Study finds motorists overestimate Autopilot’s capabilities; Tesla disagrees
Research conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) finds many motorists are confused about the semi-autonomous driving aids found in cars. They often think the systems are more capable than they truly are, especially Tesla's Autopilot system, and they don't understand messages in the dashboard.
Apple buys Drive.ai and shifts its autonomous car plans into high gear
Apple has cracked open its massive war chest to purchase self-driving car startup Drive.ai. The four-year old, California-based company was about to shut down and lay off its 90 employees. There's no word yet on how much Apple paid for Drive A.I., or what it plans to do with it in the coming years.
This ’60s Ford Mustang EV has Tesla-like specs and a Rolls-Royce-like price
British startup Charge Cars planted its flag where electric cars and muscle cars meet when it unveiled a battery-powered 1960s Ford Mustang. Starting with an officially licensed reproduction shell, the firm added an electric powertrain with 885 pound-feet of torque and 200 miles of range.
Volvo invented the three-point seat belt, and it might be the company that kills it
Volvo didn't invent the seat belt, but the firm patented the three-point configuration found in every new car in 2019. The seat belt hasn't drastically changed since its inception, but autonomous technology will force automakers to rethink how they keep motorists pinned to their seats, and Volvo is leading the way again.
Walmart wants to save billions while integrating autonomy into its supply chain
Walmart teamed up with California-based Gatik to integrate self-driving technology into its supply chain. The retailer wants autonomous trucks and vans to transport goods to and from the warehouses it owns across the nation. Automating middle-mile deliveries can save a tremendous amount of money.
Kia’s 2020 Seltos has a nightclub mode that turns your commute into a party
Kia expanded its portfolio of crossovers and SUVs with the Seltos, a soft-roader developed with Millennials in mind. It's small, but it's not basic; it's available with a long list of tech features. The Seltos will go on sale globally in late 2019, but Kia hasn't announced plans to bring it to the United States yet.
Volkswagen says no thanks to outsiders as it develops its own operating system
The Volkswagen Group is taking software development into its own hands instead of joining forces with tech companies. It's assembling a team of over 5,000 engineers to design an operating system that will equip all of its cars by 2025. The vw.os system will exchange information with the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud.
The GX gets smarter as it ages; it’s even teaching tricks to other Lexus models
Lexus gave the GX 460 tech and visual updates for the 2020 model year. The GX now comes standard with a full suite of electronic driving aids, including automatic braking with pedestrian detection and adaptive cruise control. Every member of the 2020 Lexus lineup will also come standard with these features.
Horsepower, tech, or cubic feet? Have all three in the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe
BMW expanded the second-generation 8 Series lineup with a four-door model named Gran Coupe. Developed to replace the 6 Series Gran Coupe, the 8 Series offers the same six- and eight-cylinder engines in a more spacious package. It will take the Porsche Panamera and the Mercedes-AMG GT Four-Door head-on when it arrives.
Flat-six makes a brief but triumphant return in Porsche’s hot-rodded 718 duo
Porsche unveiled a pair of 718-based sports cars that brazenly buck the industry's downsizing trend. The 718 Cayman GT4 and the 718 Spyder ditch the turbocharged flat-four in favor of a naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter flat-six rated at 414 horsepower. Both models were designed as pure, driver-friendly sports cars.
Forget turrets. Hummer could fight its next war in the electric SUV segment
General Motors is considering resurrecting the Hummer brand it axed in 2010 to make electric off-roaders. The plan hasn't been approved yet, and it risks alienating some die-hard Hummer fans, but it makes sense on several levels. The born-again Hummer brand could be General Motors' revenge against Rivian.
Could a high-performance Nissan Leaf steal the mighty GT-R’s lunch money?
Nissan developed the electric Leaf with range and practicality in mind, but the hatchback could lend its hardware to a high-performance flagship. One of Nissan's chief executives announced that a four-motor, 850-horsepower model could arrive during the 2020s. It will eclipse the GT-R as the company's quickest car.
Here’s why BMW mechanics now carry smartglasses in their tool chest
BMW technicians in the United States have started wearing smartglasses, and it's not because they're shooting alien ships between oil changes. They use augmented reality technology to access workshop manuals, and to get in touch with members of the company's engineering team when they need advice.
Florida allows autonomous cars to drive on its roads without human supervision
Florida governor Ron DeSantis passed a law that establishes a legal framework for self-driving cars to operate in the state. It allows companies to test self-driving cars without a human operator behind the wheel, and, significantly, defines the technology as the car's operator when it's active.
Bentley Flying Spur aims to balance old-school luxury with modern agility
Good news, business tycoons: The new 2020 Bentley Flying Spur is here. Positioned below the flagship Mulsanne, the Flying Spur gets upgrades already seen on the Continental GT, as well as a model-specific all-wheel steering system. Power comes from a mighty, twin-turbocharged W12 engine that delivers 626 horsepower.
Will Detroit be the ultimate test for Argo A.I.’s self-driving Ford?
Ford-backed Argo A.I. revealed its third-generation autonomous prototype in Detroit. Based on the Ford Fusion Hybrid, the prototype is fitted with new technology that sees better and further, thinks faster, and is more comfortable to ride in. Volkswagen could join Ford and Argo's quest to make autonomous cars a reality.
Uber’s next self-driving car, a hat-wearing Volvo, will start testing in 2020
Volvo and Uber have unveiled their latest autonomous prototype. It's based on the second-generation XC90, and it's fitted with the self-driving technology Uber developed in-house. The companies plan to begin testing in real-world conditions in 2020, but the prototype won't be sold to the general public anytime soon.
Toyota and Subaru are expecting again, but this time it’s not a sports car
Toyota and Subaru are joining forces again, but they're not interested in creating another sports car -- at least not for now. Instead, they're pooling their resources to design a platform capable of underpinning electric sedans, crossovers, and SUVs. The two firms will also jointly design a battery-powered crossover.
Electrify America car chargers at Walmarts aim to help the heartland go electric
Volkswagen-owned Electrify America has teamed up with Walmart to build electric car charging stations in America's heartland. The move will help put an end to range anxiety for electric car owners who want to go on a cross-country road trip, and it also gives Americans in rural areas the opportunity to drive electric.
Hertz takes aim at automakers with new car subscription service
Hertz launched a subscription service named Hertz My Car in Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia. Still at the pilot stage, the service gives users access to a wide selection of cars for a relatively high monthly fee that also includes insurance, maintenance, and wear-and-tear items like windshield wipers.
Fiat-Chrysler suddenly withdraws industry-rattling merger proposal with Renault
Fiat-Chrysler's search for a merger partner continues. The company sent Renault a merger proposal that outlined how to group the two companies plus all of their brands and businesses under the same roof, but it suddenly withdrew its offer. Insiders suggest FCA was in a hurry to close the deal, but Renault wanted time.
BMW and Jaguar-Land Rover set aside their differences to develop new EVs
BMW and Jaguar-Land Rover will set aside their differences to jointly develop components for EVs. The partnership will focus on motors, and the two companies made no mention of joining forces to design batteries or other parts. The first models equipped with the jointly developed technology will arrive in the 2020s.
Cadillac declares the four-door American muscle car isn’t dead yet
On the surface, Cadillac's CT4-V and CT5-V models disappointed because they were considerably less powerful than their predecessors. Cadillac played a trick; the Vs are now midrange models, and true performance flagships are on their way. The company previewed them during the 2019 Detroit Grand Prix.
The Chevrolet Trailblazer will return in 2020 after shrinking in the dryer
Chevrolet is filling the razor-thin space that separates the Trax from the Equinox with a new crossover that resurrects the Trailblazer nameplate. Priced at about $22,000, the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer wears a sporty design inspired by the Camaro. Technical specifications will be released closer to its 2020 launch.
BMW argues bigger is better as it gives the X1 crossover a nip-and-tuck
BMW is giving the X1, its entry-level crossover, updates inside and out for the 2020 model year. The soft-roader receives a new-look front end, a bigger touchscreen for the infotainment system, and a new trim level structure. It will face competition from the Audi Q3 and the Volvo XC40 when it goes on sale.
Can Audi plant its flag on Bentley’s turf with a palatial A8-based sedan?
Audi's answer to the Mercedes-Maybach is taking shape. The company is preparing to climb to a new plateau in the automotive industry with an even more lavish offshoot of the A8, its current flagship model. There's no word yet on when the limousine will make its official debut, or what it will be powered by.
You can operate this BMW on a busy sidewalk without getting arrested
Forget driving: BMW just released the ultimate riding machine. The German company teamed up with Switzerland's Micro to design a trio of scooters designed for last-mile mobility. One is an electric scooter with 7.5 miles of range and a 12 mph top speed. Another one is human-powered, while the third is for kids.
EV owners may still need to stop at a Chevron station, but not to buy gasoline
EVgo, the operator of a sizable network of electric car charging stations, has partnered with Chevron. Five Chevron stations located in California will install EVgo chargers that electric car owners can pay to use. Using a 100-kw charger channels up to 62 miles of range into an EV's battery in about 15 minutes.Â
The 2020 Hyundai Elantra keeps an eye on the road even if you’re not looking
Hyundai has again updated the Elantra, one of its most popular and most affordable models. For the 2020 model year, the Elantra receives standard driving aids like lane-keeping assist and forward collision warning. Hyundai also developed a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) that improves efficiency.
Volkswagen is launching a full range of EVs, but it doesn’t want to be Tesla
Volkswagen is preparing to release the 2020 ID.3, an electric, Golf-sized model developed for Europe. It sheds insight into the brand's future EVs, including ones built and sold in the United States. Digital Trends spoke to Volkswagen board member Jurgen Stackmann and learned what it means for the future of VW.
This futuristic concept car shows how Citroen envisions road-tripping in 2119
Paris-based Citroen is celebrating its 100th birthday by looking at what the next 100 years have in store. The company unveiled a concept car named 19_19 that explores how road-tripping might change in the coming decades. Electric and semi-autonomous, the 19_19 concept was designed as a living room on wheels.
Mini’s most powerful models to date will make you want to take the long way home
While the original Mini wasn't born to race, it didn't take long for pilots to uncover its potential and place it on the podium. The firm is channeling its performance heritage into performance-oriented, John Cooper Works-badged variants of the Clubman and the Countryman. Both come with a 301-horsepower four-cylinder.
Bosch sensors used in Skywalker’s lightsaber will keep flying taxis in the air
Bosch wants to help companies make flying taxis a reality. Aviation technology is too big and too expensive to power a flying taxi, so the German firm is developing a universal control unit using smaller, cheaper sensors already used in cars. Bosch believes flying taxis will become common in the 2020s.
Ford’s Survival robot is taking boring tasks out of car manufacturing
Ford's European division has developed a self-driving robot that meanders through its factory in Valencia, Spain. Called Survival, the robot doesn't replace humans; it helps them by performing tasks that are boring or mundane. Ford hopes to build additional examples and deploy them in other factories.
Hyundai wants to make sure you’re seeing the outside world, not inhaling it
Hyundai wants to improve the quality of the air you breathe when you're behind the wheel. The South Korean company is developing an intelligent air purification system that continuously monitors the quality of the air inside the cabin, and cleans it when it detects the presence of harmful particulates.
Lamborghini’s ST-X will likely spawn a super-Urus with the soul of a race car
Lamborghini is taking the Urus racing in 2020. The racing version will be lighter than the production model it's based on, and we expect it will be a good deal quicker. Digital Trends also learned the ST-X will likely help Lamborghini design a possible SV version of the Urus.
The 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe is an exercise in form-over-function design
Porsche expanded its lineup of SUVs with a swoopier evolution of the Cayenne named Cayenne Coupe. Don't let the name fool you: it still has four doors. It stands out with a fastback-like roofline that's lower than the Cayenne's. The two models share the same high-tech interior and most mechanical parts.
Hyundai invests $90M in Croatian startup Rimac to build an electric super-hatch
Croatian startup Rimac is attracting the attention and money of big-name automakers. After taking an investment from Porsche, it has announced it will help Hyundai develop an electric super-hatch and a high-performance hydrogen-powered car. Hyundai and Kia have jointly invested about $90 million in Rimac.