Author: kirklandc008@gmail.com

The V8 engine is ingrained in American culture. At one point in our not-so-distant past, eight-cylinder powertrains were available in essentially every full-size pickup truck, such as the Ram 1500, large SUVs like the Toyota Sequoia, and even some midsize SUVs, like the Nissan Pathfinder. So what happened to them? People can blame everything from emissions regulations, which are partly to blame, to buyers’ personal preferences, but there’s no single answer to the slow disappearance of V8s. Another reason we consider a likely scenario is that turbocharging technology is to the point where smaller engines with forced induction are simply…

“A stunning foldable from across the import oceans.” Pros Ultra-thin design with IP68 and IP69 ratings Exceptional screens with anti-reflective coating on both panels Class-leading battery life with fast wired and wireless charging Best-in-class rear camera system for a large foldable MagicOS 10 is polished, customizable, and genuinely useful for multitasking Cons Performance is gimped in Balanced mode Performance mode brings thermal throttling under sustained load No zero-crease display Camera bump is large and makes the phone unweildy You will have to take the import route Quick review The Magic V6 is the most complete large foldable I have used…

If you want to learn about engine longevity in the real world, a good place to start is a particular vehicle owners’ club. Here you might learn a lot about an engine like the V6 known internally as the J35, fitted to the Honda Pilot and other family vehicles, and discover just how good such a motor can be. One post on the Pilot Owners Club forum noted that their vehicle had racked up a strong 300,000 miles with zero issues, and that says a lot more than a spec sheet ever could. Meanwhile, the newer Honda turbocharged four-cylinder engines…

New Jersey’s controversial new e-bike law was pitched as a way to improve safety, but with its July 19 implementation date rapidly approaching, a growing number of riders, advocates, and even lawmakers are arguing that the state may have gone too far. A rally at the New Jersey Statehouse last week drew a large crowd of supporters calling for the law to be amended or replaced. At the center of the controversy is the fact that the legislation treats nearly every type of e-bike the same, from a 20 mph (32 km/h) pedal-assist commuter bike to the much faster electric…

A copy of Super Mario Bros., still in the box and sealed with its original sticker, just sold at Heritage Auctions for $3 million. That absolutely crushes the previous record of $2 million, also for a copy of Super Mario Bros., in 2021. That sale also came hot on the heels of a controversial auction of Super Mario 64 for $1.56 million.Part of what drove the price of this particular copy so high is that, according to Heritage Auctions, instead of shrink wrap, this 19895 second run was sealed with a glossy sticker, which was discontinued shortly after. The site…

With everything getting so expensive these days, a more affordable motorcycle makes a lot of sense. Bigger tech-heavy bikes might demand a premium, but there is still a wide selection of great options to choose from that all cost less than $10k. Many of which can also double as efficient commuters. At this end of the market, most of the options are entry-level models, but what constitutes an “entry-level” has also evolved somewhat. Many of the bikes on this list offer the same features previously only found on halo models, and are way more capable than most people think. For…

Next time you visit your grandparents, you might want to put your headphones away. Cardiologists have long warned about the risks smartphones, headphones and other consumer devices pose towards cardiovascular implantable devices (CIDs). Concerns revolve around the magnetic fields these devices emit, which can inadvertently trigger a magnet-safe mode on defibrillators and pacemakers that potentially prevents them from detecting tachycardia or other cardiovascular irregularities.  Modern CIDs are designed to automatically switch into this mode when near strong magnetic fields to ensure patient safety during magnet-intensive medical procedures like MRIs. And while CIDs are designed to return to normal after the magnetic field…

Pictures of the new Leapmotor B05

Typically, when we think of automakers with a long history of building great engines, names like Toyota, Honda, Ford, or General Motors come to mind. However, other manufacturers have also produced mills that earned them status as icons. Just look at Jaguar’s XK inline-six, it stuck around for a whopping 44 years, from 1948 to 1992. In other words, the lesson here is that even automakers without a reputation for reliability can, and have, built world-renowned engines known for being long-lasting. Nissan also belongs on the list of automakers that you wouldn’t expect to build a highly reliable engine. The…

The Aston Martin Vanquish is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The model became an icon of the automotive world soon after being introduced, and has endured across three generations and into the present day. This stylish Super GT has become a symbol of Aston Martin’s commitment to innovation, with each generation introducing new elements of cutting-edge technology and design. Let’s take a look back at the quarter-century-long history of this stylish grand tourer, from its origins as a concept to the high-tech model of the present day. But before we get into that, we have to find out which…