Car Tech

It wasn't too long ago that a six-speed automatic transmission was state of the art. Then we got seven-speed, eight-speed, and nine-speed units. One of the nine-speeds, designed by noted transmission manufacturer ZF, has given multi-speed transmissions a bad reputation. Paired with four-cylinder...

In the same week Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] CEO Elon Musk announced the company will be implementing some constraints on its Autopilot autonomous system to prevent some of the more stupid users from incorrectly using the system, typically by removing their hands from the steering wheel or using it on...

Local Motors is keen to bring 3D printing into larger focus within the automotive world. Certain automakers or component manufacturers might make a part this way, but Local Motors is looking to make a nearly complete car using 3D printing. Recently, Local Motors showed us this was possible by way...

Toyota will establish a new research and development facility in California’s Silicon Valley at the cost of $1 billion over five years. The new facility, to be called the Toyota Research Institute (TRI), will be based near Stanford University in Palo Alto and focus initially on artificial...

Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] recently launched a software update for its Model S enabling the car to drive autonomously in certain situations, such as along a multilane highway. Naively, Tesla trusted that Model S owners would use the system according to certain rules, such as keeping their hands on...

At the recent 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda rolled out a stunning sports car concept powered by a rotary engine said to be more fuel efficient than any previous rotary design. Unfortunately, no technical details were revealed for the engine, which has adopted Mazda’s SkyActiv moniker for...

Yamaha has been hinting at a move into car manufacturing in recent years, with the firm recently teaming up with McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray to develop a city car concept called the Motiv. Now Yamaha is back with a new sports car concept unveiled today at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, and like...

Mercedes-Benz is fully embracing the concept of autonomous cars, seeing them as a means to transform the way we interact and use cars. We got our first taste of Mercedes’ vision for a world where driving will be optional with the F015 Luxury in Motion concept unveiled at the start of this...

Yesterday, in celebration of Back to the Future Day—the date Marty McFly traveled to in Back to the Future II—Hendo unveiled the latest version of its hoverboard. And if you've dreamed of riding one like Marty did, we have bad news. ALSO SEE: 'Wreck To The Future' Is BTTF Parody Done...

When you think of vehicle aerodynamics, we have to assume that you don't think of your tires. Yokohama thinks about all manner of tire technology on a constant basis, which is why the Japanese tire maker may have found a way to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of those four rubber bits you attach...

Well, that didn't take long. Yesterday, Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] released its Version 7.0 software update which contains the new Autopilot feature, and Model S drivers have already begun uploading videos of the system's performance. CHECK OUT: Tesla Version 7.0 Software Update Activates First...

Yesterday, we brought you a video looking at the modifications made to the 6.3-liter V-12 engine in the Ferrari F12 tdf to enable it to deliver all 770 horsepower and 520 pound-feet that the special edition supercar offers. Today’s video highlights the enhancements made to the donor F12...

Volvo unveiled a fully electric C30 compact hatch in 2009 that it used for research purposes and even loaned out to customers to learn more about how people use electric cars on a daily basis. The electric C30, dubbed the C30 BEV, proved popular as Volvo soon after became one of the first...

Just as it has the SPA platform for its larger models, Volvo is working on another modular platform just like SPA that it will use for its range of next-generation compact cars. This second modular platform is called the Compact Modular Architecture, or CMA for short, and the first model to be...

Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] has been teasing Model S owners with its planned Autopilot autonomous driving system for quite some time now. The hardware necessary for the system has been hanging in front of their faces for the past year, but now the software to unlock an initial round of Autopilot...

In the wake of its diesel emissions scandal, the Volkswagen Group has decided to double down on electric car development and promote a future of zero emission vehicles. In this regard, the VW Group will accelerate plans for a new modular electric car platform and develop an all-electric version of...

Advancements in the development of fully autonomous cars are accelerating at a rapid pace, but while the technology may be ready in the not too distant future it’s uncertain whether the regulatory and legal framework will have enough time to catch up. Based on independent statistics, over 90...

Swiss engineering and design firm Rinspeed traditionally graces the company’s home event, the Geneva Motor Show, with wild, forward-looking concept vehicles, but in 2016 we’ll see Rinspeed head to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas for the first time. Rinspeed’s concepts...

The Porsche Mission E concept, if it’s headed to production, could end up being quite the rival to Tesla Motors' [NSDQ:TSLA] Model S P90D. And just as in the Model S, if you’re looking for a transmission in the Porsche you won’t find it. Of course you won’t in any of...

A new sports car won’t be the only attraction on Toyota’s stand at this month’s 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. The Japanese automaker has unveiled an assortment of weird and wacky concepts destined for the show, including a robot that if one day produced could serve as a companion to, we...