BMW recalls 257,000 cars to ensure owners can’t turn off the rearview camera
You'll know what BMW owners are experiencing if you've ever turned your phone's brightness all the way down before stepping out in broad daylight. Motorists are reducing the rearview camera screen's brightness and can't turn it back up. Numerous BMWs, two Rolls-Royces, and a Toyota are included in the recall.
Tesla wants to reinvent comfort with liquid heating and cooling
Just looking at the patent without the benefit of a Masters's Degree in engineering and HVAC systems one has to wonder what will keep the bladders from leaking from any number of scenarios. The patent leaves many questions unanswered such as the types of fluid used and the exact method of distribution of those fluids.
Lamborghini’s first EV will be ‘mature’ and based on the Taycan, report says
The first Lamborghini electric car will be a four-door "gran tourer," according to British magazine Autocar. The electric Lamborghini could share a platform with the Porsche Taycan and Audi E-Tron GT. Lamborghini has experimented with supercapacitors for future electric cars.
Apple’s hometown will use Via ridesharing to supplement public transit
Apple's hometown of Cupertino, California, has tapped Via to provide so-called "on-demand public transit." Via ridesharing vans will operate within the city and to a nearby commuter rail station. Via claims its app-based ridesharing service will provide greater flexibility than traditional buses.
Hundreds of Oktoberfest-goers lose license after drunken e-scooter rides
Locals and tourists gathered in Munich learned the hard way that riding an e-scooter is not an acceptable alternative to driving a car while drunk. Police checkpoints set up around the city's 16-day-long Oktoberfest celebrations caught hundreds of intoxicated motorists squiggling their way down a street or a sidewalk.
DHL Streetscooter electric vans will make package delivery greener
DHL is bringing its StreetScooter electric vans to the United States. Vans will be used in a pilot program beginning in 2020. Electric delivery vans are already used in large numbers in Europe. Between DHL and Amazon, electric vans may soon become more common in the U.S. as well.
2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel proves big trucks don’t have to be gas guzzlers
The 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel marks the return of diesel power to Ram's full-size pickup truck after a brief hiatus. Ram is coming out swinging with 480 pound-feet of torque -- more than its Ford and Chevy rivals. The 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel goes on sale in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Polestar 2 EV Performance Pack shows that old racing habits die hard
The Polestar 2 electric car will get an optional Performance Pack with upgraded brake and suspension components. The Polestar 2 is the Volvo spinoff's second model, and its first all-electric car. Polestar 2 production begins in 2020, with the first cars earmarked for Europe.
2021 Chevrolet Colorado gets a tougher exterior, but what’s underneath?
The 2021 Chevrolet Colorado gets a face-lift intended to help distinguish different trim levels. Other changes may be in store, but Chevrolet is keeping quiet for now. Chevrolet faces competition from the new Ford Range and Jeep Gladiator, as well as an updated Toyota Tacoma.
Take your tech on the road with the Thor Sequence smart Class B RV
Tech-centric van-style RVs can enhance road trips, tailgates, and weekend getaways. New technologies in the Thor Motorcoach Sequence 20L Class B RV aid set up, monitor vehicle operations from a single control panel, and help you stay in touch with the outside world if you can't totally cut off.
Thousands of people lied to the IRS to get EV tax credits on gasoline cars
About 16,000 taxpayers claimed credits for electric cars using ineligible vehicles, according to a United States Treasury Department audit. The IRS has no effective way of screening erroneous tax credit claims, the audit found. Car buyers can get a tax credit of up to $7,500 for a new electric car.
Waymo’s self-driving prototypes begin exploring LA’s latticework of streets
Three prototypes decked out with a full suite of autonomous technology have started exploring Los Angeles to gather data about the city's streets, though they're being driven by engineers. The company hasn't announced when it will take humans out of the equation and let its prototypes prowl La's streets on their own.
Milan Red CEO found guilty of fraud and sentenced to four years in prison
The founder and CEO of Milan Automotive was sentenced to prison for fraud related to his 249-mph Milan Red hypercar. Markus Fux collected money from investors, but the car never made it to production. The Milan Red was supposed to have a quad-turbocharged V8 making over 1,000 horsepower.
Over 800 motorists said their Nissan slammed on its brakes for no reason
Fourteen accidents and five injuries are being blamed on the malfunction, which comes from the automatic emergency braking technology. Disgruntled motorists claim their car gets confused by bridges, railroad tracks, and parking garages, though some slammed on their brakes while traveling at freeway speeds.
49,000 UAW workers are striking against GM. Here’s what you need to know
Nearly 50,000 union-represented workers in the United States are on strike against General Motors. They're asking for better wages, job security, and more benefits. Here's everything you need to know about the strike, including how it started and why, and what it could mean for you and your next car.
Tesla will show its creative side to comply with looming EV noise regulations
EVs will need to emit an artificial noise under 19 mph starting in September 2020, and Tesla is using the law as an excuse to get creative. The California-based company announced customizable horn and movement sounds are coming to its cars soon. Coconuts, goat bleats, and farts were floated as possible sounds.
The 2020 Honda Civic sedan and coupe arrive tomorrow starting at $20,680
The 2020 Honda Civic coupe and sedan are about to hit showrooms. Honda's bread and butter Civic doesn't receive any significant changes for 2020, while the base price increases by $335. Honda also offers a Civic hatchback, as well as sportier Si versions of the Civic coupe and sedan.
If you want Aston Martin’s newest supercar, you’ll have to buy a classic first
The Aston Martin DBS GT Zagato is a modern interpretation of the classic DB4 GT Zagato -- and the two cars are a package deal. Aston Martin is bringing back the DB4 GT Zagato for a limited production run, and you have to buy one to get the DBS GT. Aston Martin will charge $7.3 million for the pair.
Hyundai backs A.I. camera company to aid development of self-driving cars
Hyundai is investing in Netradyne, a company that makes A.I.-equipped dash cams for corporate fleets. Hyundai believes the cameras can provide map data for self-driving cars. Cost-effective mapping is one of the biggest barriers to autonomous driving, according to Hyundai.
Volkswagen is willing to share its electric car tech with BMW and others
Volkswagen is willing to share EV tech destined for Audi and Porsche models with other automakers. This could help speed up the deployment of electric cars, an executive said. Volkswagen is planning dozens of all-electric models across multiple brands, all set to launch over the next few years.
2020 Subaru Impreza gets new look and more tech without the inflated price tag
The sedan and hatchback variants of the Subaru Impreza are safer than before thanks to standard EyeSight across the board. Stylists also gave both variants a new-look front end, though the changes are minor. There are no mechanical modifications to report. The 2020 Impreza will arrive in showrooms by late 2019.
Pedestrian detection systems don’t work most of the time, AAA study finds
Many new cars have pedestrian-detection systems, which are supposed to prevent collisions between vehicles and pedestrians. But these systems underperformed in a recent AAA test. Performance was especially poor at night, when most pedestrian fatalities occur, according to AAA.
Florida man accused of cutting brakes on numerous electric scooters
Security camera footage helped cops in Florida to nab a man suspected of vandalizing more than 100 electric scooters by cutting the vehicles' brake lines. The acts of vandalism started in a small part of Fort Lauderdale in April, with police finally catching up with the suspect a few days ago.
Uber Copter is now available to everyone with the Uber app — in NY City
Anyone in New York City with the Uber app can now request a helicopter ride between Manhattan and JFK Airport. Costing around $200, the flight takes eight minutes, with Uber cars completing the trip at both ends. Uber sees the service as a stepping stone to its proposed Uber Air service using small, electric aircraft.
EV Rally series Extreme E to hold race in the recently burned Amazon
The recent fires in the Amazon rainforest brought extreme damage and devastation. Extreme E, the new all-electric Dakar style rally series, wants to shine a light on the issue, and has announced that sections of the area will be used for a racing event.
Tesla’s Smart Summon catches the attention of safety regulators
Several Twitter users posted videos of their Tesla hitting another car, or nearly cutting off oncoming traffic. One complained his Model 3 hit a garage wall. The federal government is gathering information from Tesla about the feature. Elon Musk said owners used Summon over half a million times.
Leaked documents claim the Honda Ridgeline is about to go hybrid
The second-generation Ridgeline is due for a mid-cycle update, and a dealership claims Honda has big changes in store for its only truck. In addition to a redesigned front end, the Ridgeline will allegedly offer a hybrid powertrain made up of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and two electric motors.
Behind the scenes of Audi’s secret arsenal of EV tech
The first cars built on the PPE platform being co-developed by Audi and Porsche will break cover in the 2020s. The architecture is being designed from a blank slate to underpin fast, luxurious electric cars. Digital Trends saw a mock-up that previews one of the first PPE-based cars, and learned what's under the skin.
Land Rover searches for ways to keep customers and regulators satisfied
Motorists want big, heavy SUVs they ride tall in, but regulators demand cleaner cars, and these two boxes are difficult to tick simultaneously. The company is looking at alternative ways to turn its biggest, heaviest models into zero-emissions cruisers. Hydrogen technology could help the British firm solve this puzzle.
The 1,000-mph land speed record is back on with test runs starting this month
The Bloodhound land speed record attempt is back on, after the project was briefly shut down due to a lack of funding. The 135,000-horsepower Bloodhound car will now head to South Africa for a series of tests. Bloodhound is targeting a top speed of 500 mph in these tests.
Semi trailer carrying five Teslas and one Subaru mysteriously goes up in flames
An equal amount of facts and assumptions gravitate around the enigmatic fire. What we know is that a hauler being towed across Nevada caught fire, and the six cars on it -- five Tesla EVs and one Subaru -- were a total loss. Tesla quickly blamed the fire on the trailer, but the cause isn't known yet.
The 2020 Corvette Convertible officially takes its top off
Just seven short weeks ago, we showed you the new 2020 Corvette in the flesh for the first time. Now less than two months later, we have the Corvette Convertible for you to behold in all its American splendor and freedom-loving glory. Let’s not waste anyone’s time here -- it looks magnificent.
The 2020 Audi RS 4 Avant proves the best car is always a wagon
Performance wagons like the 2020 Audi RS 4 Avant provide the perfect blend of speed and practicality, but they are rare in the United States. Audi won't sell the RS 4 Avant here, for example. But Audi will bring the larger, 600-horsepower RS 6 Avant wagon to these shores.
BMW M bundles supercar-like performance into the X5 and the X6
Buyers who want 600 horsepower under their right foot no longer have to compromise space or comfort. BMW's M division released high-performance variants of the third-generation X5 and X6 both powered by a mighty, twin-turbocharged V8. Both will arrive in American showrooms in early 2020 with a six-digit price tag.