Drive Wire: September 25, 2015
Prius upgrades, a record-breaking yacht, the new Ford F-250, a portable wind turbine, and rollin’ coal.
Transcript:
Hey guys, it’s Christina Thompson, and this is Drive Wire for Friday, September 25th…
Good news for Prius fans …who also love driving in the snow. Rumors are swirling that the 2016 model will have all-wheel-drive in some top trims. This celeb-friendly sedan has sold over 4 million units as a front wheel drive vehicle. The new drive train comes as big news for the Japanese behemoth, not such big news for the offroading community.
Billionaire Andrey Melnicheniko is making waves in the Russian oligarch yachting community with his newest purchase, a $400 million, Philippe Starck-designed sailboat that is a record shattering 468 feet long, houses 20 guests and 54 crew members. The white pearl has three masts and has four engines that generate 21,000 horsepower.
Pickup lovers rejoice. Ford has leaked specs for the 2017 F-250. This dearborn workhorse has an aluminum body with a high strength steel frame reported to be 24 times stronger than the current model. To compete in the increasingly tech-oriented auto landscape, the new F-250 will have seven cameras, collision sensor with brake assist, and lane departure warnings. Buyer can choose from one of three engines, a standard V8, a diesel V8 and a 6.8 liter V-10. Expect the 2017 F-250 to go on sale in late 2016.
It’s dark, my phone is dead and I’m lost in the wilderness. Oh no, Christina, whatever shall I do? Dude, relax. Unfold your Trinity Turbine Power Station and charge away. The lightweight space-age pinwheel can harness a gentle breeze and recharge your phone just in the knick of time. When you are done, fold it up and stuff it back in your backpack. For more information, check out Trinity’s Kickstarter page.
Troubled times for the car of the people. What do you get when you mix diesel-loving gearheads and Volkswagen? A compilation of people “rolling coal.” To lighten the mood and darken the skies, The Drive has compiled a smashcut of diesel VW’S engaged in this time-honored hillbilly tradition. Meanwhile, VW has announced a new CEO, Porsche’s Matthias Mueller.
That’s it for today’s edition of Drive Wire. Be sure to come back to thedrive.com for more and follow us @ the drive on all your favorite social media platforms.
