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.
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.
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.
Buick launched the first in-car touchscreen when the NES was still cutting edge
While it looks like the smartphone had a formative influence on the in-car touchscreen, it's actually the other way around. Buick released the first series-produced car with a touchscreen-based infotainment system back in 1986. The feature later spread to other models but motorists found it too distracting.
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.
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.
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.
Honda extends the warranty of select CR-Vs, Civics after finding problem
Consumer Reports reported some Honda CR-Vs and Civics sold in the U.S. have an engine problem which lets gasoline seep into the oil system. The Japanese company has extended the powertrain warranty of over a million cars to reassure owners that they won't need to cover an expensive repair bill down the road.
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.
2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe first drive review
For the 2020 model year, Porsche is expanding the third-generation Cayenne lineup with a more stylish Coupe-badged model. It's lower than a regular Cayenne, a little bit wider, and it wears a more muscular design. Porsche offers the Cayenne Coupe in three distinct flavors that range from swift to heroically quick.
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.
With Tesla bleeding money, Elon Musk initiates hardcore spending review
After posting a sizable $700 million loss in the first quarter of 2019, Tesla announced it will review every expense no matter how big or small to keep spending in check. Company CEO Elon Musk will personally approve every 10th expense page. The company's stock briefly dropped below the $200 mark after the news broke.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Motorists in wealthier countries are more likely to go electric, study finds
Motorists who live in Europe's wealthier countries are more likely to buy an electric car, according to a study. Conversely, those who live in poorer nations are less likely to give up gasoline. The study reflects the fact that EVs remain more expensive to build -- consequently, to buy -- than gasoline-powered models.
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.
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.
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.
Ford designers are dropping their pencils and reaching for VR goggles instead
Ford teamed up with Gravity Sketch to bring virtual reality Co-Creation tech to the world of automotive design. The tool has the potential of speeding up the design process by letting designers on different continents work on the same project. The announcement illustrates an ongoing trend in the auto industry.
Hyundai just made the Ioniq Electric better in Europe. Will the U.S. get it?
Hyundai's European division has updated the Ioniq Electric with a bigger battery pack that delivers more range, a more powerful electric motor, design tweaks, and more tech inside. The updates have only been announced for the European-spec model, but American motorists could benefit from them sooner or later.
For 2020, Toyota is finally fixing the Prius Prime’s two biggest downsides
The Toyota Prius is our favorite hybrid car, but it's not perfect by any means. For the 2020 model year, Toyota is fixing two of its biggest downsides by adding a fifth seat, and by making Apple CarPlay standard. There are no mechanical or visual changes to report, so the polarizing Prius still has a 640-mile range.
GM wants to make an electric pickup, but can it beat its rivals to the punch?
General Motors won't team up with startup Rivian, but it still wants a piece of the burgeoning electric pickup truck segment. Company CEO Mary Barra confirmed a battery-powered full-size truck is in the pipeline, though she stopped short of revealing when it will arrive, and which brand will sell it.
Google, Harman are helping Fiat-Chrysler overhaul its infotainment tech
Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has teamed up with Harman and Google to overhaul its connected-car and infotainment technologies. The automaker is planning a suite of new features that keeps users connected on the go. The next Uconnect platform will debut in late 2019 and it will be in all FCA cars by 2022.
It’s over: Smart confirms it’s leaving America after disastrous shift to EVs
Daimler announced its Smart brand will leave the United States after the 2019 model year. The company's annual American sales dropped by 58% to under 1,300 cars after it shifted to selling only electric vehicles. The Mercedes-Benz dealer network will continue to provide parts and service for Smart owners.
Jaguar’s Smart Wallet rewards drivers for reporting traffic jams and potholes
Jaguar-Land Rover wants to reward drivers who allow their car to share information about road conditions. Still in the pilot phase, its Smart Wallet technology gives motorists cryptocurrency if they agree to let their car send traffic information, weather information, and even the location of potholes.
Volkswagen prepares its electric ID R race car for its toughest challenge yet
The Volkswagen ID R electric race car will head to the Nürburgring to set a lap record. With Romain Dumas at the wheel, the ID R will try to become the fastest electric car around the grueling, 12.9-mile long track. The record attempt is taking place in the summer of 2019 with a car built specifically for the occasion.
Tesla posts $702M Q1 loss as deliveries fall sharply; Musk promises turnaround
Tesla lost $702 million during the first quarter of 2019 as deliveries fell sharply, and demand for the Model X and the Model S flattened. The company predicts it will again lose money in the second quarter, but it will return to profitability during the third. It also announced plans to enter the insurance business.