HOROSCOPE
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March 5): An inspiring relationship plays into the changes you make this year. That long list of things you didn’t have time for before gets a lot shorter as you check off many adventures. You’re not setting out to develop yourself; it just happens. Cancer and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 1, 36, 46, 10 and 5.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): You’re a treasure. If you want to be pursued, then go where the treasure hunters are. Like a tattoo in invisible ink, it takes a special light to see the art, and it really only happens when a person knows it’s there in the first place.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): We can only be trapped by what we want. We are held by our own white knuckles clinging to what we don’t want to let go of. Fear of loss is the turn of the key that locks us in chains. If you agree to lose, then you will be free.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21): You have more stories than you think. The things you’ve done are so familiar to you that you cannot imagine how impressive they would be to another person, but if you share, you’ll find out.
CANCER (June 22-July 22): The best and brightest version of future-you hinges on the ability of today-you to pay close attention. To stay engaged, figure out what’s in it for you, even when the scene seems to revolve completely around the other person.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Sometimes, you have faith and you act on it. Today, your faith isn’t as strong, but you still benefit from action. Keep shooting for the goal regardless of whether you think you can make it.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Messes occur. It’s not your job to clean them up, though you’ll probably do it anyway, or at least be involved, because leaving things better than you found them is in your creed. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): Some pressures exist only because of a thought. The thought doesn’t have to be true to make the pressure very real. A thought is causing you stress unnecessarily. Identify and release it.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): If you ask the others, they’ll tell you what they see and you won’t be able to help being influenced. To find that truly original take on the situation, wait before you ask. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Trying to accomplish everything on the list will be too stressful and counterproductive. Decide on what you’re not going to do today and, suddenly, everything lightens up. Plus, you move quicker. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): There’s a risk inherent in every interaction, only it doesn’t feel as risky with those whom you can predict. Fresh blood will energize you and bring about your most daring self.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): With so many unwritten rules governing today’s interactions, you may just decide to go rogue and put an end to the easy compliance that has been the dysfunctional norm of the situation.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): No one knows how you do it, but somehow you’re able to draw vitality from lackluster scenes, badly illuminated in fluorescent light. Your imagination knocks out walls to install its own windows.
Adventurous Honda refuses to follow the familiar hybrid path through the dense, crackling electric forest.
It isn’t the first time for Honda’s rebel engineers.
Remember the six-cylinder monster motorcycle called the Valkyrie, a 700-pound cruiser with a 1.5-liter engine that Honda somehow managed to wedge into its frame?
Heck, the silver 2021 Accord Hybrid I had last week didn’t even vaguely resemble most hybrids.
As you probably know, most conventional hybrids combine small gas engines with electric motors to create highly fuel-efficient vehicles.
Honda, of course, just had to flip that formula around.
The Accord Hybrid Touring I had was really an electric vehicle, relying mainly on a 181 horsepower AC motor for propulsion.
In fact, like pure electrics, the unique Hybrid doesn’t have a transmission, using direct drive and instant electric torque to get the front wheels moving. The vehicle’s 2-liter four-cylinder gas engine up front mostly generates electricity to replenish the car’s battery – though it will occasionally kick in at highway speeds to assist the electric motor.
In addition, the five-passenger Hybrid has an all-electric mode good for a mile. The handsome mid-size sedan greeted the world with a clean, blacked-out grille and long sleek headlamps that wrapped around into its fenders. Although the sides of the Hybrid were mostly smooth, they had a chiseled look thanks to slightly flared fenders and a prominent character line above the car’s chrome door-handles.
Push the accelerator to the floor and the 140-horsepower four-banger awakens, mostly to generate power more quickly to meet the greater demand for electricity.
Unlike most hybrids, the Accord had solid power in the mid and upper ranges, accelerating to 60 mph in a brisk 7.1 seconds, according to Car and Driver. It also is rated at 43 miles per gallon overall.
Surprisingly, the Accord turned into corners crisply with minimal body lean, and rode firmly but with no jounce or bounce.
Its nicely weighted steering even offered some road feel.
Likewise, the black interior in my $37,000 Hybrid contained plenty of plastic, but also showed some imagination.
The upper dashboard in the Hybrid, for example, was plastic, but it had a flat tone and a smooth surface, giving it a more upscale feel.
It rolled down to a mid-dash area dominated by an 8-inch touchscreen with knobs for volume and tuning of the radio.
Several times in the last few years, I have criticized Honda for its overly aggressive safety-nannies, and the Hybrid occasionally sounded a shrill collision warning when there was literally nothing in front of me but open road. I love technology.
At least the seats in the Hybrid compensated nicely, sporting supportive bolsters with sectioned, perforated centers. The immense backseat is truly Uber-worthy with generous leg- and head-room.
If I needed a mid-size sedan – and happily, those days are behind me – the Accord would be at or near the top of my list, and I might include the Hybrid as well.
Don’t ask what happened to my hot-rod days.
The ROUSH Performance package for the Ford Ranger is back for 2021. Designed and engineered to tackle any terrain, each 2021 ROUSH Ranger is built from a 2021 Ford Ranger 301A or 302A XLT trim, equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine. The powertrain delivers 270-horsepower and 310 lb.-ft of torque.
ROUSH Ranger
On the exterior, you’ll see a signature ROUSH grille with dual LED light bars, Magnetic Gray fender flares with integrated accent lighting and functional fender vent badging. There are nine Ranger color options to choose from: Cactus Gray, Carbonized Gray and Cyber Orange Metallic are new for 2021.
Underneath its tough exterior is a ROUSHtuned Fox 2.0 Performance Suspension System. ROUSH says the suspension is specifically tuned to level the stance of the truck to improve both on-road performance and off-road capability. The truck rides on a set of custom 18-inch satin black ROUSH wheels wrapped in General Tire 32-inch Grabber A/TX tires. It’s also equipped with a performance cat-black exhaust system that features ROUSH-etched stainless steel tips. Inside, you’ll find premium ROUSH leather seating with quilted stitching and embroidery to provide more comfort and durability. A unique gauge cluster sits behind the steering wheel and
ROUSH floor liners by WeatherTech protect your interior from the elements. Each vehicle has a uniquely serialized interior badge on the dash, a certificate of authenticity and ROUSH “R” key fobs.
Optional upgrades include the ROUSH Off-Road Utility Kit, a ROUSH center console vault, Chase Rack (while supplies last) and a rear seat vault for additional secure storage under the rear bench seat.
The ROUSH Off-Road Utility Kit includes:
Carrying Bag
Tow Strap
Utility Ratchet Straps (2) ROUSH Gloves Towing Shackles (2) ROUSH LED Flashlight Jumper Cables