MAY 19, 2021
Sunday, May 16, 2021 at 09:39AM 
Ford unveiled its all-electric F-150 Lightning in a special premier in Dearborn, Michigan, Wednesday night (May 19). Ford is calling it "the smartest, most innovative truck Ford has ever built." Touting its near instant torque, its intelligent towing and its seamless connectivity to software updates, plus power for your home, a power frunk and a digital screen that’s larger than any currently offered on a full-size truck, Ford PR minions are calling the F-150 Lightning "a driving and ownership experience unlike any other." The F-150 Lightning is scheduled to roll off the line next year at a new high-tech factory using sustainable manufacturing practices at Ford’s storied Rouge complex in Dearborn just outside Detroit. (When you hear "next year" when it comes to the launch of the Lightning a word of caution: We don't see this truck appearing in showrooms before the 4th quarter of 2022. -PMD) Ford engineering operatives "target" 563HP and 775 lb.-ft. of near instantaneous torque – more than any F-150 ever – and a 0-60 mph time in the mid-4-second range when equipped with an extended-range battery, "based on typical industry methodology," according to Ford PR minions. F-150 Lightning "targets" a maximum 2,000 pounds of payload in the standard-range model with 18-inch wheels, and a maximum 10,000 pounds of available towing capacity on XLT and Lariat trucks with the extended-range battery and Max Trailer Tow Package. Ford is touting a entry-level price of just under $40,000, but that's for a stripped down, commercial-oriented truck. The mid-series XLT version starts at $54,974. So, rest assured that the fully-loaded versions will easily reach into the $85,000+ range.
(GMC HUMMER)
The GMC HUMMER EV Pickup is going through a rigorous off-road testing program prior to its production debut this fall. Traversing legendary trails across Moab, the team’s testing and calibration included Adaptive Air Suspension hardware, Extract Mode, Terrain Mode, One-Pedal Driving control, e4WD and torque distribution, eLockers, stability control, rear steering, CrabWalk and more. Available Terrain Mode - part of the GMC HUMMER EV’s Drive Mode Control - will offer two braking calibrations, with a mild braking option for two-foot driving and a purpose-designed One-Pedal Driving control in low-speed off-road driving. As pioneered by General Motors for other electric vehicles, One-Pedal Driving enables the driver to accelerate and decelerate using only the accelerator pedal. With Terrain Mode, that same One-Pedal Driving control is adapted with unique calibrations for speed-limited off-road driving, helping the driver to negotiate steep grades, rock crawling and other challenging terrain without having to toggle between the accelerator and brake pedal. “One-Pedal Driving offers a great feeling of control by optimizing the regenerative braking, friction braking and drive motor torque all through the accelerator pedal,” said Aaron Pfau, GMC HUMMER EV lead development engineer. “Drivers will quickly realize the benefits once they try it off-road.” The upcoming available Extract Mode feature enables the Adaptive Air Suspension height to be raised approximately six inches in order to help the GMC HUMMER EV negotiate extreme off-road situations, such as clearing large boulders and fording deeper water. “The GMC HUMMER EV was a blank slate that was filled out by a dedicated team of engineers who are hardcore off-road enthusiasts,” said Pfau. “Features like One-Pedal Driving, Terrain Mode and Extract Mode result in an absolute off-road beast that will take you to new places.”
AE Song of the Week:
She comes in colors ev'rywhere
She combs her hair
She's like a rainbow
Coming, colors in the air
Oh, everywhere
She comes in colors
She comes in colors ev'rywhere
She combs her hair
She's like a rainbow
Coming, colors in the air
Oh, everywhere
She comes in colors
Have you seen her dressed in blue?
See the sky in front of you
And her face is like a sail
Speck of white so fair and pale
Have you seen a lady fairer?
She comes in colors ev'rywhere
She combs her hair
She's like a rainbow
Coming, colors in the air
Oh, everywhere
She comes in colors
Have you seen her all in gold?
Like a queen in days of old
She shoots colors all around
Like a sunset going down
Have you seen a lady fairer?
She comes in colors ev'rywhere
She combs her hair
She's like a rainbow
Coming, colors in the air
Oh, everywhere
She comes in colors
She's like a rainbow
Coming, colors in the air
Oh, everywhere
She comes in colors
"She's A Rainbow" by The Rolling Stones from the album "Their Satanic Majesties Request" (1967)*. Written by Mick Jagger/Keith Richards; Publisher: Abkco Music, Inc.; Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Listen here.
*With a trippy, playful sound, this song wasn't typical of The Rolling Stones, but it endured as a fan favorite. It is a rare pure love song by The Stones, whose songs about women tended to be much more libidinous. The distinctive string section was arranged by John Paul Jones, who was doing session work two years before he joined Led Zeppelin. This was one of the first songs The Stones produced without manager Andrew Loog Oldham. They wanted to get rid of him, so they angered him away by going against his wishes in many aspects of Their Satanic Majesties Request album. The song has been used in many commercials over the years, the most successfully as referenced above. Nicky Hopkins played piano on this song. Hopkins, along with Ian Stewart and Billy Preston, played on Stones albums from Between The Buttons in 1967 until Black And Blue in 1976. Preston usually played on the more gospel-sounding songs where an organ was required; Stewart played boogie-woogie on the fast songs, and Hopkins played on the ballads. (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)
