Latest news with #Expeditions
Hamilton Spectator
28-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
This SUV gets pickup performance; it's capable, comfortable and … expensive
ORO STATION, ONT.—Take one racetrack under construction. Add a beautiful blue sky. Mix in a brand-new, full-size SUV specially tuned for off-road work and an enthusiastic road tester. And what do you get? A grand day! I'm at the site of what's soon to be the Oro Station Motor Circuit racetrack, near Lake Simcoe regional airport, about 90 minutes north of Toronto. The piles of soil and boulders here provide a great means to test the mettle of the all-new Ford Expedition Tremor. All Expedition trims have been re-engineered for 2025, but the Tremor is an all-new addition to the line. Every model comes with four-wheel-drive, three rows of seating and an all-new, split rear tailgate. Just the upper part can be open. The lower portion stays closed to keep things in place. The front centre storage bin slides rearward under power to reveal an additional, eight-inch, storage tray. Tremor-spec., hitherto available only on Ford pickups, provides: knobby 33-inch, General Grabber, all-terrain tires; 10.6-inch of ground clearance; tow hooks; and a grille design with additional auxiliary lights and underbody protection. 'Electric Spice' accents around the front air intakes, on the tow hooks, and, even on the wheels, are eye-catching, but functional; the yellow on the wheel spokes surrounds the tire's valve stem so it can be located more easily when caked in mud or snow. The Tremor is about more than just looking the part of a tough off-roader; it's meant to be used as such. Hence the underbody skid plates that protect the radiator, gas tank and more. Hence the added ride height, the addition of a Rock Crawl drive mode and the fact that it comes available only with the more powerful version of the 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 all Expeditions get. It produces 440 horsepower and 510 pounds-feet of torque, fed to all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission. There's an electronic locking rear differential for even more off-road ability. With Rock Crawl drive mode activated, I traverse basketball-sized rocks embedded in the dirt below. Even with the girth associated of a full-size SUV, it gamely clambers through the obstacles, with only a few strikes of the skid plate below. The truck can handle all the throttle and braking duties through the Trail Assist feature that acts as a form of off-road cruise control. All the driver has to do is steer, a task helped by another piece of tech: a camera facing forward and down with onscreen indicators that show each wheel's expected path. That makes it much easier to avoid certain obstacles, once you get used to looking at the 13.2-inch screen below. Every Expedition gets a digital speedometer. The 24-inch display also contains the fuel gauge, Google Maps and blind-spot camera display. It's neat. But you have to look at it and use buttons mounted on the oval-shaped steering wheel — I will say this provides a clearer view of both the instruments and the road ahead — to adjust the wheel and the pedals. It just doesn't feel as natural as a button or lever mounted on the column. If you'd rather not worry about using the steering wheel at all, you can do that as well — to a degree. The Tremor is equipped with Ford BlueCruise, which enables you to drive for extended periods without ever having to put your hands on the wheel, or your feet on the pedals. It doesn't work on all roads, but on the highway I was on, it was aces, even adjusting when the road lost a lane in a construction zone. It kept a perfect distance from the vehicle ahead and kept me dead-centre in the lane. It will even change lanes for you; simply nudge the turn indicator stalk, and, when safe, it will change lanes to pass. Space and creature comforts inside keep occupants happy. For better visibility, the second-row seats get a higher mount than the first, and the third row sits even higher still. It can accommodate three kids comfortably — there are child seat latches — and two adults should have no problem getting comfortable back there. They get USB-C ports and cupholders as well as their own ceiling-mounted climate vents to keep them comfortable on longer journeys. If you want to pitch up at a backcountry campsite, certain features make it a glamping-like affair. These include a trunk-mounted folding picnic table, extra interior lights, USB-C ports and a 400W power outlet. Even with the knobbier tires, the Tremor provides a smooth ride on normal roads and with all the other interior accoutrements, it makes for a perfect long-distance travel companion. At more than one 100 grand before delivery, it won't be a massive seller. But it's a hugely capable three-row SUV. Back on the dusty obstacle course, I try to unseat the Tremor, but there really is nothing that can stop it. Off-camber soft dirt? No problem. Steep climbs that would make a mountain goat think twice? Aces. How about a set of fallen logs? Hard to traverse smoothly, but that was likely because of my lack of skill. But the logs were dispatched. If the Tremor can handle all this, a forestry road to a backcountry campsite shouldn't be a problem, even in bad weather. Type: Five-door, full-size SUV; four-wheel-drive Engine: Twin-turbocharged V6; 440 horsepower; 510 pounds-feet of torque (motive force) Fuel: 15.4 litres/100 km in the city; 10.7l/100 km on the highway; 13.3l/100 km combined Transmission: Ten-speed automatic Cargo: 3,072 litres or 108.5 cubic feet behind first row; 1,979l or 69.9 cu. ft. behind second row; 648l or 22.9 cu. ft. behind third row Towing: 4,218 kilograms, or 9,300 pounds, as equipped Price: $103,470, as tested
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
LEGO Fortnite Expeditions set to launch with hero classes and new adventures
Image via Epic Games Epic Games has officially teased the upcoming mode, which introduces a new layer of gameplay through 'Hero Classes.' The first of these, Shadow Caller, has already been unveiled, and early speculation suggests the class will feature enhanced mobility and mystical abilities. Interestingly, the character resembles Morgan Myst, hinting at the crossover potential Epic is known for. 'Shadow Caller is the first of three Hero Classes coming with Expeditions. Switch between them for a different gameplay experience and level them up as you play,' Epic said in an official post. While details remain limited, the new mode is expected to offer progression-based gameplay where each Hero Class will provide a distinct play style. Whether that translates to specific roles, similar to RPG-style party dynamics - or simply alternate mechanics remains unclear. However, fans are already drawing comparisons to Fortnite's Hero Items from Chapter 6 Season 3 and speculating that the experience may adopt elements from RPGs or even roguelites. LEGO Fortnite 's expanding universe LEGO Fortnite has seen rapid evolution since its initial debut in December 2023. Starting as a survival crafting experience, the game mode quickly became a fan favourite. The addition of LEGO Fortnite Brick Life brought life-sim elements to the table, including the recent inclusion of AI NPCs like Noir and Slurp Leviathan, who interact dynamically based on player actions. With Expeditions on the horizon, Epic continues to double down on LEGO Fortnite's appeal, especially among younger audiences and creative builders. On June 17, just a day before Expeditions launches, the LEGO Brick Editor will also be integrated into the Unreal Editor in Fortnite. This will give players access to 50 LEGO Bricks in 42 colours, allowing even more customisation within the metaverse. More details about the remaining two Hero Classes are expected soon, with speculation hinting at melee and ranged specialists. Some fans believe these may draw inspiration from existing Fortnite characters, while others hope for original LEGO-style heroes. Epic's history of unexpected crossovers leaves the door wide open. Players are also curious about how these Hero Classes will evolve during gameplay. Could we see RPG-style progression, skill upgrades, or team-based mechanics? While nothing has been confirmed, the potential for deeper engagement is promising. With Expeditions launching on June 18, Epic Games appears ready to expand LEGO Fortnite into something much larger. As class-based combat, storytelling, and creative tools come together, players can expect a richer, more layered experience moving forward. LEGO Fortnite Expeditions will be free to play across all major platforms including Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Also Read: Fortnite leak hints at big changes: Weapon mastery, ranked shops, and more in the pipeline
Telegraph
15-06-2025
- Telegraph
The new regulations threatening Arctic cruises
When our waiter pointed through the restaurant window and exclaimed 'polar bear', I could swear the MS Spitsbergen listed, such was the rush to starboard. I was on a cruise up the coastline of western Svalbard, and we all wanted to see one. Yet this distant 'bear' sighting turned out to be a plump, white-coated reindeer – and the queue for omelettes soon reformed. How close we would actually get to one during Hurtigruten Expeditions' first 'Return of the Sun' voyage of the season, as winter's sea-ice cracked apart, was, however, another matter. That's because strict new conservation regulations governing how to see polar bears in Svalbard have just come into effect. The Norwegian government's new regulations mean ships cannot carry more than 200 passengers (we were 98), sites deemed fragile have been closed to landings, and there is firm guidance on not disturbing or pursuing polar bears. Which all seems sensible. What has caused some uproar is a diktat that between March 1 and June 30 (a period when females have young cubs) the closest distance a ship can view polar bears from is 500 metres. This drops to 300 metres for the rest of the year. One local Norwegian small-ship operator irately told me it would be the death of Svalbard cruising as even with powerful cameras and binoculars sightings would be too distant. He also showed me a recent video posted online of a scientific research helicopter harassing a polar bear with cubs. 'No cruise ship ever behaved so badly to the bears – it's a different rule for them,' he said. Still, I was optimistic – perhaps due to the serotonin overdose of midnight sun that blazed all night through my cabin window as we traversed a snowbound coastline of Toblerone-shaped mountains and glistening glaciers. Maybe I'd roll up my blackout blind to see a bear bobbing shipside on a piece of ice floe? Although if I did, the new regulations would require the ship to withdraw immediately to 500 metres away. Monica Votvik, the ship's Norwegian expedition leader, laughed: 'We don't tend to get those National Geographic encounters'. She was uncertain as to whether the regulation's rationale was conservation or to control tourism. 'I have been up around Svalbard for 15 years and had a lot of bear encounters and never once seen our operation disturb them. Mostly the bears are unbothered by our presence,' she added. Their population, she said, has been stable and last year's bears were fat with big bellies. Around 300 inhabit Svalbard, part of the Barents Sea population of 3,000, which roam across the ice eastwards to Russia's Franz Joseph Land. Since 1973 it has been illegal to hunt them here. An estimated 28,000 were killed during the century prior to the ban. Polar bears are not the sole focus of Svalbard voyages, Monica insisted. 'We don't call these wildlife cruises. It's about being in nature, among the glaciers and mountains,' she said. And she was right. During landings by zodiac dinghies we saw hauled-out walruses at Smeerenburg, squeezed together on a beach, some flat on their voluminous backs with ivory tusks pointing skywards. At Calypsobyen, the thwarted ambition is palpable of the abandoned workings of the British Northern Exploration Company's failed attempt at coal-mining between 1918-20. At Gravnesodden, the souls within the 17th-century graves of English, Dutch, and Basque whalers felt present in wavy murmurations of little auks overhead. One night a minke whale arched beyond the ship's bow. The perpetual soundtrack was barnacle geese migrating here in their thousands. Our polar bear moment arrived in the majestic snowbound Raudfjörden. At around 9pm, after a Norwegian seafood buffet, we crowded on Spitsbergen's bow when two bears had been spotted from the bridge. We edged closer, still well outside the new limit, but were halted by impenetrable ice, imprinted by a bear's heavy paw prints. I could make out the bears through binoculars virtually motionless staring at each other. They were pinpricks on the horizon, but this felt an authentically real way to experience their free-roaming lifestyles in the context of this immense Arctic wilderness. 'These distant sightings are the norm,' said Monica's assistant, Joshua van der Groen. 'If we saw them on the shoreline like this we would never land but previously would've launched the zodiacs to get closer whilst maintaining a respectful difference,' he said. The remote bear sighting however didn't worry fellow passengers, Ian and Jackie Ross, from Skye. 'We hadn't heard about the regulations before booking but they wouldn't have put us off,' they said. 'We didn't expect to see bears but came for nature and scenery. Any wildlife has been a bonus'. There is a suggestion that operators will sail beyond Svalbard's territorial waters, 12 miles out, to where the new regulations have no authority. It was in that zone, beyond 80°N, we saw one of Europe's most sublime spectacles: the southern edge of the polar ice front. Ahead of us was a white barrier that spanned the entire horizon. It was 600 nautical miles from there to the North Pole. Across its expanse polar bears can roam all the way to Russian islands. 'It will be interesting to see if ships do come here looking for bears, although you'd be very unlikely to see them due to the ice's extent,' said Joshua. Only early-season spring voyages are likely to sail to this ice-front because in summer it retreats. 'That would mean ships using a lot more fuel to reach it and more sea days, which would mean less landings, which guests enjoy,' he said. The biggest threat polar bears face is the retreat of Arctic sea ice – this winter's extent was the lowest on record – which undermines their ability to hunt seals on the ice floe. These new cruise regulations will therefore make little difference to wider efforts to conserve polar bears, but nor, thankfully, do they significantly diminish the experience of witnessing wild and magnificent Svalbard. Mark Stratton was a guest of Hurtigruten Expeditions. Its voyage costs from £5,540 per person including regional flights and hotel accommodation.
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Ford F-150, Broncos among over 280,000 vehicles recalled: Check car recalls here
Ford F-150, Broncos among over 280,000 vehicles recalled: Check car recalls here Show Caption Hide Caption Car recalls: Why they happen and what buyers should know Why do car recalls happen? Here's what to know if your car has an open recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued multiple recalls last week, including notices for over 270,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Are you looking to see if any recalls were issued on your vehicle? If the car isn't listed below, owners can check USA TODAY's automotive recall database or search NHTSA's database for new recalls. The NHTSA website allows you to search for recalls based on your vehicle identification number, or VIN. Here's what you need to know about the vehicle recalls published by NHTSA from May 12 to May 18. Expeditions, Navigators recalled for faulty brake line Ford Motor Company recalled certain 2022-2024 Ford Expeditions and 2022-2024 Lincoln Navigators as they may have leaking brake lines. The front brake lines in the recalled vehicles may contact the engine air cleaner outlet pipe and become damaged, according to the NHTSA. Ford said in the recall announcement that the front brake line may have been bent during the engine installation process at Ford's final assembly plant. Dealers are to inspect the front brake line and replace the brake line or air cleaner outlet pipe, as necessary, for free. Owner notification letters are to be mailed May 26. Affected vehicles: 273,789 Ford recalls F-150s for loose fasteners Ford also recalled certain 2025 F-150 vehicles as they may have loose fasteners that may result in a loss of steering control. The lower intermediate shaft fasteners may be improperly attached to the steering gear, allowing the shaft to come loose or detach. Dealers are to inspect and replace the lower intermediate shaft fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are to be mailed May 26. Affected vehicles: 9,181 Broncos recalled for child safety lock malfunction Ford recalled certain 2024 Bronco vehicles as they may have a child safety lock that allows a rear door to be opened unintentionally. The left-side rear door in the recalled vehicles may be opened from the inside of the vehicle when the child safety lock is in the "ON" position, according to the NHTSA. Dealers are to inspect the child safety locks and replace the rear door latch, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 26. Affected vehicles:2,002 Contributing: Saleen Martin, USA TODAY.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford to Recall More Than 273K SUVs Over Potential Brake Defect
Ford Motor Company F is set to recall 273,789 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs from model years 2022 to 2024 due to a potential brake defect, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The issue stems from the front brake lines possibly coming into contact with the engine air cleaner outlet pipe, which could damage the lines and cause a fluid leak. A brake fluid leak may lead to longer brake pedal travel and a reduction in the rate of deceleration. A sudden loss or complete depletion of brake fluid can increase the distance needed to bring the vehicle to a stop, increasing the likelihood of a collision. The problem may have originated from the front brake line being bent during affected vehicles were produced between April 15, 2021, and Nov. 20, 2024. Only about 1% of the recalled SUVs are expected to have this issue and haven't led to any crashes or injuries. Owners of recalled vehicles are advised to bring their SUVs to a Ford or Lincoln dealership for inspection. If needed, the front brake line and/or air cleaner outlet pipe will be replaced at no cost to the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator have been key models in Ford's lineup since their introduction in the late 1990s. Last year, Ford sold more than 78,000 Expeditions and 15,000 Navigators in the United States. F carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks Waymo LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. GOOGL, is recalling 1,212 autonomous vehicles to address software issues that could cause them to collide with road barriers, such as chains and gates. Waymo operates more than 1,500 vehicles across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin, providing over 250,000 fully autonomous paid rides each week. The company also has plans to expand its services to Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, this month, Volvo VLVLY issued a recall affecting 413,151 U.S. vehicles, including 2021–2025 XC40 models, due to a malfunctioning rearview camera system. Volvo will fix the issue through a software update either at dealerships or via over-the-air installation. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ford Motor Company (F) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report AB Volvo (VLVLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
