Volkswagen’s friendly looking robot would autonomously charge electric cars
Once summoned via an app or the car's touchscreen, Volkswagen's friendly-looking robot knows exactly where the car in need of a charge is located. It autonomously tows a battery wagon to the parking spot, and wirelessly instructs the car to open its charging flap to start the charging process.
Fault with Mazda3’s emergency braking system could cause random activation
The latest vehicle recall involves the Mazda3, with some recent models at risk of activating the emergency braking system even when there's nothing ahead. The Japanese automaker is recalling just over 35,000 Mazda3 vehicles in the U.S. to fix the software that powers the feature.
Ford’s Breadcrumbs technology helps off-roaders find their way home
Like Hansel and Gretel, the Ford Ranger's navigation system drops a pin per second to show off-roaders the way they came. The Breadcrumbs function can make the difference between getting home before dark, and spending an hour looking for a way around a river. It's available on the Ranger and the F-Series trucks.
GM requests green light to ditch steering wheel in its self-driving cars
General Motors has asked regulators to allow it to test a limited number of autonomous cars without a steering wheel. Currently, all self-driving cars have one in place, with most also including a back-up driver ready to step in if something goes awry. The NHTSA is expected to respond to General Motors’ request soon.
Tesla update includes full self-driving ‘preview,’ better voice recognition
Tesla's 2019 holiday update includes a preview of its full self-driving capabilities expected next year, as well as better voice recognition for natural language queries and the ability to send and hear text messages by voice -- a feature that curiously has been absent since the beginning.
Rivian snags investment of another $1.3 billion to manufacture electric pickups
Rivian is turning into the automotive industry's darling. The Michigan-based company recently received $1.3 billion in funding and will use the money to ramp up production of its first two models by the end of 2020. Getting it right the first time is crucial to the electric pickup maker's success.
Lordstown Motors starts taking orders for electric, 600-hp pickup truck
Lordstown Motors, a startup that purchased the Lordstown, Ohio, factory from General Motors, plans to be the first manufacturer to launch an electric pickup truck. Its Endurance is tentatively scheduled to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2020. It will use four in-wheel electric motors, and it will cost $52,500.
Hyundai’s flying car program will take off at CES 2020 with concept vehicle
Hyundai wants to expand from building cars to building flying taxis, and we'll get a glimpse of what those flying taxis might look like at CES 2020. Hyundai will unveil a concept vehicle at the Las Vegas show. Hyundai is one of many companies developing flying taxis for urban use.
Listen to the soothing sound coming to London’s electric buses
Electric vehicles make very little noise at low speed, and that can be dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists, and the visually impaired. In a bid to improve safety on the streets of London, the city’s growing fleet of electric buses will soon test a specially created sound so that people know when one is nearby.
Electric DeLorean pushes the limits of self-driving tech with flawless drifting
A team of Stanford engineers has created an all-electric, self-driving DeLorean that can drift through an obstacle course with extreme precision. Named MARTY after Michael J. Fox's character in Back to the Future, the vehicle showed that autonomous cars are capable of handling extreme situations.
Tesla update adds Stardew Valley and backgammon from Lost (Yep, the TV show)
It sounds like compatible Tesla models will soon be able to recognize traffic lights and stop signs thanks to an upcoming over-the-air holiday software update. The repertoire of in-car games will also grow with the addition of Stardew Valley, and a version of Backgammon inspired by the TV show Lost.
Want an electric car that can tow? Then you need a Polestar 2
Most electric cars aren't rated to tow, but the upcoming Polestar 2 will be able to lug up to 3,300 pounds. That should be more than adequate for the needs of the Polestar's target customers. If you need to tow more, the only option is to get a much larger Tesla Model X or Audi E-Tron.
A $2,000 software update makes the Tesla Model 3 quicker
The Tesla Model 3 can get even quicker if owners are willing to fork over $2,000. That buys a software update which can shave a few tenths of a second off the electric cars' zero to 60 mph time. While Tesla regularly gives customers free OTA updates, it has charged for certain features in the past.
At CES 2020, BMW will make sleeping in a city car sound attractive
Half electric car and half boutique hotel, the BMW i3 Urban Suite looks like a regular-production model when viewed from the outside, but it gets a custom, two-seater interior designed with coziness in mind. BMW will deploy a fleet of Urban Suites on the streets of Las Vegas, Nevada, during CES 2020.
Car2Go car-sharing service shutting down in the U.S. after reality check
Share Now explained that, in a nutshell, it can't be profitable in the United States without investing a significant amount of money, and it is calling it a day. It will also shut down in London, Brussels, and Florence, but it will continue operating in 18 cities across Europe, including Helsinki and Copenhagen.
Lucid Air beta prototype shows 1,000-hp, 400-mile, electric car isn’t dead yet
The Lucid Air is a luxury electric car with a claimed 400-mile range and 1,000 horsepower, but we haven't heard much about it recently. It seems Lucid Motors is still working on getting the Air into production. The company unveiled a prototype that is 95% representative of the final production model.
Californians can now have their groceries delivered by autonomous vehicles
California will allow driverless light-duty commercial vehicles on its roads. This paves the way for autonomous vehicles to be used in delivery services in the Golden State. Companies like Nuro already use autonomous vehicles for deliveries in other states with less strict regulations.
Volkswagen will deploy retrolicious autonomous vans during the 2022 World Cup
One of the coolest concept cars of the decade will come to life on the streets of Doha, Qatar, during the 2022 World Cup. Volkswagen will turn the ID Buzz concept into an autonomous shuttle that will carry up to four passengers at a time. Truck manufacturer Scania will contribute 10 driverless buses to the project.
BMW will launch an electric version of one of its most popular models in 2020
The BMW iX3 is an electric version of the popular X3 crossover that starts production in 2020. BMW revealed some specifications, including horsepower and a European WLTP range rating. The iX3 will share BMW's fifth-generation electric powertrain with the upcoming i4 sedan and iNext crossover.
Why General Motors won’t be showing its next electric car at CES
The four-week-long strike that paralyzed General Motors earlier in 2019 has delayed its latest concept car, which is expected to be both electric and autonomous. It's now scheduled to debut during the first half of 2020. It might preview Cadillac's upcoming electric crossover, or it could be an electric pickup.
Lime lets you skip the unlock fee with new LimePass subscription
If you're looking for a more cost-effective way of using rentable bikes and scooters, then Lime's new LimePass subscription program may be the answer. For a weekly fee of $5, LimePass offers unlimited unlocks, saving you a dollar every time you jump onto one of its two-wheelers.
Mini begins taking orders for the all-electric 2020 Cooper SE
The 2020 Mini Cooper SE is the automaker's first mass-market electric car. Mini is now accepting $500 refundable deposits for the car, which hits showrooms in March 2020. The Cooper SE is priced lower than most other electric cars, but also has substantially less range.
This Corvette achieved supercar-rivaling speed without a single drop of gasoline
The Genovation GXE is an 800-horsepower electric Corvette that's as fast as a Ferrari. It just hit 211 mph, which Genovation claims is a world record for a street-legal electric car. The GXE could go even faster: Genovation previously quoted a top speed of over 220 mph.
Croatian startup Rimac begins testing autonomous, electric hypercar
Autonomous technology in a 1,900-horsepower hypercar? It sounds odd at first, but Rimac is out to break the rules. The C Two unveiled in 2018 is well on its way to production, and it's getting design tweaks, an updated powertrain, and an improved interior. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2020.
Google Maps makes it easier to find EV charging stations via plug type
If you own an electric vehicle and use Google Maps, then finding a nearby (and available) charging station when your car is running low on juice just got a little easier. A new feature lets you surface and quickly filter connector types for nearby stations, and tells you if a port is available there and then.
Cadillac will give its biggest SUV a gargantuan 38-inch curved screen
The 2021 Cadillac Escalade will get a 38-inch curved OLED screen that stretches about halfway across the dashboard. Cadillac claims this will be the first curved OLED screen in a production car, but it remains to be seen whether Cadillac will find a good use for such a large display.
Bosch’s A.I.-powered tech could prevent accidents by staring at you
How do you feel about being monitored by artificial intelligence while you drive? Bosch is working on technology that monitors everyone in the car, and it argues it's in the name of saving lives. The system knows if you're dozing off, and whether the person riding in the back is wearing a seat belt.
U.S. customers will have to wait another year for Mercedes’ electric EQC
Mercedes-Benz pushed back the U.S. launch of its EQC electric car from 2020 to 2021. Mercedes claims this is due to high demand in Europe, where the EQC went on sale earlier in 2019. But Mercedes may also be concentrating sales in Europe to meet stricter emissions standards.
All the insane car tech (and one motorcycle) we can’t wait to see at CES 2020
From Cybertruck competitors to better batteries and more steps toward autonomous cars, CES 2020 will unleash a torrent of automotive technology. Here's what we're expecting from the automotive industry at the latest CES, including one really cool-sounding motorcycle.
Porsche joins forces with Lucasfilm to design a Star Wars spacecraft
Porsche sports cars are pretty fast, but how about one with hyperdrive? Porsche teamed up with Lucasfilm to design a starship for the Star Wars universe. Named Tri-Wing S-91X Pegasus, the ship will be displayed in scale model form at the premiere of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
The Cybertruck vs. F-150 comparison isn’t fair, Tesla tells California officials
One of Tesla's top executives explained the Cybertruck will enter production as a Class 2B truck, while the Ford F-150 falls into the 2A category; they're not in the same segment. The Cybertruck's true rivals will be 2B's current leaders: the Ford F-250, the Ram 2500, and the Chevrolet Silverado 2500.
Lyft takes on car rental services in Los Angeles and the SF Bay Area
Lyft has confirmed it's operating a car rental service in San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles. Cars can be rented for up to two weeks, with free rides offered to and from the rental location. Lyft Rentals is accessible within the main Lyft app alongside its other transportation offerings such as bikes and scooters.
The electric Mini Cooper SE’s driving range confirms it’s not a road-tripper
With up to 110 miles of range in ideal conditions, the Mini Cooper SE is has one of the shortest driving ranges of any electric car sold in the United States. The company argues it was developed as a city car, not for long trips, and buyers can take advantage of quick charging. Pricing starts at $30,000.
The Porsche Taycan falls completely short of the Model S when it comes to range
201 miles really isn't great, but we don't think it's going to be a deal breaker for buyers. Those in the market for a Porsche Taycan certainly have the means to invest in a home charger, and odds are they have a gasoline-powered car (or two, or three) for long trips. The EPA has only rated one version of the Taycan.