Tesla app now keeps track of electric vehicle’s repair status
The updated Tesla app will now provide owners with real-time status updates for their electric vehicles under service, and will also alert them once the repairs are done. The move is part of a wider initiative to improve Tesla's service system, in preparation for the arrival of the $35,000 Model 3.
Audi R8 V10 Decennium celebrates 10 years of 10-cylinder power
The Audi R8 V10 Decennium celebrates 10 years of V10 engines in Audi's supercar. Limited to just 222 units worldwide, it features model-specific styling elements and the most powerful version of Audi's 5.2-liter V10. The R8 V10 Decennium debuts at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.
Tesla finally announces $35,000 Model 3, moves to online-only sales model
Tesla's long-promised $35,000 standard Model 3 is finally available. A new $37,000 Tesla Model 3Â Standard Range Plus with greater range, more power, and a fancier interior is also on sale. To achieve cost savings needed to sell the base model, Tesla is closing all stores and switching to online sales worldwide.
Kia and Hyundai recall another 500,000 vehicles over fire risk
Kia and Hyundai have recalled more than 500,000 vehicles in the U.S. over issues that could cause a fire. Affected models include the Kia Soul and Sportage, as well as Hyundai's Tucson vehicle. An additional recall affects almost 100,000 Kia Sedona minivans regarding a safety issue with the front passenger seat.
Kia Niro hybrid and Niro plug-in hybrid get face-lift, infotainment upgrade
The Kia Niro hybrid and plug-in hybrid models debut a handful of updates at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, including upgraded infotainment systems and styling cues from the new Niro EV model. U.S.-spec versions are likely to get the same updates as the European-market models shown in Geneva.
Electric luxury sedan face-off: Polestar 2 vs. Tesla Model 3
Volvo sister company Polestar isn't shy about its intentions to take on Tesla. Its second model, which is called 2, is aimed directly at the Model 3. We take a look at how the 2 and the Model 3 compare in terms of range, performance, price, and tech. The Model 3 is on-sale now, but the 2 won't arrive until early 2020.
Ford taps geocoding startup What3Words to help improve its navigation experience
Ford has teamed up with geocoding startup What3Words to offer an improved in-car navigation experience. It means Ford drivers can now connect the What3Words app to the vehicle's SYNC 3 infotainment system and input accurate three-word addresses via voice or text to get directions.
Emojis hitch a ride on personalized license plates in Australia’s Queensland
Queensland, Australia, is allowing drivers to personalize their license plates with emojis. Starting March 1, the state will offer new plates with a variety of options for personalization, including custom colors, emojis, logos of local sports teams, and more. They will cost about $340.
Tesla Model S driver crashes and dies in fire, responders couldn’t open doors
After reportedly crossing three lanes of traffic at high speed, a 2016 Tesla Model S crashed into palm trees and burst into flame on Sunday. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene in Davie, Florida. According to police, the driver appeared to overcorrect and lose control before hitting the trees.
2020 Lamborghini Huracán Evo Spyder revealed ahead of 2019 Geneva Motor Show
The 2020 Lamborghini Huracán Evo Spyder gets the same suite of tech features and 640-horsepower V10 engine as the recently launched Huracán Evo coupe. The Spyder will make its public debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in March, and deliveries are scheduled to begin later this year.
Porsche’s best-selling model is going fully electric in the early 2020s
Porsche confirmed the second-generation Macan will offer an electric powertrain. The model will enter production in 2021 at the earliest, and it will come with an 800-volt charging system that will zap the battery with an 80 percent charge in less than 20 minutes. Porsche will release additional EVs during the 2020s.
Archrivals BMW and Daimler detail plans to join forces on mobility services
BMW and Daimler are joining forces to take on the likes of Uber and Lyft. The two German automakers are investing $1.1 billion in a mobility-service joint venture encompassing ridesharing, car-sharing, electric-car charging, and parking services. Autonomous cars are also part of the long-term plan.
BMW wants to make interacting with a car as natural as talking to a friend
BMW traveled to MWC2019 to demonstrate its new, artificial intelligence-powered Natural Interaction technology, which empowers drivers with three onboard means of communications that make interacting with a car as straightforward as talking to a friend. The technology will make its production debut in 2021.
Qualcomm draws a road map to the self-driving car of the future
Qualcomm has unveiled its 2nd-gen Connected Car Reference Platform and the QCA6696 chip, which brings next-gen Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and 5G to autos and enables an array of technologies to bridge the gap between the cars of today and the self-driving entertainment centers of the future.
New feature in myChevrolet app assures friends and family you’re safe
Chevy has updated its myChevrolet app to add a new feature that makes it easier to check in with loved ones. The feature, called Vehicle Locate, will send an automated text alert to designated friends and family when you enter or leave a designated area. The feature provides peace of mind to all parties.
9 out of 11 small SUVs do well in tests of pedestrian-detection systems
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested the effectiveness of pedestrian detection systems in 11 small SUVs, and most of them came away with great scores. The technology is seen as an important countermeasure to the growing number of pedestrian fatalities, which reached 5,977 deaths in 2017.
California legislator proposes unlimited speed lanes on two highways
California might have its own autobahn soon. A senator in the state has proposed legislation that would create new driving lanes on stretches of highway that would allow drivers to drive with no maximum speed limit. The goal of the new program would be to cut back on carbon emissions.
The coolest police cars from around the world
Not every police car is created equal. It's true, most cops drive the same thing -- a Ford Explorer or a Dodge Charger, in many cases -- but law enforcement agencies sometimes think outside the box. That's when things get really wild. Here are some of the coolest and most unexpected police cars to date.
Waymo’s self-driving prototype obeys a traffic cop’s hand signals
One of Waymo's self-driving prototypes successfully navigated a situation that leaves even some human drivers confused: an intersection whose traffic lights are down. It waited for the traffic cop to wave it on. The company began teaching its cars to interpret hand gestures in 2016 as a way to keep cyclists safe.
Has Apple rebooted its self-driving car program to develop autonomous vans?
The on-again, off-again Apple car is back on track, but it's not a sedan or a hatchback. It will arrive as an electric, autonomous passenger-carrying van, according to a recent report. Apple is allegedly developing all of the components in-house, and insiders claim it has started building prototypes.
Lyft’s Shared Saver service offers cheaper rides, but you’ll have to walk a little
Lyft has launched a new ride option called Shared Saver that offers cheaper rides if you're willing to walk a little and share your trip. Similar to Uber's Express Pool, Shared Saver designates pickup points within a few blocks, and drops you off a short distance from your desired destination.
Consumer Reports bumps the Tesla Model 3 off of its list of recommended models
The Tesla Model 3 is one of the six new cars that have lost their coveted Recommended rating from Consumer Reports over reliability concerns. In 2018, Model 3 owners reported body trim falling off and problems with the car's glass. Tesla has improved the 3's build quality so it may fare better in 2019.
Tesla will release fully self-driving cars in 2019 — with a big asterisk
Tesla reaffirmed its goal of releasing a fully self-driving car by the end of 2019, but it warned the system won't work perfectly 100-percent of the time. Convincing regulators that it's safe to use will require some effort, too. Elon Musk predicted Tesla owners will be able to sleep behind the wheel by 2020.
Apple opens up about its self-driving car program in letter to NHTSA
Apple has traditionally kept details about its self-driving car technology under wraps, but it has revealed details about the program in a rare instance of openness. The company takes safety seriously, and it won't fast-track the technology to production in order to beat rivals Waymo and Uber to the punch.
Aston Martin’s next hypercar, due in 2021, will pack a hybrid powertrain punch
Aston Martin will follow up the Valkyrie and Valkyrie AMR Pro with a new hypercar, code-named Project 003. The car will debut in 2021, with production limited to 500 units worldwide. Aston Martin claims the Project 003 will be more focused on everyday usability than the Valkyrie.
Mercedes lets the sun shine in one last time with SLC Final Edition convertible
The Mercedes-Benz SLC convertible sports car is going out of production. Launched in 1996 as the SLK, the model has been a fixture in the Mercedes-Benz lineup across three generations. Final Edition versions of the both SLC300 and AMG SLC43 will be available for the 2020 model year.
Arizona city slammed with $10M lawsuit over fatal Uber autonomous car accident
The family of Elaine Herzberg, the 49-year old woman struck and killed by one of Uber's self-driving prototypes, has filed a $10 million lawsuit against the city of Tempe, Arizona. They claim Herzberg jaywalked because she was confused by a brick pathway in a median. Lawyers claim the family's case is weak at best.
Citroën says you could drive its tiny Ami One electric car without a license
Citroen's Ami One concept car is an electric vehicle that's as cute as it is compact. The miniature motor only has a top speed of 28 mph, so the French automaker imagines it as a shareable runaround for short drives. The Ami One will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland in March 2019.
Mamma mia! Alfa Romeo will unveil a new model at the Geneva Auto Show
Alfa Romeo told Digital Trends it will unveil a new model at the 2019 Geneva Auto Show. It stopped short of revealing what it has in store, but rumors claim it will be a crossover positioned below the Stelvio. The yet-unnamed model could become Alfa's best-seller, because it will compete in a fast-growing segment.
Watch a modified Audi e-tron electric SUV drive straight up a ski slope
A modified Audi e-tron climbed up an 85-percent gradient on an Austrian ski slope in a tribute to a classic Audi commercial. The vehicle used for the stunt sported an extra electric motor and spiked tires. The Audi e-tron was driven by World Rallycross champion Mattias Ekström.
Waymo rules and Apple trails in California self-driving car benchmarks
Each year the State of California Department of Motor Vehicles releases reports of self-driving car disengagements for autonomous vehicles tested on public roads. Based on the most recent California data, Waymo had the best performance, GM Cruise came in second, and Apple's self-driving program was in last place.
Audi is advancing the tech that teaches cars to talk to traffic lights
Audi is teaching its cars the language of traffic lights. The company developed tech that tells motorists what speed they should drive at in order to catch as many green lights as possible. It's compatible with 4,700 intersections in 13 metro areas, and we only expect those numbers to rise.
Researchers teach self-driving cars to predict pedestrians’ next moves
Researchers at the University of Michigan are developing a system that teaches self-driving cars to predict pedestrian movement. Since pedestrians are easily distracted and can't be counted on to act in their own best self-interest, autonomous cars will need to practice both defensive and protective driving.
Alfa Romeo’s latest Ferrari-powered F1 race car is ready to hit the track
Alfa Romeo is doubling down on Formula One racing after a decades-long hiatus. Now essentially a support team for Ferrari, its 2019 driver lineup includes a former world champion and a potential future star. The team has also been renamed Alfa Romeo Racing, dropping Sauber.