Car Tech
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Last year, boutique company Local Motors announced a contest to design a 3D printed car. And now, Automotive News (subscription required) is reporting that the company says it will have a version of the winning design, dubbed the Strati, available to consumers in 2017. According to the Local Motors website, its electric running gear—along with its suspension and electronics—will come from Renault's golf-cart-like Twizy. But major components like the chassis and body panels with be printed from carbon fiber composite ABS. Details about the cars performance and features are slim...
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Tesla's Robotic Charger Prototype Proves Humans Are Doomed: Video
There's no indication when—or if—this Tesla charger prototype will go on sale. It's undeniably cool, however, and as autonomous cars begin to make their way to market, a charging system that doesn't require any human action is certainly attractive. Obviously, this solution would be...
John Coyle -
This Is How A Manual Gearbox Works
You. Yes, you there. You're clearly a man or woman who knows everything there is to know about the inner-workings of the automobile, correct? Of course you are. Well, what if you have to explain something to, oh a friend or family member that might not fully understand the combustion engine and all...
Jeff Glucker -
Tesla Model S Hacked... Wait... Tesla Model S Fixed
Last year, some hackers in China proved that the Tesla Model S was a hackable machine. In the wake of some more recent hackable automotive news, it shouldn't be quite as surprising that such a connected car like the Model S is exploitable. Still, Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] seems to be far more in...
Jeff Glucker -
Toyota officially rejects Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
In a move that's puzzled industry insiders, Toyota has decided to shun Apple and Google in its next-generation navigation and in-car entertainment systems, opting instead to go with the interface from little-known company Telenav. Other major automakers, including General Motors Company [NYSE:GM]...
John Coyle -
Audi, BMW and Mercedes acquire Nokia’s HERE Maps in $3.1 billion deal
In a historic move, Germany’s three major premium automakers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler have joined forces to acquire Nokia’s HERE digital mapping and location services business. The deal, which should be finalized by early 2016, is valued at 2.8 billion euros...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Connected cars promise better safety and security, but like anything connected to a network, they can be susceptible to attacks from hackers. And General Motors Company [NYSE:GM] is just the latest automaker in the news due to cyber security concerns. ALSO SEE: BMW Offers EnLighten App Connectivity To Predict Traffic Signals Security researcher—or "white hat" hacker—Samy Kamkar has posted a video on YouTube showing him using a device called "OwnStar," which allows an unauthorized user to access some of the functionality of GM's OnStar system. During the demonstration, he is able...
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BMW Offers EnLighten App Connectivity To Predict Traffic Signals
BMW claims to be the first carmaker to offer the EnLighten traffic-signal app.
Stephen Edelstein -
Mercedes-Benz Says No To Water Injection Systems
The automotive world can seem like a grand illustration of monkey see, monkey do. While there are always government regulations—see turbos and hybrid systems—to consider, there's plenty of terminology and tech, like four-door "coupes," and fake engine noise, which spreads among...
John Coyle -
GM Opens Active Safety Testing Area At Milford Proving Grounds
When when think about the General Motors Company's [NYSE:GM] Milford Proving Grounds, we tend to imagine barely sub-sonic laps of the "Lutz Ring," or other kinds of high-performance testing. But of course, plenty of other activity takes place at the historic facility. ALSO SEE: Updated A3 Expected...
John Coyle -
Updated A3 Expected To Receive Audi Virtual Cockpit
A number of the latest Audi models starting with the 2016 TT are fitted with an almost fully digital interface that the German automaker calls the Virtual Cockpit. The main instrument cluster has been replaced with a single, customizable screen, while at the same time lesser-used functions are...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
FCA Recalls 1.4M Vehicles In Response To Jeep Cherokee Hack: Video
Last week, Wired posted a story demonstrating the potential for the 2014 Jeep Cherokee to be remotely hacked. During the experiment—recklessly conducted on a busy freeway—writer Andy Greenberg was left completely at the mercy of hackers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek. The pair was...
John Coyle -
Here in the States we talk about 0-60-mph runs when it comes to discussing the specs and performance of your average performance machine. Across the pond, our enthusiast friends who smartly embrace the metric system, measure a nearly similar jaunt as a car travels from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour. Translated to America-speak, that works out to a 0-62-mph blast. Well, there's a brand new record in this space, and it's blisteringly quick. Hailing from the University of Stuttgart, in Germany, the Green Team Formula students have created an electric vehicle that can run from 0 to 62 milers per...
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2016 Toyota Tacoma Comes With GoPro Mount; Is This The Start Of A New Trend?
The Tacoma has long been a beloved small truck amongst those who put the pickup to work. Now that doesn't have to be just work in the 9-to-5 sense, of course. Tacoma owners seem to relish opportunities to get their trucks covered in dirt. That means adventure. That means fun. And that means Tacoma...
Jeff Glucker -
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Head-Up Display Comes With Customizable Shift Light Indicator
The Ford Motor Company’s [NYSE:F] new Mustang Shelby GT350 is almost ready for its showroom debut in the fall, but today we have details on one of the tech features coming in the 526-horsepower track-focused muscle car: a customizable shift light indicator. The feature comes standard in both...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
FCA Responds To Hackers' Scary Breach Of 2014 Jeep Cherokee: Video
On Tuesday, Wired posted an account of writer Andy Greenberg's ongoing experiment to demonstrate the potential of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee to be remotely hacked. During this round, partners Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek were able to access the vehicle's climate control, entertainment...
John Coyle -
Ford Developing Headlights Smarter Than Your Average Glare: Video
In the late '40s, the Tucker Torpedo featured a third headlight dubbed the Cyclops Eye. The centrally mounted unit was connected to the steering rack, and thus could pivot its beam around corners. It was just one of the many innovative safety features found on Preston Tucker's doomed machine. And...
John Coyle -
Mustang Tech Makes Ford F-150 Slipperier Than Ever
Ford has pulled out all the stops to make its latest F-150 pickup truck more fuel efficient than ever before. And while its lightweight aluminum construction and available 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 are huge factors in the quest for better MPGs, there are loads of other details which contribute to make...
John Coyle -
A number of tire manufacturers have been portraying airless tires as the way of the future. A few have even moved into production capacity on the airless front. These non-pneumatic rollers have been utilized mostly in commercial applications. A few years ago, however, America's own Polaris introduced an airless tire for one of its quad offerings. Now Korea's Hankook is showing off its latest conceptual version of its own airless piece of the potential future pie. The tire is called the iFlex, and it uses similar technology that we've been seeing since Michelin showed off its Tweel concept...
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VW Working On Automated Parking And Electric Car Charging: Video
Even if you're pretty enthusiastic about driving, parking is probably more of a chore than a joy. That's why Volkswagen is working on a way to potentially skip over that part. The German automaker is testing a system called V-Charge in Europe that combines automated parking with automated charging...
Stephen Edelstein -
Audi RS 7 Autonomous Concept Drops 880 Pounds, Laps Sonoma Raceway
Step by step, a fully autonomous Audi is edging closer to reality. Late last year we saw the brand with the four rings send an RS 7 concept around Germany’s Hockenheimring without anyone onboard. Impressively, the car lapped the circuit in a similar time achieved with a professional driver...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Watch how BMW adds carbon fiber to its 2016 7-Series
BMW proved with its i3 and i8 that carbon fiber in the form of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) could be used effectively in the mass production of vehicles. Now the automaker is implementing the lightweight yet sturdy stuff in its regular models, starting with the 2016 7-Series flagship...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ford Looks To Patent Luminescent Body Panels
It seems that the Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] is looking for new ways to brighten your motoring experience. Patent applications discovered by Car and Driver show the automaker wants to create body panels that are capable of being lit up. There is a bunch of scientific/engineering style jargon you...
Jeff Glucker -
Aluminum-Carbon Hybrid A More Affordable Alternative To Pure Carbon Wheels
Only yesterday we brought you news that the Ford Motor Company’s [NYSE:F] upcoming Mustang Shelby GT350R will be fitted as standard with light yet sturdy carbon fiber wheels, a technology previously the domain of the aftermarket and exotic supercars. While companies like Ford are helping to...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran