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The 2021 F-150 elevates Ford's bed game

The new 2021 Ford F-150 is ushering in a new era of pickup capability, but there's more to it than the introduction of the PowerBoost hybrid. While that new powertrain is certainly the truck's headlining element, the supporting electrical architecture enables a level of utility that hasn't been offered in past consumer half-tons. The true party trick is Ford's new "Pro Power Onboard" feature, which is essentially a built-in generator that provides juice for the 2021 F-150's rather robust in-bed power station. This system is available even on gasoline-engine models, but its utility is maximized with the electrified powertrain. ICE models equipped with the option max out at 2.0 kilowatts, while the PowerBoost hybrid can be had with either a 2.4- or a whopping 7.2-kilowatt inverter.  The idea here is that the F-150 can essentially stand in for a high-output portable generator. In a worksite example provided by Ford, a PowerBoost model with the 7.2-kW upgrade and a single tank of fuel could provide 32 hours of power for an 1,800-watt compound miter saw, a 1,000W circular saw, a 1,200W battery charger, a 1,200W hammer drill, and a 1,000W air compressor with hundreds of watts to spare for lighting and other accessories. But even without the Pro Power Onboard option, Ford's new bed setup enables more versatility than in previous models. The new Tailgate Work Surface option adds a flat work area with integrated rulers, recesses for pencils or small tools, and even a stand for a personal device.  Ford is neither the first to offer an auxiliary power outlet in a half-ton pickup bed, nor was Ford the first to introduce a more feature-rich tailgate. GMC's MultiPro tailgate was a major innovation on that front, and while it is geared mostly toward improving the cargo utility of the bed, it can also be customized with 12-volt power and even an accessory speaker system. The Ram 1500 is also offered with both a multi-function tailgate and AC power in the bed, though the latter option is limited to models with the RamBox cargo package.  As half-ton pickups approach levels of towing and hauling capability that begin to blur lines with heavy-duty offerings, it's clear that automakers are looking for ways to differentiate themselves without stepping on their own bigger trucks' toes. These new bed and tailgate innovations may yet be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to full-size pickup versatility. Related Video:    

Hennessey HPE1000 builds a 1,000 hp 2016 Chevy Camaro

If the 455-horsepower 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS isn't powerful enough for you off the showroom, ring up the folks at Hennessey Performance. The company can bump the coupe's output up to 650 hp if you want to keep the engine naturally aspirated, but supercharged versions can more than double the stock rating to 1,000 hp. To achieve such a massive boost in performance, the company performs a thorough suite of engine modifications in addition to installing the supercharger and intercooler. Among the biggest tweaks is stroking the motor to 6.8 liters from the stock 6.2 liters. To make sure the mill can handle the boost, it also gets forged pistons, billet steel connecting rods, ported cylinder heads, an upgraded valve train, new engine management, and more. Hennessey tests each car before and after on a chassis dyno and does up to 100 miles of road evaluations. The company claims this tune works with the factory automatic and manual gearboxes. The HPE1000 Camaro is available to order now. Clients send the company their 2016 Camaro SS, and the upgrades cost $65,000, which includes installation, John Hennessey tells Autoblog. The improvements also come with a one-year / 36,000-mile warranty. Unfortunately, Hennessey Performance doesn't have a video of the HPE1000 Camaro, but it does have a clip (below) showing the naturally aspirated HPE600 version, which boasts 526 hp at the rear wheels. Think of it as just a taste of what the forced induction model might offer, but we'd imagine with a screaming supercharger.

Stolen '57 Chevy Returned To Owner After 30 Years

Three decades after it was stolen, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air has been returned to a Northern California man - in better shape than when he originally owned it. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports Ian "Skip" Wilson was shocked to get a call from the California Highway Patrol informing him that his long-lost Chevy was taken off an Australia-bound cargo ship. The 65-year-old says the car has had a lot of work done on it since it disappeared from his Lake County home in 1984. It was returned with a monogrammed interior, 17-inch racing wheels, rack-and-pinion steering and a 350-horsepower V-8 engine. The retired mechanic says the two-door was in sorry shape when he bought it for $375 in 1975 with plans for fixing it up. Related Gallery 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Test Drive View 9 Photos Weird Car News Chevrolet Safety