The Ford F-150 Raptor has been roaming the planet for years, unchallenged and unrivaled. That all changed last year when FCA (now Stellantis) shoved the Dodge Hellcat’s supercharged V-8 engine into a pickup truck to create the Ram 1500 TRX. Ford responded by launching a new Raptor today.
Both the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor and 2021 Ram 1500 TRX feature blown engines with lots of power, long-travel suspension, big off-road tires, and the ability to go off-road at high speeds.
2021 Ford F-150 Raptor
2021 Ford F-150 Raptor
2021 Ram 1500 TRX
2021 Ram 1500 TRX
The regular 2021 Ford F-150 and its TCC Rating of 6.5 bests the regular 2021 Ram 1500’s TCC Rating of 6.0 but the Raptor and TRX are different beasts. The concept and most of the execution of morphing the F-150 into a Raptor and a Ram 1500 into a TRX is similar, yet there are key differences.
Both these pickup trucks feature forced induction under the hood to create immense amounts of power, but the two trucks go about it differently. The Ram 1500 TRX is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 that generates 702 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6. Ford hasn’t said how much power the 2021 Raptor makes, yet, but it likely will surpass the 2020 model’s 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. A Raptor R with a V-8 will arrive for 2022 to shake things up and take away the TRX’s cylinder-count advantage.
Both trucks feature full-time four-wheel drive with 2-speed transfer cases and an electronic rear locking differential for sticky situations. But the Raptor takes things one step further, and might just take things further down the trail thanks to an available Torsen front limited-slip differential. The TRX has an 8-speed automatic transmission while the Raptor has 10 forward gears.
2021 Ram 1500 TRX
The Raptor doesn’t have EPA fuel economy ratings, yet, but the outgoing model had not so good ratings of 12 mpg city, 18 highway, and 16 combined. The TRX chugs gas with ratings of 10 mpg city, 14 highway, and 12 combined. Turns out having fewer cylinders is a good thing when it comes to feeding the beast. Both like to drink the good stuff, 91 octane.
While the twin-turbo V-6 in the Raptor sounds good, the supercharged V-8 in the TRX will wake the dead. The TRX wins the cylinder count, battle of the (power) bands, and likely the power output, with ease.
The outgoing 2020 Raptor ran from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds, according to Ford. Expect the new one to match that or improve slightly upon it. The TRX can run from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. We’ll see if it holds the line against the forthcoming Raptor R.
Around town the TRX is hilariously audacious to drive. It towers over other vehicles. It could scare the neighbors (or tick them off) on cold starts. Mash the throttle and the front end jumps up while the rear end squats on its soft active shocks as it shifts all that 6,350-pound weight to lunge forward with gut-dropping acceleration.
We’ll see how the redesigned Raptor compares when it goes on sale later this summer.
TRXs ride on 18-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 35-inch Goodyear all-terrain tires. The Raptor rides on smaller 17-inch wheels wrapped in 35- or 37-inch tires (the latter is optional). Both trucks can be optioned with bead-lock capable wheels and both are going to get you where you want to go.
2021 Ford F-150 Raptor
2021 Ram 1500 TRX
The trucks ride on long-travel suspension and a five-link setup with coil springs in the rear. The TRX has an impressive 13-inches of front-wheel travel and 14-inches in the rear, but the Raptor tops it with 14-inches front and 15-inches of rear-wheel travel. Raptors ride on electronic Fox racing shocks while TRXs ride on Bilstein e2 Blackhawk active dampers. The concept with both sets of shocks is the same, using variable compression and resistance to overheating while going over off-road whoops at high rates of speed. In day-to-day driving both will provide a soft ride that mops up the imperfections in the road. We’ll get a better sense of the Raptor’s latest refinements this summer, but there are no losers when it comes to suspension tech here.
Dimensionally the trucks are similar with four full doors and 12-foot wheelbases. The Raptor is slightly wider at 8 feet to the TRX’s 7.3-foot width, but the TRX’s 5-foot-7 bed is slightly longer than the Raptor’s 5-foot-5 bed.
Despite their suspension setups being designed to tackle Baja instead of the job site, the TRX and Raptor are both capable of doing work when duty calls. The TRX hauls a maximum payload of 1,310 pounds and tows up to 8,100 pounds. The Raptor tops that with a payload capacity of 1,400 pounds and towing capability of 8,200 pounds.
The Ram TRX and Ford Raptor both look mean and tower over other large trucks. They are wider, angrier versions of their lesser, more work-oriented selves. When a car or crossover SUV sees a Raptor or TRX coming up on its rear bumper it just might scare the driver into moving out of the way. The TRX and Raptor swallow a Nissan Rogue in their shadows. The F-150 is more brick-like with a blocky, punched-out stance, while the TRX is more swept back with curves.
2021 Ford F-150 Raptor
2021 Ram 1500 TRX
2021 Ram 1500 TRX
Inside these trucks seat five comfortably, though the rear seat backs on the Ram recline for even more comfort on long road trips. The front seats in both trucks are oversized and aggressively bolstered to hold occupants still during high-speed off-roading adventures.
Both trucks are filled to the brim with features such as LED lighting, 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment systems, heated and cooled seats, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. One distinct difference is the Raptor features a 12.0-inch digital gauge cluster while the TRX features an analog gauge cluster with a 7.0-inch digital information screen between the gauges. Old-school vs new-school.
Neither of these trucks are cheap, and Ford hasn’t announced pricing on the 2021 F-150 Raptor. But the outgoing 2020 Raptor crew cab cost $58,135. The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX costs significantly more at $71,690 because of the Hellcat motor and the upgrades that go with it. More power, more cylinders, more money.
2021 Ram 1500 TRX
Of course, both of these trucks are highly capable, fast, and powerful. The TRX is a blunt hammer with all the power, all the brawn, all the cylinders, all the noise, fire, and fury. The Raptor feels like a slightly smarter, more modern, solution with the smaller displacement engine that delivers a truck that is nearly as quick, though far less visceral and angry.
The TRX represents one of the true peaks of an end of an era, and what might become the one of the last of its kind. Ford clearly knows and acknowledges this because the Raptor R is coming next year with a V-8, even if in some weird and twisted way the Raptor seems like the slightly more reasonable and smarter choice today with the twin turbo-6.
Which one is best? We’ll have to wait and see. On paper the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is as capable and well equipped as the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX while likely costing thousands less. But, it has a power—and cylinder—deficit, for now, and for some that matters.
The Raptor finally has a true competitor, and competition makes everyone better.
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
