Born a grown-up, Mazda’s elegant CX-30 crossover fills a narrow niche
Mazda traveled to the 2019 Geneva Auto Show to introduce a crossover named CX-30 that slots between the CX-3 and the CX-5. The model fills a narrow niche created because consumers are increasingly ditching sedans for crossovers. The CX-30 is a elegant family-hauler with tech features normally found on bigger cars.
Audi’s second electric car, the E-Tron Sportback, quietly shows its face
Audi quietly revealed its second electric car as a preproduction prototype. The camouflaged test mule reveals the model is based on the E-Tron, but it features a sportier design characterized by a fastback-like silhouette. Digital Trends can reveal the Audi E-Tron Sportback will make its full debut in 2019.
Smart shows us its wild side with an energetic Forease+ concept
Though rumors claim the Smart brand will be axed during the 2020s, the firm argued it's alive and doing well with a new concept car named Forease+. It's an update of the 2018 Forease concept, meaning it's electric, connected, and topless. Smart hasn't indicated what the future holds for the model yet.
Mamma mia! Alfa Romeo will unveil a new model at the Geneva Auto Show
Alfa Romeo told Digital Trends it will unveil a new model at the 2019 Geneva Auto Show. It stopped short of revealing what it has in store, but rumors claim it will be a crossover positioned below the Stelvio. The yet-unnamed model could become Alfa's best-seller, because it will compete in a fast-growing segment.
Electric luxury sedan face-off: Polestar 2 vs. Tesla Model 3
Volvo sister company Polestar isn't shy about its intentions to take on Tesla. Its second model, which is called 2, is aimed directly at the Model 3. We take a look at how the 2 and the Model 3 compare in terms of range, performance, price, and tech. The Model 3 is on-sale now, but the 2 won't arrive until early 2020.
Porsche’s best-selling model is going fully electric in the early 2020s
Porsche confirmed the second-generation Macan will offer an electric powertrain. The model will enter production in 2021 at the earliest, and it will come with an 800-volt charging system that will zap the battery with an 80 percent charge in less than 20 minutes. Porsche will release additional EVs during the 2020s.
BMW wants to make interacting with a car as natural as talking to a friend
BMW traveled to MWC2019 to demonstrate its new, artificial intelligence-powered Natural Interaction technology, which empowers drivers with three onboard means of communications that make interacting with a car as straightforward as talking to a friend. The technology will make its production debut in 2021.
Nissan is using old Leaf batteries to power and connect off-the-grid campers
Nissan has teamed up with trailer manufacturer Opus to design a mobile, weatherproof power pack built with battery cells sourced from the first-generation Leaf. Called Roam, the pack stores enough electricity to power a camper for up to a week -- assuming there is enough sunlight to keep it charged.
How VR, 3D modeling, and craftsmanship help Ducati design alluring motorcycles
Passion fuels Ducati's team of designers as its members create some of the most alluring bikes on the planet. Digital Trends went behind the scenes in Ducati's design studio to learn how the company balances craftsmanship and tech to stay true to its roots, and how designers plan to future-proof their motorcycles.
Has Apple rebooted its self-driving car program to develop autonomous vans?
The on-again, off-again Apple car is back on track, but it's not a sedan or a hatchback. It will arrive as an electric, autonomous passenger-carrying van, according to a recent report. Apple is allegedly developing all of the components in-house, and insiders claim it has started building prototypes.
Consumer Reports bumps the Tesla Model 3 off of its list of recommended models
The Tesla Model 3 is one of the six new cars that have lost their coveted Recommended rating from Consumer Reports over reliability concerns. In 2018, Model 3 owners reported body trim falling off and problems with the car's glass. Tesla has improved the 3's build quality so it may fare better in 2019.
Tesla will release fully self-driving cars in 2019 — with a big asterisk
Tesla reaffirmed its goal of releasing a fully self-driving car by the end of 2019, but it warned the system won't work perfectly 100-percent of the time. Convincing regulators that it's safe to use will require some effort, too. Elon Musk predicted Tesla owners will be able to sleep behind the wheel by 2020.
Apple opens up about its self-driving car program in letter to NHTSA
Apple has traditionally kept details about its self-driving car technology under wraps, but it has revealed details about the program in a rare instance of openness. The company takes safety seriously, and it won't fast-track the technology to production in order to beat rivals Waymo and Uber to the punch.
Arizona city slammed with $10M lawsuit over fatal Uber autonomous car accident
The family of Elaine Herzberg, the 49-year old woman struck and killed by one of Uber's self-driving prototypes, has filed a $10 million lawsuit against the city of Tempe, Arizona. They claim Herzberg jaywalked because she was confused by a brick pathway in a median. Lawyers claim the family's case is weak at best.
Will Apple sell its Touch ID and Face ID technology to automakers?
Recent patent filings suggest Apple wants its Touch ID and Face ID technologies to spread across the automotive industry. The company outlined how motorists could use their finger or their face to unlock their car, and even make in-car purchases. It hasn't made a firm commitment to bring the technology to production.
The Mazda MX-5 Miata’s orange birthday treat sells out online in mere hours
Mazda introduced the MX-5 Miata at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show. Three decades later, it unveiled a commemorative model named 30th Anniversary Edition at the same event. The roadster gets edition-specific paint, orange accents inside, and a nine-speaker sound system. The 500 U.S-bound examples have been spoken for.
Mercedes-Benz predicts cars will evolve more in the next decade than ever before
Mercedes-Benz lead designer Gorden Wagener needs to push the company's design language further without diluting it. He also wants to use the growing amount of tech packed into modern-day cars to his advantage. Digital Trends sat down with Wagener to gain insight into how Mercedes-Benz design will evolve.
Ducati: Electrification will affect design of motorcycles more than cars
As Ducati prepares to release its first electric model, Digital Trends spoke to Andrea Ferraresi, the company's head of design, about the possibilities electrification creates. He predicted going electric will have bigger changes on motorcycle design than on car design. Radar-based tech will change motorcycles, too.
Model X owner claims confused Autopilot causes crash; Tesla rejects blame
The driver of a Tesla Model X told New Jersey police he veered off the road and crashed after the Autopilot system malfunctioned. He wasn't hurt or charged, but the crossover sustained significant damage. Tesla denies the claims and it stresses Autopilot is safe to use and easy to override if needed.
Someone stared at a Volvo on their phone for nearly 10 hours to win it
Volvo didn't want you to watch the 2019 Super Bowl or the million-dollar ads that pepper it. Instead, it gave those willing to ignore the big game the chance to win a two-year subscription to a brand-new S60. The three participants who many spent hours staring at the S60 on their phone won the contest.
Land Rover’s new 2020 Range Rover Evoque is smart off-road and chic in the city
Land Rover introduced the all-new 2020 Range Rover Evoque. The familiar design keeps the outgoing model's shape and dimensions but receives an injection of styling cues from the Velar. The interior gets a full tech makeover with a dual-screen infotainment system and trick off-road technology never seen elsewhere.
Aston Martin’s intrepid plan to compete with Rolls-Royce takes shape
Aston Martin is preparing to resurrect the Lagonda nameplate to use it on a sub-brand focused on making luxurious electric cars. It's taking aim at Rolls-Royce and Bentley, among other rivals. The Lagonda All-Terrain Concept that will break cover at the Geneva Auto Show will preview its first model.
Ex-Apple employee charged with stealing secret self-driving car tech
The FBI arrested a former Apple employee after finding evidence that he tried leaving the United States with stolen trade secrets. Jizhong Chen, who worked as a hardware development engineer for Apple's enigmatic autonomous car project, faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if he's found guilty.
Jaguar is creating a language so autonomous cars can talk to pedestrians
Jaguar wants to teach autonomous cars how to talk to pedestrians. After testing creepy eyes, it has switched to a technology which beams light bars on the ground that move to signal the car is stopping, turning, or accelerating. Communication is key to make autonomous cars safe, but standardization is also important.
If Batman became a race car driver, he’d hit the track in the Vuhl 05RR
Mexican sports car Vuhl revealed the hardcore 05RR, a roadster that blurs the line between a track car and a street-legal car. The 05RR stands out with a design that looks right out of a video game, and it packs a Ford-sourced turbo four rated at 385 hp. That's plenty in a car that weighs just 1,450 pounds.
The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD boasts monstrous torque, intimidating front end
The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD boasts impressive towing and payload figures, but polarizing exterior styling will likely be what everyone talks about. Chevy definitely took more risks in that department than Ford or Ram, but will that pay off? The Silverado HD debuts at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show.
Tesla buys a company that could help make the next breakthrough in batteries
Tesla purchased a company named Maxwell Technologies that specializes in battery tech and capacitor technology. Tesla co-founder Elon Musk is a big fan of capacitors because they store and release energy much faster than a conventional battery pack. We could one day see this tech in Tesla's cars.
Ex-Apple engineer pleads not guilty to stealing autonomous car trade secrets
The FBI arrested a former Apple engineer named Xiaolang Zhang after he admitted to downloading confidential files from the firm's self-driving car division. Zhang said he planned to provide them to a Chinese startup called Xiaopeng Motors. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine.
Electrify America turns its network of high-power EV charging stations back on
Electrify America shut down most of its high-power charging stations across the U.S. after it uncovered a problem with a charging cable. The cable supplier put the cable through extensive tests and found no additional problems, so Electrify America's network of charging stations is once again operational.
The Tesla Model S reports for police cruiser duty in California
The police department in Fremont, California, will soon add a 2014 Tesla Model S 85 to its fleet as part of a pilot program. The agency worked with suppliers to install equipment like a light bar, a prisoner partition, and a push bumper. Police officers will test the Model S in real-world conditions during 2019.
Think trucks are basic? The 2020 GMC Sierra HD can see through a trailer
GMC released the new 2020 Sierra 2500 HD and Sierra 3500 HD. Both trucks are considerably more high-tech than their predecessors, and the new features mostly benefit drivers who tow on a regular basis. Power comes from a 6.6-liter turbodiesel engine rated at a mighty 910 pound-feet of torque.
Big tech, bigger grille: BMW updates its 7 Series flagship for 2020
The BMW 7 Series will enter the 2020 model year with a host of updates inside, outside, and under the sheet metal. The new-look nose with a jumbo grille hides updated engines, while passengers benefit from smart tech features like connected navigation and BMW's personal assistant. Pricing hasn't been announced yet.
Tesla cuts workforce by 7 percent, ends referral program to trim costs
Tesla has announced plans to trim its workforce by seven percent, and will end the referral program that rewards customers who help it sell cars. These measures are ways to cut costs and boost profits. The company needs to sustainably and profitably build the long-promised $35,000 version of the Model 3.
Sibling rivalry: 2019 BMW Z4 takes on the 2020 Toyota Supra
BMW and Toyota formed an unlikely partnership to develop a sports car platform. BMW's variant made its debut as the Z4; Toyota used the architecture to build the fifth-gen Supra. Here, we're looking at performance, design, tech, and pricing to spot the differences and the similarities between the two.
Volvo could install a camera that watches you while you drive, but not soon
Volvo will add an in-car camera to its list of extra-cost options before the end of 2019. The driver-facing unit monitors vital stats like glucose levels to reduce accidents caused by health problems, and it opens the door to facial recognition technology. The firm isn't worried about privacy issues.
Mesmerizing time-lapse video provides rare look at how Tesla makes a Model 3
This 48-second time-lapse gives us a rare look inside the Tesla factory in Fremont, California. It shows how the company makes a Model 3 from start to finish. The process requires 40 basic steps that are accomplished in 90 minutes. The video notably illustrates Tesla's approach to streamlining its production process.
You’ll soon be able to unlock the Hyundai Santa Fe like it’s an iPhone
Hyundai will add fingerprint-recognition technology to the Santa Fe SUV in 2019. Owners will be able to lock or unlock the doors and start the engine by simply placing their finger on a button. Hyundai notes the system is nearly foolproof and it pledges to continue developing the technology in the coming years.