That’s a lot of horsepower: Ford builds 10-millionth Mustang
Ford recently built its 10 millionth Mustang, and celebrated with a stampede of the cars at its Flat Rock, Michigan, factory. In over 50 years of production, the Mustang has seen some major changes, but remains Ford's most iconic model. The 10 millionth Mustang was a white GT convertible.
Land Rover’s updated 2019 Range Rover Sport is an SUV of multiple personalities
The 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Sport adds a P400e plug-in hybrid model to the lineup, but you can still get the high-performance 575-horsepower V8 SVR as well. More tech features round out the changes. Pricing starts at $66,750, but climbs up into the six-figure range.
Robotic exoskeletons help Ford employees build cars worldwide
Ford Motor Company announced the worldwide rollout of wearable exoskeleton vests to assist assembly line workers, after first testing in two Michigan plants. Esko Bionics developed the EskoVest for Ford. By reducing the physical toll on the bodies of workers, the robotic vests lessen fatigue, injury, and discomfort.
Elon Musk tweets about privatizing Tesla Motors, causes an investor frenzy
Elon Musk is in the news again over some tweets on Twitter about openly expressing the idea of transitioning Tesla Motors into a private company, prospectively starting stock share prices at $420 per share. This ultimately has industry analysts and investors going crazy trying to make sense of it all.
Land Rover’s flagship Range Rover gets greener, smarter for 2019
The 2019 Land Rover Range Rover adds a new P400e plug-in hybrid variant, Wade Sensing system for water fording, and adaptive cruise control with steering assist. The big SUV remains as luxurious and off-road capable as ever and, starting at $88,860, has a hefty price tag to boot.
IIHS tests advanced driver-assist tech, gets mixed results
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested adaptive cruise control and active lane-keep systems from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, and Volvo. Testers found them to be unreliable in the real world, and noted that drivers must remain attentive behind the wheel.
Love driving? Waze’s data scientists want to show you the fun way home
In the United Kingdom, Waze and Volkswagen have teamed up to launch a campaign named GTI Superdrives that identifies the best roads for driving enthusiasts. Data scientists singled out the 75 greatest roads in the U.K. Volkswagen told Digital Trends it won't launch a similar campaign in the U.S.
What kind of mini car does Tesla CEO Elon Musk have in mind?
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced his company has started the development of a mini car with space for one passenger. He didn't provide more specific details and there's no widely accepted definition of a mini car, so it's difficult to predict what the company is up to. One thing is for sure: it will be electric.
Track-only Brabham BT62 supercar channels Formula One greatness
The Brabham BT62 supercar revives the name of a legendary Formula One team that won multiple championships before fading away. Befitting a car developed by a former race team, the BT62 is built for the track, boasting a 700-horsepower V8 and the ability to generate 2,645 pounds of downforce.
Bentley’s 66-pound book comes with fold-out pages as wide as a Bentayga
Bentley is celebrating its 100th anniversary in style -- and size. The brand has teamed up with publisher Opus to release a photo book that weighs 66 pounds in its heaviest configuration. It's a limited-edition piece available in three different styles but Bentley hasn't released pricing information yet.
Dual-purpose pot and booze breathalyzer can tell how stoned or drunk you are
Experts don't agree on whether marijuana impairs driving performance, but Hound Lab's breathalyzer, which measures THC in parts per trillion molecules, can at least indicate its presence. The Hound device, which also detects alcohol, reports whether a subject consumed marijuana during the previous two hours.
Withstand an attack in style with the Mercedes AMG G63-based armored limo
Upgraded to sniper-level protection, the 2018 Inkas G63 AMG armored limousine withstands high-velocity armor-piercing bullets. The new ultra-security G-Wagen also comes with a motorized bar, infrared and thermal perimeter cameras, a daylight headliner, and proprietary leather stitching, all starting at $1.2 million.
Chevy’s 2019 Silverado aims to make towing easier with cameras and apps
The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 aims to catch up to its rival, the Ford F-150, by adding more towing tech. The Silverado will be available with towing-related apps and an array of four cameras to make pulling a trailer easier. The redesigned Silverado hits showrooms later this year.
This collectible book about Ferraris likely costs more than your actual car
$30,000 won't buy you a Ferrari, but it will get you a perfectly nice alternative car. Or, a perfectly nice coffee table book -- about Ferrari. That's right, friends. If you're just swimming in hundred dollar bills and are looking for ways to spend that hard-earned cash, we have found you an option.
Would you buy a tiny pickup truck based on the Ford Focus?
Ford is reportedly considering a small pickup based on the Focus, which would be called Courier and could arrive in U.S. showrooms by 2022. Ford hasn't confirmed anything yet, but it wouldn't be surprising given the company's plan to emphasize trucks and SUVs over cars.
From buses to trucks, here’s how heavy haulers are going electric
ZF Friedrichshafen AG, also known as the ZF Group, is more than just an automatic transmission maker. The company recently held a conference to showcase some of its latest innovative projects in bringing electric powertrains and autonomous driving to commercial vehicles.
Hennessey’s Heritage Edition Mustang boasts 808 horsepower, retro styling
Texas-based Hennessey Performance Engineering decided to celebrate its 10,000 build by making an 808-horsepower Mustang inspired by Ford's GT supercar. Hennessey's Heritage Edition Mustang offers serious performance, but at a serious price, starting at just under $90,000.
Tesla aims for 6,000 Model 3s per week as it continues posting losses
Tesla recently hit a major Model 3 production milestone and raked in record revenue, but continues to lose money. But the company is aiming to continue increasing Model 3 production and achieve profitability. A lot will be riding on Tesla's next few quarters as it works to achieve those goals.
Jaguar’s best-seller, the F-Pace, gets more tech for ’19, but it comes at a cost
Jaguar has updated the F-Pace, its best-selling model, for the 2019 model year. The SUV gets more standard tech features, including a 10-inch screen for the infotainment system, and driving aids like lane-keeping assist and emergency braking. Jaguar also improved its traffic sign recognition function.
Tesla adding in-car Atari games, a party mode, and an improved Autopilot
Tesla will release the next version of its infotainment system in early September. Called V9.0, it will add fun features including at least three Atari games displayed on the touchscreen plus a party and camper mode. V9.0 will also bring an updated version of the firm's Autopilot technology.
Tesla warns owners to protect against car thieves using key fobs
Tesla emailed its owners about steps to lower the chances thieves will exploit the brand's passive entry system, which allows owners to enter their vehicles without removing digital key fobs from their pockets or bags. Thieves with relay attack devices access vehicles by boosting the fob signal from a distance.
Toyota’s 2nd-generation hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck in it for the short haul
Toyota is ready to roll out the second generation of its Project Portal hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck. Version 2.0 can travel 300 miles on a tank of hydrogen, which is 100 miles more than its predecessor. Toyota will continue testing around the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Nissan’s Rear Door Alert makes sure drivers leave no child or pet behind
Nissan introduced Rear Door Alert (RDA), a warning system that reminds drivers to check the backseat after the vehicle is parked. For the 2019 model year and beyond, Nissan will now equip all of its four-door models with Rear Door Alert, beginning with the Rogue and the Altima.
Self-driving freighter out of the picture as Uber dumps truck to focus on cars
Uber is halting development on self-driving trucks to devote resources to self-driving cars. Employees of the San Francisco-based self-driving truck group will be reassigned to related jobs. The self-driving car group is located in Pittsburgh. Employees who don't want to relocate will be offered separation packages.
Pilot program makes driving a BMW as easy as choosing a Netflix movie
For a fixed monthly rate, Access by BMW members can swap cars as often as they want and have cars delivered straight to their door. BMW offers three tiers called Icon, Legend, and M, respectively through a pilot program in Nashville, Tennessee. Pricing starts at $1,099 and tops out at $2,699 for the most expensive tier.
$2.3 million Milan Red built to steal the show from other hypercars
Milan Automotive announced the Milan Red hypercar with exterior photos, structural details, performance specs, and a $2.3 million price tag. Milan claims the Red gets from zero-to-62mph in 2.47 seconds and has a 249 mph top speed. The firm will build 99 Milan Reds, and 19 are already reserved.
Quiet but still alive, Faraday Future plans to start FF 91 production in 2018
California-based, Chinese-backed start-up Faraday Future has completed the first FF 91 body-in-white, a term that denotes a car's shell without a powertrain or trim parts. After nearly drowning in a sea of financial issues, the company received a lifeline and promises to start making cars by late 2018.
Tesla tackles the waves with new limited-edition surfboards
Tesla has launched a new limited-time product. This time Elon Musk’s electric automaker has teamed up with Lost Surfboards to produce limited-edition surfboards.
Volvo’s Polestar performance brand is working on a Tesla Model 3 competitor
Volvo’s dedicated performance division, Polestar, is upping its ante by gearing up to take on the Tesla Model 3. According to a new report, the Polestar 2, will sport an all-electric powertrain with a range up to 350 miles and an output of up to 400 horsepower. It will cost $40,000 to $66,000 U.S.
Bird electric scooters ruffle city officials’ feathers with surprise launch
Clusters of Bird electric scooters have appeared on Cincinnati sidewalks with no prior notice, City officials haven't decided how to respond to the unexpected invasion. Among other cities with similar Bird scooter appearances. Indianapolis was particularly unhappy with the move.
Tesla scores again, winning by having the least ‘salesy’ dealership staff
Tesla once again was at the bottom of the Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index. The nationwide survey rates car dealerships on their ability to convert prospective buyers into paying customers. Tesla CEO Elon Musk cheers when company showrooms score low on "salesy" behaviors.
Drive.ai’s self-driving cars use dashboard displays so passengers won’t stress out
Drive.ai uses multiple visualization and display technologies to share what self-driving cars actually see when traveling in autonomous mode. The data helps reassure passengers that the car has accurate updated data to support its A.I.-driven decision-making.
Waymo expands its partnerships in Phoenix, teams up with Walmart and Avis
Waymo, the former Google self-driving car project, is stepping up its efforts to get autonomous-driving tech ready for prime time. Waymo is offering Arizona residents rides in its fully self-driving cars. Now, the company is doubling down on its program with even more partnerships, with brands such as Walmart.
Toyota goes big on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with cheaper, mass-market options
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are the future for Toyota. The Japanese automaker is reiterating its commitment to its FCVs by designing cheaper, mass-market passenger cars and SUVs, with goals of bringing the technology into buses and trucks as well. The next generation of its Mirai hydrogen FCV could be coming soon