Car Tech

If you have an electric vehicle, it's a given that you'll have to find an outlet so you can regain those precious electrons. Your car runs on electricity, after all. How else are you going to charge it? Well, there could be a more simple solution to your charging needs in the future, and...

It’s been nearly ten years since Lexus introduced to the U.S. market a system through which its big luxury sedan, the LS, could park itself. Since then there have been many luxury models, and even some relatively inexpensive mainstream models, to adopt versions of such a system, which sizes...

Europeans will now have access to Ford Motor Company's [NYSE:F] newest line of diesel engines, which fall under the EcoBlue banner. Ford today unveiled the 2.0-liter version of its EcoBlue, but it says that more new turbodiesels are headed to showrooms in Europe. ALSO SEE: FreeValve camless engine...

Engineering outfit FreeValve, a sister company to Swedish supercar marque Koenigsegg, is developing a new type of engine that does away with the camshaft. The so-called “camless” engine relies on pneumatic valve actuators to open valves, which are then closed by air pressure or springs...

Your turbocharger. It's the snail of mystery attached to your engine, allowing it to breathe in more deeply. With the wonders of forced induction, a smaller engine can create the horsepower and torque of a larger-displacement engine. There are many parts to a turbocharger, which means you might...

It's been fun learning more about how cars work with Engineering Explained. Now, though, it's time to dive into some basic maintenance tips that will help you grow ever closer with your own machine. Working on your own car can be a joy, but it can also be a pain in the backside, which is why so...

Owners of Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] Model S and Model X electric vehicles who didn't pony up for the automaker's Autopilot semi-autonomous system can test it out for a month for free. If they like it, they can add the software—the hardware is already there—for $3,000. The prize for...

No, this isn't a story diving into the different models in the Volkswagen family. Instead, it's our friend Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained examining the differences between gasoline and diesel engines. It goes a bit deeper than spark plugs and glow plugs. The primary difference between the...

One of the companies looking to turn Elon Musk's "Hyperloop" dream into reality wants to tap into the auto industry for experienced engineers. "This is real. This is happening," said Brogan BamBrogan, CTO and co-founder of Hyperloop Technology Inc, in a talk at the 2016 SAE World Congress...

BMW says its M Laptimer app will now allow users to control a GoPro camera via the company's iDrive controller and infotainment screen. When users start up the M Laptimer, they'll also automatically activate their GoPro camera (as long as it is connected via an iOS device). Turning the M Laptimer...

Jaguar Land Rover may not be a brand most would associate with car-sharing, but that's just what the British company says its new InMotion division will be up to. JLR stops short of using the term "car-sharing" in its announcement about InMotion. Rather, the automaker says that it will create an...

BMW's DriveNow car-sharing program receives a new name in the United States: ReachNow. In other markets, the program is still being called DriveNow but the rebranded ReachNow is ready to roll in the U.S., with the first city on the list being Seattle, Washington. BMW says ReachNow is aimed at...

So you want to shift gears like a race car driver? Well, Engineering Explained is here to to help. There's a reason we keep posting these videos, and that's because you're going to learn something from them. Today's topic? The fine art of rev-matching. ALSO SEE: Here's how you double clutch You...

In what may be the best sign yet that Uber is serious about becoming a leader in the emerging world of autonomous driving, the ride-sharing company announced this week that it has hired Ford Motor Company's top electronics and engineering director. Sherif Markaby will head up Uber's global vehicle...

Since the demise of the Crown Vic, Ford Motor Company’s [NYSE:F] range of Interceptor police vehicles based on the Taurus and Explorer have been gaining in popularity, especially the latter because of its tall ride height and roomier, more practical cabin. Ford has now made the Explorer...

It's one of the final levels you need to beat to unlock "True Enthusiast Power": the heel-toe downshift. This is a perplexing bit of coordination that, once you perfect it, truly makes you feel like an actual master. Until then, you're stuck hoping that your quick rev-matching blipshift is enough...

Acura’s new NSX finally enters production this month, and ahead of the first customer examples rolling off the line the Japanese brand has dropped a few production secrets. Production is taking place at a dedicated facility known as the Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC). The facility is...

In the not too distant future, the role of a truck driver may be obsolete. German auto giant Daimler, which owns major truck brands such as Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Freightliner and Western Star, is already testing trucks that can cross multiple countries with minimal driver intervention. ALSO SEE...

Mazda's misunderstood Wankel rotary engine is among the most respected—and maligned—powertrain designs ever, as Engineering Explained's Jason Fenske points out in this especially informative video. With his knack for making even the most complicated subjects approachable, Jason tells us...

Dutch sports car brand Spyker emerged from bankruptcy last year after forming a partnership with American electric aircraft startup Volta Volaré. At the time, Spyker said it planned to develop cars with electric technology sourced from Volta Volaré but provided no further details. We...