When we see a red light in the distance, we usually let up on the gas. We try to “time it just right,” so we don’t stop. Sometimes we get lucky, and we can keep moving as the light turns green. But sometimes, we still get stuck at the light (and worse if it’s only for a few seconds!).
Imagine if your vehicle could tell you how long before a light changes color. What if your car gave you a recommended speed to drive when you see a red light, so you were more likely to arrive at the intersection when it turns green.
This is the idea behind the Audi Traffic Light Information system. It “talks” to traffic lights! More than 600 intersections in Washington DC currently support the feature, but it has caught on in other cities too.
This short video from our sister publication AutoVision News provides a brief history of the Audi Traffic Light Information system and explains how it works.
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is the PHEV variant of the popular SUV.
Two trim levels are available along with several optional packages.
Expect the Toyota RAV4 Prime in dealerships later this summer.
Toyota recently shared more information about the 2021 RAV4 Prime, the RAV4’s first-ever plug-in model. Unveiled at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota bills the RAV4 Prime as a performance-minded rendition of their SUV line. Also, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime serves as a further extension of the company’s hybrid platforms.
However, before striking out for your local Toyota dealership, what should you, as the consumer, know about the all-new RAV4 Prime? And what does this reimagination of the standard RAV4 offer to the SUV’s overall driving experience? Let’s take a look.
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime At a Glance
Toyota touts the RAV4 Prime as being their quickest to date, offering a maximum output of 300 horsepower. The RAV4 Prime, according to Toyota, can complete a zero to 60 mph pull in just shy of six seconds. Also standard is Toyota’s Electronic On-Demand AWD; however, the capabilities do not end with speed and agility.
According to Toyota, the plug-in RAV4 Prime can travel about 42 miles on a single battery charge and is capable of achieving a manufacturer estimated 94 combined MPGe.
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
SE Standard Features
The SE seeks to provide consumers with a sporty yet classy driving experience. Exterior features include 18-inch painted and machined alloy wheels, piano black exterior accents, a custom grille, and a front lower spoiler. A power back door is also included for convenience when loading cargo.
The vehicle’s list of standard interior features is quite extensive and should be well received by most consumers. The Rav4 Prime’s cabin has heated front seats, with the driver seat featuring eight-way power and additional lumbar support.
Also included in all SE vehicles is a seven-inch multi-information display, in addition to a prominent, eight-inch touchscreen audio interface. Audio connectivity options include Amazon Alexa, as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You can also charge your device with the 3 kW onboard charger.
The available Weather & Moonroof Package ($1,665) adds a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, and rain-sensing windshield wipers with de-icer function.
Starting MSRP for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime SE is $38,100.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
XSE Standard Features
The XSE builds upon the sporty influence and tech features found in the SE above. All XSE models have an available two-tone exterior paint scheme that pairs a black roof with select base colors. For the RAV4 Prime’s inaugural year, Supersonic Red will be added to the color palette and will be available with the black roof.
All XSE models come standard with several interior amenities, embodying both comfort and functionality. The presence of ambient interior lighting, SofTex-trimmed seat surfaces, and a moonroof provide consumers with a sense of luxury. Meanwhile, such functional features as paddle shifters and an auto-dimming rearview mirror complement the overall driving experience.
Also standard is Toyota’s interactive Audio Plus system, which employs a nine-inch touchscreen interface, and a JBL speaker package.
Starting MSRP for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE is $41,425.
XSE Available Options
Weather Package ($815)
Heated Steering Wheel
Heated Rear Outboard Seats
Rain Sensing Wipers w/Wiper De-Icer
Weather and Audio Package ($2,435)
Weather package plus:
JBL Premium Audio
Dynamic Navigation with 3 year trial
Destination Assist with 1 year trial
Weather with Audio and Premium Package ($5,760)
Weather and Audio package plus:
AC (6.6kW) Enhanced Charger
Digital Rearview Mirror
120V/1500W AC power outlet in cargo area
Panoramic Moonroof
Kick-Type Power Back Door
SofTex®-trimmed seats with sporty red accents and stitching
Bird’s Eye View Camera
4-way power adjustable front passenger seat with seatback pocket
Smart Key System on all doors
Perforated Heated & Ventilated Front Seats
Parking Assist with Automatic Braking
Adaptive Front Headlight System
Head-Up Display
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Safety Comes Standard
Toyota has never shied away from placing vehicle safety on a pedestal. This remains true for the RAV4 Prime, as Toyota Safety Sense is offered as standard operating equipment. This package includes such features as Pre-Collision Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, and Lane Tracing Assist.
Though only time will tell, it seems highly probable consumers will find favor with the new RAV4 Prime. With a list of user-friendly amenities and some notable performance upgrades, there is a lot to love about the RAV4 Prime. Upon its summer 2020 release, it seems the RAV4 Prime is poised to join Toyota’s ever-growing list of highly practical hybrid vehicles.
Josh Boyd is an ASE Certified technician with over a decade of experience in automotive repair. When not under the hood, he can be found in the woods or on the water, pursuing his other passions of hunting and fishing.
Deliveries of the 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 are underway to retailers and customers in the United States. Every U.S. retailer is due to receive an initial supply of vehicles. Land Rover says dealerships will begin contacting customers who want to see the new Defender and will work with current social distancing guidelines.
“In the coming months, we will ramp up availability as global circumstances allow,” said Joe Eberhardt, Jaguar Land Rover North America President and CEO. “We want to thank all those customers, enthusiasts, retailers, employees, and logistics partners for their enthusiasm and commitment to making this a reality.”
Warm & Welcome Return
The 2020 Land Rover Defender and its return to the U.S. are exciting for the storied marque’s fans. The Defender was last available in the United States in 1997. Rugged and capable, the Defender attracted the attention of designer and famous car collector Ralph Lauren. While every Defender then was white, Lauren used his clout to have Land Rover paint his black.
“After too long of an absence, the Land Rover Defender is once again here in the U.S.,” Eberhardt added. “The automotive landscape is certainly brighter with the new Defender in our showrooms, driveways, and roads.”
Despite the arrival of the 2020 Defender, demand for classic models is still at an all-time high. With a limited supply and continued demand, collectors often look overseas and will have something shipped. If you are thinking about importing a classic Defender, this free guide will help answer some of the questions you may have.
2020 Land Rover Defender. Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.
2020 Land Rover Defender: Engine Options
The 2020 Defender comes in two flavors: P300 and P400. Under the hood of the P300 is a 2.0-liter turbo with 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque. By contrast, the P400 comes with a 3.0-liter inline-six with a mild hybrid system. Along with a turbo and supercharger, the 3.0-liter plant delivers 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft. of torque.
An all-aluminum D7x architecture supports the Defender 90 and 110. Land Rover says the new platform is their stiffest to date and three times more rigid than traditional body-on-frame designs. The D7x architecture houses the Defender’s independent suspension, twin-speed transfer box, and permanent 4×4 system. The Configurable Terrain Response feature further enhances off-road capability.
On the inside, drivers will find Land Rover’s new Pivi Pro3 infotainment system. The 10-inch touchscreen houses Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and supports over-the-air updates.
Additional Accessories & Pricing
Owners can customize their Defender via four Accessory Packs: Explorer, Adventure, Country, and Urban. Another 170 individual accessories are available à la carte.
The 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 starts at $49,900.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association and the Society of Automotive Historians. He serves on the board of directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, is a past president of Detroit Working Writers, and a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
Like many accomplished customizers, Martin Becker has lived an eventful life. For almost twenty years he’s been building bikes in the beautiful ancient city of Heidelberg—and petrol has been coursing through his veins since he got his first moped at the age of 13.
At 16, he started an apprenticeship as a motorbike mechanic, but his love affair with two wheels was interrupted by travels through India, Burma, Nepal and Thailand.
Martin rode through south India for weeks on a rented 500cc Bullet. On a trip to Rajasthan, he met some locals with custom Royal Enfields, and his custom building journey began.
He bought two Bullets, rebuilt them, and sent them to Germany.
By 2007 he’d caught the eye of the influential German magazine Custombike and these days he focuses on V-twins, mostly with old rigid frames. The TÜV restrictions in Germany are getting more draconian year-by-year, and old Harley frames—or aftermarket replicas from Santee or VG—give him extra liberty.
The story behind this classy S&S-powered shovelhead is just as interesting. It has an original 1955 ‘straight leg’ FL frame, to keep it road legal, but just about everything else has been modified.
‘Dr Skin’ belongs to dermatologist Dr. Andreas Schlegel, who admired an S&S-powered hardtail that Martin had built for a mutual friend. He wanted something similar, but a little skinnier and with a more classic look.
Martin already had the Panhead frame in his shop, and started figuring out what parts to fit. He quickly agreed on a style with Andreas: “We decided to make it classy, with black and white lines. To be honest, I was never a big fan of ‘colorful’ motorbikes.”
Power now comes from a new 93ci S&S Shovelhead motor, which pumps out 75 hp. S&S also supplied the Super E carb, the Teardrop air intake, and the ignition and coils. Handmade header pipes feed into SC-Project mufflers, and the oil tank is handmade too.
The gearbox is an S&S 5-in-4 transmission case, assembled with Andrews gears. Designed for 4-speed Big Twin frames, the case is only compatible with chain drive—but Martin has fitted a 2” ‘Shorty’ open belt drive primary from BDL. This works with an electric start—and encloses the tiny lithium battery. There’s also a BDL hydraulic clutch to keep the drivetrain operating smoothly.
Martin’s hooked up a set of Sportster forks at the front, shortening them by two inches and adding an extra three degrees of rake. They’re hooked up to Sportster bars via Biltwell risers, and are graced with hand controls from KustomTech.
The stance is absolutely spot-on, helped by a 21-inch front wheel and an 18-inch rear rim. Braking is very solid indeed, with a four-piston Performance Machine setup on the front wheel and a two-piston disc at the back. The rubber is classic Heidenau, for more of a vintage vibe.
If you’ve figured out where the gas tank is from, you’ve got better eyes than us: it’s been lifted off an old NSU bike. The lovely rear fender is from Cooper Smithing Co. in the States, and the classy black paint was handled by Chikos Pinstriping. The frame has been cleaned up and powdercoated to match by Metal Skin Works, and it’s topped off with an MB Cycles seat.
Andreas requested an unorthodox touch to finish off his bike: a compact trunk on the left side to house essentials such as a bottle of whisky, cigars and a lighter. So Martin located a suitable case from an old Moto Guzzi police bike and adapted it to fit.
“It was a very cool job and it also ended up in friendship,” Martin reports. “A few times, Andy brought his ‘tools’ when he visited me in my shop—and took some of my blood to check my condition, or cut out some birthmarks!”
For Martin’s sake, we’re just really glad he didn’t make any mistakes while building the bike …
