DieselGate continues to haunt Volkswagen as massive class-action suit is filed
A case has been brought against Volkswagen in which 470,000 owners of the 2.0 liter TDI EA189 engine seek compensation due to the company's diesel emissions scandal. The scandal was uncovered in 2015 via a tip from researchers to the Environmental Protect Agency and the California Air Resources Board.
Volta is building a free electric car fast-charging network. No, really
Volta is launching a network of 150 DC fast-charging stations that will be free to use. The stations will be placed at shopping centers and other businesses starting this month, and should significantly increase the number of free charging options available to electric car drivers.
Electrify America’s home station lets you charge your EV while watching Netflix
Electrify America is building up a network of public charging stations, but given how many electric car drivers charge at home, the company is launching a home charging station as well. Electrify America was created to spend $2 billion of Volkswagen "Dieselgate" penalties on charging networks.
Smarter and sharper-looking, the Toyota C-HR now plays nice with Android phones
Toyota resisted Android Auto for years due to privacy and safety concerns, but it settled its differences with Google. The 2020 C-HR comes standard with Android Auto. It also offers Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Minor visual changes round out the list of updates for the 2020 model year.
Rivian hints that it will go the subscription route for electric trucks
Rivian may introduce a subscription service for its upcoming electric pickup truck and SUV, CEO RJ Scaringe said at a recent industry meeting. Rivian wouldn't be the first company to go that route. Either way, Rivian vehicles won't be sold through conventional dealerships.
Bosch is detonating mini-explosions in electric cars to make them safer
An electric car's powertrain becomes a rescue team's worst enemy during a crash. Bosch developed a semiconductor-based technology that detonates mini-explosions when it detects the car has been involved in a crash to prevent electrical shocks. When this technology will reach the market depends on EV manufacturers.
Nissan IMk concept can park itself, communicate using holograms
The Nissan IMk concept is a pint-sized electric car designed for cities. It shows what a future Nissan electric car smaller than the Leaf could look like, while also highlighting Nissan's most advanced driver-assist and connectivity tech. The Nissan IMk debuts at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.
Waymo shows kids its autonomous cars in what it hopes will be a two-way street
Waymo has been demonstrating its self-driving cars to American students to teach them about its autonomous technology. It also hopes to gain useful feedback from the next generation of road users while at the same time inspiring some to take the baton and become the engineers of tomorrow.
Waze offers cities a trove of data to help fight traffic
Waze users generate massive amounts of data on traffic conditions, and Waze is trying to put that data to good use. The app is offering data and analysis tools to cities via Google Cloud to help reduce traffic congestion. It's an expansion of a program Waze launched in 2014.
Uber might let you record the audio of your ride if the driver is being creepy
Uber is testing a new way to make its riders feel safer by allowing them to record their rides. Part of Uber’s Safety Toolkit section, the built-in audio recorder will allow people to record misbehaving drivers or any other conversations where riders may feel uncomfortable.
Next-gen Toyota Mirai confirmed despite continuing issues with hydrogen tech
The Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car will live on for another generation, Toyota chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada said at a recent conference on hydrogen. Toyota remains a champion of fuel cells, but lack of hydrogen infrastructure has slowed the rollout of the technology.
Forget sedans and SUVs, Hyundai wants to develop its own flying taxis
Hyundai is launching an air mobility division, becoming the latest company to pursue the goal of flying taxis. NASA veteran Dr. Jaiwon Shin will lead the Hyundai flying taxi effort. Hyundai didn't offer any other details on what the new air mobility division is working on, however.
Maryland gas station becomes first in U.S. to ditch oil for 100% EV charging
A Maryland gas station owner who has become disenchanted with petroleum company contract structures has teamed up with the state energy administration and the Electric Vehicle Institute to make the first conversion from petroleum to electric charging in the United States.
2020 Dodge Charger Widebody adds grip to tame massive Hemi power
The 2020 Dodge Charger Widebody sprouts fender flares housing wider tires. The extra rubber adds grip to go with the big sedan's prodigious power. You can still get a Charger with a 707-horsepower Hellcat Hemi V8. Dodge will offer the Widebody option on Hellcat and Scat Pack models.
Land Rover Defender could become a life-size remote-control car
The 2020 Land Rover Defender could get remote-control tech that will allow for low-speed driving from outside the car, according to a new report. Land Rover demonstrated similar tech in 2015. The automaker believes remote-control operation could be useful for off-road driving.
Subaru has already recalled the 2020 Outback and Legacy over brake problems
They've barely been available in dealerships, but Subaru has already had to recall the 2020 Outback and 2020 Legacy over problems with the cars' brake pedal. The issue is with a bolt that mounts the brake pedal to the rest of the car -- it either isn't tight enough or it's missing altogether.
Tesla software version 10.0: Everything you need to know
Tesla's V10.0 software adds the ability to plug an Xbox controller into their center console to play games. It also adds Smart Summon, which lets the car drive itself to where its owner is waiting, and Tesla Theater, which allows motorists to watch videos on Netflix and YouTube while parked.
Subaru and Toyota will keep working together to create sports cars and hybrids
Subaru and Toyota are renewing their partnership, and that means the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 sports cars will live on for another generation. More Subaru models will get Toyota hybrid tech, too. The two automakers also plan to work together on electric cars and autonomous driving.
Ford’s self-driving car testing program heads to Austin
Austin, Texas, has embraced self-driving cars, which is why Ford chose the city as its latest testing location. Ford plans to use autonomous cars for services like ridesharing. Ford also operates prototype self-driving cars in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Miami, and Washington, D.C.
EVs, hybrids, and sports cars dot Maserati’s 2020s product road map
Maserati is turning to its Italian roots to future-proof its range of luxury and performance models. It announced plans to release an array of new or comprehensively updated cars in the coming years, and all of them will be made in Italy. Electrification plays a significant role in its future lineup of cars.
Delaminated touchscreens in some 2013-2017 Cadillacs prompt class-action lawsuit
Within the 4-year/50,000 mile warranty, the Cadillac CUE screen allegedly became unresponsive. Repairs would be about $1,200. This, despite a NHTSA technical bulletin dated December 2014 and again issued in August 2017 identifying the problem and suggesting a full replacement of the center stack.
Bollinger’s electric trucks are a big step closer to production
Bollinger Motors isn't your average electric car startup. Bollinger's B1 and B2 are rugged off-roaders that trade luxury for capability. Both vehicles are still in the prototype stage, and Bollinger hasn't released a firm timeline for production. Meanwhile, other companies are developing electric trucks.
Uber and EVgo team up to increase use of electric cars in ridesharing
As part of an ongoing effort to get more drivers to use electric cars, Uber is partnering with EVgo to increase access to charging stations. The two companies plan to launch a series of pilot programs to make that happen. Uber previously announced incentives for drivers who made the switch to EVs.
2020 Nissan Titan pickup truck gets more powerful engine, tech-filled interior
The 2020 Nissan Titan gets a significant refresh, including a more powerful engine, a bigger touchscreen, and more driver-assist tech. Nissan needs to pull out all of the stops to compete with the dominant Ford F-150, GM's Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra twins, and the Ram 1500.
2020 Ford F-Series Super Duty has the torque to tow all of your toys
The 2020 Ford F-Series Super Duty gets new tech, a gargantuan 7.3-liter gasoline V8 engine, and a new 10-speed automatic transmission. Will that be enough to take on fresher rivals from Chevrolet and Ram? The updated Super Duty will hit showrooms before the end of 2019.
This Scania autonomous truck concept doesn’t even have a cab
The Scania AXL concept is a heavy duty truck that doesn't even have room onboard for a human driver. The autonomous truck was designed to work at construction sites and mines. Scania is currently testing autonomous trucks in the field, but with human safety drivers onboard.
Tesla Model S police car almost runs out of electricity during high-speed chase
"I am down to six miles of battery on the Tesla, so I may lose it here in a sec," police officer Jesse Hartman said during the incident. He later explained that someone had forgotten to charge the Tesla, so he didn't leave with as much range as he should have. Officers called off the chase when it became too dangerous.
The 2020 Audi RS Q3 is a souped-up SUV you’ll have to admire from afar
Enthusiasts worried Audi would deep-six its sonorous five-cylinder engine can sleep easy. It makes a comeback in both variants of the RS Q3, and it's tuned to deliver 400 hp to the four wheels via Quattro all-wheel drive. Inside, the digital instrument cluster and the infotainment system learn a few new tricks.
Nissan recalls 1.2M cars to ensure owners can’t turn off the rear-view camera
The list of models included in the recall campaign includes nearly every nameplate Nissan offered during the 2018 and 2019 model years. Technicians will fix the rear-view camera-related problem by updating the software. The recall campaign will begin in October 2019, it will end the following month.
Lyft folds all of its transportation options into its main app
Lyft's main ridesharing app will soon show options not only for car rides, but also for bikesharing, scootersharing, car rental, and public transit — all on the same screen. Uber recently pulled a similar move as both companies work to become multi-modal transportation businesses.
The Porsche Taycan is the first EV tuner Hennessey is putting its hands into
Hennessey will begin making powertrain modifications to the Taycan when it receives the example it ordered in early 2020. In the meantime, it's designing aftermarket parts like alloy wheels, new-look interior parts, and a body kit for the first electric Porsche. Pricing information hasn't been announced yet.
Startup Canoo debuts subscription-only electric car
Electric car startup Canoo has unveiled its first vehicle, a seven-seat pod that will only be available through a subscription service. This sets Canoo apart from the legions of other EV startups. Canoo plans to launch its subscription service in Los Angeles in 2021, followed by other cities.
Aston Martin’s first SUV will share an engine with its sports car siblings
The Aston Martin DBX is a major departure from tradition, but one part of the SUV will be familiar. The DBX will use the same Mercedes-AMG engine as the Aston Martin DB11 and Vantage. Aston Martin plans to unveil the DBX in December, with production expected to start shortly after that.
New research could help Tesla’s EV batteries last for a million miles
Tesla founder Elon Musk promised last year that batteries in the company’s vehicles would eventually be able to run for one million miles over the course of their lifespan -- and now researchers have some details on how they plan to make those batteries a reality.