Volkswagen will spend $4 billion to connect its cars to the Internet of Things
As part of an effort to dramatically simplify the onboard systems of its cars, Volkswagen on Thursday announced a $4 billion investment in a new platform it calls vw.OS. The first cars running the new platform, part of its I.D. electric car line, will appear in 2020.
Infiniti Prototype 10 concept is inspired by classic race cars
The Infiniti Prototype 10 concept is the Nissan luxury brand's second retro-futuristic concept car, following the well-received Prototype 9 that debuted in 2017. It may have styling inspired by classic race cars, but Infiniti says the Prototype 10 points toward the future.
2019 BMW Z4 has sportier styling, but will it be a true sports car or a poser?
The 2019 BMW Z4 debuts at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and goes on sale in the United States next year. BMW unveiled the new Z4 in M40i First Edition trim, but other models will follow. Will the highly anticipated two-seater be a true sports car, or a poseur mobile?
Elantra, is that you? Hyundai’s compact sedan gets a nose job and more brains
Hyundai has given the 2019 Elantra an update no one saw coming. The changes include a sharper-looking design from the base of the windshield to the tip of the front bumper and a new infotainment powered by an upgraded processor. The 2019 Hyundai Elantra will go on sale before the end of 2018.
Ford recalls more than 50,000 electric-car charging cords over fire risk
Ford is recalling around 50,000 charging cords sold with some of its electric vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. The concern is that the cord may be used in situations that could potentially lead to a fire. Affected customers will be contacted by mail and asked to visit their local dealer for a replacement.
WaveSense ground-penetrating radar aids navigation with road data
Originally developed for military applications where vehicles travel unmarked roads and trails, WaveSense localizing ground-penetrating radar adds a fourth dimension to autonomous driving systems. When you're driving with poor visibility and the lane markers are covered, subterranean mapping can keep the car on track.
Escape to the middle of nowhere in style with the Lexani LM-EXTV camper van
Lexani turned the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter into the ultimate off-road camper van. It looks tough on the outside, but the inside boasts all of the comforts of home, as well as plenty of tech. Lexani won't talk pricing, but all of this capability and luxury probably doesn't come cheap.
Mercedes-Benz Digital Light LED headlights display messages on the road
Mercedes-Benz introduced a new Digital Light feature with HD headlights, each with one million micromirrors controlled by onboard computers. Available during the 2018 model year in small quantities on the Mercedes-Maybach S 560 4Matic sedan, the headlights display graphic warnings and project messages on the road.
Amazon is turning its ‘Grand Tour’ car show into a video game
Amazon's "The Grand Tour" is getting its own video game. Linked to the upcoming third season of the car show, the PS4 and Xbox One game will feature "seamless transitions from clips of the show to gameplay" as well as cool motors, challenges, and "hours" of original voice acting by Clarkson and co.
Lyft’s self-driving taxis have made 5,000 trips for paying riders in Las Vegas
Lyft's driverless-taxi service appears to be a hit with riders in Las Vegas. The ridesharing company said its 30 robot cars have now made more than 5,000 trips since joining its fleet in May, with the vast majority of customers saying they'd be happy to choose such a vehicle for their next ride, too.
Elon Musk says a $25K Tesla is possible in ‘maybe 3 years’
Tesla CEO Elon Musk told YouTuber Marques Brownlee the company is focused on more affordable cars. Musk called a $25,000 Tesla a 'maybe' in three years, depending on high volume and scale. Musk says Tesla relies on word-of-mouth sales based on recommendations from customers who love to talk about their cars.
Hyundai Kona Electric beats the Chevrolet Bolt on range
The Hyundai Kona Electric is the all-electric version of Hyundai's oddly-styled Kona crossover. Set to go on sale as a 2019 model, the long-range version of the Kona Electric delivers up to 258 miles of driving on a single charge, according to the EPA. That beats the Chevy Bolt EV by about 20 miles.
Bugatti’s new Divo will be light, nimble, and sharp as a scalpel
Bugatti doesn't introduce a new model very often. When it does, the whole industry takes notice. Named Divo, the firm's next car will arrive in August as a light, nimble car inspired by race cars built in the 1920s. It's limited to 40 examples, and chances are most of them are already spoken for.
Nvidia ‘more than happy to help’ if Tesla’s self-driving chip doesn’t pan out
After Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the intention to use an in-house Autopilot chip, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang responded to an analyst's question about losing Tesla's chip business. Huang spoke about Nvidia's new high-powered Xavier GPU and said if the Tesla chip doesn't work out, he'd be more than happy to help.
Lack of domestic battery production could short German automakers’ EV plans
As automakers ramp up efforts to produce more electric and hybrid vehicles in their lineups for the near future, this ultimately has increased the demand for battery production. However, analysts fear some companies could struggle with this demand, specifically German car companies.
Redesigned 2019 Subaru Forester crossover starts at $25K, hits showrooms in fall
The 2019 Subaru Forester hits showrooms this fall with more tech than ever, including a system that uses facial recognition to detect driver fatigue. Pricing starts at $25,270, but goes up to $34,295 for the top Touring model. The Forester moves to the Subaru Global Platform used by the Ascent.
Whistleblower says a drug-peddling Mexican cartel thrives in Tesla’s Gigafactory
A former Tesla employee has filed a complaint against the company. He alleges Tesla covered up links between some of its workers and a Mexican drug cartel, illegally spied on its employees by wiretapping their phone, and failed to report a $37 million theft. The company disputes the accusations.
Ford’s Mustang Cobra Jet strikes as quickly as its venomous namesake
The 2018 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet is a purpose-built drag racer that will run the quarter mile in around 8 seconds, according to Ford. It will be as rare as it is quick, with less than 70 cars planned. The original Cobra Jet debuted 50 years ago, and the new car was built to mark that anniversary.
Sporty electrified Infiniti Prototype 10 concept headed to Pebble Beach
Infiniti will unveil a new concept car at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The Nissan luxury brand won't say much, but promises an electrified powertrain and an emphasis on performance. Infiniti is working to electrify its entire lineup of production cars by 2021.
Learn how Ford trains the test drivers who develop its hottest performance cars
Out of 11,000 Ford test drivers, only about 20 have achieved the elite "tier-four" status that qualifies them to work on performance cars like Shelby Mustangs. Those drivers train on a Mustang FP350S race car in order to hone their car-control and vehicle-analysis skills.
Can BMW’s rebooted 3 Series regain gold standard for sport sedans?
The BMW 3 Series lost its way in 2012; once the gold standard in the sport sedan segment, it disappointed journalists and buyers by not living up to BMW's promise of delivering the ultimate driving machine. The brand-new model scheduled to make its debut as a 2020 model aims to climb back on top of the podium.
Volvo leverages the power of software to build more dynamic cars
Volvo has asked sister company Polestar to make its cars more dynamic through a software update. Offered at an extra cost, the AWD optimization upgrade sends more power to the rear wheels when the driver turns on dynamic mode. It stops short of making the car fully rear-wheel drive but it changes the way it drives.
Live out your Steve McQueen fantasies with this souped-up Ford Mustang Bullitt
Ford tuner Steeda teamed up with Chad McQueen, son of Steve McQueen to create the ultimate 'Bullitt' tribute car. Based on the 2019 Mustang Bullitt, the Steve McQueen Edition Ford Mustang Bullitt features even more power and even more retro style than its stock counterpart.
Tesla board waits for Musk’s plan to go private as Saudi Arabia stays silent
Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk asked more questions than he answered when he declared he could take Tesla private. The money allegedly comes from Saudi Arabia, an oil-rich nation and Tesla investor, but officials have stayed silent. Tesla's board wants to closely examine any proposal to go private.
2019 Ford Ranger online configurator launched, pricing revealed
The 2019 Ford Ranger midsize pickup truck starts at $25,395, but a fully-loaded version can top $40,000. The Ranger is making its return to the United States after a seven-year absence. Ford offers three trim levels and two cab and bed configurations, but only one powertrain option.
Porsche goes rallying, and it’s not with the model you’re thinking of
Porsche channeled its racing heritage to turn the 718 Cayman, not the Cayenne, into a rally car. The GT4-spec model was built as a functional concept, and it will participate in its first rally in August. Porsche will then decide whether to build the project for customers, but it won't be street-legal.
Danny Thompson just set a land speed record in a 50-year-old car
Danny Thompson, son of the late racing legend Mickey Thompson, has just pushed his dad's 50-year-old Challenger 2 streamliner to an incredible 450 mph. The feat, achieved on Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats over the weekend, makes it the fastest piston-powered vehicle in the world.
NHTSA investigating Ford F-150 seat belt fires, may recall 1.4 million trucks
The NHTSA is investigating reports of fires in five Ford F-150 pickup trucks. According to the truck owners, the fires started in the vehicles' B pillars during crashes. The NHTSA's Office of Defect Investigation is exploring whether seatbelt pretensioners caused the fires and if a recall is required.
NYC just dealt a major blow to Uber and Lyft
New York City regulators placed a cap on how many operational licenses it grants for potential Uber and Lyft drivers. The city says it's an attempt to try and save the city’s integral yellow-cab system after several cab drivers committed suicide from the burden of overwhelming competition.
Head Tesla engineer leaves for Apple to possibly reboot self-driving car
Apple's self-driving car project could potentially get the reboot as a former chief engineer for Tesla Motors left the company to go back to the Cupertino-based tech giant. Doug Field, who worked at Apple from 2008-2013, then Tesla from 2013 until last month, will go back to Apple.
Alfa Romeo’s working on a new 8C plug-in hybrid supercar
Despite the untimely and sad death of former FCA CEO, Sergio Marchionne, the show must go on and Alfa Romeo's reportedly working on a new mid-engined, gas-electric plug-in hybrid supercar called the 8C. Speculation suggests over 800 total horsepower and a starting price in the hundreds of thousands.
You’ll need $68,000 to land a tech-rich 2019 Audi A7 in your driveway
Have you been eying the latest rendition of Audi’s tech-savvy A7 Sportback? Well the deal just got a little sweeter as Ingolstadt’s finest just announced the pricing list for the new 2019 Audi A7. Most of all, it includes a new entry-level base model, which starts at a cool $68,000 for the Premium model.
Take a closer look at the Faraday Future FF 91 with this virtual tour
The Faraday Future FF 91 electric crossover boasts some impressive statistics, but Faraday still hasn't delivered any to customers. Faraday says it will begin deliveries in December 2018, which doesn't leave much time. In the meantime, take a virtual walk around this Tesla-fighting electric car.
Amazon makes it simpler for infotainment developers to integrate Alexa Auto
Amazon has released a software development kit that makes it easier for developers to integrate Alexa Auto into an in-car infotainment system. The clear benefit is that the list of Alexa-compatible cars should increase drastically in the coming years. Expect to see more Alexa-compatible devices, too.