The Auto World

A Tasmanian adventurer is funding a new Prado entirely with river gold. His target is a base Land Cruiser Prado priced near AU$80,000. One canyon dive on his best day pulled 22 grams worth thousands of dollars. Instead of wrestling with high interest rates or a trade-in negotiation, Tasmanian content creator and adventurer Rob Parsons is trying to fund his next vehicle the hard way, using nothing but ancient prospecting techniques to get there. He wants a brand-new off-roader, and his plan is to pull the money out of the ground one riverbed at a time. The explorer, known for his navigation skills and solo expeditions, has launched a multi-day challenge to gather enough gold from remote waterways to cover the keys to that new truck. It sounds like a gimmick, and yet the math works. More: Aussie Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Gets A Weird Grille Option The target of this wilderness operation is the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. The rugged SUV r...

Ford tested the Ranger PHEV against a common portable gas generator. The pickup truck emitted far fewer pollutants during power generation. Fuel use reportedly dropped to about a third once the truck warmed up. Ford is making a big claim about its new Ranger Plug-In Hybrid . For many buyers, it can replace an entire piece of equipment they’ve been hauling around for years. According to the automaker, customers who rely on portable generators for work sites, events, or remote jobs may no longer need one at all thanks to the Ranger PHEV’s available Pro Power Onboard system. If Ford’s testing is accurate, the pickup does more than just replace a generator. It improves on it in nearly every meaningful category. One catch for North American readers, though. The Ranger PHEV is sold in Europe, the UK, and Australia, and Ford has no current plans to bring it to the States. How Ford Ran the Numbers ...

Jaguar’s relaunch has been delayed, but dealers still have new models in stock. A handful of 2024 I-Paces are still for sale with discounts of nearly $30,000. You can score $20,000 off an F-Type or a $10,000 discount on an F-Pace. Jaguar’s drastic reboot saw them quietly cease production last year. Their brand-new electric GT was originally scheduled to debut around the same time, but it was delayed and is now set to be unveiled this fall. While the brand doesn’t have much to say these days, dealers still have hundreds of new vehicles in stock. A quick search reveals over 900 examples ranging from the 2024 E-Pace to a 2026 F-Pace SVR 575 Final Edition. More: Jaguar Just Built Its Last Gas Car, But You Wouldn’t Know It From Them Unsurprisingly, many have been given hefty discounts to lure buyers. One of the cheapest new vehicles is a 2024 E-Pace P250, which has been marked down to $42,668. That’s pretty ex...

Toyota launches the Corolla Cross Z Adventure edition in Japan. Rugged compact SUV celebrates the Corolla’s 60th anniversary. High-spec grades have also received improved safety equipment. Toyota has rolled out a subtle model year update for the Japanese-spec Corolla Cross, led by a 60th anniversary special edition with rugged styling cues. The SUV follows the lead of the anniversary specials based on the Corolla sedan and estate , as it winds down toward the end of its run. Named the Corolla Cross Z Adventure, the new special edition is the odd one out in the Japanese range, and the grille explains why. Toyota borrowed the face of the US-spec non-hybrid mode l, then reworked it with slightly different black molding and a matching emblem, giving this version a look that separates it from everything else on the local roster. More: Toyota Turned The Corolla Into A Pickup, Here’s What It Looks Like Undisguised The styling addit...