Technology
Lexus LF-LC Concept In-Depth Video Released [Video]
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![Lexus LF-LC Concept In-Depth Video Released [Video]](/img/spacer.gif)
Lexus debuted its LF-LC concept at this year’s Detroit International Auto Show and in doing so snagged the spotlight and our attention. We got our first look at it there and were impressed to say the least. The LF-LC concept introduces bold styling choices that force the car apart from the crowd both inside and…
BMW 5-Series Highly-Automated Driving Mode Road Test [Video]
A dizzying line of taillights that goes on for miles is enough to ruin anyone’s day. Pressure mounts in your temples and your skull feels like it’s going to crack. Welcome to the traffic jam migraine. Don’t worry though, the commuter’s burden will eventually be a thing of the past. If there’s one thing luxury cars…
Liquid Air Fueling New Zero Emissions Motor [Video]
Pump up your tires and pump up your tank, there’s a new kind of fuel in town thanks to the Dearman Engine Company. Well, that’s not totally true. The fuel is actually air in liquid form, so it isn’t actually new, but the London-based company that formed just under a year ago has managed to…
Cadillac Wins Popular Mechanics Award For CUE At CES
Cadillac‘s latest in-vehicle connectivity and control module, called CUE, has been given a big boost by receiving the Top Gadgets of 2012: Editor’s Choice Award by Popular Mechanics magazine. The award was presented to Cadillac at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV. Cadillac was the only auto manufacturer to walk away with an…
New Device Enforces Restricted In-Car Cell Phone Use
Cell phones behind the wheel— they’re a deadly plague on traffic safety that cause frequent and preventable crashes. Even worse is the fact that scores of mature drivers are just as guilty as any number of 16-year-old sidewalk terrors more concerned with texting back than taking the wheel. One company is offering a solution that…
NHTSA Closes Chevy Volt Fire Probe
After an extensive two-month investigation into the Chevrolet Volt’s fire related incidents, the U.S. safety regulators of the National Transportation Safety Administration have announced that the case is closed. The conclusion: the Volt’s plug-in hybrid battery pack does not pose a significant fire risk following a crash. According to NHTSA’s statement, the organization “does not…
BMW ActiveE Now Available For Lease
The BMW ActiveE, or electric 1-Series, is finally available for lease, though there aren’t many up for grabs. We originally expected this to happen last year, but BMW delayed releasing their electric car until now to streamline the delivery process. The first unit has already been delivered and there are only 700 available in total, meaning anyone…
Toyota Prius v Out-Sells Chevy Volt in Just 10 Weeks
Earlier this month a new reports noted that Chevrolet Volt sales were more successful in its first year than the sales numbers of the Toyota Prius hybrid on its first year back in 2000. What little optimism Chevrolet might have had on the Volt’s sales performance were quickly silenced when data revealed that Toyota dealt…
GM Brings Interactive Windows From Imagination To Reailty
You can probably still remember being a kid in the back seat on a long car ride. It was horrible. The dog wouldn’t stop breathing on you and licking your ears. It smelled bad. Worst of all, there was almost nothing to do for more than a few minutes without getting car sick. “Look…
Mercedes Apologizes For Using Che Guevara Image at CES Press Conference
Mercedes-Benz made waves for the wrong reason at this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It didn’t have anything to do with their cloud-based Mbrace2 system that brings everything from Yelp! to Facebook right into the latest Mercedes models, or anything related to the cars, for that matter. In fact, what’s really making a…
Audi Traffic Jam Assistant Handles the Stop-and-Go
In between moments of fun, spirited, and recreational driving, there are some boring moments spent queuing behind crawling traffic. At this year’s CES (Consumer Electronics Show), Audi introduced a new system that can alleviate this inconvenience with the push of a button, using a device known simply as the Traffic Jam Assistant. Audi’s Traffic Jam…
Pandora Radio Now Offered by 23 Automakers
Pandora is taking an aggressive stance toward promoting their product by bumping up the number of car makers carrying their product by 475 percent. If those numbers don’t quite make sense, look at it this way: previously there were four. Now the company can boast 23 automakers with Pandora Radio. The service, which is exclusive to the…
NHTSA To Take Crash-Assessment Testing High Tech
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering at length the changes that could be made to its 5-star crash-assessment testing. Rather than concentrate only on crash-worthiness, the NHTSA is looking into new technologies that put an emphasis on accident-avoidance. NHTSA Administrator David Strickland says, “Crash-worthiness has been the guiding star for NHTSA. But…
2013 Audi A3 Tech Displayed At CES
Audi is taking the chance at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to show off the new bells and whistles added to the 2013 A3. While a lot of the new stuff is boring, there are some gems to be found that prove Audi is taking the same steps as Mercedes-Benz to keep…
IBM Develops Next Generation Lithium-Air Electric Battery
Electric powered vehicles have long faced challenges in battery cell packaging and the difficulties of maximizing range optimizing weight and placement. In the past, nickel-metal hydride cells failed to store enough energy to propel an EV any more than 100 miles and required a lengthy recharge after the battery depletes. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) does improve the…
Consumers Do Not Find Hybrids Appealing
For the last number of years, automakers have been pushing gas-electric products at auto shows across the world. However, according to researcher LMC Automotive, hybrid sales in the United States have slowed last year to 2.2 percent compared to 2.4 percent in 2010. Mike Jackson, chief executive of auto retail chain AutoNation Inc., said that…
Honda Previews Tokyo Auto Salon Lineup
Honda has announced its lineup of vehicles for the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon, the automotive aftermarket expo of Japan. The Honda exhibit will feature a variety of models including automobiles, motorcycles, power products, racing vehicles and other highlights in order to convey the joy of mobility and motorsport excitement. Honda Access Corp., manufacturer of genuine…
Nissan Leaf Predicted to Double Sales in 2012
As with all new products, analysts are quick to analyze its success after its first year of sales. When Nissan reported that its Leaf electric vehicle sales tallied 9,674 units last year, industry analysts claimed that the poor sales number proved that a market does not exist for electric propulsion. CEO Carlos Ghosn saw differently,…
U.S. Auto-safety Regulators Pleased By GM’s Cooperation in Volt Recall
Recently, Chevrolet Volt fire hazards resulting from compromised battery cells have been under particular scrutiny by the NHTSA. Addressing the issue, GM has been informing Volt owners to bring their vehicles back to dealerships where steel plates will be fitted to increase protection surrounding the Volt’s lithium-ion batteries. At an interview yesterday during the 2012 Detroit Auto…
2013 Nissan Pathfinder Concept is a Crossover and Looks it: 2012 Detroit Auto Show
Nissan introduced its new Pathfinder Concept SUV at the Detroit Auto Show today. Boasting an all-new design, Nissan looks to provide more passenger comfort, innovative technology, and fuel-efficient performance when production versions hit the showroom this coming fall. The next Pathfinder promises an aerodynamic body combined with a more efficient V6 engine as well as…
Nissan to Build Mercedes Engines in the U.S.
Renault-Nissan and Daimler have announced the joint engine production of Mercedes-Benz 4-cylinder engines at Nissan’s Decherd, Tennessee, plant beginning 2014. According to the press release, this marks the first ever production of a Mercedes-Benz engine within the North America Free Trade region. Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Daimler Board of Management and Head of…
GM’s Test Track Amusement Ride At Epcot Center To Get Chevrolet Design Center Update
The Epcot Center, Walt Disney World’s theme park dedicated to human achievement, has renewed its long-term business relationship with GM and are making plans to overhaul GM’s “Test Track” amusement ride this year to re-open as the new Chevrolet Design Center. GM will also be involved with Walt Disney Imagineering of the development of the…
Mercedes to Showcase Future Driving Technology at CES
Mercedes-Benz has a new collection of technological innovations set to debut at the upcoming 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) starting on January 10th, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. These new innovations encompass Mercedes-Benz’s vision for the future of driving. Starting off with their mbrace2 system, Mercedes will show off its pioneering communications platform that has…
Chevy Volt’s First Year of Sales Trump Those of Original Prius
The Chevrolet Volt ended the last month of 2011 with its best month of sales to date. Having sold 1,529 Volts in December, GM ended its full year of Volt sales at a total of 7,671 units for 2011. While this figure is significantly lower than its 10,000 sales goal, Fox News noted that the…
