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Latest by J. Zurschmeide

2019 Chevrolet Blazer review

2019 Chevrolet Blazer first drive review

The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer is retro in name only. It's aimed at buyers looking for a mid-size, two-row SUV that offers seating for five passengers and plenty of space. The lineup consists of six different trim levels including an upmarket Premier trim, and an RS package that’s more than just paint and blackout trim.
2019 volkswagen tiguan review 1

2019 Volkswagen Tiguan review

The 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan is one of two compact SUVs that offer third-row seating. Additionally, the Tiguan provides a better driving experience than models by the best-selling economy brands at a slightly higher price. The Tiguan is a great choice for families who want a premium SUV without a big price tag.
V2X and V2I infrastructure

5G will turn your car into a talking, thinking supercomputer. And it’s coming soon

Consumers understand that 5G can enable a better driving experience by bringing up to 20 Gbps data speeds to your vehicle. What might get lost is that 5G is also going to enable smarter, more connected vehicles on the road through Cellular Vehicle-to-Anything (C-V2X) communications.
Peloton Technologies Semi Truck Platooning

Peloton’s tech lets truckers play follow the leader to boost fuel economy

Peloton Technology offers technology that can help semi trucks save fuel by running close together on the highway through platooning. Using shor- range wireless communications, trucks get a kind of super cruise control. This technology is on the road today, and it works.
2019 Mazda CX-5 First Drive

2019 Mazda CX-5 First Drive Review

The 2019 Mazda CX-5 compact crossover SUV adds a new turbocharged engine option and two new upscale trim levels to the existing lineup. It’s all part of Mazda’s plan to reinvent itself as a premium Japanese brand, while maintaining its reputation as an affordable driver’s brand. We think they nailed it.
2018 Nissan Leaf review

Nissan is charged up about giving your electric car’s battery pack a new life

Nissan announced its Nissan Energy program at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. The program is a three-pronged effort to promote the installation of charging stations, enable smart charging in homes and business locations, and upcycle used electric car batteries into low-stress power-management applications.
2020 Mazda3

The 2019 Mazda3 gains AWD, fresh design, and a groundbreaking engine

The all-new, fourth-generation Mazda3 will include Mazda’s revolutionary SkyActiv-X gasoline engine, which uses compression ignition like a diesel, plus a real diesel engine option and available all-wheel drive. The 2019 Mazda3 comes in hatchback or sedan form, and is expected at dealers early in 2019.
2020 mercedes benz gle review merdeces first drive feat

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE first drive review

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE has active suspension that actually scans the road ahead of you, helps you drive, and even massages your back. This SUV eliminates stress with a program of audio-visual and tactile effects. Aside from all that, The GLE is a seven-passenger SUV with expected performance.
henrik fiskers bold plan for electrification and autonomy fisker emotion 4

Fisker failed. But now the EV pioneer is ready for an epic redo

Digital Trends sat down with Henrik Fisker to detail his plans for an autonomous electric shuttle bus, a mass-produced affordable EV, the new Fisker E-Motion luxury sports EV, and his patented new battery design. We also asked about the lessons he’s learned and how they shaped his new plan.
vw i.d. vizzion concept

Flat, fast, and flexible, Volkswagen’s new electric platform can power any car

VW recently took us to its Transparent Factory in Dresden for a deep dive into its work and plans for the all-new MEB (Modular Electric Toolkit) architecture. This new platform is designed exclusively for EV use and VW expects to produce up to 330,000 electric vehicles a year starting in 2020.
2019 GMC Sierra

2019 GMC Sierra first drive review

The Digital Trends 2019 GMC Sierra first drive review focuses on the exclusive new features that set the 2019 Sierra apart from the competition. From the industry-exclusive multi-function tailgate to the available carbon fiber bed and head-up display, we cover what’s new and significant in detail.
lidar tech truck safety semi 18 wheeler sunrise on highway

How lidar technology is working to enhance trucking safety

If you’ve ever seen a semi-truck crash, you know it’s bad. Even highly trained drivers have to manage unpredictable traffic and weather conditions while piloting an 80,000-pound rig. Here’s how lidar technology companies are helping make trucking safer today with the human driver as a partner.
2019 Chevrolet Silverado Full Line review

2019 Chevrolet Silverado Full Line first drive

Our 2019 Chevrolet Silverado Full Line first drive review covers all the bases, from new trim levels and exciting new engines to features that make trailering and loading easier. The new Silverado is bigger, more powerful, more comfortable, and has more of everything you want in a multi-purpose truck.
uber settles driver background check case man driving in car the city ride share lyft getaround zipcar

How autonomous ridesharing will reshape our cars, cities, and lives

Ridesharing is changing the way people around the world build their cities, design their cars, and choose to get around. As people choose shared rides, automakers will design their cars to accommodate new uses. Ridesharing is also driving advancements in autonomous and connected cars.
2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt review

2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt first drive review

The 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt is a serious performance car. Where most special editions are just vulgar paint and stickers packages, the Mustang Bullitt offers real performance enhancement that shows careful attention to detail by Ford’s engineers. It’s old school muscle with new technology.
2017 honda clarity first drive review hondaclarityfueling

The coming hydrogen fuel cell evolution

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and on Earth. Our oceans are mostly made of Hydrogen. So why have hydrogen fuel cells had such a hard time catching on? We met with the California Fuel Cell Partnership to get the low-down on how they can make hydrogen-fed cars more mainstream.
Virginia Tech

From a bad battery to a crash, Virginia Tech’s automated car beat all challenges

General Motors and the Society of Automotive Engineers created the AutoDrive Challenge, and a team of mechanical engineering students from Virginia Tech overcame technical and human obstacles to create a basic autonomous car in one year. Over the next two years, they’ll build a true autonomous car.
TBI racing sim

How racing simulators are helping stroke victims get back behind the wheel

Researchers at Loyola Marymount University are adapting technology developed to train the world’s top pro racing drivers to assess cognitive abilities and help victims of stroke and traumatic brain injury to safely retrain themselves to drive. For brain injury survivors, this is anything but a game.
v2x communications will change the way you drive feature 1

Your next car will talk to crosswalks, pay your tolls, and find its own parking

V2X stands for Vehicle to Anything communications, and it will help you avoid accidents, make all the green lights, and keep away from traffic jams. The technology is already here, and it’s being rolled out over the next few years. When you have it, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it.
2019 Chevrolet Silverado review

2019 Chevrolet Silverado first drive review

The upcoming 2019 Chevrolet Silverado features an all-new 2.7-liter turbocharged and direct-injected engine good for 310 horsepower and 348 pound-feet of torque. Mated to Chevy’s 8-speed automatic, this is a powerful new package for Chevy’s bread-and-butter truck. Will it compete with Ford and Ram?
Safe Transaction Zones | Woman takes a photo of her car in preparation to sell it.

How tech is helping used car sales with safe transaction zones

No one needs to be reminded that the online marketplace can be risky. Scammers and creeps have infested classified ad sites like Craigslist and made them dangerous. In response, cities and businesses are now offering safe transaction zones to meet for online sales and used car test drives.
tusimple autonomous trucks truck feat

Why self-driving trucks will take over before self-driving cars

road rave subscription direct sales threaten traditional car dealers dealer showing brochure to young couple in showroom

Technology is finally going to kill car dealers, and consumers win

Traditional auto dealers are a threatened species, according to industry veterans. Rising trends like subscriptions, direct sales, and the ride-sharing industry all combine to put auto dealers in a difficult spot. Here are some of the changes we could see in the coming years, and what they mean for buyers.
autonomous driving fatalities get the attention of auto insurance companies uber arizona1

Who pays for autonomous driving fatalities?

Human drivers are still far more dangerous than autonomous cars, but if you’re not really at the wheel, whose fault is it if there’s an accident, or worse, a fatality? The insurance industry has been slow to respond, and nothing has yet been decided in the courts.
chargepoint state of ev report 2017 chevrolet bolt interview 0017

Lithium metal batteries could triple EV ranges, and they’re getting closer

New research into lithium metal battery technology happening at Canada’s University of Waterloo is pointing the way to a 3X improvement in solid-state battery storage capacity.
the most affordable off road fun you can have is in a utv 8

Hold my beer, I’ve got a new UTV!

Why side-by-side off-road vehicles are becoming the most popular vehicles in the desert.
Jarlstrom-oregon-red-light-cameras

How an Oregon man’s fight for traffic camera fairness reached a federal court

Red light cameras are big business for municipalities and the companies that install them. They generate millions in revenue for minimal costs, but there are some serious problems with the way the system works. One man is working to change that.
Mazda Skyactiv road close

Mazda plans to make the most of gas by burning less with Skyactiv-X

Mazda’s new Skyactiv-X engine combines century-old diesel technology with the latest in engine management to deliver a revolutionary new design. Major improvements in fuel economy and reduced emissions point the way to a greener gasoline engine.
Chevrolet Pickup Trucks old and new

100 years of collectible Chevrolet Pickup Trucks

Chevrolet pickup trucks are just about the hottest collectible vehicles going right now, and there’s a lot to like. They’re easy to find, easy to restore, and get a lot of attention.
2018 Chevrolet Tahoe RST First Drive Review

2018 Chevrolet Tahoe RST First Drive

The Digital Trends 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe RST First Drive Review explores Chevrolet’s newest high-performance vehicle, with a 6.2-liter V8 at 420 horsepower, 10-speed automatic transmission, and enough scoot to make 0-60 in under six seconds.
high tech bikeshare changing transportation in america china four great new inventions  cn

Bikesharing has existed for a century, but tech is making it massive

Bicycle sharing programs have been around for decades, but have always been plagued by theft and vandalism problems. Now with phone-based apps and GPS tracking, bikeshare systems can provide ready human-powered transportation with accountability.
VW I.D. CROZZ concept

Why VW’s remarkable I.D. Crozz EV is only the the start of its electric plans

We took a behind-the-scenes look at the new VW electric car platform. VW is planning a whole series of vehicles based on this technology. It starts with a crossover SUV.
Car dealership

Looking for a new set of wheels? Here’s our guide on how to finance a car

Looking for a brand new set of wheels? Here's our guide on how to finance a car, including tips on where to get the best loan.
2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali review

2018 GMC Sierra Denali 1500 first drive review

Our First Drive review 2018 GMC Sierra Denali 1500 focuses on options, engines, and the basic capability and luxury feature set that makes the Denali a must-drive truck.