Humans will accompany autonomous shuttles as they take over our cities
Autonomous shuttles could become the first widespread, real-world application of level-five autonomous technology. They won't be entirely human-less, though. Mike Mansuetti, the head of Bosch's North American division, predicts, human intervention could keep the shuttles safe and boost consumer acceptance.
Rocket technology will allow the 2020 Tesla Roadster to hover above the road
Tesla has started developing the second-generation Roadster. Due out in 2020, the model will be developed entirely in-house, and it will boast a jaw-dropping specifications sheet. It will take 1.9 seconds to reach 60 mph from a stop, and rocket technology will allow the Roadster to hover above the road.
Nissan turns the electric Leaf into a hot hatch with supercar-like acceleration
The Nissan Leaf isn't what comes to mind when you think of a performance car. Nismo -- Nissan's racing arm -- wants to change that. It used Leaf parts to create a track-only electric hot hatch called the Leaf Nismo RC that boasts AWD and twin electric motors. Six examples will tour the world in the coming months.
Bosch’s smart mobility division chief on connecting the world, 5G, and more
German supplier Bosch has entered the race to connect the world. The company established a stand-alone division to champion its efforts in connectivity, and we sat down with its chief digital officer on the sidelines of CES 2019 to talk about tech trends like 5G, vehicle-to-anything communication, and IoT.
The new 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet asks if winter is over yet
Porsche has unveiled the 2020 911 Carrera S Cabriolet and the 2020 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet online. Both models get a power-folding soft top that opens or closes in 12 seconds, and they're available with a sport suspension for the first time. The first top-less variants of the eighth-generation 911 are on-sale now.
Atlis emerges from stealth mode to promise an electric pickup truck
Nonexistent and unimaginable several years ago, the electric pickup truck segment is attracting companies from all over the automotive spectrum. Arizona-based startup Atlis has revealed a concept named XT that's tentatively scheduled to launch in 2020 and cost about $45,000 on the low end.
PureGear’s multitasking dash cam watches the road while keeping you connected
The dash cam segment is getting crowded, but PureGear thinks it has what it takes to stand out. The firm traveled to CES 2019 to release a 4G-connected dash cam called PureCam. It monitors the road, keeps an eye on the passenger compartment, and keeps the passengers connected to the internet. Pricing starts at $249.
The 10 most droolworthy concept cars of the year, and 1 big cringe
Concept cars aren't as wild as they were in the early 2000s, but automakers still know how to make us dream -- and, occasionally, cringe. In 2018, we saw dozens of concepts that often highlighted electrification, autonomous, or connectivity technology. We've singled out our favorite, and one we still don't understand.
Exclusive: After years of resistance, Porsche is now open to offering Android Auto
Porsche has never offered a car with Android Auto compatibility. The company offers Apple CarPlay because research has shown a majority of its customers use an Apple device. Now, Porsche has exclusively told Digital Trends that it's looking into offering Android Auto in the near future.
Show winter who’s boss with this Nissan Juke that rolls along on tank-like tracks
Nissan has put a Juke on tank-like tracks to beat winter weather. Built for the 2017 Tokyo Auto Salon, the Juke Personalization Adventure concept loses its wheels and gains all-wheel drive to conquer anything Mother Nature can throw at it. Sadly, we don't expect it will reach production.
Subaru’s Tokyo-bound concepts look mean, but they’re more show than go
Subaru will travel to the 2019 Tokyo Auto Salon to introduce a pair of concepts based on the Forester and the Impreza, respectively. Both models receive an array of STI-developed add-ons including a body kit and bigger alloy wheels. It doesn't sound like Subaru has made any mechanical modifications, though.
Ex-Uber engineer drove coast-to-coast in a Prius without touching the wheel
The engineer at the heart of the Waymo vs. Uber lawsuit has founded a company named Pronto that aims to build the best self-driving stack in the world. It drove a Toyota Prius from San Francisco to New York without any human input. Pronto will begin selling semi-autonomous tech to truckers in 2019.
Ford’s prototype Quiet Kennel uses noise-canceling tech to keep dogs stress-free
Ford is ending 2018 by venturing into the doghouse market. The company's European division has built a kennel equipped with active noise-canceling technology and soundproof walls that help dogs sleep through fireworks. The Quiet Kennel is merely a prototype, not a preview of an upcoming product.
Aston Martin bets classic car owners will choose volts over carburetors
Aston Martin has converted one of its most sought-after classic models to run on electricity instead of gasoline. The roadster uses electric components sourced from the upcoming Rapide E sedan. The British firm promises the conversion is reversible, and it will begin converting customer cars in 2019.
Waymo becomes the first company to charge for rides in self-driving cars
Waymo has launched a commercial ridesharing service using self-driving cars in the Phoenix area. It's the first U.S. company to generate revenue by putting passengers in autonomous cars. Waymo One is only available to a select group of riders, but Waymo will expand the service to other riders in other cities.
Audi’s self-driving car unit teams up with Luminar to go driverless in 2021
Audi's self-driving car unit has teamed up with Luminar to develop autonomous technology in real-world urban conditions. Luminar provides its lidar technology, which sees farther than the sensors offered by rivals, while Audi brings its own software. The partners aim to deploy autonomous cars in 2021.
What’s next for in-car entertainment? Audi believes it knows
Audi is bringing two technologies to CES 2019. The first turns a car -- a luxury sedan, in this case -- into a drive-in movie theater. The second is a new entertainment format that turns the journey into the destination. This will become increasingly important as autonomous cars go mainstream.
Allegro.ai is helping Hyundai mine the artificial intelligence gold rush
In November 2018, Hyundai invested in a startup named Allegro.ai. We talked to the company's founder to learn more about what that means for consumers in the not-too-distant futures. In the automotive space, the applications of AI vary from powering autonomous cars to improving quality control on the assembly line.
Gateway’s born-again Ford Bronco boasts classic style, 2018 muscle car power
Illinois-based Gateway Bronco has received a license from Ford to make brand-new examples of the first-generation Bronco. Every build starts with a Ford VIN and a donor vehicle, but Gateway upgrades every part of the car. The rigs are rust-proofed and fitted with a modern-day V8 engine for more power.
Take a friend stargazing at 202 mph in the 2019 McLaren 720S Spider
McLaren has introduced the 2019 720S Spider. As its name implies, it's a convertible variant of the 720S coupe. The firm promises the Spider retains the coupe's dynamism and agility thanks in part to the widespread use of carbon fiber. Pricing for the 710-horsepower roadster starts at $315,000.
Bosch is developing a Rosetta Stone for autonomous and connected cars
Bosch and start-up Veniam want to create a common language that autonomous and connected cars can use. The two firms developed a connectivity unit that transcends the national boundaries of technology while taking data costs into account. The technology isn't in production yet, but trials are underway.
This external airbag turns your entire car into a crumple zone to save lives
German components manufacturer ZF will test an external side airbag in 2019. It's essentially the same technology as the airbag mounted inside every new car but it deploys over the side of the vehicle to reduce the severity of injuries. This technology is in development but it's not in series production yet.
The biggest production and concept car debuts at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show
The 2018 edition of the Los Angeles Auto Show is unusually big because it falls between a quiet Paris show and the smallest Detroit show in recent memory. In addition to the luxury cars that shine every year, car companies will bring economy cars and trucks to the event. Here's a preview of what we'll see.
8 seats and 16 cupholders: 2020 Hyundai Palisade reports for family-hauling duty
Hyundai unveiled the 2020 Palisade at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. The South Korean firm's biggest SUV seats up to eight passengers in a spacious, well-lit cabin decked out with useful tech features like wireless charging and smartphone connectivity. Power comes from a 3.8-liter V6 rated at 290 horsepower.
Google’s new Android Auto features target motorists who like music and friends
Google has made a series of updates to its Android Auto application. The software is now more convenient to use and more feature-rich than before. Music apps like Spotify and iHeartRadio are better integrated, and users can receive notifications about new messages in group conversations they're in.
Luminar lidar sensor aims to detect if you’re sipping a latte or crossing a road
Volvo and sensor company Luminar Technologies have made a breakthrough in lidar technology that will greatly improve the vision of autonomous cars. The lidar allows an autonomous car to see up to 270 yards away, and gives it the ability to identity human actions and body parts (like arms and legs).
The Bentley Continental GT Convertible is a jet setter’s dream come true
Bentley has released the convertible variant of the third-generation Continental GT. The 626-horsepower, V12-powered roadster is identical to the hardtop model with the exception of a power-operated top that opens or closes in 19 seconds. It's offered in standard cloth or, for the first time, British tweed.
This French firm alchemized a classic Lamborghini into a hot-rod for four
French hot-rod builder Danton Arts Kustom has turned a 1970 Lamborghini Espada into a hot-rod for four passengers. Nearly every part of the Espada has been updated or modified, but the build keeps the coupe's original V12 engine. What surprises us about it is how well it channels Lamborghini's design ethos.
Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn ousted, arrested after whistleblower cries foul
Nissan will oust chairman Carlos Ghosn after an internal investigation revealed he under-reported his salary to Japan's financial authorities for many years. Greg Kelly, one of Nissan's representative directors, will leave for the same reason. Japanese media outlets report both men have been arrested.
The hamster-friendly 2020 Kia Soul will rock out at the Los Angeles Auto Show
Kia has released a teaser image to preview the next Soul. Scheduled to make its debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2020 Soul will keep the outgoing model's boxy proportions but will wear a sharper design. The electric and turbocharged variants will return, and all-wheel drive may be on the menu.
Ares turns the Tesla Model S into a two-door roadster with Italian flair
Italian coachbuilder Ares has done what Tesla won't. It's taking a Model S, chopping off the roof, and sending the rear doors back to the parts bin to create a roadster ready for the French Riviera. The model is at the embryonic stage of development and technical specifications haven't been released yet.
Jaguar can take the next F-Type in one of two completely different directions
Jaguar needs to decide what the future has in store for the F-Type, the only sports car in its portfolio. Its options include turning the next-generation model into an electric car aimed at the Tesla Roadster, and putting it into the ring with a twin-turbo V8 from BMW. The next F-Type won't arrive until at leasAt 2021.
Autonomous cars could lead to sex on wheels, study shows
Fully autonomous cars can change the way we commute, but they can also have a far-reaching impact on the tourism industry. Two researchers published a study that outlines how self-driving technology could affect the hotel industry, car rental companies, restaurants, tour bus operators, and even brothels.
Lamborghini transforms the Urus SUV into a dual-purpose race car
Breaking stereotypes and tradition, Lamborghini has turned the Urus SUV into a race car that's equally at home on a paved track and on a dirt trail. The ST-X concept gets bigger air intakes, a full roll cage, and center-locking alloy wheels. It's 25 percent lighter than the Urus. It will start racing in 2020.
Startup Rivian exits stealth mode with a bold promise to electrify off-roaders
Electric car startup Rivian has finally turned off stealth mode and provided details about what it's been working on since 2009. It will build battery-powered off-roaders instead of taking on Tesla and others in the luxury EV segment. We'll see the company's first concept cars at the Los Angeles Auto Show.