installed, as has new high quality carpet, and electric windows. The Wood and Pickett Mini by Callum has a starting price of £75,000 (A$157,500), with each car hand built and personalised to the buyer's specifications. There will be a limited production run, although no number has been specified. The brown car seen here is the first production car, and belongs to British model David Gandy. Wood & Pickett is a coachbuilder and car modification company that dates back to 1947, and made a name for itself in the 1960s for its work on the original Mini. Ian Callum was head of design for Jaguar from 1999 to 2019 when he quit to start his own automotive design consultancy. MORE: Everything Mini Content originally sourced from: Ian Callum, the design chief of Jaguar until 2019, has teamed up with coachbuilders Wood & Pickett for a Mini restomod. Based on the Mk5 Mini Sportspack built from 1997 until the original car's demise in 2001, the restomod includes wide Wood & Pickett wheel arches, and new side sills. The front and rear valences under the bumpers have been redesigned for improved cooling. Both the head- and tail-lights have been upgraded to LED units, with new graphics at both ends. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Under the bonnet lives a thoroughly reworked four-cylinder engine that's grown from 1.275L to 1.31L. The increase in volume, as well as new performance cylinder heads, a unique exhaust system with two upswept tips, and revised twin-point fuel injection system boosts output to 82kW. The car rides on a new suspension kit and Ian Callum-designed 13-inch alloy wheels. Up front there's an upgraded braking package featuring 213mm grooved and ventilated discs, while the rear remains a drum-only setup. Inside there's a new dashboard that's inspired by Wood & Pickett's "Margrave" interior, and includes metal bezels for the dials and vents, piano key switches, an entertainment system that supports Apple CarPlay, and a pair of cupholders ahead of the gearshift. Other changes include new front seats, and a rebuilt and retrimmed rear bench. Extra soundproofing has been installed, as has new high quality carpet, and electric windows. The Wood and Pickett Mini by Callum has a starting price of £75,000 (A$157,500), with each car hand built and personalised to the buyer's specifications. There will be a limited production run, although no number has been specified. The brown car seen here is the first production car, and belongs to British model David Gandy. Wood & Pickett is a coachbuilder and car modification company that dates back to 1947, and made a name for itself in the 1960s for its work on the original Mini. Ian Callum was head of design for Jaguar from 1999 to 2019 when he quit to start his own automotive design consultancy. MORE: Everything Mini Content originally sourced from:
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- USA Today
Apple CarPlay Ultra faces automaker backlash over data and dashboard control
Apple CarPlay phone integration has become indispensable for millions of drivers, and the tech giant is hoping that CarPlay Ultra, which expands CarPlay's territory from the touchscreen to the car's instrument cluster and allows control over core functions like air conditioning, will become its next big thing. Initially it was looking that way, with Apple touting a list of over a dozen automakers that had signed up to include the Ultra software on their cars. Now that the system is finally rolling out to customers, there are reports that automakers are balking at CarPlay Ultra and opting to stick with the standard version instead. We suspected this would be a problem, and a report by Financial Times confirms it: automakers don't want to give up the creative control to design and implement infotainment features on their own, nor are eager to give a third-party — Apple — valuable data on both its customers driving habits and its vehicle systems integrations. One unnamed executive at Renault (one of the automakers touted by Apple as featuring CarPlay Ultra) is said by FT to have told Apple, 'Don't try to invade our own systems.' In case you missed it: The coolest, most useful Apple CarPlay Ultra features Of the 18 automakers that had previously been linked to Apple CarPlay, FT reports that Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Polestar and Renault are opting out of including the system on their future cars. Volvo confirmed to us FT's reporting, while Polestar said the brand had 'nothing to announce' with regards to its use of CarPlay Ultra. An Audi spokesperson went further, telling us, 'While we continue to offer traditional CarPlay on our vehicles, we have chosen not to integrate Apple CarPlay Ultra into our current portfolio of cars as we have just introduced our all-new MMI interface in our latest models: the Q6 e-tron, A5, Q5 and A6 e-tron model lines.' Both Volvo and Polestar have also heavily invested in their own infotainment systems. Apple CarPlay iOS 26 update: New widgets, live actions and 'Liquid Glass' design The other automakers who had been linked to CarPlay Ultra are Acura, Aston Martin, Ford, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Kia, Land Rover, Lincoln, Nissan and Porsche. We reached out to each of them for comment on their CarPlay Ultra and general infotainment plans. Ford, Lincoln, Acura, Jaguar and Land Rover spokespeople told us that their respective brands did not have any comment on the matter. The Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Hyundai, Kia and Genesis told us that all three brands still intend to introduce Apple CarPlay Ultra in the future. Honda, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Porsche did not have any official comment as of press time. Porsche has told FT it still planned on supporting CarPlay Ultra in the future. Apple seems confident in CarPlay Ultra. A source familiar with the Cupertino company's thinking told us, "Automakers ultimately tend to do things that their customers love, and customers are going to love CarPlay Ultra." The tech giant is working closely with automakers to allay their concerns while also tailoring the system to feel bespoke to each manufacturer. The same source also told us that all "driving data is all handled by the car, and isn't shared with your iPhone." Questions about what data is collected and who can view it were unanswered. Tesla and Rivian currently don't offer CarPlay in any form on their vehicles, while GM is phasing it out in favor of a new operating system it built with Google. Aston Martin is the only automaker to offer CarPlay Ultra right now. In our review of the new system, we found the Apple gauges, climate and radio controls, and iPhone-like widgets to be among the system's best features. You can read our full review here.
Perth Now
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Former Jaguar design chief launches A$160,000 Mini restomod
Ian Callum, the design chief of Jaguar until 2019, has teamed up with coachbuilders Wood & Pickett for a Mini restomod. Based on the Mk5 Mini Sportspack built from 1997 until the original car's demise in 2001, the restomod includes wide Wood & Pickett wheel arches, and new side sills. The front and rear valences under the bumpers have been redesigned for improved cooling. Both the head- and tail-lights have been upgraded to LED units, with new graphics at both ends. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Under the bonnet lives a thoroughly reworked four-cylinder engine that's grown from 1.275L to 1.31L. The increase in volume, as well as new performance cylinder heads, a unique exhaust system with two upswept tips, and revised twin-point fuel injection system boosts output to 82kW. The car rides on a new suspension kit and Ian Callum-designed 13-inch alloy wheels. Up front there's an upgraded braking package featuring 213mm grooved and ventilated discs, while the rear remains a drum-only setup. Inside there's a new dashboard that's inspired by Wood & Pickett's 'Margrave' interior, and includes metal bezels for the dials and vents, piano key switches, an entertainment system that supports Apple CarPlay, and a pair of cupholders ahead of the gearshift. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Other changes include new front seats, and a rebuilt and retrimmed rear bench. Extra soundproofing has been installed, as has new high quality carpet, and electric windows. The Wood and Pickett Mini by Callum has a starting price of £75,000 (A$157,500), with each car hand built and personalised to the buyer's specifications. There will be a limited production run, although no number has been specified. The brown car seen here is the first production car, and belongs to British model David Gandy. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Wood & Pickett is a coachbuilder and car modification company that dates back to 1947, and made a name for itself in the 1960s for its work on the original Mini. Ian Callum was head of design for Jaguar from 1999 to 2019 when he quit to start his own automotive design consultancy. MORE: Everything Mini
