Lexus will reinvent its design language as it electrifies its full line
Lexus plans to release an electrified version of every nameplate in its lineup by the year 2025. The term electrified is broad; it includes hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric, and hydrogen cars. The company will need to reinvent its design language and develop new tech as it electrifies, Digital Trends can reveal.
Mini’s first EV lands at the intersection of electrification and driving fun
Mini introduced the 2020 Cooper SE, its first series-produced electric model. The battery-powered hatchback shares many powertrain parts with the BMW i3, though its range hasn't been announced yet. Nimble in spite of its 1,400-pound weight, the Cooper SE comes with a powertrain-specific infotainment system.
BMW is helping EV drivers explore some of the nation’s most scenic parks
BMW teamed up with the National Park Service and the United States Department of Energy to install electric car charging stations in America's national parks. The 100 chargers will help eliminate range anxiety for EV drivers visiting the parks. They'll all be live by the end of summer 2019.
Bosch is connecting batteries to the internet to help EVs go the extra mile
Bosch is connecting electric car batteries to the internet to help them last longer. The company's battery-in-the-cloud technology monitors individual battery cells, checks for wear, and modifies the charging process if it detects a problem. This technology can make buying an electric car more painless.
Your dreams (or nightmares) of a BMW-badged pickup truck just came true
BMW vowed never to release a pickup, but it made an exception to build a one-off concept truck based on the X7. The design study was developed and manufactured by BMW trainees, and it was designed to carry an F 850 GS motorcycle. Carbon fiber makes it lighter than the X7, but it's not headed for production.
Lexus jumps back into the convertible segment with a topless LC
The LC Convertible concept Lexus introduced during the 2019 Detroit auto Show is about to spawn a production model. Previewed as a close-to-production prototype, but LC Convertible keeps the coupe's futuristic design while gaining a power-retractable top. It will make its debut before the end of 2019.
Mercedes-AMG teaches the tech-savvy 2020 CLA 45 how to breathe fire
Mercedes-Benz introduced the second-generation CLA during CES 2019, and it expanded the lineup with a 382-horsepower model called CLA 45. Bigger than before, the design-led member of Mercedes' compact car family receives an A.I.-powered MBUX infotainment system and cutting-edge convenience features.
This electric mini McLaren will ensure your kid has a cooler ride than you
McLaren is returning to the kiddy car segment with an electric, scaled-down version of the 720S. Developed for toddlers, the Ride-On toy is powered by an electric motor, but it growls like the real thing thanks to a sound synthesizer. It even comes with dihedral doors and a functional infotainment system.
BMW’s relaxing autonomous 7 Series gave me a glimpse of the new normal
BMW invests between six and seven percent of its annual revenues into research and development, and its engineers are developing autonomous technology with ride-sharing programs in mind. Digital Trends took a ride in an autonomous 7 Series-based prototype, and experienced other tech features the firm is working on.
Tesla fixes potentially fiery problem with an over-the-air software update
Tesla sent a team of in-house investigators to Shanghai, China, to determined why an early Model S suddenly exploded and caught fire. It blamed the fire on a defective battery module, and sent an over-the-air software update to remedy the issue. Tesla stressed that no one was hurt during the incident.
Think hybrids can’t be sporty? BMW’s Vision M Next is here to prove you wrong
BMW unveiled a concept car named Vision M Next that shows what sports cars could look like in the not-too-distant future. The Vision M Next is a plug-in hybrid model with a 600-horsepower powertrain, and a driver-focused interior packed with futuristic tech features. It could transition into a production model.
Don’t ditch gasoline just yet: BMW argues electric cars are overhyped
BMW is spending millions of dollars on developing EVs that no one will buy. The company's chief engineer explained EVs are far too expensive to merge into the mainstream anytime soon, and demand comes from lawmakers rather than drivers. Plug-in hybrid powertrains with a generous electric range are a better compromise.
This supercar-beating EV test mule wants you to think it’s a normal BMW 5 Series
BMW turned a 5 Series sedan into one of the most powerful cars it has ever made, and it's using this prototype to test electric car components. Its drivetrain is made up of regular-production parts, like the motors that will power the iX3 due out in 2020, but the supercar-beating sedan won't reach production.
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.
BMW is planning high-performance hybrids, as well as hot-rodded EVs
BMW development chief Klaus Fröhlich told Digital Trends he thinks the company's M division will release a high-performance hybrid after 2025. In the meantime, it will focus on leveraging the benefits of plug-in hybrid technology to boost performance while keeping fuel economy and emissions in check.
Chevrolet’s in-car pizza-ordering app is the start of an ecommerce revolution
Chevrolet has added Domino's in-car pizza delivery app to Marketplace, an ecommerce platform that equips millions of cars built since 2017. Users can order a pizza on-the-go by tapping the screen a few times, and have it delivered where they want. This marks the beginning of an ecommerce revolution.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Intel hates that your car is dumber than your phone. Here’s how they’ll fix it
Motorists are often underwhelmed and/or frustrated with their car's native infotainment system, so millions of them rely on Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Intel is helping Google and Volvo change that by bringing phone-like tech to the dashboard. Digital Trends predicts partnerships between automakers and tech companies will become the norm in the 2020s.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.