Waymo found inspiration in airports for its Arizona self-driving car hub
When it decided to set up a self-driving car maintenance hub in Arizona, Waymo looked at how airports are run in order to make it work. The company also partnered with a large dealership chain to keep its autonomous test fleet on the road. Waymo has over 400 cars at the hub.
This Karma Revero plug-in hybrid’s audio system took more than 2 years to design
German audio company Sennheiser created a one-off 3D surround sound system for a 2020 Karma Revero GT plug-in hybrid. But it took a long time -- two years -- for engineers to get it right, according to the company. The Karma Revero GT is a heavily updated version of the Fisker Karma.
Avis is testing A.I. tech that scans your rental car for damage
Avis Budget Group is running a pilot program for automated vehicle inspections. The system being tested uses CCTV cameras to scan vehicles, and A.I. to review the images for damage and potential maintenance issues. Avis is working with U.K.-based Ravin on the pilot program.
For 2020, Volkswagen shuffles trim levels and adds tech across the board
Volkswagen is focusing on technology as it updates its full range of models for the 2020 model year. From the Jetta to the Arteon, all of the firm's cars benefit from a new infotainment system, and most receive standard electronic driving aids. The 2020 models will arrive in American showrooms in the coming months.
Audi places its smallest model where escooters and skateboards intersect
Audi developed a vehicle that blurs the line between escooters and skateboards. Its E-Tron Scooter is an electric skateboard that's shaped like a longboard and fitted with a scooter-like handlebar. It has 12.5 miles of range and a 12.5-mph top speed. Production and sales are both scheduled to kick off in 2020.
Tesla Model 3 tuned in Germany is an electric car you’ll either love or hate
German tuner Novitec has released a catalog of aftermarket parts for the Tesla Model 3. Its body kit includes several components made with carbon fiber, and it also makes 21-inch alloy wheels available. There are suspension parts, too, but Novitec leaves the Tesla Model 3's electric powertrain fully stock.
Optimus Ride launches autonomous shuttle service in New York City
Self-driving startup Optimus Ride is bringing its autonomous vehicles to New York City. It'll roll out its technology at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a 300-acre industrial park with more than 400 manufacturing businesses and 9,000 people workers, and offer rides between the site's various facilities.
Audi Sport will unleash 6 new, redesigned performance cars in the next 4 months
Audi Sport announced plans to introduce six cars by the end of 2019. Looking at the dark teaser image it released, we think we see two variants of the RS Q3, an RS4, an RS6, an RS7, and an RS Q8. We'll see them in the next four months, but don't expect all of them to be sold in the United States.
Nissan and EVgo adding another 200 fast-charging stations for electric cars
Nissan and EVgo are teaming up once again to make life more convenient for drivers of electric cars. The two companies plan to install 200 new DC fast-charging stations across the United States. The stations will be compatible with electric cars from multiple automakers.
Running on rubbish: Automakers eye using eggshells, tomato skins in car parts
Researchers are sifting through garbage to find sustainable alternatives to the materials used in car parts. Tomato skins and eggshells could replace environment-damaging carbon black in rubber parts, according to a new report. As car powertrains get greener, car parts will have to keep up.
Why Ford chose a dual-clutch transmission for the Shelby GT500 Mustang
The 2020 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang can accelerate from zero to 100 mph and back to zero again in 10.6 seconds, and that's partly down to the Tremec seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, according to Ford. Here's how that gearbox makes the most powerful Ford road car ever go.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets a solar roof to help recharge its battery pack
The latest Hyundai Sonata Hybrid will get a solar roof that helps recharge its battery pack. While the new Sonata Hybrid will be sold in the United States, Hyundai hasn't yet discussed plans to offer the solar roof here. Hyundai isn't the first automaker to offer solar charging.
Flyboard Air inventor plans to unveil 250-mph flying sports car by 2020
After designing a hoverboard and crossing the English Channel with it, Franky Zapata plans to develop a flying car capable of cruising at up to 250 mph. The 40-year-old Frenchman has already started testing prototypes, and he wants to unveil the final model (with no fewer than 10 gas turbines) by the end of 2019.
Tesla squashes Dog Mode bug that could have let cars get too hot
Tesla recently rolled out an over-the-air update to fix a worrying Dog Mode bug that had the potential to let a vehicle’s interior become too hot. Dog Mode launched in April as a way to keep the car cool for pets in warm weather if the owner has to hop out for a moment.
Razer teams up with Nio to roll out limited-edition electric SUV
Gaming accessories company Razer and electric vehicle manufacturer Nio teamed up for the Nio ES6 Night Explorer Limited Edition, integrating Razer's design into the Nio ES6 Performance Edition. Only 88 units of the electric SUV will be manufactured, as the start of a partnership between the two companies.
There’s a hidden environmental cost to renting electric scooters to get around
Electric scooters are touted as an environmentally-friendly way to get around town, but a new study suggests that they might be worse for climate change than the transportation methods they’re replacing. According to the North Carolina State University Study, walking and biking are better options
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette’s performance influenced its sound system
Bose has worked with Chevrolet to develop sound systems for the Corvette since 1984, but the 2020 model presented a new challenge due to its unprecedented midengined layout. It nonetheless packs up to 14 speakers, and its performance specifications had a significant impact on how the system was designed.
This $5,600 kit can give old diesel cars an all-electric makeover
A French startup has developed a kit that retrofits older cars with electric powertrains. The startup hopes to perform up to 4,000 electric conversions a year, but so far it's only focusing on the European market. The kit is billed as being cheaper than buying a new electric car.
Watch the Red Cross put the new Land Rover Defender to the test in Dubai
Ahead of its public unveiling, the new Land Rover Defender spent some time undergoing desert testing in the hands of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Land Rover Defender is one of the most respected off-road nameplates in history.
IndyCar will start using 900-horsepower hybrid powertrains in 2022
IndyCar, the race series built around the legendary Indianapolis 500, will start using hybrid powertrains in 2022. However, they will only have a limited amount of electric assist. Chevrolet and Honda have signed on to continue supplying engines under the new hybrid rules.
Tesla-driving tourists set a coast-to-coast record, but lose it a few days later
Swiss tourists on a family vacation in the United States set a coast-to-coast record by driving their Tesla Model 3 from New York City to Los Angeles (a trip known as a Cannonball Run) in 48 hours and 10 minutes. The EV record was broken just a few days later by another Model 3 owner who logged 45 hours and 16 minutes.
For car thieves, there is no replacement for engine displacement
Muscle cars are more likely to be stolen than SUVs or luxury sedans, according to a recent study. The Hemi-powered Dodge Charger and the Dodge Challenger Hellcat top the list of America's most stolen cars. The BMW 3 Series is the least-stolen car in America, followed by Tesla's electric Model S and Model X.
2020 Nissan Versa sedan redesign brings significant price bump
The 2020 Nissan Versa sedan aims to deliver more style and tech than its forgettable predecessor did. Its restyled exterior borrows the look of the larger Altima sedan. But will the new Versa be more than just a pretty face? The 2020 Nissan Versa starts at $15,625
Electrify America will build a robotic charging facility for self-driving cars
Electrify America and charging company Stable Auto will build a pilot site in San Francisco to test charging technology for self-driving cars. Robotic arms will connect charging cables to cars. If things work out, Electrify America could scale up the technology to other charging sites.
The electric Curtiss Psyche blurs the line between motorcycles and art
Curtiss Motorcycles released images of an experimental, design-led electric bike named Psyche. It's positioned as an alternative to the Harley-Davidson Livewire, but riders will either love or hate its intricate design. It can tentatively cover 160 miles on a single charge, and it offers up to 96 horsepower.
Bentley Motors creates a buzz as it enters the honey business
Bentley is diversifying -- into honey. The maker of luxury cars has installed two beehives on the perimeter of its main campus in England as part of efforts to improve its green credentials and boost the local bee population. The automaker says the move fits with its “flying b” emblem seen on the bonnet of its cars.
Hands on with Android Auto’s redesign and Assistant’s driver mode
Google just rolled out a series of updates to its Android Auto software. The new interface is darker and more intuitive to use, and requires fewer taps. There's also a driving mode coming to Google Assistant, as well as remote control options for certain cars.
Ford’s latest acquisition will help boost the development of self-driving cars
Ford has acquired Michigan-based software and robotics company Quantum Signal to help continue development of self-driving cars. Quantum Signal's experience with simulation will help in this area, according to Ford. The first production Ford self-driving car is expected to arrive in 2021.
Colorado will adopt California’s zero-emission vehicle mandate to boost EV sales
Colorado will implement California's zero-emission vehicle mandate, which requires automakers to sell certain amounts of electric cars, plug-in hybrids, or hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, for the 2023 model year. Automakers will also be able to get credits that can be applied toward the Colorado targets.
Japanese researchers are teaching tires how to generate electricity
Japanese tire company Sumitomo teamed up with researchers at Kansai University to develop an experimental tire that generates electricity. It uses an Energy Harvester to convert the friction generated as the car moves into a small amount of electricity used to power accessories like the tire pressure monitoring system.
Here’s why this Texas racetrack won’t let electric cars onto its drag strip
Texas Motor Speedway has banned competitors from racing in an electric car. It's not worried about a Tesla beating a Mercedes-AMG, but it is concerned about not being sufficiently equipped to put out an electric car fire. Lithium-ion fires are notoriously difficult -- and equally dangerous -- to put out.
Tesla will show its cyberpunk, Blade Runner-inspired pickup by the end of 2019
Tesla has started designing its long-promised pickup truck. The yet-unnamed model will come with dual-motor all-wheel drive and lots of torque, plus it will be able to park itself. It will be about as big as Ford's F-150, though a sketch suggests Tesla will later build a much bigger pickup based on its semi.
2020 Porsche Carrera will be the cornerstone of the new 911 family
Porsche revealed the standard variant of the 911 that the rest of the range will be built on. Offered as a coupe and as a convertible, the 911 Carrera receives tech features from the Panamera, and a flat-six engine turbocharged to 379 horsepower. It's on sale now, and the first deliveries are scheduled for early 2020.
Nissan Rogue Hybrid discontinued amid slow sales, but rival models remain
The Nissan Rogue Hybrid seemed like a good idea when it was introduced for the 2017 model year, but the hybrid version of the popular Nissan Rogue crossover is about to be discontinued. The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid will remain, though, and a new Ford Escape Hybrid is on the way.