Hertz speeds up car rentals with biometric scan technology
Biometric security tech using face and fingerprint recognition is gaining traction, with Hertz the latest company to incorporate it into daily operations. Launching at 40 of its rental locations over the next year, customers can bypass the service counter and use their face or fingerprints as ID instead.
LM Industries’ autonomous shuttles head to Phoenix, Sacramento campuses
LM Industries will deploy Olli low-speed autonomous shuttles at school campuses in Arizona and California as part of its ongoing "fleet challenge," which asks local groups to propose uses for autonomous vehicles. The next challenge is open to entries in the Washington, D.C. area.
NYC mandates minimum wage for Uber, Lyft, other app-based rideshare drivers
According to new rules voted by New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission, drivers for companies such as Uber and Lyft must be paid at least minimum wage, even though they are independent contractors. The effective $17.22 hourly rate includes operating costs. Uber says the law will mean higher passenger fares.
Allegro.ai is helping Hyundai mine the artificial intelligence gold rush
In November 2018, Hyundai invested in a startup named Allegro.ai. We talked to the company's founder to learn more about what that means for consumers in the not-too-distant futures. In the automotive space, the applications of AI vary from powering autonomous cars to improving quality control on the assembly line.
Pininfarina Battista is a 1,900-horsepower, 250-mph electric supercar
The Pininfarina Battista will be the first production car from famed Italian design firm Pininfarina. Named after company founder Battista Pininfarina, it has a claimed 1,900 horsepower and a $2.5 million price tag. Pininfarina plans to start customer deliveries in 2020.
Gateway’s born-again Ford Bronco boasts classic style, 2018 muscle car power
Illinois-based Gateway Bronco has received a license from Ford to make brand-new examples of the first-generation Bronco. Every build starts with a Ford VIN and a donor vehicle, but Gateway upgrades every part of the car. The rigs are rust-proofed and fitted with a modern-day V8 engine for more power.
Take a friend stargazing at 202 mph in the 2019 McLaren 720S Spider
McLaren has introduced the 2019 720S Spider. As its name implies, it's a convertible variant of the 720S coupe. The firm promises the Spider retains the coupe's dynamism and agility thanks in part to the widespread use of carbon fiber. Pricing for the 710-horsepower roadster starts at $315,000.
This freewheeling Army truck-turned-tiny home is a labor of love
Tiny homes are usually masterful works of efficiency but one British metal worker has dreamed up and built a creation of Frankenstein-like ambition by converting an old British army truck into a 72-square-foot tiny mobile home that includes a full-sized pulley bed, a Chesterfield sofa, a hot shower, and a beer terrace.
World’s fastest electric race car to display at Petersen Museum
The Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak race car smashed the all-time record at the hill climb for which it was named. The all-electric VW record-holder will be on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles until February 1, 2019. Future Volkswagen electric vehicles will use the same platform as the race car.
Ford’s new Shelby GT500 Mustang will have 3D-printed brake parts
Ford's new $45 million Advanced Manufacturing Center will focus on emerging technologies, including 3D printing. One of the staff's first jobs is to print parts for the 700-horsepower Shelby GT500 Mustang. The facility will also work with robots and virtual reality tech.
Nissan and Italdesign’s GT-R50 concept will become a $1.1 million reality
The Nissan GT-R50 is a customized sports car built to celebrate the 50th anniversaries of both the GT-R and design firm Italdesign. Underneath the sleek bodywork sits a 710-horsepower engine fortified with race car components. Nissan and Italdesign will build 50 cars for customers.
Aston Martin’s final Vanquish Zagato model is the sexiest wagon ever
Aston Martin has revealed new photos of the limited-production Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake, and we have them here. You're welcome.
600-hp, $155K Polestar 1 is the alluring Volvo coupe you’ve been waiting for
The Polestar 1 will be built in a brand-new factory located in China starting in 2019, and it will boast a carbon fiber body.
Aston Martin bets classic car owners will choose volts over carburetors
Aston Martin has converted one of its most sought-after classic models to run on electricity instead of gasoline. The roadster uses electric components sourced from the upcoming Rapide E sedan. The British firm promises the conversion is reversible, and it will begin converting customer cars in 2019.
Bosch is developing a Rosetta Stone for autonomous and connected cars
Bosch and start-up Veniam want to create a common language that autonomous and connected cars can use. The two firms developed a connectivity unit that transcends the national boundaries of technology while taking data costs into account. The technology isn't in production yet, but trials are underway.
Did that car just wink at you? Daimler previews car-to-pedestrian signals
Eager to show off their progress with autonomous cars and perhaps do some early consumer softening as well, Daimler and Bosch previewed car-to-pedestrian communications. A Mercedes Benz S Class with a full load of sensors seems to wink at a pedestrian by blinking one headlamp on a closed test course.
Waymo becomes the first company to charge for rides in self-driving cars
Waymo has launched a commercial ridesharing service using self-driving cars in the Phoenix area. It's the first U.S. company to generate revenue by putting passengers in autonomous cars. Waymo One is only available to a select group of riders, but Waymo will expand the service to other riders in other cities.
Passengers can set their own fares with international rideshare company
Most rideshare companies start in the U.S. and add other countries later. inDriver, an international rideshare company that lets passengers determine fares in real time, just launched in New York City with 14 existing million members in 160 cities in 11 countries. New drivers pay no commission for six months.
This external airbag turns your entire car into a crumple zone to save lives
German components manufacturer ZF will test an external side airbag in 2019. It's essentially the same technology as the airbag mounted inside every new car but it deploys over the side of the vehicle to reduce the severity of injuries. This technology is in development but it's not in series production yet.
Porsche keeping an eye on performance as it pushes the 911 into hybrid territory
Porsche designed the all-new 911 with electrification in mind. The man in charge of the 911's development confirmed a hybrid model is at least four years away from making its debut. It's being designed with performance in mind, not efficiency, but it's too early to tell the type of hardware it will use.
Cops chased a Tesla for 7 miles while its driver appeared to be sleeping
Cops in California recently spotted a Tesla Model S motoring along the highway at 70 mph with the driver apparently asleep at the wheel. The case is still being investigated, but it appears that the Tesla's self-driving features and the officers' skillful driving helped to safely end the incident.
Tesla’s Model 3 currently costs $38,000 to produce but will sell for $35,000
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has told employees that the current cost for producing a Model 3 is $3,000 over the ticket price of the car. Tesla hopes that with improvements in production efficiency, this number can be brought down so that the Model 3 can become profitable to produce or at the very least break even.
The biggest production and concept car debuts at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show
The 2018 edition of the Los Angeles Auto Show is unusually big because it falls between a quiet Paris show and the smallest Detroit show in recent memory. In addition to the luxury cars that shine every year, car companies will bring economy cars and trucks to the event. Here's a preview of what we'll see.
The 2019 Nissan Murano isn’t afraid to let you know it’s a crossover
The 2019 Nissan Murano gets minor styling changes and some new driver-assist tech. Will that be enough for this Nissan to match fresh new competition from Honda, Chevrolet, and Volkswagen? The 2019 Murano debuts at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, and goes on sale in December.
One-of-a-kind Ferrari SP3JC boasts a vintage aesthetic with a twist
The Ferrari SP3JC is a custom-built car made for a longtime Ferrari collector. The blue-and-white paint job was inspired by the customer's interest in pop art. The car itself is based on the Ferrari F12tdf. Ferrari often builds one-off cars and special editions for its most loyal customers.
2019 Nissan Maxima gets more driver-assist tech, keeps aggressive styling
The 2019 Nissan Maxima gets minor styling tweaks and Nissan's Safety Shield 360 bundle of driver aids. But the big sedan is a long way from its glory days as a "four-door sports car." The 2019 Maxima debuts at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show and goes on sale in December.
Google’s new Android Auto features target motorists who like music and friends
Google has made a series of updates to its Android Auto application. The software is now more convenient to use and more feature-rich than before. Music apps like Spotify and iHeartRadio are better integrated, and users can receive notifications about new messages in group conversations they're in.
8 seats and 16 cupholders: 2020 Hyundai Palisade reports for family-hauling duty
Hyundai unveiled the 2020 Palisade at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. The South Korean firm's biggest SUV seats up to eight passengers in a spacious, well-lit cabin decked out with useful tech features like wireless charging and smartphone connectivity. Power comes from a 3.8-liter V6 rated at 290 horsepower.
BMW’s 2020 M340i will show off mix of tech and luxury at the Los Angeles show
The 2020 3 Series represents the seventh generation of BMW's bread-and-butter luxury sedan. Where previous generations emphasized the driving experience, the 2020 3 Series focuses more on tech than ever before. Available features include a long list of electronic driving aids and BMW's new personal assistant.
Room to roam: The supersized X7 is unlike any BMW you’ve ever seen
The first-ever BMW X7 is the 7 Series of the SUV world in terms of size, price, and image. Its supersized body has enough room for seven adult passengers and enough tech to impress even the most cutting-edge buyers. Deliveries will begin in March, but buyers can reserve the X7 online -- a first for a BMW.
BMW’s 8 Series convertible packs a twin-turbo V8, display screens galore
The 2019 BMW 8 Series convertible is the first drop-top version of BMW's two-door flagship ever. Like the 8 Series coupe, the convertible sports a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and a long list of tech features. The convertibles debuts at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Thanks to all-wheel drive, the 2019 Toyota Prius is ready for winter
The 2019 Toyota Prius adds all-wheel drive as an option for the first time, which should expand the appeal of this quintessential hybrid car. But the updates may not extend far enough. The 2019 Toyota Prius makes its public debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, which begins on November 30.
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid delivers 50 mpg in a compact package
The 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid marks the first time a hybrid powertrain has been offered in Toyota's compact car over its 52-year history. The hybrid model is based on the updated 2020 Corolla sedan. Both new 2020 Toyota Corolla models debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Porsche turns the 700-hp 911 GT2 RS into the track car it deserves to be
Porsche revealed the 2018 911 GT2 RS, which boasts a 700-horsepower version of its 3.8-liter, flat-six engine. The most powerful production 911 is here, and it's as quick as it sounds. Porsche turned the dial up a notch at the Los Angeles Auto show with a Clubsport version developed exclusively with racing in mind.