Toyota raises the curtain on 2020 Corolla Nightshade Editions
The 2020 Toyota Corolla SE sedan and hatchback with a CVT (continuously variable transmission) will be available in Nightshade Editions, joining four other vehicles in the lineup with the blacked-out trim option. For 2020, the Toyota 4Runner, Camry, Highlander, and Sienna also feature Nightshade Editions.
Infiniti’s Formula One-inspired Project Black S may enter production
The Infiniti Project Black S is a Q60 luxury coupe enhanced with a Formula One-inspired hybrid powertrain. The 563-horsepower car can sprint from zero to 62 mph in under four seconds, according to Infiniti. Infiniti will soon decide whether to put it into production.
Vintage Electric readies the Roadster Speed Merchant, a souped-up ebike
Vintage Electric introduced the latest in its line of retro-styled premium performance ebikes for fall 2019. The Vintage Roadster gets its styling cues from classic board track racing motorcycles and its power from a 1,123-watt battery. With the optional Race Mode key, the Roadster has a top speed of 36 mph.
2019 Audi E-Tron is the first electric car to earn top IIHS safety rating
The 2019 Audi E-Tron is the first electric car to earn an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating. But the IIHS hasn't tested the Audi's two main rivals -- the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X. Audi can at least promote the E-Tron's high score in relation to gasoline SUVs.
2020 Honda Civic hatchback keeps the manual-transmission faith
The 2020 Honda Civic hatchback was treated to a subtle exterior facelift. Honda also expanded the availability of both the manual transmission and 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Honda recently made similar changes to the Civic sedan and coupe.
This 717-horsepower Dodge Charger is the ultimate family sedan
The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat gets a 10-horsepower boost, but only for a limited-edition model. The special Charger commemorates the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona -- one of the wildest American muscle cars. Dodge will build just 501 cars, matching the production run of the original Daytona.
Chevrolet’s 2020 Corvette gets supercar-like speed without the price
Chevrolet completely reinvented the Corvette Stingray for the 2020 model year. While the first seven generations of the car came with a front-mounted engine, the eighth-generation model switches to a mid-engined layout. Enthusiasts can already reserve and configure their Corvette online.
Can big rebates lure Tesla owners into Jaguar’s segment-bending I-Pace?
Jaguar wants Tesla owners to step into its stores and drive home in an I-Pace, its first and only electric car. The company is offering motorists who can prove there is a Tesla in their household a $3,000 rebate. Other deals are available, and they bring the I-Pace's price down to $54,50 before the $7,500 tax credit.
Will Volkswagen’s convertible T-Roc crossover start a trend?
Volkswagen's T-Roc just lost its lid. The sub-Tiguan model spawned a high-riding convertible that picks up where the Beetle left off. Buyers have two engines to choose from, and they can select a state-of-the-art infotainment system that's permanently connected to the internet. The model won't be sold in the U.S.
Despite high injury rates, 80% of e-scooter riders refuse to wear helmets
Frequent e-scooter riders are aware of the risk of injury, but 80% reported they do not wear helmets. The high percentage of lidless e-scooter riders persisted even though 40% said they either knew someone who had been in an e-scooter accident or had been in an accident themselves.
Chevrolet’s one-of-a-kind electric Camaro drag racer is now for sale
The Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro concept unveiled in 2019 is an all-electric drag racer that points toward a future of zero-emission performance. The 700-horsepower eCOPO can run the quarter mile in under 10 seconds, according to Chevy. The concept is a one-off model, and it's headed to auction in August 2019.
2020 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series is a ready-made collectible
Six-figure luxury coupes aren't exactly a common sight on the road, but the 2020 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series will be among the rarest of the rare. Just 100 of these green machines will be sold in the United States. This is the second model year that Lexus has offered an Inspiration Series LC.
Minneapolis bans drive-through windows in bid to keep pedestrians safe
Minneapolis recently took a first step in denying the significance of automobiles in American culture when the city council enacted a ban on drive-throughs. The local authority argued that getting rid of drive-throughs will result in safer roads and cleaner air. The next step will be a ban on gas stations.
Reminiscent of Tron, RMK’s E2 hubless electric motorcycle gets closer to launch
Electric motorcycles, like electric cars, differ from petrol-powered vehicles because they have many fewer parts. Finnish electric motorcycle company RMK's E2 goes one step further by eliminating the rear wheel hub. The stunning E2 is getting close to production with first deliveries expected in early 2020.
Bentley EXP 100 GT concept gets its own augmented-reality app
The Bentley EXP 100 GT is a forward-looking concept car, so it seems fitting that it gets its own augmented-reality app, letting users take in the car's design virtually. Bentley dealers will let potential customers view a full-scale virtual model of the one-off concept car.
The 2020 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350R remains hilariously hardcore
The GT500 may be the new kid in town, but the Shelby GT350R offers the purest driving experience of any Mustang. The hardcore model borrows some tricks from the GT500 for 2020, Ford claims. Ford will also continue to sell the base GT350 Mustang, which makes more concessions to usability.
Water-repellent fabric lets Subaru seats keep up with the people sitting on them
Subaru developed a water-repellent fabric named StarTex to help the seats in its cars keep up with the people sitting on them. StarTex is soft to the touch, it's easy to clean, and it's vegan. It's only available on an upmarket variant of the new 2020 Outback, but we expect more models will soon offer it.
Freightliner starts delivering its electric eCascadia semi truck to customers
Freightliner will soon deliver the first two examples of its battery-electric eCascadia semi truck. The 730-horsepower hauler will be put in the hands of two companies that will test it in California and provide feedback. The manufacturer plans to build additional examples for its pilot program during 2019.
This woman implanted her Tesla key into her arm
Software engineer Amie DD took the car-shaped key fob that Tesla gives owners to unlock their vehicle, and implanted part of it in her arm, which allows her to open her Tesla with her body rather than a traditional key.
Porsche expands its hybrid range with three gasoline-electric Cayennes
Porsche expanded its range of electrified performance cars by releasing three hybrid variants of the Cayenne SUV. The range-topping Turbo S E-Hybrid models ally a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 engine with an electric motor to deliver 670 horsepower. The Cayenne Coupe also gains a tamer E-Hybrid variant.
Bosch wants to give your car’s instrument cluster a full 3D makeover
Bosch is working on integrating passive 3D technology into your car's dashboard. The company's research shows drivers view and interpret information much faster when it's presented in 3D. There are no firm plans to bring the technology to production yet, but we expect to see it during the early 2020s.
GM’s Cruise autonomous car unit teams up with Humanmade on job training
General Motors' Cruise self-driving car division is based in San Francisco, where the tech industry has created some unfortunate economic side effects. Cruise and Humanmade hope to address that imbalance. Cruise is supporting Humanmade's makerspace and job training programs.
Mod turns Tesla Model S into surveillance bot that tracks faces, license plates
Security researcher Truman Kain debuted the Surveillance Detection Scout at the Defcon hacking conference. The mod is capable of transforming a Tesla Model S into a surveillance bot that can track license plates and faces, and send out alerts if someone keeps appearing on the car's built-in cameras.
Hyundai Nexo is the first fuel-cell vehicle crash-tested by the IIHS
The 2019 Hyundai Nexo earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It's the organization's highest rating. The Nexo is the first hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle to be tested by the IIHS, providing important information for buyers. Hyundai volunteered the SUV for testing.
Porsche staged 26 acceleration tests in a row to prove the Taycan could take it
The Porsche Taycan can accelerate from 0 to 124 mph and back to 0 in under 10 seconds -- repeatedly. Porsche performed 26 back-to-back runs to make sure the Taycan was consistently quick. Porsche attributes that consistency to the battery pack's thermal-management system.
Enroll now to test BMW’s wireless charging system for electric vehicles
Available on the BMW 530e plug-in hybrid, the company's wireless charging system includes a wireless ground pad, and car pad affixed to the underside of the vehicle. The system then wirelessly charges the 530e over a gap of about 3 inches, with a charging power of 3.2KW.
2020 Nissan Maxima gets more standard safety tech, keeps V6 grunt
The 2020 Nissan Maxima gets the Nissan Safety Shield 360 bundle of driver aids as standard equipment, but the 300-horsepower sedan remains largely unchanged aside from reshuffled feature content. Pricing for the 2020 Nissan Maxima starts at $35,145. The 2020 Maxima is on sale now.
Mitsubishi’s got 99 problems … but they’re all fixable
Mitsubishi has great potential to become the next big thing in the automotive world, but it will face more than its fair share of speedbumps along the way. We've got a few thoughts on how the company can shed its budget-brand image with stronger leadership, better products, and a focus on quality.
Aluminum-carbon nanotubes could replace copper wiring in cars, report says
The average car features up to 60 pounds of copper wiring, but researchers are looking to reduce some of that weight. Combing aluminum with carbon nanotubes could be the solution, those researchers believe. The nanotubes reportedly add strength and conductivity to lightweight aluminum.
Thieves are using high-tech methods to drive off in high-tech cars
Cars are becoming increasingly high-tech, so thieves are getting smarter to keep up. Code grabbing hardware widely available online lets them duplicate a key fob's code and get into a car without breaking a window or bending a door. The same basic hardware sometimes allows them to drive off in a car.
Is Fisker preparing to throw its hat in the electric pickup ring?
Electric car startup Fisker released an enigmatic, computer-generated teaser image that seems to show a pickup. The electrified truck will ride on the same platform as Fisker's upcoming SUV, and it will reach showrooms in about 2022. It will face competition from Rivian, Tesla, and Ford, among others.
The Ripper ATV is a motorized skateboard that thinks it’s a Jeep Wrangler
Rogue Power developed the Jeep Wrangler of the scooter world. Called Ripper ATV, it's a four-wheeled machine with a surprisingly advanced suspension, and an engine borrowed from a Honda lawnmower. It's designed for light off-roading, and it's small enough to fit in the back of a pickup truck. Pricing starts at $3,500.
Ford settles class-action lawsuit over infotainment woes for $17 million
Ford has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit -- which accused it of selling defective infotainment systems -- for $17 million. Customers who bought a car with MyFord Touch or MyLincoln Touch between 2010 and 2013 claim the system didn't work as advertised, and often froze or crashed.
2020 Buick Encore GX will rely on turbocharged three-cylinder power
The 2020 Buick Encore GX will slot between the standard Encore and the Envision in Buick's lineup. Buick is keeping most other details under wraps until closer to the Encore GX's 2020 launch, but a leaked order guide has revealed the GX will be offered with three-cylinder engines.