synd-vehicle-history
-
Roundel fans, rejoice. While BMW is busy focusing on bringing more SUVs and electric cars to the market, the M division still wants more performance options. By hook or by crook, the M folks seem to have snuck one past the money men: the 2019 M2 Competition. And the best part is that there's no insane premium. The 2019 M2 Competition is priced from a very reasonable $58,900, up from the regular M2's $54,495 sticker. The information was first reported Tuesday by the BMW Blog and since confirmed by BMW. From this starting point, there are numerous options to add. Some worthy options include a...
-
Meet the 2019 Ford Everest: the other Ranger-based SUV
Ford is developing a new Bronco SUV around its tough T6 body-on-frame platform found underneath the 2019 Ranger mid-size pickup truck. But what many readers may not know is that the Blue Oval already uses the T6 platform in a pair of SUVs sold outside the United States, one of them a tough...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Tesla Model X sets world record towing a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Tesla has set a new Guinness World Record. One of the automaker's Model X crossover SUVs towed a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for 987 feet to become the heaviest tow by a production passenger electric vehicle. The attempt took place in Melbourne, Australia with help from the country's national carrier...
Sean Szymkowski -
2019 Hyundai Veloster starts at just $19,385
Hyundai has reshaped and reworked its Veloster. After its debut at the Detroit auto show earlier this year, the 2019 Veloster will hit the U.S. market during the second quarter, which is any time now. We know a number of the specs of this quirky hatchback, and now we finally know how much it will...
Jeff Glucker -
After 30 years, Bose-developed suspension tech will go into production
Thirty years ago the audio-minded the folks at Bose decided to dive into the world of automotive suspensions. The goal was to create a dynamic driving experience that improved on-road comfort. Using a Lexus LS400 as the testbed, Bose showed off the technical advantages of its suspension. However...
Jeff Glucker -
2019 Audi A8 priced, Level 3 self-driving tech not coming to US
Audi's A8 flagship sedan has been redesigned and we'll see it in showrooms this fall. Audi hasn't formally announced pricing but CNET reported Monday that the starting price for the big sedan will be $83,800, excluding destination. The pricing is in line with BMW's 7-Series and represents a $1,300...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
A trademark application for the LQ name filed by Toyota with the United States Patent and Trademark Office might end up being used for a new flagship crossover SUV for Lexus. The trademark application was filed on May 7, specifically for use on automobiles and structural parts thereof. The two letter naming convention isn't used by any current Toyotas but it is used by every current Lexus, where the first letter indicates the positioning in the lineup and the second letter the body style. Should LQ be used for a future Lexus, it would indicate a model sitting in automaker's range-topping...
-
MIT self-driving car can handle rural roads
Self-driving cars rely on loads of advanced technology to help them see and navigate the world around them. However, researchers at MIT have built a self-driving car that doesn't rely on 3D mapping or even visible lane markings to get where it needs to go. Instead, the team's MapLite technology...
Sean Szymkowski -
Orders start for Tesla Model 3 AWD and performance models this week
For those eagerly waiting to place their orders for the dual-motor/all-wheel-drive or performance versions of the Tesla Model 3, the time has come. Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Twitter that orders for both variants will open this week. It's unclear if the decision to open orders this week for...
Sean Szymkowski -
Brabus adds style, power to Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup
Only a week ago we saw Pickup Design, the pickup truck division of Polish tuner Carlex Design, come out with a wild visual upgrade for the Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup. Now Brabus, which specializes in tuning Mercedes products and has close links with the automaker, has revealed its first take on...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Aston Martin inaugurates AMR Performance Center
Aston Martin on Friday cut the ribbon on the new AMR Performance Center located next to the Nürburgring race track in Germany. The site isn't actually new as it was originally established in 2008 as the Nürburgring Test Center, though the name change reflects the more customer-oriented...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
BMW prepares for Le Mans return and reveal of new 8-Series
You've seen the prototypes and leaked shots, but in just a few weeks BMW will finally pull the covers off its new 8-Series. The debut will take place June 15 in Le Mans, where BMW the next day will compete in the French town's famous 24-hour race with the M8 GTE race car. The last time BMW competed...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Buyers looking for a serious sports car with luxury and style have a new option in the form of the 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT S Roadster. The open-top version of AMG's sports car made its debut in 2016 but only in GT and GT C guises. Now the Affalterbach tuner has added the mid-range GT S Roadster. Like all AMG GT models, the GT S Roadster is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and spinning the rear wheels. The car also comes standard with an electronically controlled locking differential at the rear axle, which is integrated with...
-
Show-off blow off: Audi joins other luxury makes to skip 2019 Detroit auto show
Following similar announcements from Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Audi announced on Thursday that it will join the rival makes and no longer attend the Detroit auto show. It's the most recent in a series of blows to what many believe is North America's premier auto show. In a statement to Automotive News...
Sean Szymkowski -
2019 Aston Martin DB11 gets the AMR treatment
The DB11 is very much the grand tourer of Aston Martin's lineup, meaning it's big and comfy though not necessarily the best choice when heading for a track. For that there's the Vantage. However, not everyone will want to go with the smaller car, so Aston Martin has developed a sharper, more...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Boring Company tunnel under LA nearly done, free rides to public in few months
Elon Musk revealed Thursday that the first tunnel from his newest transport venture The Boring Company is almost ready and that the public will be able to test it out for free within a few months. Musk made the announcement in an Instagram post that included a video taking us through the tunnel...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Zoyte preps a Range Rover Sport clone for the Chinese market
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating for western automakers when Chinese brands rip off their designs. The latest copycat car maker? Zotye, which is prepping a vehicle called the T800. It's an SUV that looks an awful lot like Land Rover's own...
Jeff Glucker -
Tesla just teased a cloaked car, is it the Model Y?
Tesla has released a hype video to show off the big things it has in store this year and in the near future. While the video's pleasant enough to watch, observers will note a teased vehicle around the 0:15 mark. Of course, it leads us to wonder: is the vehicle shown the Model Y crossover? The...
Sean Szymkowski -
Remeber video showing lava from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano engulfing and melting a Ford Mustang? The video quickly spread across the internet, and the owner has spoken out since the lava reached his home on the state's Big Island. In an interview with WX Chasing, owner Michael Hale explained why he left the silver Mustang behind as lava approached his home. Hale said the Mustang had a dead battery at the time and needed a jump. Ultimately, it fell low on the priority list as friends and family helped him take scoop up anything they could ahead of the natural disaster. Hale reportedly owns a...
-
Durango Pursuit joins Dodge's police fleet offerings
Police forces looking for extra space in their vehicles now have a new option in the form of the 2018 Dodge Durango Pursuit. Dodge says it was prompted to offer the Durango Pursuit following positive feedback from unofficial testing results conducted by Michigan State Police. The vehicle takes...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan ultra-luxury SUV revealed
It may be named after the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, but Rolls-Royce's new Cullinan ultra-luxury SUV is certainly no diamond in the rough. It's polished from the get go and answers a direct call from Rolls-Royce customers seeking a vehicle that can handle any terrain together...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
New digital products will keep your Audi up to date
Starting with the e-tron electric SUV debuting on August 30, Audi cars will offer a new level of digitization enabling them to be upgraded with new services and features without costly hardware changes. It's part of Audi's plan to reap in almost $1.2 billion in operating profit from digital...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Drive.ai self-driving car service launching in Texas
Citizens of Frisco, Texas, the self-driving cars have arrived. Drive.ai plans to launch a self-driving car ride-hailing service in the Dallas suburb this July in a limited geo-fenced area. The company follows Waymo's announcement that it will operate a self-driving taxi service in a 100 square-mile...
Sean Szymkowski -
New Audis can now communicate with traffic lights in 10 US cities
Audi's Traffic Light Information system (TLI) now works in 10 separate U.S. cities. The German luxury brand announced on Wednesday that drivers of select 2017 and 2018 Audi vehicles can now use TLI in Kansas City, Kansas, and Phoenix, Arizona. The two latest cities join Las Vegas, Nevada;...
Sean Szymkowski