Author: Tabitha

Owners of minivans already know how useful the vehicles are for transporting people and cargo. Canada-based RoadLoft can extend that usage to include camping. The company’s conversion kits are specifically designed to fit a variety of minivans, including Dodge and Chrysler Grand Caravans, Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona and Carnival. Each removable kit comes with a high-density foam mattress, retractable sink with cutting board, five window curtains and various drawers for storage. Options include a refrigerator/freezer, foldable solar panel plus a separate lithium-ion battery. Pricing starts at Cdn $4,500 (about US $3,500). Get full details and…

Since COVID-19 arrived, many people aren’t driving as far or as frequently as they used to. The lack of vehicle use can lead to car batteries that aren’t sufficiently charged, which in turn can lead to shortened battery life and/or a dead battery. One solution is a 10-watt solar trickle charger from Eco-Worthy. The 1.5-pound unit attaches with suction cups to the inside of the windshield or the rear window. It can be plugged into a 12-volt socket or attached to the battery terminals using the supplied spring clamps. Eco-Worthy states the unit will generate power in temperatures from -40F…

The V-8 has twice the displacement of the four-cylinder and should prevail, but that’s not the only number that matters By JEFF MELNYCHUK www.wheelbasemedia.com No matter how good it is, a full-size pickup with a four-cylinder engine has an uphill climb ahead of it. “A four-cylinder?” Right off the bat, it has an image problem. The category is ruled by V-8 engines and numbers; the bigger the better for towing capacity, payload and horsepower and torque. That’s what the Detroit Three marketing departments have drilled into us for decades in their high-stakes battle of one-upmanship with each another. Knowing that,…

The automaker, which is part of the Stellantis group (which also owns Fiat, Dodge and Chrysler), has announced the 2023 Tonale. The compact hatchback’s conservative design is reflective of others bearing the Alfa badge, especially the larger Stelvio. Base and Ti trims get a 256-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The premium Veloce plug-in hybrid version comes with a turbo 1.3-liter four-cylinder that powers the front wheels, while a 90-kilowatt motor turns the rears. Total system output is rated at 272 horsepower. Alfa Romeo estimates the hybrid can run for up to 30 miles solely on electric power. A nine-speed automatic transmission…

The motorhome producer recently revealed the electric e-RV, which is expected to enter production soon. The basis for the model is Ford’s Transit van, into which Winnebago will install an electric motor (supplied by a third party) and a battery pack. The company claims up to 125 miles of range, while providing electric air conditioning, refrigeration and water heating systems. If that doesn’t sound like much range, it isn’t; Winnebago says that many RV-ers travel less than 200 miles to the next campsite. So, while some owners will be fine with this, others will have to fully recharge at least…

The brand that’s part of the Stellantis group recently added a lengthier Grand Cherokee, called the Grand Cherokee L, and of course there’s a longer version of the Jeep Wrangler called the Unlimited. For 2023, Jeep will introduce an extended version of the Compass that’s more than 14 inches longer to accommodate a third-row seat. The bigger Compass was recently announced for Jeep’s global markets, where it’s called the Commander. The Sleuth assumes it will also be available in North America. What is certain to arrive here is an extended-wheelbase version of the full-size Grand Wagoneer. The L model will…

A major concern regarding full-size pickups and utility vehicles is their fossil-fuel consumption. The third-generation eight-passenger Sequoia, which arrives for 2023, addresses this with a hybrid powertrain as standard. The system consists of a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 along with an electric motor that’s part of the Sequoia’s 10-speed automatic transmission. Output is rated at 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, compared with the previous 5.7-liter V-8 and its 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet. The new Sequoia’s fuel economy has been estimated at 22 mpg in combined city-highway driving, besting the V-8’s 15-mpg rating by nearly 50 percent. The added…

In Pickup Land, it seems the more unique the features that are offered, the more interest it creates from prospective buyers. Electric-pickup maker Rivian has patented a folding tailgate that splits vertically down the middle. Each section can be independently folded, accordion-style, creating an opening for transporting lengthier items. At Ford, a proposed power-operated tri-section tailgate for the F-150 pickup is comprised of two small outer sections plus a large center section between them. The entire tailgate could be lowered in traditional fashion or left in place with just the side-hinged center portion swinging open for load-floor accessibility. There’s no…

That rumor is beginning to take hold and could partially explain why the electric-vehicle maker has delayed the oddly shaped pickup’s arrival until the 2023 model year. Apparently, the full-size Cybertruck might be joined by a midsize variant that’s roughly 20 percent smaller overall and presumably less expensive. With mainstream automakers Ford and GM announcing full-size electric pickups arriving in the next few years, Tesla could get a jump on the competition with a smaller pickup. More details could be forthcoming sometime in March, when Tesla is expected to stage a product-launch event. Bear in mind that the Cybertruck was…

The HR-V has received essentially zero significant updates since its arrival for the 2016 model year, but that will soon change. The teaser image supplied by Honda suggests a much more expressive design. There’s likely to be a slight increase in size for improved passenger room and cargo space. The current 141-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine will likely be replaced with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that serves as the base engine for the Honda Civic. Naturally, all-wheel-drive will be available. The rugged TrailSport trim that was added to the larger Passport for 2022 is a also a probable addition to the HR-V…