The automotive business got here into 2021 making an attempt to beat out some extraordinarily powerful odds, not least of which being a choked provide chain. It could appear stunning, then, simply how actually revolutionary the 12 months ended up. If you’re a fan of pickup vans, 2021 was a banner 12 months, with Ford bringing its super-popular F-150 into the post-combustion period, and Rivian lastly delivering on its lofty guarantees of a flexible battery-powered truck. We even bought a number of nice surprises, such because the charming Hyundai Santa Cruz, which packs the soul of a pickup right into a reworked crossover. Overall, it was a reasonably good 12 months for individuals who prefer to lug stuff round.
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Grand Award Winner: A landmark electrical pickup
R1T by Rivian
After years of growth, Rivian’s super-flexible electrical pickup is actual. Rivian
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Rivian, the Amazon-backed electrical automotive startup, lastly launched its long-awaited R1T electrical pickup. In doing so, it beat (or a minimum of matched) veterans like Ford and General Motors to the punch. The R1T is Rivian’s “adventure vehicle,” which means that whereas it could do just about something {that a} gasoline-powered pickup can, the corporate doesn’t promise the best towing capability or best total mattress quantity. Instead, it’s extra of a life-style truck—one succesful of off-roading, overlanding, and simply normal outdoorsy actions, however in an EV with a roughly 400-mile vary.
Rivian provides an array of add-ons which are particularly helpful for such adventuring. An non-obligatory three-person tent accent permits tenting on the go, and a slide-out Camp Kitchen stovetop fuels eat-what-you-catch fishing journeys. And all that stuff neatly stows away within the R1T’s gear tunnel—a hole simply behind the cab—to keep away from taking on treasured mattress area. Even with all of these options, it’s nonetheless a very succesful pickup truck. Each wheel is powered by an impartial hub-mounted electrical motor that collectively ship a complete of 800 horsepower and 900 pound-feet of torque. That’s sufficient oomph for the all-electric pickup to dash from 0 to 60 in simply three seconds. Yes, actually.
A sports activities sedan that stays glued to the bottom
![Cadillac CT-4 Blackwing](https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2021/11/23/cadillac.jpg?auto=webp)
CT4-V Blackwing by Cadillac
Advanced aerodynamics assist preserve this Cadillac grounded. Cadillac
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Featuring a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 engine, the CT4-V Blackwing places out an unbelievable 472-horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque—greater than sufficient from a sedan that may hop from 0 to 60 in lower than 4 seconds. In order to attain these speeds, the Blackwing employs a personalized spoiler on the again, in addition to air-guiding fins and a molded wing beneath its entrance, all of which preserve the automotive pressed into the pavement in order that simply the correct quantity as air rushes over it at pace.
An sudden marriage of a crossover and a pickup
![Hyundai Santa Cruz](https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2021/11/23/hyundai_santacruz.jpg?auto=webp)
Santa Cruz by Hyundai
It’s half crossover, half pickup truck. Hyundai
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Seemingly out of left area, Hyundai launched its all-new Santa Cruz, a compact pickup meant for urban-dwellers who want a bit extra utility. The Santa Cruz has a four-foot open-top mattress, but it surely takes its styling cues from Hyundai’s neatly designed crossovers just like the Santa Fe—however with a floor clearance at a decent 8.6 inches. The mattress can’t match the full capability present in a full-sized truck, however it could accommodate full sheets of plywood or drywall with out having to angle them.
An excellent-affordable, fuel-efficient truck
![Ford Maverick](https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2021/11/23/ford_maverick.jpg?auto=webp)
Maverick by Ford
It’s a full-fledged pickup truck with the gas economic system and price ticket of an inexpensive sedan. Ford
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Coming normal with a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain, the Maverick is one of Ford’s most fuel-efficient choices. It scores a 42 mile-per-gallon EPA score within the metropolis, which is best than many sedans. And with the Maverick’s base mannequin beginning at $19,995, it additionally occurs to be Ford’s most inexpensive car, interval. Ford additionally extremely encourages house owners to DIY nearly all the pieces; the truck accepts 3D-printed equipment like additional cup holders or cellphone mounts utilizing the in-cabin Ford Integrated Tether System (FITS).
The automotive that sees while you snooze
![BMW electric car](https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2021/11/23/bmw.jpg?auto=webp)
xDrive50 by BMW iX
BMW’s in-car programs take an enormous step ahead with this superior crossover. BMW
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The iX is BMW’s know-how flagship. For starters, there’s the electrochromic sunroof that may flip opaque on the press of a button, and the linked in-car overhead digicam can live-stream the cabin to the motive force’s cellphone in case of a theft occasion. Most vital: Those in-cabin cameras additionally promise to observe the motive force’s state, so in the event that they go unconscious, the automotive can robotically discover a secure spot to drag onto the exhausting shoulder with out placing different individuals in danger.
A modular infotainment system to replace nearly any automotive
![Pioneer deck](https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2021/11/23/pioneer.jpg?auto=webp)
DMH-WC5700NEX Receiver by Pioneer
A modular face makes this deck extraordinarily versatile. Pioneer
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Bringing older cars into the world of massive infotainment screens will be tough attributable to area constraints. At the identical time, many trendy fashions make use of phablet-style infotainment shows that protrude from the dashboard. Coupled with shallow dashboard mounting, both setup makes alternative all-but not possible for a lot of cars. Pioneer has thought up a modular answer within the type of the brand new DMH-WC5700NEX receiver. The 6.8-inch display can separate from the remaining of the in-dash electronics, so the display can mount discretely from the remaining of the unit. This means which you could place the display, which works with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, just about wherever.
An electrical automotive that doubles as an influence station
![Hyundai ioniq electric car](https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2021/11/23/hyundai_ioniq.jpg?auto=webp)
Ioniq 5 V2L by Hyundai
It’s an enormous transportable charger that’s enjoyable to drive. Hyundai
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The Ioniq 5’s sensible seems to be and tech-centric options make it seem to be the proper each day driver for any EV-curious driver. But right here’s the good half: The automotive can use as a lot as 80 p.c of its saved electrical energy to ship juice to absolutely anything with an ordinary energy cable—suppose of it like an enormous battery pack on wheels. Hyundai says that its Vehicle-to-Load charging permits the Ioniq 5 to provide as much as 3.6-kW of energy to exterior units, which is ideal for units like a laptop computer or pill. And throughout occasions like tenting journeys or an influence outages, the Ioniq can provide small home equipment and even cost e-bikes.
An interactive method to find out about a car
![Toyota mini van manual app](https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2021/11/23/toyota_manual.jpg?auto=webp)
Sienna Digital proprietor’s guide by Toyota
A digital proprietor’s guide drivers may very well use. Toyota
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Digital proprietor’s manuals have been round for a number of years now, largely within the type of static textual content and graphics, however that hasn’t persuaded house owners to really learn by way of the whole handbook. Toyota determined to alter that by making a companion smartphone app for the 2022 Sienna’s already-digital proprietor’s guide. Called the “Driver’s Companion,” the app includes a narrator, referred to as Joya, that acts like Siri, responding to voice instructions in easy-to-follow conversations. This function permits the motive force to ask questions resembling “What is the height of my car” or “How does the bird’s eye camera work?” and get visible and audio-based responses within the app. And to ensure that the app will get the purpose throughout, it could even quiz the motive force.
An iconic pickup goes electrical
![Ford F-150 Lightning](https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2021/11/23/ford_150.jpg?auto=webp)
F-150 Lightning Electric Truck by Ford
Look at that superb frunk. Ford
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In spring of 2021, America’s best-selling pickup began the transition away from combustion. The new battery-powered truck maintains the acquainted F-150 design and comes with as much as 563 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque, sufficient to shoot from 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds or tow as much as 10,000 kilos when correctly geared up. As for vary, batteries come massive sufficient to cowl as much as 300 miles on a single cost. And if juicing up from the street, a 150-kilowatt quick charger can add an extra 54 miles of vary in simply 10 minutes—not all that for much longer than a typical pitstop in a combustion automotive. To prime it off, the F-150 Lightning may also act like a battery pack on wheels, supplying as much as 9.6 kW of energy by way of the identical charger it makes use of to replenish. This implies that the pickup might help preserve an vitality invoice low throughout peak hours when electrical energy charges are excessive, or preserve a house lit throughout a storm.
An electrical jeep with a six-speed guide
![Jeep magneto concept](https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2021/11/23/JeepMagneto.jpg?auto=webp)
Jeep Wrangler Magneto Manual Transmission by FCA
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The Magneto has electrical motors and a battery identical to different electrical autos, but it surely additionally has one thing most different EVs don’t: a six-speed guide transmission. However, one part {that a} manual-equipped EV doesn’t want is a clutch, so Jeep disregarded the Wrangler idea’s third pedal. After all, an electrical motor can’t stall, and altering gears is basically non-obligatory in an EV. Drivers nonetheless have the profit (and enjoyable!) of gear choice to manage how broadly torque is utilized, however with the comfort of an computerized transmission’s clutchless operation.