Tesla wirelessly gives the Model 3 a 5-percent increase in power
Tesla again showed the potential of its innovative over-the-air software updating system, this time by making the Model 3 five percent more powerful via a firmware update. The Performance model gained 23 horsepower, which should make it peppier off the line and around town. The update was free for all Model 3s.
Mercedes wants to turn your car into a comfortable shopping mall on wheels
Mercedes-Benz designed its MBUX infotainment system with e-commerce in mind. Motorists can upgrade compatible cars via an over-the-air software updating system, but the brand wants to take this technology to the next level. It will soon let its customers buy anything, from a shirt to Thai food, through its cars.
Unrestrained by heritage, Polestar sets its sights on becoming a digital brand
With no heritage to worry about, Polestar is free to move full-speed ahead towards its goal of becoming a digital brand. All of the company's upcoming models will be electric, and they will inaugurate an Android-powered infotainment system. Polestar COO Jonathan Goodman explains what the brand stands for.
Mustang-like and electrified. What did Ford just show a preview of?
Ford posted an enigmatic picture of a blue Mustang emblem on a black background right as Tesla prepared to introduce the Model Y in California. Is the Blue Oval teasing a hybrid version of the Mustang, or is it previewing a Mustang-inspired, battery-powered crossover? We could find out at the 2019 New York Auto Show.
Automakers are spending billions on self-driving technology people are afraid of
Automakers are spending billions of dollars on developing the technology that will power self-driving cars, but research shows consumers have no interest in giving up control. Will they ever recoup their investment? The future doesn't look bright in 2019, but the next decade will bring major perception changes.
Adventurous and electric, Porsche’s second station wagon will arrive in 2020
Though it's a concept car, the Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo will become a production model in 2020, after the Mission E-inspired Taycan sedan arrives in showrooms. It's entirely electric and it boasts a 600-horsepower all-wheel-drive powertrain that sends it from 0 to 60 mph in a brisk, 911-like 3.5 seconds.
Can electric cars be S3XY? Tesla says yes with the new Model Y crossover
Tesla introduced a new crossover named Model Y at its design studio in Los Angeles. It's a more spacious alternative to the Model 3, and a smaller sibling to the Model X. All-electric, the Model Y is on-sale now through a reservation system, and the first deliveries are tentatively scheduled for 2020.
Volkswagen wants more high-performance R models — even electric ones
Though Volkswagen won't sell the T-Roc R in the United States, it wants to expand its lineup of high-performance cars over the coming years, and one of the new additions could join the Golf R in American showrooms. Looking ahead, Volkswagen sees a market for high-performance electric cars developed by its R division.
Volkswagen plans more SUVs — and you might be able to subscribe to them
Volkswagen will add more SUVs to its lineup in the coming years. It's planning a five-seat version of the Atlas, and an entry-level crossover positioned below the Tiguan. The company isn't giving up on sedans, however. It's also evaluating the possibility of launching a subscription service in America.
Tesla won’t close its stores after all, but its sales model remains digital
Tesla has backpedaled on its plans to close a vast majority of its stores as it shifts toward an online-only sales model to save money. The company will reopen some of the stores it already closed, and give others a second chance in the coming months. The cost of most of its cars will go up accordingly.
Predictably named Polestar 3 to debut in 2021 as a coupe-style electric SUV
Volvo sister company Polestar will continue expanding its lineup of electric, tech-laden cars in the 2020s. Its third model will be a "coupe-style SUV" named 3, company COO Jonathan Goodman told Digital Trends during the 2019 Geneva Auto Show. Offered only as an EV, it will make its debut in late 2021.
The 2019 Geneva Auto Show, where electrification, tech, and performance collide
Automakers are increasingly turning their backs on the traditional auto show, but the Geneva Auto Show remains one of the most significant dates on the calendar. In 2019, performance and tech collided in a spectacular display of creativity, electrification, and connectivity. Here are the highlights from the event.
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.
The Nissan IMQ concept can spawn a virtual passenger to keep you company
Nissan traveled to the 2019 Geneva Auto Show to unveil a concept car named IMQ. It's a high-tech hybrid with a Hot Wheels-like design, and clever driver-assistance features. It can also spawn a virtual passenger to keep motorists company. Some features are concept-only, but the IMQ could preview a production model.
The Honda E Prototype is the electric car Apple should have come out with
Honda will travel to the 2019 Geneva Auto Show to unveil a close-to-production prototype that previews an adorable, city-friendly electric car. The E Prototype will offer approximately 124 miles of driving range, and its interior is a tech lover's dream come true. Honda has no plans to sell it in the U.S. though.
Volkswagen’s hot-rodded T-Roc R is ready to shred its tires to confetti
Volkswagen has released a hot-rodded SUV named T-Roc R. Based on the T-Roc, a sub-Tiguan model sold in Europe, it receives a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine borrowed from the Golf R and tuned to make 300 horsepower. The result is a family-hauler which takes 4.9 seconds to reach 62 mph from a stop.
Kia’s bionic-looking electric concept car packs a 21-screen infotainment system
Kia revealed a concept car named Imagine at the 2019 Geneva Auto Show. The design study is entirely electric, and it intentionally blurs the lines that separate market segments. Time will tell whether it's a design-led concept car built to turn heads at auto shows, or a preview of an upcoming production model.
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.
Google and Volvo helped Polestar craft its answer to the Tesla Model 3
Volvo sister company Polestar has introduced the 2, its second model. It's a tall sedan with a fastback-like design that's aimed right at the Tesla Model 3. It comes with a 400-horsepower, all-wheel drive electric powertrain, and its battery pack delivers up to 275 miles of range. Production will begin in China in 2020.
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.
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.
The coolest police cars from around the world
Not every police car is created equal. It's true, most cops drive the same thing -- a Ford Explorer or a Dodge Charger, in many cases -- but law enforcement agencies sometimes think outside the box. That's when things get really wild. Here are some of the coolest and most unexpected police cars to date.
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.
Audi taught cars to talk to traffic lights, and they’re set to be even chattier
Audi started teaching its cars the language of traffic lights in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2016, and it has continued to expand the reach of this technology ever since. Digital Trends talked to one of the company's connectivity experts to find out how traffic light information technology works, and what's next for it.
Waymo’s self-driving prototype obeys a traffic cop’s hand signals
One of Waymo's self-driving prototypes successfully navigated a situation that leaves even some human drivers confused: an intersection whose traffic lights are down. It waited for the traffic cop to wave it on. The company began teaching its cars to interpret hand gestures in 2016 as a way to keep cyclists safe.
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.
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.