BMW is planning high-performance hybrids, as well as hot-rodded EVs
BMW development chief Klaus Fröhlich told Digital Trends he thinks the company's M division will release a high-performance hybrid after 2025. In the meantime, it will focus on leveraging the benefits of plug-in hybrid technology to boost performance while keeping fuel economy and emissions in check.
Chevrolet’s in-car pizza-ordering app is the start of an ecommerce revolution
Chevrolet has added Domino's in-car pizza delivery app to Marketplace, an ecommerce platform that equips millions of cars built since 2017. Users can order a pizza on-the-go by tapping the screen a few times, and have it delivered where they want. This marks the beginning of an ecommerce revolution.
U.S. firm plans to power soccer stadiums using aging Nissan Leaf batteries
We've heard of aging EV batteries being repurposed to power homes, street lamps, and other facilities, but how about an entire sports stadium? An American firm is already doing just that, and now has plans to expand its system to multiple soccer venues across Europe using old EV batteries from Nissan’s Leaf vehicle.
This ’60s Ford Mustang EV has Tesla-like specs and a Rolls-Royce-like price
British startup Charge Cars planted its flag where electric cars and muscle cars meet when it unveiled a battery-powered 1960s Ford Mustang. Starting with an officially licensed reproduction shell, the firm added an electric powertrain with 885 pound-feet of torque and 200 miles of range.
Airstream inspiration Road Chief puts an off-grid luxury camper on the road
Thoroughly updated for off-grid camping for four people, the new Bowlus Road Chief Endless Highways edition awaits your tow hitch and your wallet. The Road Chief's iconic design, quality details, technology, and colorful origin combine in a world-class recreational conversation piece towable by most mid-sized SUVs.
Airbus-backed Voom could take on Uber’s on-demand flying taxi service
Airbus-backed Voom says it's planning to take its on-demand helicopter taxi to more U.S. cities this fall. Currently operating in San Francisco and two cities in Latin America, Voom goes with the tagline: "Book in seconds, fly in minutes." Uber is about to launch a similar service between NY City and JFK airport.
Genesis, Kia, and Hyundai top 2019 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study
Genesis, Kia, and Hyundai took the top three spots in the 2019 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, while Jaguar ranked lowest. J.D. Power surveys owners for problems with new vehicles. The Porsche 911 was the top-ranked vehicle in the latest J.D. Power quality study.
Study finds motorists overestimate Autopilot’s capabilities; Tesla disagrees
Research conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) finds many motorists are confused about the semi-autonomous driving aids found in cars. They often think the systems are more capable than they truly are, especially Tesla's Autopilot system, and they don't understand messages in the dashboard.
Nissan’s high-tech ice cream truck removes the fumes from your order
Nissan has given the traditional ice cream truck a modern makeover to create a cleaner, greener, high-tech alternative. The prototype design gives a new lease of life to aging electric-vehicle batteries by using them to power the truck’s equipment, including the serving machine, freezer drawer, and drinks fridge.
Nissan and Renault are the latest automakers to ally themselves with Waymo
Waymo is partnering with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance to research uses for self-driving cars in France and Japan. This is the first time Waymo has considered deploying self-driving cars outside the United States. Waymo, Renault, and Nissan will focus on mobility services.
Acura engineers love speed so much that they set up a Pikes Peak race team
Acura will bring four cars to the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, all driven and crewed by the Honda luxury brand's own engineers. A fifth Acura entered by RealTime Racing will also compete. Acura is hoping to score three class wins at Pikes Peak.
Bentley will offer a hybrid powertrain on every model by 2023
Bentley is preparing to electrify its entire lineup. The storied British automaker will offer a hybrid version of every model by 2023, and will launch its first electric car by 2025. The Bentley Bentayga Hybrid SUV will kick things off. Bentley isn't offering any details on the timeline of other models.
Walmart wants to save billions while integrating autonomy into its supply chain
Walmart teamed up with California-based Gatik to integrate self-driving technology into its supply chain. The retailer wants autonomous trucks and vans to transport goods to and from the warehouses it owns across the nation. Automating middle-mile deliveries can save a tremendous amount of money.
Kia’s 2020 Seltos has a nightclub mode that turns your commute into a party
Kia expanded its portfolio of crossovers and SUVs with the Seltos, a soft-roader developed with Millennials in mind. It's small, but it's not basic; it's available with a long list of tech features. The Seltos will go on sale globally in late 2019, but Kia hasn't announced plans to bring it to the United States yet.
Here’s what’s happening if you see someone steering a Tesla while it’s in park
The just-launched Tesla Arcade brings all of its games into a single hub, and includes a new kart racer called Beach Buggy Racing 2 that lets you play using the car’s steering wheel — perfect for when you’re parked at a charging station waiting for your battery to power up.
The GX gets smarter as it ages; it’s even teaching tricks to other Lexus models
Lexus gave the GX 460 tech and visual updates for the 2020 model year. The GX now comes standard with a full suite of electronic driving aids, including automatic braking with pedestrian detection and adaptive cruise control. Every member of the 2020 Lexus lineup will also come standard with these features.
Volkswagen says no thanks to outsiders as it develops its own operating system
The Volkswagen Group is taking software development into its own hands instead of joining forces with tech companies. It's assembling a team of over 5,000 engineers to design an operating system that will equip all of its cars by 2025. The vw.os system will exchange information with the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud.
The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 thunders into the muscle car ring with 760 hp
The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 revives one of the greatest names in American muscle cars, and finally gives Ford some ammunition in the horsepower war with Chevy and Dodge. Debuting at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, the GT500 boasts over 700 hp. That makes it the most powerful Ford production car ever.
Horsepower, tech, or cubic feet? Have all three in the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe
BMW expanded the second-generation 8 Series lineup with a four-door model named Gran Coupe. Developed to replace the 6 Series Gran Coupe, the 8 Series offers the same six- and eight-cylinder engines in a more spacious package. It will take the Porsche Panamera and the Mercedes-AMG GT Four-Door head-on when it arrives.
Dainese Smart Jacket vest airbag breaks new ground so you won’t get broken
Regardless of the type of motorcycle or any other two-wheeled vehicle you ride, your body is in jeopardy when you travel. When you share the road with cars and trucks, personal protection is a concern, whether or not your state mandates protective gear. Dainese just launched the Smart Jacket, a new airbag vest.
Waymo at last fires up the self-driving smarts of the Jaguar I-Pace
A year after inking a deal with Jaguar to use the I-Pace crossover for its self-driving program, Waymo has started testing the modified electric vehicle in driverless mode. The plan is to use the I-Pace for autonomous ridesharing services such as the one it’s already operating in Phoenix, Arizona.
Flat-six makes a brief but triumphant return in Porsche’s hot-rodded 718 duo
Porsche unveiled a pair of 718-based sports cars that brazenly buck the industry's downsizing trend. The 718 Cayman GT4 and the 718 Spyder ditch the turbocharged flat-four in favor of a naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter flat-six rated at 414 horsepower. Both models were designed as pure, driver-friendly sports cars.
This futuristic driverless pod will soon be delivering pizza in Texas
Pizza delivery using driverless pods is about to become a thing. Domino's has partnered with autonomous-tech specialist Nuro to use the futuristic pods for a trial delivery service starting later this year. Customers place their order on an app and then tap in a code to grab the pizza from the pod when it arrives.
Forget turrets. Hummer could fight its next war in the electric SUV segment
General Motors is considering resurrecting the Hummer brand it axed in 2010 to make electric off-roaders. The plan hasn't been approved yet, and it risks alienating some die-hard Hummer fans, but it makes sense on several levels. The born-again Hummer brand could be General Motors' revenge against Rivian.
Could a high-performance Nissan Leaf steal the mighty GT-R’s lunch money?
Nissan developed the electric Leaf with range and practicality in mind, but the hatchback could lend its hardware to a high-performance flagship. One of Nissan's chief executives announced that a four-motor, 850-horsepower model could arrive during the 2020s. It will eclipse the GT-R as the company's quickest car.
Uber drivers reportedly triggering higher fares through Surge Club
Uber drivers are reportedly participating in a so-called Surge Club to artificially trigger higher fares for the ride-sharing service. Many drivers said that they do not want to join the shady practice, but they are forced to do so due to the pay cuts that they have suffered over recent years.
After years of Le Mans misfortune, Toyota becomes impossible to beat
Toyota scored a one-two finish at the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, its second win a row at the legendary French race. Toyota is the first Japanese automaker to win Le Mans twice, but its wins came without any real competition. The two Toyota TS050 hybrid race cars traded the lead throughout the race.
Aston Martin will put its Valkyrie hybrid hypercar to the ultimate test
The Aston Martin Valkyrie will race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2021. Aston Martin is taking advantage of new rules that encourage automakers to bring their fastest hypercars to the legendary French race. Will the Valkyrie give Aston Martin its second overall victory at Le Mans?
New Toyota tech will automatically shut off engines, apply parking brakes
Toyota is launching two new safety features for the 2020 model year. One will automatically shut off a car's engine when stationary, and the other will automatically shift into park and apply the parking brake to prevent rollaways. Toyota has not specified which vehicles will get the new features.
Florida allows autonomous cars to drive on its roads without human supervision
Florida governor Ron DeSantis passed a law that establishes a legal framework for self-driving cars to operate in the state. It allows companies to test self-driving cars without a human operator behind the wheel, and, significantly, defines the technology as the car's operator when it's active.
Volvo has created an autonomous truck that looks like a sports car
Volvo’s autonomous truck, called Vera, is about to start work at a port in Gothenburg, Sweden. The vehicle has a modest top speed of 25 mph and features a striking design that makes it look as if the driver’s cab has been swapped for a sports car. It’s one of several efforts by Volvo to put driverless trucks to work.
Tesla screens may support YouTube with next software update
Tesla is planning on supporting YouTube on their cars' central infotainment screen very soon. This announcement was made today at the 2019 E3 video gaming event by Elon Musk himself during a Q&A. This further confirmation is the first time that YouTube has been named explicitly.
Will Detroit be the ultimate test for Argo A.I.’s self-driving Ford?
Ford-backed Argo A.I. revealed its third-generation autonomous prototype in Detroit. Based on the Ford Fusion Hybrid, the prototype is fitted with new technology that sees better and further, thinks faster, and is more comfortable to ride in. Volkswagen could join Ford and Argo's quest to make autonomous cars a reality.
Watch as Volkswagen’s ID R racer wins the ultimate EV bragging rights
The Volkswagen I.D. R has set a lap record for electric cars at Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife. The electric race car's lap time of 6:05.33 beat the previous record by 40 seconds. Volkswagen was looking for another challenge for the I.D. R after setting the overall record at Pikes Peak.