Land Rover sets sail to the America’s Cup seeking new challenges
In 166 years of competition, the British have never won the America’s Cup yacht race. Now Land Rover hopes to change that fortune by bringing the latest in automotive design technology to the ancient craft of sailboat racing.
Smart cars are dumber than you think, but there’s a plan to make them better
Today's autonomous cars seem clever, but they're nowhere near the standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers, and it'll be years before they're close.
Ethanol-infused fuel can cause problems, but don’t expect it to disappear
We’ve looked at the myths and facts about ethanol in our road fuel, and found some legitimate beefs, particularly when the mixture is used in marine engines and motorcycles.
The golden years: Why we’ll all love self-driving cars when we’re older
Will seniors be able to make the change to self-driving cars? Available evidence indicates it won’t be a problem.
Carmakers make cars. Polysync makes them drive themselves
Automakers still design and build cars according to a hundred-year-old habit of keeping everything in-house and secret. One startup software company is aiming to change the entire paradigm, starting with self-driving cars.
Your next Audi will warn you of red lights, but that’s just the beginning
Audi has announced a new feature that displays the next stoplight status on the dashboard, but that’s just the first of many new changes as Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communications get going.
Hitched for a comeback: Vintage travel trailers are the latest retro craze
The venerable travel trailer is making a comeback, packing new features, more comfortable amenities, and connectivity with modern electronics.
2017 Subaru Impreza: Our first drive
Since 1993, the AWD Subaru Impreza has been competing with the 2WD market leaders. The new Impre-za proves that the future is as bright as ever for Subaru.
How ‘social currency’ is changing the face of the automobile industry
As the traditional automobile sales industry morphs into the mobility services industry, companies that can engage and create a personal relationship with their customers have a huge advantage over companies that fail to engage. One marketing professional has a new term for this effect – Social Currency
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid first drive
The heartiest family workhorse currently on the market now takes range anxiety off the table
Is ethanol in your gas a problem? We revisited the question with an expert
About 97% of the gasoline sold in America has ethanol in it. Some people say this is ruining our engines and killing our fuel economy. We asked a NASCAR engine-building expert with a Ph.D in chemical engineering to give us the low-down.
Uber’s Pittburgh robotaxis amuse riders, still struggle with double parked cars
If you think self-driving cars are coming soon, you’re wrong. They’re already here. Uber has a fleet of self-driving cars working the streets of Pittsburgh right now. They’re not totally independent yet, but if you’re waiting for a self-driving car, there it is.
How do engineers design today’s astronomically complicated cars? Using these tools
Modern automobiles have become so complex that automakers are turning to software companies to help them manage and test virtualized designs and manage mountains of requirements compliance paperwork. We took a deeper look at the companies that are coding the next generation of cars.
2017 Volvo V60 Cross Country First Drive
Volvo has updated its mid-size all-wheel-drive V60 Cross Country wagon with its latest fuel-efficient Drive-E engine and a number of other excellent new features.
Getting muddy with a VW SUV so secret, we can’t even show you the whole thing
Volkswagen wasn’t ready to show us everything, but we got a good look at the all-new mid-size SUV that will be on display at the L.A. Auto Show. Here’s what we learned.
First drive: 2017 Buick LaCrosse
Most luxury buyers choose SUVs. But if you value better handling, easier parking, and a more attractive price, consider the all-new 2017 Buick LaCrosse.
Green godsend or political ploy? The truth about ethanol in your gas
97% of U.S. gasoline contains ethanol, but the effects of ethanol and the reasons for its inclusion are not well-known. We take a deeper look at the sources and reasons to put ethanol in your gasoline.
First drive: 2017 Infiniti QX30
Infiniti’s new entry in the compact crossover space drives like a sport wagon, offers optional AWD, and delivers Infiniti’s distinctive luxury experience while undercutting the competition on price.
Lamborghini is rewriting the rules on carbon fiber with a crazy new way to make it
After three decades as a pioneer in carbon fiber development, Lamborghini has revealed a quantum leap in composite technology. The new forged composite process allows the automaker to stamp parts from carbon fiber in a fraction of the time, yielding parts of equivalent strength to metals.
How virtual racing is turning gamers into drivers
Auto racing video games have come a long way, to the point where top international racing teams use advanced virtual reality systems to train for big races, and also to scout gamers as the next generation of professional racing drivers.
What happens to drivers? The ripple effects of autonomous cars go beyond safety
Self-driving cars bring a long list of benefits, but they also hold the potential to disrupt our economy and throw millions out of work. The potential ripple effects go far past the immediate benefits of driverless transportation.
The best just got (a tiny bit) better – Mazda reveals G-Vectoring Control
What Mazda has done with G-Vectoring Control is to use steering input data to make subtle changes that increase front wheel grip, keeping the car more stable and predictable, while at the same time protecting the car from jerky motions.
First drive: 2016 Mazda CX-9
Mazda is known for producing vehicles with the handling and performance of a sports car – but how can they translate those qualities into a mid-size crossover SUV? The answer lies in design and engineering.
First drive: 2017 Volvo S90
Volvo has created an all-new midsize luxury sedan to compete with the best of Germany, Japan, and America. From any angle, the 2017 Volvo S90 is a winner.
Behind the curtain at collector car auctions
The collector car market has much more in common with the stock market than it does with the regular business of buying and selling cars. We pull back the curtain and show you who wins, who loses, and how it all works.
First drive: 2017 Honda Ridgeline
Discarding conventional wisdom, the 2017 Honda Ridgeline has all the strengths of a traditional pickup truck coupled with a modern chassis and suspension.
Do you really need to buy premium gasoline?
Sales of premium fuel are rising, and are likely to remain high as Americans buy more small-displacement turbocharged cars. But what do you really know about the fuel you’re putting in your tank? Should you pay for Premium?
Custom car guru Chip Foose talks shop on his legendary 30 year career
Chip Foose is an icon in the world of customized automobiles. With 30 years in business and a double-armful of awards to show for it, we asked Foose to reflect on where he’s been and where he’s going next.
If extended warranties were a good deal, they wouldn’t need to sell them
Many people want to sell you an extended service contract on your car. If the contract was a good deal for you, they wouldn’t have to give you the hard sell. Do yourself a favor: Tell them to go away.
Stop! Or your next car will for you, thanks to automatic braking
In up to 50% of rear-end collisions, the driver has not stepped on the brake when the crash occurs. Automated braking can prevent those crashes, and it will be in every new car by 2023.
The Car Hacker’s Handbook isn’t a guide, it’s a wake-up call to automakers
The Car Hacker’s Handbook is a guide to reverse-engineering the digital control systems in a modern vehicle. The book includes information on the software in a vehicle’s control computers as well as background information on vulnerabilities.
2017 Kia Sportage first drive
Find out what we think of the new 2017 Kia Sportage. How does it compare to the competition in the compact crossover market, and how good is the value?
Inside the factory where Acura builds its otherworldly NSX supercar
The Acura NSX is a state-of-the-art supercar, hand-built in a boutique factory. Take a tour to see how personalized manufacturing makes the difference for Acura’s newest exotic.
Take a hint from the Russians: It’s time to protect yourself with a dash cam
Dash cameras first became popular in the crowded streets of Asian cities, then spread to Russia, and now they’re here. You can use these inexpensive devices to protect yourself from expensive liability in a crash, but you need to understand the legal implications first.
Red-light cameras are producing profits more than protecting drivers
Red light cameras have been a fact of life for more than a decade, but after numerous corruption scandals and widespread discontent, big brother is on the way out.
First Drive: 2016 Nissan Sentra
The 2016 Nissan Sentra is a solid contender. It won’t win any stoplight races, but you will get a proven, high-quality car that will do the job you’re asking it to do.
Your next car will update itself while you sleep, and maybe watch you too
Automakers already update navigation and infotainment systems with wireless technology. The next step is to update core functions like engine and safety management. This is important for many reasons including saving money and increasing customer satisfaction, but what are you giving up?