Honda will squeeze another model into its SUV lineup at the Los Angeles show
Honda will introduce a new SUV with a familiar nameplate at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. It envisioned the 2019 Passport as a five-seater alternative to the eight-seater Pilot. The two models will share a platform and many tech features, but Honda stresses the Passport will hold its own off the beaten path.
Waymo sees improvements ahead as its self-driving fleet logs 10 million miles
Waymo's fleet of self-driving cars has crossed the 10 million-mile mark. The company isn't resting on its laurels; it has outlined improvements it wants to make over the next 10 million miles. Its ridesharing service will reach more users across the nation, and its autonomous cars will learn new tricks.
This hydrogen-powered Chevrolet Silverado looks like it’s straight out of Halo
General Motors' defense division has released video footage of a rugged, Halo-like truck called Silverado ZH2. The pickup is powered by the next evolution of GM's hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain. Technical specifications are vague at best but GM quotes a 400-mile range, four-wheel drive, and a trick suspension system.
Jaguar’s rally-ready F-Type roadster is happiest off the pavement
Jaguar is celebrating the XK120's 70th birthday by turning the F-Type roadster into a rally warrior. Built to FIA specifications, the model receives suspension and braking upgrades plus a full roll cage to protect the occupants. It's not going to race, though; Jaguar told Digital Trends it built the car just for fun.
Tesla appoints Robyn Denholm as chair, Elon Musk steps down
Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk agreed to step down from his role as chairman as part of a settlement deal with the SEC. Tesla has named a 55-year-old Australian businesswoman named Robyn Denholm as his successor, though Musk will remain CEO. Denholm brings decades of experience in finance to Tesla.
Hyundai wants you to park in the scorching sun to charge your car
Hyundai has announced it will begin mass-producing solar panels for electric and hybrid cars after 2019. The technology can charge between 30 and 60 percent of a hybrid car's battery pack per day. Of course, you're more likely to see a 60-percent charge if you live in Arizona than if you live in Oregon.
Bosch, Daimler team up to deploy autonomous Mercedes-Benz S-Classes in San Jose
In 1986, when Bosch and Daimler joined an autonomous car research project, the technology seemed overly futuristic. The two partners now see the light at the end of the tunnel, and they're teaming up to make a production self-driving car by the early 2020s. They'll test the tech through a pilot program in California.
Hot Wheels is turning this insane, jet-inspired custom car into a toy
Hot Wheels has selected the winner of its 2018 Legends contest. It will turn the 2JetZ, a custom-made machine that exists at the intersection of planes and cars, into a toy and sell it all around the world. Built by Luis Rodriguez, 2JetZ is powered by a 627-horsepower straight-six engine from Toyota.
Tesla keeps promise with more affordable Model 3 with midrange battery pack
Tesla is keeping its promise of making the Model 3 gradually more affordable. The company released a new variant of the car with a mid-range, 260-mile battery option that's priced under the $50,000 mark. Buyers who take delivery before the end of 2018 are eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit.
Yikes! These cars shouldn’t bother dressing up for Halloween
The first thing you notice about a car is its design, not its horsepower output or its infotainment system. There's no widely accepted definition of what makes a car beautiful or ugly, but some designs offend more eyes than others. In time for Halloween, here are the cars that look like they're already dressed up.
Quicker, sharper, and meaner: Audi rejuvenates the R8 for 2019
Audi has updated the coupe and convertible variants of its range-topping R8 sports car for the 2019 model year. It has increased the 5.2-liter V10 engine's output, it has given the front end a sharper design, and it has made software changes that improve the driving experience. The updated R8 will go on sale in 2019.
The Lexus ES 350 measures its trunk space in wine bottles, not cubic feet
One of the concepts Lexus is bringing to the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas is a 2019 ES 350 with a wine cooler built into the trunk. It's beautifully integrated with an oak floor and wine barrel inserts. The cooler stores at least six bottles of wine, but don't expect to find it on Lexus' list of options.
Porsche’s stunning 1990s throwback sold for much more than anyone expected
Porsche is celebrating its 70th birthday by building a stunning, one-of-a-kind 911 called Project Gold. It started life as a 993-generation 911 from the 1990s and underwent a full restoration that includes a variety of improvements. Project Gold was auctioned for $3.1 million, with the proceeds to going to charity.
Race car or daily driver? Choose either with the 2019 Porsche Panamera GTS
Porsche has expanded the Panamera lineup with a midrange, GTS-badged model. It's the variant we've been waiting for since the current-generation Panamera arrived in 2017. Part daily driver and part track toy, the GTS is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 engine that's rated at 453 horsepower.
The McLaren Speedtail is a 250-mph, 1,000-hp work of art on wheels
McLaren's BP23 project has a name: Speedtail. The hyper GT model is presented as the heir to the emblematic F1 made during the 1990s. It receives a 1+2 seating configuration and more luxury features than any McLaren model before it. Production is limited to 106 examples and all are already spoken for.
Elon Musk hails ‘incredibly historic quarter’ as Tesla reveals profits
Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk kept his promise of steering the company towards profitability during the second half of 2018. Tesla posted a net income of $311 million during Q3. Musk promises Tesla will continue to make money, partly because it has streamlined the Model 3's production process.
Two small planes separately landed on highways in Southern California
The California Highway Patrol has responded to two separate incidents involving planes landing on highways in just a matter of days. Engine problems were to blame in both incidents, and the pilots escaped both times without causing or sustaining injuries. One plane is intact, while the other caught fire.
Chevrolet mulling over a hybrid Camaro with 1960s performance, 21st-century tech
Chevrolet has started polling Camaro owners on two hybrid variants of the muscle car. One would use the turbo four, while the second would rely on the V8. Going hybrid is a way to give performance and fuel economy a significant boost. Chevrolet hasn't yet decided whether to launch the car.
The snake escapes: Ford’s 700-hp Mustang GT500 slithers online ahead of schedule
The Mustang Shelby GT500 will return in 2019 with over 700 horsepower, Ford confirmed at the 2018 Detroit auto show. The model won't make its debut until the 2019 edition of the event but a leaked image posted on Instagram has revealed it ahead of schedule. Rumors point to a supercharged, 5.2-liter V8 engine.
Ford hatches a software update to fix a fiery problem with its GT supercar
Ford warns 200 examples of the GT supercar built between December 2016 and July 2018 can catch fire if hydraulic fluid leaks from the rear wing onto the hot exhaust. It will fix the problem with a software update designed to eliminate the possibility of excessive pressure in the valve block assembly.
The saga continues: Faraday Future sets a court date with its main investor
Faraday Future looked better than ever when it announced a $2 billion investment from a Hong Kong-based firm. The relationship hasn't gone as planned and the company is now suing its main investor over late payments. The investor, which owns 45 percent of Faraday Future, denies wrongdoing and vows to fight back.
The White House will promote autonomous cars without forcing you to use one
The White House has published a policy initiative that outlines how it plans to promote the development of self-driving cars. It will make infrastructure upgrades when necessary but it won't fund the technology. And, it wants to remain technology-neutral; it stresses it doesn't want everyone to give up driving.
Hybrid, SUV, or both? Bugatti looks at ways to expand its family
Bugatti currently sells a single model, the Chiron, but it's looking at ways to expand its lineup. It hasn't decided when or how yet but an SUV is the most likely option because the sedan segment is declining around the world. It also hasn't ruled out developing a hybrid powertrain to replace its W16.
How to change your windshield wipers
Changing wiper blades is a quick and easy job for any motorist. It's an important part of routine car maintenance, however, especially as fall sets in and the weather begins to take a turn for the worst. Here, we show you how to get it done, so you can put potential safety hazards to rest.
After Tesla’s ‘best car’ boasts, the NHTSA stresses its scale only goes to five
Tesla published a long blog post to announce that the Model 3 is the best car the NHTSA has ever tested. While the electric sedan indeed aced its crash test, the NHTSA clarified that its rating system doesn't go above five stars. Crash test data suggests the Model 3 stands out as one of the safest cars in America.
Ford could let you control a self-driving car with nunchuck-like motions
Ford has received a patent for a technology called Non-Autonomous Steering Modes. This feature could let passengers in self-driving cars steer using their smartphone. The first mode reads the device's movements, much like a Wii's Nunchuck, while the second displays a virtual steering wheel on the smartphone's screen.
Ford wants to avoid chaos by teaching all self-driving cars a common language
Ford stresses communication will play a key part in the safe, orderly, and timely deployment of autonomous technology on public roads. It's calling on every industry player developing autonomous cars (even its rivals) to work together in creating a common language they can use to signal their intentions.
One tweet cost Elon Musk his chairman job at Tesla and led to a $40M fine
Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk has settled a lawsuit filed by the SEC. He got the fraud charges dropped by agreeing to step down from his role as Tesla chairman and pay a $20 million fine. The company will pay an additional $20 million, appoint an independent director, and vet Musk's communications.
For 2019, the Acura ILX gets more pep in its step and a friendlier price
The ILX, Acura's entry-level model, made its debut for the 2013 model year. The Honda-owned firm has given it a makeover that includes a new-look front end, an option package that gives it a sportier design, and more tech inside. The 2019 Acura ILX is also more affordable than the outgoing 2018 version.
GTA isn’t fun in real life, so Mercedes-Benz wants to suggest safe parking spots
Mercedes-Benz has started testing an in-car app that analyzes crime data provided by police departments to suggest safe areas to park in. Once it knows the kind of area the car is in, the app then classifies parking spaces via a color-coding system. Mercedes could launch the app in the U.S. when it's ready.
This is how Tesla’s Autopilot system sees the idyllic streets of Paris
Tesla's Autopilot system doesn't care about Parisian landmarks like the Eiffel Tower. It's focused on keeping track of other cars, tracking pedestrians, and avoiding collisions with trucks. This video shows exactly how Autopilot identifies the world around it as it drives through the chaotic streets of Paris.
Live your childhood monster truck fantasies in this six-wheeled Silverado
Mercedes-Benz started a fad when it unleashed the G63 AMG 6x6. Five years later, Hennessey is keeping the trend going with a six-wheeled version of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado. Called Goliath 6x6, it boasts eight additional inches of ground clearance and a 705-horsepower V8 engine. Production is limited to 24 trucks.
Ikea jumps on the autonomous car bandwagon — because why wouldn’t it?
Space10, Ikea's research and development arm, has introduced seven autonomous car concepts. Some fall in line with what we've seen from established automakers, like Volvo, while others bring new ideas to the conversation about autonomous cars. There's a game room and even a farmer's market on wheels.
Check out the tuned, resto-modded, and high-tech GTIs at Volkswagen’s home show
About 4,000 cars attended the GTI Coming Home event in Wolfsburg, Germany, and we couldn't find two identical cars. Most of them were modified to one degree or another. Our favorite car at the event blended 1980s style with 21st century tech, including Bluetooth connectivity and touchscreen navigation.
Audi’s subscription service lets you roll in style without commitment
Audi expanded its mobility options by launching a car subscription service in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. For $1,395 a month, buyers can choose from five models (including the Q7, the Q5, and the A4) and swap cars twice a month. The program includes maintenance, insurance, and delivery at the nearest dealer.
Aced it! Tesla’s Model 3 earns a five-star crash-test rating
The results are in and they're great: the Tesla Model 3 has aced the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's different crash tests and earned a five-star safety rating. Tesla's smallest, most affordable model achieved a five-star rating in every category, a rare score in the automotive industry.
Nissan will invite Google into its cars’ dashboards starting in 2021
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance has joined forces with Google to develop a brand-new infotainment system. Scheduled to launch in 2021, the yet-unnamed software will boast navigation via Google Maps over-the-air software updates. It will give the passengers access to thousands of apps in the Google Play Store.
Lexus bets on value as it launches phone-plan-like car subscription service
Lexus has released a subscription service for UX buyers called Lexus Complete Lease. It will launch in four American cities in 2019, though the firm wants to expand it. When and in which direction it grows will largely depend on how buyers respond to the idea of selecting a car like they choose a smartphone.