Doc Brown’s DeLorean time machine may have stolen the show, but there was another automotive star in Back to the Future. That would be the 1985 Toyota pickup truck that Marty McFly lusts after, and then ends up driving at the end of the movie. With Back to the Future Day celebrations in full swing (the storied Back to the Future date is October 21, 2015) — and the end of 30 years of speculation., Toyota couldn’t resist reminding everyone of its role in the franchise.
Toyota is doing a lot to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Back to the Future (and mark the “future” day Marty McFly and Doc Brown traveled to in Back to the Future Part II), and that includes recreating Marty’s dream truck. Only this time, the truck being unveiled at Statler Toyota is a 2016 Tacoma.
The recently revamped midsize truck goes retro to represent the state of automotive fashion in 1985. It wears a similar 1985 Toyota Truck paint color to the movie vehicle, has the same mud flaps, and even has backdated headlights and taillights. The word “Toyota” is also spelled out on the tailgate, and there are “D-4S” (fuel injection) badges, just like in the ’80s.
Of course, the Back to the Future Toyota wasn’t stock, so neither is this one. It sports off-road suspension and Toyota Racing Development wheels, plus some delightfully retro off-road accessories. Those include tubular front and rear bumpers, a light bar, and plenty of KC HiLites lighting. Thin LED light bars may be all the rage today, but nothing beats the look of those KCs.
Copies of the Back to the Future Tacoma will be displayed at “major tourist destinations” in Los Angeles, New York, and Dallas today. Along with the customized truck, Toyota also unveiled a Back to the Future-themed 2016 Mirai at a party for the 1,900 people who signed up to hydrogen fuel-cell car in their garages. Inspired by the DeLorean time machine, it comes complete with gull-wing doors and a head-up display of time-travel destinations.
In a press release from Toyota, Back to the Future co-creator and producer Bob Gale offers some background on the manufacturer’s partnership with the franchise. “Toyota stands apart for their nod to the future and the past with the auto technology depicted in the movies. When Toyota approached us about helping tell a bigger story about the future and innovation with the Mirai, we loved the direction — and who can resist Marty’s retro Toyota truck?”
Volkswagen’s newest EVs in China are making its American and European models look unusually conservative.
With Xpeng’s help, VW has introduced 800-volt charging and advanced urban driving assistance. The new VEGA technology package brings its locally developed vehicle platforms and CEA electronic architecture under one umbrella. Bloomberg reports that Volkswagen intends to update VEGA every three months. Western buyers can find pieces of that package, but not the whole thing in a Volkswagen.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?