2024 Ford F-350 Super Duty & 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

We're big-truck haulin' in the Ford F-350 Super Duty... Then, we'll hear out our garage expert for some audible troubleshooting... We then lay out the facts of battery-electric vehicle charging... And end on a gas-electric high note, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid...

So, come drive with us, next!

Closed Captioning provided by Maryland Public Television.

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JOHN: There's no denying that pickup trucks have become vehicles of leisure for many people.

But there are still plenty of folks who buy big trucks because they need to do things that only big trucks can do.

And the new Super Duty from Ford can do those big-truck things better than ever.

♪ ♪ Ford is celebrating 75 years of F-Series pickups, and if you spend any time in their latest Super Duty range of Heavy-Duty trucks, you'll quickly see they've only gotten better with age.

Things are rarely all-new in the HD truck world, but the Super Duty has been completely redesigned, officially launching its 4th generation.

With updates front-to-back, inside-and-out designed to make your working life easier, and your off days more enjoyable.

That means, some things actually trickling up from the F-150, like their Pro Power Onboard, with 2.0 kilowatts of power for tools or toys, and of course, more engine power under the hood too.

The standard gas engine is an all-new 6.8 liter V8 with 400 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque, both numbers up 15 from the previous 6.2 liter.

The 430 horsepower 7.3 liter V8 upgrade carries over, but gets a new intake that helps it build an additional 10 pound-feet of torque, now rated at 485 pound-feet.

Over on the diesel side, the 6.7 liter Power Stroke V8 turbo with 475 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque remains available.

But the big news is a new high-output version that cranks horsepower up to 500 and torque up to 1,200 pound-feet!

Its turbos are upgraded to inhale and exhale more air, working with new exhaust manifolds to make sure it flows freely.

All setups work with a 10-speed automatic transmission, but 4-wheel-drive is now standard on all but base XL Super Duty's.

Our F-350 single rear-wheel Crew Cab Limited was indeed packing that high-output 6.7 liter turbo-diesel, so we couldn't wait to get it to our Mason Dixon test track.

Minimal weight over the rear tires makes translating all that torque to acceleration a tough task, but we were up to it.

With a light touch on the pedal we hustled to 60 in 6.9 seconds.

Big diesels are always unique on track as there's so little room for the tach to roam before you're up against the red line and a shift is triggered in the automatic.

We actually went through eight gears in the quarter, hitting ninth right as we crossed the finish line in 15.2 seconds at 96 miles per hour.

Ford continues to think of new ways to make your towing life easier.

Remember when power extending tow mirrors were a big deal?

Yeah, we're well past that; with cameras all over the place and Pro Trailer Hitch Assist to make hooking up easier, to a smart hitch that can weigh your trailer, and navigation that not only plots the most efficient route for you but takes the size of your trailer into account to plan around tight turns, overpasses, and bridges.

Other available thoughtful touches abound, including steps seemingly everywhere, a power tailgate, retractable bed cover, recovery hooks, retracting running boards, adjustable pedals, and even massaging seats.

But there's no getting around the fact that this is an enormous vehicle and driving it around can be more of a chore than a joy, especially when you're not towing or hauling anything.

Much like a sled dog, this truck is only truly happy when its working!

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are not required for heavy duty trucks, but we averaged 15.0 miles per gallon of diesel.

With a wide range of cab, bed, powertrain, and wheelbase configurations, there's also a wide range of pricing, but things start off with an F-250 XL at $46,965.

Making Heavy Duty pickups more capable is a constant in the truck world, but more than any other brand, Ford has prioritized not just making their Super Duty lineup work harder but making them work smarter, which ultimately means less work and less stress for you!

♪ ♪ There's a lot of confusion about electric vehicle charging these days; with various plug configurations, charging speed, as well as the frustration of finding an available charging station and hoping it works when you get there.

Well, that uncertainty is certainly making some buyers hesitant to choose an EV as their next ride.

So, we thought we'd cut through the clutter and plug into the facts on charging up.

♪ ♪ The standard receptacle on all EVs not named "Tesla" is called a J1772 port.

A level 1 cord adapter for household electrical outlets is included with most new EVs.

This will net you about five miles of range for every hour spent plugged in, so it's best suited for long-term parking.

Stepping up to level 2, the same J1772 connector is again used in most cases; but the power feed jumps up to 240 volts, and delivers 10-to-20 miles per hour of charge.

This is the most common type of EV charging in the U.S. with about 61,000 public charging stations and more than 140,000 charge ports available.

The next level up is DC Fast Charging which, as the name suggests, operates on direct current and at much higher voltages.

So, it can replenish upwards of 200 miles of range in under an hour.

If your vehicle's charge receptacle has a flap or removable plug to accept a larger connector, then it is fast charge capable.

Most EV models use the CCS or Combined Charging System connector.

These can be found in more than 7,500 locations nationwide with about 15,000 ports.

Tesla uses their own proprietary connector, now called the North American Charging Standard or NACS for all three charge levels.

Tesla's public Supercharger network only numbers about 2,200 locations in the U.S., but they generally have more chargers at each station.

So, there's more than 24,000 Supercharger ports available.

That may sound like a lot, but to meet future demand it's estimated we'll need about 1.2 million public charge ports and 26 million private chargers installed within the next few years.

GABE KLEIN: We're adding about 500 a week lately, uh, in terms of ports.

So, we're up to, this morning, like, 163,885-- not that I'm counting every day.

We're gonna see a lot of level 2 ports.

It's going to be about 85, 90 percent of the charging in this country.

But, even though that's true, you still need those DC Fast Chargers so when you're out on the highway, you're making that great American road trip.

JOHN: Most EVs have on-board inverters that convert AC power to DC for the battery.

DC Fast Chargers convert AC to DC before it gets to the car, so they deliver DC power directly to the battery, which is how they charge faster.

Tesla makes adapters available for its customers to use other types of plugs; but until recently, the opposite hasn't been true.

Making big news in recent months, though, is the move by many major car makers to partner with Tesla for access to the Supercharger network.

They'll do this with plug adapters beginning this year but will likely build new EVs with native NACS ports as early as 2025.

Another common frustration for EV drivers is encountering charger equipment that is out of service, malfunctioning or just hard to figure out.

GABE KLEIN: We stood up to ChargeX Consortium with three national labs, and now we have over 75 companies that are involved: Ford, GM, all the big ones and a number of small ones.

And we're figuring out not only how do we make more reliable but more usable, because sometimes somebody will go up to a charger and they just can't figure out how to use it.

We need to make it simpler, easier, make the interface easier.

JOHN: So, while some teething pains remain with America's EV charging infrastructure, the user experience is rapidly improving with the end game to soon make charging up an EV as natural as driving one.

JOHN: A check engine light is not a good thing, but sometimes trouble is all in the ears.

Be it from the engine, suspension, brakes, or whatever; it's usually not a good sign when your car makes a new sound.

But sound can also help solve car problems.

Well, let's give Audra Fordin a listen on MotorWeek's "Your Drive!"

♪ ♪ (engine whines) AUDRA FORDIN: Have you ever started your car and heard a new unpleasant sound?

Well, snap, crackle, pop, and grind may be fine for some breakfast cereals, but it is definitely not something you want to hear coming from your engine.

Today, we're going to listen to some sounds that you might suddenly hear, and what they could mean.

Let's start simple... (brake grinding) If you step on your brake and you hear a screeching sound, like that, chances are you need new brake pads.

The squealing or screeching is thanks to a metal sensor that makes contact with the rotor when your pads are getting close to the end.

If your pads only squeak once, like the car sat overnight, well don't worry about it.

The rotors may have been wet or had some surface rust.

Cold pads, especially performance brakes, might squeak until they've heated up.

Next up is another squeak.

This one is coming from the suspension.

(suspension squeak) If you hear something like that over every bump, odds are your suspension needs a good once over.

It could be something as simple as a loose nut or a bolt.

Make sure all your parts are torqued to spec, and especially if you have aftermarket components.

If you're still driving on original components, it may be a sign that they're starting to wear.

So, reference your odometer and your owner's manual for a checkup.

Getting close to 100,000 miles?

Don't be shocked if your shocks or struts need to be replaced.

Alright let's listen to the next sound.

(belt squeal) Another squeal, but this time it's consistent with the engine's idle, and that is coming from under your hood.

The engine has belts that ride all of the pulleys and the accessories like your air conditioner, your water pump, and your compressor.

As these belts start to wear out, they might squeal, and if that happens, chances are you just need some new belts.

Now, this can be done at home, but without proper tools or proper know-how, well, you'd be better off having a mechanic take a look.

And the same could be said for our next sound.

(engine ticking) A ticking, or knocking, consistent with your rpm, could be very simple, like a bad batch of gas.

So, make sure you're filling up with the right grade, and then give it a go.

If it persists, have your spark plugs checked out.

They might be worn, or just not in sync with the rest of the system.

In some cases, though, a little bit of noise, like mild ticking, or clicking, might be normal, like from fuel-injected vehicles.

They produce a slightly audible click from the injectors.

If in doubt, listen intently to try to track down the general area of the noise, as best as you can, and then explain it to your mechanic in as much detail as you can.

These are just some of the sounds you may hear.

The moral of the story is: if you hear something new, don't wait to find out what could be causing it, because that could leave you stranded or with a very hefty bill that could have been avoided.

If you have any questions or comments, reach out to us, right here at MotorWeek .

JOHN: Dave's cameras rolling and the wheels are turning right into this week's QuickSpin!

♪ ♪ GREG CARLOSS: The Porsche Panamera is nearly all-new for 2024; and we took it for a First Drive on the streets of Seville, Spain, followed by hot laps around the Monteblanco Race Circuit in the new Turbo E-Hybrid variant.

This gave us a chance to fully appreciate the 3rd gen Panamera's suspension upgrades.

Standard is a newly-developed two-valve air suspension, bolstering both chassis response and ride comfort.

But on track, the Turbo E-Hybrid model flexed a new active ride suspension, delivering gravity-defying results.

DAVE SCRIVENER: Now, we're checking out Porsche's active ride system, and what this does is counteracts the car's natural tendencies.

So, when you go into a corner, it actually leans in like a motorcycle would.

When you accelerate and the car would be squatting, it picks the back up.

When you brake and the car would dive in the front, it picks the front up.

The objective is to keep the driver's point of view on an even keel and make the occupants less, um, topsy turvy in curves and things.

GREG: Underneath the new 911, adjacent styling, defined by sharper lines and a more coupe-like profile, is your choice of powertrain.

Standard is a twin-turbo 2.9 liter V6, good for 348 horsepower.

The Turbo E-Hybrid boasts a twin-turbo V8 paired with a 140 kilowatt electric motor stuffed into the new 8-speed PDK automatic, rated at 670 horses total.

The 2024 Porsche Panamera starts just over $100,000, reaching over $108,000 for an all-wheel-drive Panamera 4.

Turbo E-Hybrid pricing is yet to be confirmed.

JESSICA RAY: Our second First Drive took us to Palm Springs, California, to check out the new Lincoln Nautilus.

This two-row luxury mid-size utility brings a lot to the table at a decent price point.

Any luxury buyer will be, first and foremost, concerned about the in-car experience.

The Nautilus's cabin is defined by a standard 48 inch panoramic display, controlled by an 11.1 inch center screen.

Described by our man on the scene as a "spa on wheels," the Nautilus's digital scent feature can deploy three aromas into the cabin; and a coming over-the-air update will debut a "Rejuvenate" mode, letting occupants lay back for a few minutes with scents and a massage.

And you can relax knowing the on-road experience is, as expected, equally calming.

Cabin aside, that's also thanks to the powertrains: a standard 2.0 liter turbo-4 and an 8-speed automatic, rated at 250 horsepower; and a hybrid 2.0 liter turbo mated to a eCVT, rated at 310 horsepower.

STEVEN TRUANT: So, it's easy to get caught up in all of these screens and you might even forget even to think, "Oh, it's a car; how does it drive?"

It's a Lincoln.

It's smooth, it's quiet, it's comfortable, it offers every single amenity that's needed.

And not only that, at the starting price point, it's extremely competitive.

JESSICA: And what are those prices?

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus starts just over $50,000, working up to the mid-70s for a top-trim Black Label.

Considering the cost of high-end European luxury machines, Lincoln is certainly hitting the mark.

We'll dive into more of the details on an upcoming Road Test, and have plenty more QuickSpins...soon!

♪ ♪ GREG: It's the end of the road for what will likely go down as one of our all-time favorite long-term test vehicles, this 2023 Acura Integra A-Spec.

We're saddened by its departure, but we're left with many great memories of road trips and commutes that were a little more exciting than they would have been without the Integra.

During its yearlong stay with us, this Integra really impressed us.

Not to say that we expected it to disappoint, we just didn't think it was going to be as great as it is.

The Integra A-Spec excels not just as a backroad bomber, but a highway cruiser too, and in all-weather to boot.

So, we're really gonna miss driving this surprisingly practical, manual-shifting 4-door sedan.

Adding to the fun was a rev-happy turbocharged 1.5 liter inline 4-cylinder engine that not only delivered its 200 horsepower with ease, but gave us 34.5 miles per gallon fuel economy while doing it, and even sounded pretty good for a 4-cylinder.

All told, we racked up 21,934 miles in our 12 month test.

We had zero mechanical issues, and the interior looked almost as good when it left as it did on the day it arrived.

Looking back through a year's worth of logbook comments, the only negative to be found was some trouble keeping Apple CarPlay connected on long trips.

To many, the Integra may be just a more mature version of the Honda Civic Si, and we say, what's wrong with that?

We'd definitely recommend the A-Spec as its 18 inch wheels and black trim elements are well done.

Sport sedan performance, premium-car pampering, hatchback flexibility, economy-car fuel mileage.

The Acura Integra does indeed deliver it all and it will be missed.

At least we've still got the Kia EV GT to drive around.

We'll check in on the next MotorWeek Long-Term Road Test Update!

JOHN: Toyota offers a hybrid powertrain in just about everything they make, so it did seem odd that last year, when they debuted an all-new SUV version of their long-time best-selling Corolla, a hybrid was nowhere to be found.

Well, it didn't take long for Toyota to correct that situation, delivering this Corolla Cross Hybrid for 2023.

♪ ♪ With prices for everything seemingly going up daily, we can all use a little more cost efficiency in our lives.

That's a mission that Toyota has been undertaking for some time now and continues to do it with this 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid.

The Alabama-built Corolla Cross arrived just last year as Toyota's attempt to bring their best-selling nameplate into the SUV era and give them an additional entry into the most popular automotive segment going right now, small crossovers.

There are some RAV4 styling cues here, but the Corolla Cross is mostly its own deal, and the Hybrid is more than just a fuel-efficient option, it has added performance too.

So, it's offered only in Toyota's S line of trims S, SE, and XSE, where the standard Corolla Cross is available in base L, LE, and XLE.

Great packaging has it feeling roomier inside than most small 5-seat Utes, straddling the line between subcompact and compact.

And seats are way more comfortable than your typical urban-minded utility.

In fact, the entire interior feels quite upscale, and the layout will be very familiar to those stepping up from an actual Corolla.

Those who put off buying a Corolla Cross until now will be rewarded with upgraded infotainment, as all Hybrid's will come with Toyota's latest 8.0 inch touchscreen multimedia system, standard.

The Hybrid's small battery is located under the rear seat, so there's minimal loss of room, with a good 21.5 cubic-feet of cargo space available, expanding to 61.8 with rear seatbacks folded.

Getting to the heart of the matter, the Corolla Cross Hybrid's fuel-sipping ways are courtesy of the 5th generation of Toyota's Hybrid System which outputs a combined 196 horsepower through its trio of electric motors and naturally aspirated 2.0 liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine, one of those motors operating strictly the rear axle for standard all-wheel-drive.

At our test track, there was a nice little chirp of the tires off the line, but that's where the excitement ended.

So...while, a 7.5 second trip to 60 may not raise your blood pressure, it's a full 3.0 seconds quicker than the standard Corolla Cross we tested last year.

We'll take that!

The Hybrid also gets a "sport-tuned" suspension, and indeed it felt light and nimble through our cone course, very neutral too, with no noticeable understeer or oversteer.

But the real reward comes in Government Fuel Economy Ratings which are 45-City, 38-Highway, and 42-Combined.

We averaged a great 43.3 miles per gallon of Regular; that's a 40 percent increase over the 30.9 miles per gallon, we averaged in the standard Corolla Cross last year.

But, that does come at a cost, though it's difficult to make direct comparisons with separate trim families, but pricing starts at $29,320 for the Hybrid, about 3-grand over a base all-wheel-drive non-hybrid.

Top XSE comes in at $32,400.

As influential as Toyota is in spreading the hybrid doctrine, it was indeed odd that the Corolla Cross arrived last year without a hybrid option.

Smartly, it didn't take them long to right that wrong, as it was always part of the plan, and the Corolla Cross has benefitted from it greatly.

The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is not just more efficient, it's more capable, and a much better small utility all around.

Well, that's our show, I hope you enjoyed it.

Now, for more MotorWeek , including daily news updates, podcasts, and even complete episodes, cruise on over to PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

And I hope you'll join us next time when we charge into Kia's electric here and now with the new EV9 3-row utility, and run circles in a Porsche 911 GT3, Manthey style!

Until then, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

ANNOUNCER: To learn more about MotorWeek , Television's Original Automotive Magazine, visit... To order a DVD of this program... MotorWeek is proudly sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper, a nationwide network of stores and shops providing major brand auto and truck parts, and service from coast to coast, and in your local community.

Learn more at AutoValue.Com and BumperToBumper.Com.

TireRack.Com is proud to support MotorWeek !

First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it TireRack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

♪ ♪ This program was produced by Maryland Public Television, which is solely responsible for its content.

(engine revving) ♪ ♪ You're watching PBS.