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Latest by Bill Roberson

henrik fiskers karma didnt work now hes designing motorcycles vikingblackred

Karma now canned, Henrik Fisker turns to motorcycle design

Following the collapse of Fisker Automotive, Henrick Fisker has been hired by LEGO fortune heir to create a cruiser motorcycle called the Viking Concept.
Johammer electric moto

The Johammer J1 is no slug — or is it?

Electric vehicles have flung the doors wide open when it comes to design possibilities, leading to mash-ups like the Johammer J1 motorcycle. Just one sighting of this electric two-wheeler is enough to bring a smile to any face.
missions hot new 160hp electric motorcycles one gear plus reverse 150mph and no shifting mission moto r

Mission’s hot new 160hp electric motorcycles: one gear plus reverse, 150mph – and no shifting

Mission Motorcycles, located in California, is bringing two new electrically-powered bikes to market and they are shaping up to be serious high-performance machines.
hondas radical new vultus sounds like electric bike isnt batman probably loves honda nm4vultus motorycle frontoffset

Guess again: Honda’s NM4 Vultus isn’t a scooter, electric, or Batman’s new ride

Honda said the Vultus is "a ground-breaking machine inspired by futuristic machines seen in the anime and manga television and film styles, known collectively as “Japanimation”.
motorcycle security camera by chicara nagata 1966 little honda p25ca6 rear right 1200x800

It’s a motorcycle! It’s a camera! It’s … a motorcycle made of cameras?

After racking his brain as to how he could make the camera low-profile or unique, he bailed on that idea and returned to what he knew: motorcycles.
Voxan Wattman electric right angle

Hang on tight! Voxan’s Wattman electric motorcycle hits 60 in 3.4 seconds

French electric motorcycle maker Voxann isn't taking their Wattman electric bike lightly. It tips the scales at 771 pounds.

Brammo Empulse preview: Up close with the ultimate electric motorcycle

With the aggressively designed Empulse, Brammo hopes to evolve the electric motorcycle beyond mere novelty to the sort of machine enthusiasts expect.

‘By your command!’ As it turns out, we’re happy to obey robots

Drivers obey the robots because unlike humans, they can't be reasoned with, bribed or distracted. Run the light and you might get a ticket. Or arrested.

The guy behind the Tron lightcycle also designed the Lotus C-01 (can you tell?)

Lotusforums.com has released photos and a bit of information regarding the sports car maker's initial foray into the two-wheeled realm. Take a look.
2015 Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe featured

Jaguar’s villianous F-TYPE Coupe ad isn’t very super, probably won’t bowl anyone over

Jaguar released its Super Bowl ad this morning. And, despite big names and budgets, the result is pretty poor.
convertible fr sbrz works subaru says hell toyota saying maybe 86 open 05

Convertible FR-S / BRZ in the works? Not if Subaru can help it

Last year, Toyota rolled the slick FT-86 Open Concept onto the show floor in Geneva. The response was positive, so when is it going to hit showrooms?
Harley-Davidson Street 500 750 hd 750 print

A high-tech Harley? Inside the next generation of smarter, smaller hogs

Like a lot of motorcycle builders, Harley had a tough stretch during the Great Recession, so they took a multi-point approach to update their bikes.
Carbon E-Bike

Meet Brutus, the heavy-duty motorcycle from British lightweight carmaker Caterham

Caterham Bikes has debuted three new machines: a burly dual-sport motorcycle and two electric bicycles unlike most anything available on the market today.
bmw rolls new r1200rt open road warriors 160hp s1000r well heeled hooligans actionwheelie 2 970x646 c

BMW rolls out new R1200RT for open-road warriors, 160 hp S1000R for well-heeled hooligans

Winter is virtually here and, while many riders are dialing back road time or putting their steeds into hibernation as the snow begins to fall, BMW has announced two new bikes to dream about on those cold, dark nights. 2014 R 1200 RT Image used with permission by copyright holder The first is the “all […]
ducati gussies up another senna tribute bike you cant have one 1main

Ducati Panigale 1199 S is the next Senna tribute bike, you can’t have one

Ducati has announced their latest high-speed masterwork, the 1199 Panigale S, will get the Senna treatment and only 161 will be made, all going to Brazil.
bmw freshens up the all conquering gs1200 adventure bike distant locales beckon 1200 gsa ormain

BMW freshens up the all-conquering 1200 GS adventure bikes, distant locales beckon

BMW has updated its iconic 1200 GS adventure bikes that include more technology, a sharpened up look, and lots of power to get you outta Dodge.
bmw offers 900 carbike gps unit for fanboys and long way rounders bmwnavv2

Going the ‘Long Way ‘Round?’ Check out BMW’s $800 Navigator V GPS

BMW has announced a new GPS unit, the Navigator V, for use with both motorcycles and cars. The cost is $799 with an optional cradle for $100 more.

Quick Drive: Bentley’s 2014 Flying Spur is luxury overkill at ludicrous speed

In a large group test drive, amid the hot hatches, performance sedans, pocket rockets, roadsters and pure sports machines, sat the gigantic Flying Spur.
2015 Porsche 918 Spyder

5 things we learned from the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

Outside of the outlandish concept cars and the flash of new models, what trends caught our eye this year at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show? Here's a list.
audi rs8 isnt happening company executive says a8

Frankfurt 2013: Audi reinvigorates its full-size luxury offerings with new A8 and S8 models

The ‘new’ Audi A8 and S8 models are gorgeous but they aren’t really new. What is new, however, are the exteriors, interiors, and engines.

VIDEO: Rarified Ferrari F40 and F50 hit the track for a proper thrashing

Drive journalist Chris Harris recently got the call to take two exotic Ferraris, the F40 and F50, out for some laps on a racetrack. Awesome video resulted.

Semi + jet engine = dragstrip fan favorite, torched signage

While spectators hoot and holler, the turbine-powered semi tractor gets the crowd warmed up by injecting some excess fuel into the jet engine's intake and then setting it alight as it exits.
5 things the auto industry can learn from tesla teslaoufrontqtr1500

5 things the auto industry can learn from Tesla

Tesla is selling electric cars as fast as they can make them. What's their secret? What can other car companies learn from Tesla to improve their products?
teslas elon musk on the chevy volt and nissan leaf meh musknightline

Tesla’s Elon Musk on the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf: Meh

How does Elon Musk see the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf? While he doesn't slam the cars as crap, he does call into question their performance and concepts.
Toyota Prius

Don’t diss the Prius: The iconic hybrid is set for a big update and 55mpg

The Prius could get a style makeover but don't count on it losing it's famous lines in the deal, but several other important updates could arrive.

5 reasons young people are not buying cars or getting their drivers license

For thirty yeas, the number of young people not buying cars or getting a drivers license has been creeping upward. Here are some reasons why.

5 big industries battery storage tech and solar power could change forever

Solar power and battery storage systems are beginning to emerge as a new way to power mobility. What other industries might benefit in the future?

5 ways the Tesla Model S is changing the way we drive

The Tesla Model S is changing people's minds about driving an electric vehicle. Here are five things about the Model S that signal changes in how we drive.
musk details hyperloop high speed transport plans says someone else should build it passenger capsule conceptual design rende

Elon Musk’s Hyperloop would go 700 mph, do LA to San Fran in 30 minutes, and cost 20 bucks

On Monday, Elon Musk dropped another science/technology bomb on a suspecting public, finally releasing plans for a "hyperloop" he's been hinting at. It would be predictably awesome.
ho chi min city traffic video calls into question all automated car tech hcmtraffic971

Ho Chi Minh City traffic video calls into question all automated car technology

Should we all just buckle down, pay attention, communicate and be better drivers? Because that's all that's going in this crazy video from Vietnam.

Under the gun to go digital, Honda lights up campaign to save drive-in theaters

Drive-in owners are facing an end-of-year deadline as studios leave physical film behind and fully convert to the digital distribution of movies.
Tesla affordability

5 things we hope Tesla remembers to include in their ‘budget’ car

Tesla has hinted that an actual affordable and as-yet unnamed model may be in the pipeline and with a 200-mile range to boot. Here's what we want to see.

Tesla fights to replace analog rear-view mirrors with video cameras

Tesla is taking on the American transportation bureaucracy to do away with another remnant of no-tech cars: rearview mirrors.

Segway lite? Toyota’s ‘Winglet’ aims to turn us into wheeled Wall-E fatties

Winglet. It's small, foldable, faster than walking and even kinda cool, in a super nerdy way. First seen in 2008, they are now in public trials.
2014 BMW i3 vs 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV

BMW i3 vs. Chevy Spark EV: Bavaria and Detroit may be closer than you think

The BMW i3 and Chevrolet Spark EV were both just introduced. In terms of range, power, price, technology and other features, how do they compare?
Just plug in that EV anywhere BMW 3i

Just plug in that EV anywhere? Wrong. Vendor battles could shaft drivers

The software systems on which EV chargers currently operate are many and varied. As such, no standard really yet exists. That's a big problem.

Electric motorcycle takes charge at Pikes Peak race, shames even gas-powered rivals

An electrically-powered sportbike from Lightning Motorcycles took home the gold for fastest motorcycle up the hill at the annual Pikes Peak race.
hands on siri rides shotgun in the 2014 chevy sonic mylink

Get your iDrive on: Apple slots Siri into the dashboard of a dozen automakers

Outside of basic iPod and iPhone connectivity for music and phone calls, Apple has lagged behind Microsoft and others in getting a toehold in cars' infotainment systems. That will be changing soon.