Bosch’s CES-bound shuttle concept takes us on a trip to a not-too-distant future
Bosch envisions a future in which driverless shuttles occupy their own market segment. The German firm won't build the shuttles, but it wants to provide everything else, ranging from the drive system to the apps used to hail them to the onboard entertainment. Its CES 2019 concept showcases different solutions.
Bosch wants to replace your car keys with a smartphone and an app
Bosch has developed a technology named Perfectly Keyless that aims to replace key fobs with a dedicated application. The technology relies on an app, sensors, and a special control unit. Because information travels through the cloud, there is no need to hold up the phone to a specific part of the car to unlock it.
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.
Part car and part robot, the unstoppable Hyundai Elevate walks over obstacles
Hyundai traveled to CES 2019 to introduce a concept that's part car, part robot. Called Elevate, it can walk over obstacles (including 5-foot walls and 5-foot ruts) or drive on the highway like a normal car. It's built on a modular electric platform, and autonomous technology lets it drive itself.
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.
Lamborghini packs more power into the 2020 Huracan Evo without forgetting tech
Lamborghini has updated the Huracan, its smallest and most affordable super-sports car, with more tech, a tweaked design, and added power. Now called Huracan Evo, it gets a new infotainment system with gesture control technology and a 640-horsepower evolution of the naturally aspirated, 5.2-liter V10 engine.
Audi’s VR-based in-car entertainment turns your car into a spaceship
Audi has teamed up with Disney to revolutionize in-car entertainment. It synced the forward, backward, and lateral movements of a car with a VR-based video to create an experience that's deeply immersive and highly engaging. Audi expects this technology will reach production within the next three years.
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.
Garmin’s Drive GPS units tell you where to hike, sight-see, and eat
Garmin updated its Drive line of navigators at CES 2019 with new, road trip-friendly features. They give information about national parks, provide TripAdvisor ratings for restaurants and hotels, and tap into the History Channel's vast knowledge to show information about notable sites motorists encounter on their trip.
Volvo could install a camera that watches you while you drive, but not soon
Volvo will add an in-car camera to its list of extra-cost options before the end of 2019. The driver-facing unit monitors vital stats like glucose levels to reduce accidents caused by health problems, and it opens the door to facial recognition technology. The firm isn't worried about privacy issues.
Mesmerizing time-lapse video provides rare look at how Tesla makes a Model 3
This 48-second time-lapse gives us a rare look inside the Tesla factory in Fremont, California. It shows how the company makes a Model 3 from start to finish. The process requires 40 basic steps that are accomplished in 90 minutes. The video notably illustrates Tesla's approach to streamlining its production process.
Volkswagen previews a quick-charging mobile power bank for electric cars
Volkswagen will begin placing mobile charging stations for electric cars around its hometown of Wolfsburg, Germany, in early 2019. Developed in-house, these devices are like giant portable chargers that store enough electricity to charge about 15 electric cars. Series production will begin in 2020.
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.
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.
You’ll soon be able to unlock the Hyundai Santa Fe like it’s an iPhone
Hyundai will add fingerprint-recognition technology to the Santa Fe SUV in 2019. Owners will be able to lock or unlock the doors and start the engine by simply placing their finger on a button. Hyundai notes the system is nearly foolproof and it pledges to continue developing the technology in the coming years.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2019 Porsche Macan S first drive review
The roster of models challenging the Porsche Macan grows annually. The German firm updated its smallest, most affordable SUV with a new engine, more tech features, and subtle design tweaks to keep it looking fresh. Digital Trends traveled to the island of Mallorca to find out what the changes mean on a winding road.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Porsche keeping an eye on performance as it pushes the 911 into hybrid territory
Porsche designed the all-new 911 with electrification in mind. The man in charge of the 911's development confirmed a hybrid model is at least four years away from making its debut. It's being designed with performance in mind, not efficiency, but it's too early to tell the type of hardware it will use.
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.
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.