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Tag: Cars

  • Toyota Prius c Gets 50 MPG, Multiple Configurations

    The Toyota Prius is one of the best hybrid vehicles on the market today. Going into 2015, Toyota hopes that those who haven’t jumped on the hybrid bandwagon will finally do so with its latest model.

    Toyota unveiled the Prius c and its many configurations this week. Those looking to buy the hybrid will have their choice of the Prius c One, c Two, c Three and c Four. As you can imagine, each tier adds a number of features that ups the price. Regardless of tier, Toyota boasts that you’ll get an average of 50 MPG with the new 2015 Prius c.

    So, what does each tier get you? The Prius c One costs $19,540 and comes with Entune audio, USB port, 3.5-inch information display and a 6.1-inch touchscreen display that controls radio and entertainment.

    The Prius c Two ups the price to $20,340 and adds fold-down rear seats, cruise control and an engine immobilizer. For $21,765, the c Three adds smart key system on front doors, a touch tracer display and navigation apps for the touch display. To be more specific, these apps allow you to track traffic and weather.

    Finally, the c Four goes for $24,475 and adds LED fog lights, a moonroof, a backup camera, heated front seats and color-keyed heated power outside mirrors with turn signal indicators.

    For more info, be sure to check out this video from TestDrivenTV:

    [h/t: TheAutoChannel]

  • Electric Cars: Volkswagen Takes On Tesla

    Electric cars are still a relatively new market without a lot of competition. For the past few years, all the buzz has surrounded Elon Musk’s Tesla Motors. Now Volkswagen wants in on it.

    Bloomberg is reporting that Volkswagen has bought a five percent stake in QuantumScape Corp., a company working on batteries for electric cars. Volkswagen wants to put these batteries into cars by mid-2015 and feels that they’ll provide two benefits over current electric cars. The first is that these new batteries will triple the charge, and therefore the distance that can be traveled before having to recharge. The second is that these batteries are supposedly fireproof so we won’t be hearing any stories of cars catching on fire.

    So, how will these new batteries achieve Volkswagen’s desired results? It’s all about the technology. In current electric cars, the batteries use what’s called liquid electrolytes. You can compare it to the kind of technology found in smartphone batteries. QuantumScape is experimenting with batteries made out of solid electrolytes. The big benefit to using solid over liquid is that it won’t catch on fire, but some believe that this technology can also hold more power as well.

    Volkswagen may only have a five percent stake in the company at this point, but that could change if disruptive technology emerges within the next few years. As you can imagine, Volkswagen wants to be the top luxury car maker in all categories. At the moment, Tesla is the leader of the electric car market. If Volkswagen and QuantumScape can figure out how to increase battery storage, Tesla could have its first real competition since introducing the Tesla Roadster in 2006.

    If you want to see Volkswagen’s current work in electric cars, check out this feature from Focus Magazine:

  • Google Releases Android Auto APIs To Developers

    Google first introduced Android Auto, its vehicle-based Android platform, at Google I/O in June. The company has now released its APIs to developers to build Auto-enabled apps for audio and messaging.

    “For users, this means they simply connect their Android handheld to a compatible vehicle and begin utilizing a car-optimized Android experience that works with the car’s head unit display, steering wheel buttons, and more,” says product manager Daniel Holle. “For developers, the APIs and UX guidelines make it easy to provide a simple way for users to get the information they need while on the road. As an added bonus, the Android Auto APIs let developers easily extend their existing apps targeting Android 5.0 (API level 21) or higher to work in the car without having to worry about vehicle-specific hardware differences. This gives developers wide reach across manufacturers, model and regions, by just developing with one set of APIs and UX standards.”

    For now, developers can only build audio and messaging apps. Audio apps should expose content for users to browse and allow audio playback from the car. This is for content like music, news, and podcasts. Messaging apps can receive incoming notifications, read messages aloud, and send replies via voice.

    “It’s important to note that while the APIs are available today, apps extended with Android Auto cannot be published quite yet,” says Holle. “More app categories will be supported in the future, providing more opportunities for developers and drivers of Android Auto.”

    There’s a starter guide here.

    Image via YouTube

  • Honda Fit Named Yahoo! Value Car of the Year

    The automotive industry is now evolving at fast rate and car manufacturers are now racing to implement new technology into their latest models. New companies such as Tesla are gaining accolades for their designs while many established car companies are just beginning to embrace electric and smart car tech.

    For Honda, then, it must be a relief that their budget Fit vehicle is keeping up with the competition. This week the Honda Fit was named Yahoo! Automotive’s 2015 Value Car of the Year.

    The publication said it gave the award to the Fit because the car simply packed-in more features than other cars in its class for a much lower price. Yahoo! Automotive Editor-at-Large Alex Lloyd called the vehicle “quirky and cute” when describing his enjoyable test drive of the Fit.

    Yahoo! reviewed a $21,590 version of the Fit that included Honda’s navigation option. The car was the lowest-priced of the publication’s nominees for value car of the year. Even lower-priced versions of the fit include features such as Bluetooth integration and a rearview camera. The publication also commented that the car’s interior features “seem less cheap than they must be.”

    Aside from the nice features, Yahoo! Automotive editors pointed to the Fit’s chassis and suspension as factors that helped make the car their number one choice. The site described the car’s handling as “fun and tossable,” though it did note the car can be noisy.

    The Honda Fit is also up for AutoGuide.com’s Reacder Choice Car of the Year award, facing off against vehicles such as the Ford Mustang and the Toyota Camry.

    The Honda Fit may have taken the top spot for value cars, but Yahoo! chose something a bit more expensive for its overall best car of 2015. In contrast to highly recognizable past winners such as the Tesla Model S or the Corvette Stingray, the publication this year named the Volkswagen Golf GTI as 2015’s best car. The GTI beat out powerhouse and luxury models such as the Dodge Challenger Hellcat, BMW M235i, and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class for the title.

  • BMW Cars: The X5 M and X6 M Are Back

    BMW Cars: The X5 M and X6 M Are Back

    BMW Motorsport (M) this week revealed all of the details about its latest M series vehicles. The BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M are back and sporting more power than ever.

    BMW is referring to the latest revisions of the X5 and X6 as a generational shift. Both vehicles combine aspects of BMW X vehicles with performance enhancements from BMW Motorsport. The manufacturer claims that both vehicles are capable of reaching 60 miles per hour in just four seconds thanks to their eight-speed “M Steptronic” transmissions.

    BMW teased the reveal earlier this week with a YouTube video posted to its BMW M YouTube channel:

    This was followed up with the official reveal trailer, casting the vehicles as technology worthy of Area 51:

    The X5 is being marketed as a sports activity vehicle (SAV) while the X6 is being marketed as a sports activity coupe (SAC). Even so, most of the options available for each are the same.

    The new versions of both the X5 and X6 will have BMW M’s TwinPower Turbo V8 engine. BMW claims this is the most powerful engine it has ever developed for an all-wheel-drive vehicle. The 4.4-liter engine tops out at 567 horsepower at between 6,000 rpm and 6,500 rpm.

    Both vehicles also have several features taken from more powerful BMW M vehicles. The X5 and the X6 have front tires chosen for steering precision while the rear tires were chosen for traction. The vehicles’ “M Servotronic” steering allows drivers to choose from three different steering options: “comfort,” “sport,” and “sport+.” The surface of the brake pads seen in the new X5 and X6 are 50 percent larger than those found in previous versions of the vehicles.

    The new vehicles also have what BMW is calling “dynamic stability control” (DSC). This system is used to prevent oversteer and understeer, but a special “M dynamic mode” allows for some wheel slip, meaning drivers will be able to drift a bit with the reassurance that the DSC will keep things from getting out of control. BMW is heavily touting this drifting feature in its new marketing:

    Both the X5 and the X6 should, according to BMW, go on sale in the U.S. sometime next spring. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the X5 is $99,650 while the X6 has been priced at $103,050.

  • Danica Patrick Continues to Drive Pink Car For Breast Cancer Awareness

    Danica Patrick will once again race in a pink Chevrolet SS as she heads to Martinsville Speedway in Virginia this weekend for the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 race. Patrick also drove the pink version of her number 10 GoDaddy car at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway the past two weekends.

    The car is painted pink to raise awareness for breast cancer. October is breast cancer awareness month and the paint job is part of GoDaddy’s “Put the Brakes on Breast Cancer” program.

    This week a new twist on the paint job will be seen in Martinsville. As part of the GoDaddy program fans were encouraged to donate at least $10 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Fans who did so were able to place their name or a loved one’s name on the car. The car now has hundreds of names of people affected by breast cancer featured on it, including some that Patrick herself donated for.

    “GoDaddy has done a lot to raise awareness about breast cancer,” said Patrick. “For this week we have a lot of names on the car of people that are affected by breast cancer. I know I put a few on there, including Holly Cain. I know the Gibson’s donated and put some names on there as did others from SHR (Stewart Haas Racing), GoDaddy, and of course the fans. It’s just a good way to raise awareness and remember the people affected by this terrible disease.”

    Holly Cain is a NASCAR.com reporter who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

    As for the race itself, Patrick has only had three starts at the short Martinsville track. She finished 32nd during her last outing at Martinsville this past March. Despite that recent history Patrick this week stated that she and crew chief Tony Gibson are hoping to “put together a good run” for the names featured on the side of the car.

  • Kia K900 Gets LeBron James as Brand Ambassador

    Kia‘s luxury brand is taking off with its K900 model. Now the South Korean auto manufacturer has signed a huge sponsorship deal to promote the K900 in the U.S.

    Kia has announced that NBA star LeBron James is now the official “luxury ambassador” for the Kia K900. James has signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Kia Motors, which is also the “official automotive partner” of the NBA.

    “I was a Kia K900 driver and fan before we decided to become partners, so I’m really excited to be Kia’s first-ever luxury ambassador,” said James. “This partnership is about the power of great style and performance. Kia and the K900 are out to challenge conventional wisdom and show people how to think differently, and I can relate to that. For me, a partnership has to be authentic and real to who I am, and that’s what makes this one so special.”

    According to Kia, James was chosen as brand ambassador partly for the athlete’s pre-existing love for the K900. In August James posted interior pictures of the K900 prominently featuring the Kia logo to his Instagram account. The post was accompanied by James’ expression of love for the vehicle:

    Rolling around in my K900. Love this car!! #Kia #TheLand #Akron #StriveForGreatness

    A photo posted by LeBron James (@kingjames) on

    James is now one of a handful of athletes that are ambassadors for Kia brands. Other athletes with sponsorship deals include NBA star Blake Griffin, tennis star Rafael Nadal, and golf star Michelle Wie.

    “As fans of the game of basketball, we were honored to learn that one of today’s most influential athletes and tastemakers recognized something different was going on at Kia and wanted to check out our new flagship sedan,” said Tim Chaney, VP of marketing at Kia Motors America. “Like Kia, LeBron James does not want to be confined by conventions or traditional definitions, and as our K900 luxury ambassador his star power will cause people to question everything they think they know about our brand.”

  • Winter Tires: Tips To Keep You Safe

    Whether you want to admit it or not, winter is almost here and that means snow, ice and sleet in many parts of the country. As much as most of us would like to stay bundled up and inside on those cold wintery days, it just isn’t possible and travel is a daily necessity for most people.

    Winter can make road conditions unsafe, but by preparing your car for winter, you have a much better chance of staying safe. One of the most popular and effective ways to prepare your automobile for winter is to install winter tires.

    Winter tires are designed to perform better in cold conditions and in the snow and ice. While it might seems as simple as picking out some tires and putting them on your car, there are some tips that can help ensure you choose the right ones.

    Do’s

    Install all four winter tires on the vehicle. Even if the tread and condition of one or more of your current tires is good, you should still install winter tires on all four of your vehicle’s wheels. This will ensure that all of your tires are performing properly and that you have a smooth and even ride.

    Check the tires often for pressure and signs of wear and damage. Winter can wear tires down quickly and although you may think that your new winter tires will last a long time, if you drive often you should check the tread and condition on a regular basis.

    Check air pressure often. Tires with the proper air pressure will last longer and are safer for winter travel.

    Don’ts

    Avoid using tires that have low or worn tread. As the tread wears down, the car will lose traction in the snow. Although you might not think a little tread loss is a big deal, it could make your car unsafe for winter travel.

    It is never a good idea to mix tires, especially winter tires. You will need all of the tires to work together to get you through the snow and ice safely and when they all match, they will work together better.

    If you are in need of winter tires, now is the time to buy them. Don’t wait until the bad weather hits, get your car or truck ready now.

  • BMW Cars, Motorcycles Hit Sales Records

    BMW Cars, Motorcycles Hit Sales Records

    BMW has been operating for nearly 100 years now. Throughout those years the company has had many popular and classic vehicles. Now it seems the auto manufacturer may be more popular than ever.

    BMW Group last week announced that it sold nearly 200,000 vehicles to customers during the month of September, a 5.3 percent increase over September sales in 2013. September’s sales capped off the company’s most successful first three-quarters of a year. BMW has delivered more than 1.5 million vehicles to consumers already this year, a 6.5 percent over sales at this point last year.

    BMW’s i models have continued to be one of the company’s biggest sellers. The company sold more than 10,000 BMW i3 vehicles through the first nine months of this year.

    “As in the first three quarters overall, we’ve had a record September with growth in Europe, Asia and the Americas,” said Ian Robertson, a member of BMW’s board of management. “This increase in sales comes despite external factors continuing to influence a few individual markets. BMW i can celebrate several milestones this month: more than 10,000 BMW i3s have been delivered to customers this year and 341 BMW i8 customers have received delivery of their cars since sales began in the summer. The other new models we have launched in the last 12 months are also selling well and we are confident that the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, which went on sale in September, will further boost sales.”

    While BMW is now best-known for cars, the company first began manufacturing motorcycles in the early 1920s. BMW Motorrad, BMW’s motorcycle division, announced today that the company’s motorcycle sales are also hitting records.

    BMW sold 9,991 motorcycles during the month of September, a 7.8 percent increase over September 2013 sales. These sales capped off a record three-quarter period for BMW Motorrad with 100,217 motorcycles sold through September – a 7.6 percent sales increase over the first three quarters of 2013.

  • Elon Musk Is About to Show You the ‘D’

    Elon Musk Is About to Show You the ‘D’

    On October 9, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is going to unveil the ‘D’.

    And something else, too, according to a tweet:

    The last big announcement from Tesla (in regard to car models) came back in July, when the company confirmed the name of its third-gen electric car – the Model 3. The Model 3 will be Tesla’s more affordable offering – at least when compared to the pricey Model S. Tesla says the Model 3 will start at about $35,000.

    Plus, we already know that the Model X SUV is on the way (before the Model 3, in fact).

    So what’s the ‘D’?

    From the looks of it, it’s surely a new Tesla model. Engadget points out that Musk has previously mentioned that the next generation of Tesla automobiles would include both a budget sedan and another SUV – one that’s a bit smaller than the Model X.

    But I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. And if you were wondering, yes, Elon Musk gets why you’re laughing at that tweet.

    Image via Elon Musk, Twitter

  • Cadillac Names Will Become Alpha-Numeric

    Cadillac Names Will Become Alpha-Numeric

    New Cadillac names might make it more confusing to shop for a Cadillac in the near future.

    Like many other car brands, Cadillac has decided to climb onboard the alpha-numeric naming structure. For example, the Eldorado that we have seen for years will now be reimagined in 2015 as the new CT6.

    This new model will be the flagship for new Cadillac names and will be on display at the New York Auto Show in April and available for purchase in late 2015.

    The letters and numbers signify the model’s position in the pecking order of Cadillacs. The letters indicate the model and the numbers indicate size and position in the line-up.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JibTKXMqCfM

    There is a method to the madness of tossing out Cadillac names in favor of alpha-numeric model labels.

    Uwe Ellinghaus, Cadillac chief marketing officer, explains, “As we expand the portfolio, we can assist consumers in placing the cars within a structure, as they compare cars both within our showroom and across the market generally.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Op0S4cS2F4

    He continued, “However, this will be an evolutionary process – we will only change a product’s name when the product itself is redesigned or an all-new model is created, as in this instance.”

    So, there will be some Cadillac names remaining for a while, at least until they are re-imagined by Cadillac designers.

    The movement to the letter-number combos instead of Cadillac names is said to be spurred by former Audi and Infiniti executive Johan de Nysschen. He began with renaming Infinity to its current Q and QX models back in 2012.

    Johan de Nysschen also happens to be the new head of Cadillac.

    What do you think? If you are going to be in the market for a car soon, does the switch from Cadillac names to a letter-number combo make it harder for you to shop for them?

  • Women’s-Only Uber-Like Car Service Readies Launch, Could Face Tricky Legal Issues

    If you asked a handful of women whether or not they feel 100 percent safe in taxis, Uber, or Lyft cars – I’m willing to bet the the predominant answer would be not really. Sure, the majority of the time taxi rides go off without incident, but there are those stories – incidents of attempted sexual assault and the like – that set many women on edge.

    It’s this uncertainty that led one woman to create her own, Uber-like on-demand car service. It’s called SheTaxis, and it will be launching in New York City later this month (as SheRides in NYC, per Taxi regulations).

    The gimmick, if you will? SheRides is a car service run by women, employing women, driving women. According to The New York Times, SheRides will only give rides to women and will only dispatch women drivers. Apparently, this model will make women feel more comfortable with calling a stranger for a ride.

    Unless you’re one of the people calling misandry, this sounds like a decent idea. It’s terrible that many women feel unsafe with services like Uber, but it’s hard to blame them. Bad things have happened. People have reported some scary stuff. If some women feel more comfortable using a women’s-only service, have at it.

    Vice suggests a major problem with this model, however. Mainly the fact that it’s pretty much illegal.

    New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission (the ones who’ve been fighting Uber and Lyft so vehemently) runs the world of ride services in the nation’s biggest city. Everything goes through them – including ridesharing startups. Apparently, the TLC guidelines prohibit drivers from refusing service to most people (except in very limited scenarios). A company that systematically disallowed 50 percent of the population would most certainly run afoul of this regulation.

    “Regardless of their marketing plan, they will be subjected to the same requirements as yellow cabs prohibiting service refusal,” a spokesperson for the TLC told Vice.

    But the TLC didn’t suggest that SheRides would run into any trouble during launch. What will determine the company’s success or failure, however is whether or not they ban men from riding or simply suggest that they don’t. Vice gives the example of women-only gyms that don’t specifically outlaw men from joining – but everyone just knows and accepts that they are for girls.

    The service is slated to launch on September 16th. It’ll be interesting to see if the model is successful, and if so, who takes the baton and carries it to other cities.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Danica Patrick Closes Out the Season at Richmond

    Following an impressive showing at the Atlanta Motor Speedway over Labor Day weekend, Danica Patrick finished up the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup regular season in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday. Patrick finished in 16th place during the Federated Auto Parts 400 held at the Richmond International Raceway.

    “It was a good day,” said Patrick. “Everyone on the GoDaddy team worked hard; we had good night. I’m proud of where we have been the last two weeks, and tonight was by far our best run at Richmond. It was a good job by the team.”

    Patrick started the race in 13th and ran between 10th and 20th during the entire race. On lap 330 Patrick was in 16th and one lap down when the caution flag was raised due to a fan that had scaled a retaining fence on the track. The caution allowed Patrick to gain a lap via the beneficiary rule (also known as the “lucky dog” rule), though she remained in 16th for the rest of the race.

    “If we could have got one more caution, it would have been nice,” said Patrick. “But it didn’t happen. Still, I’m proud of these guys and for GoDaddy. It’s our best run here by far. We’ve been testing a lot, so hopefully everyone can wind down on Sunday before we get ready for Chicago.”

    Saturday’s race was the final race of this year’s Sprint Cup regular season. Next weekend will begin the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Sixteen drivers will compete in ten races to determine the series winner. The drivers were selected to compete in the Chase based on their wins and point totals during the regular season.

    Patrick is not part of the Chase, but the sixth seed going into the series is Patrick’s Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick. Harvick won two races during the regular season and finished fifth at Richmond this past weekend.

    The first race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the MyAFibStory.com 400, will take place on September 14 at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois.

  • Danica Patrick Gears Up For the Oral-B USA 500

    Hot off of her 27th-place finish in the Irwin Tools Night Race last weekend at the Bristol Motor Speedway, Danica Patrick is now preparing for a big Labor Day weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Instead of one last 2014 cookout, Patrick will be entertaining NASCAR fans at this year’s Oral-B USA 500.

    The 325-lap event on the Atlanta Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile track is the 25th race in this year’s Sprint Cup Series. Patrick considers the oval track one of the fastest in the series – and one of the most challenging.

    “The first time I raced there was in 2012 and I did both Nationwide and (Sprint) Cup,” said Patrick. “That seems like a long time ago and that was only my fifth Cup start, so I feel a little more confident and knowledgeable than I did then. It’s a fast place. The tires definitely go off with the surface and the line moves around a lot. It’s a big weekend with a lot going on for GoDaddy, Coke Zero, and Chevrolet, so there’s a lot off the track, as well. But I’m looking forward to it.”

    Patrick drives the number 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet car for the Stewart-Haas Racing team.

    According to Patrick, she will be leaning heavily on her crew chief, Tony Gibson, during this weekend’s race. Gibson logged two wins at the Atlanta Motor Speedway during the three years he was crew chief for Jeff Gordon.

    Patrick finished 21st in last year’s AdvoCare 500 race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Though disappointing, Patrick considers that race a “good” one and an overall improvement for her crew.

    “I remember that we weren’t good in the first practice,” said Patrick. “Tony Gibson and the guys worked really hard and we qualified well and then continued to get better throughout the weekend. It was a good race for us. It was a little tight at the end but, overall, we improved. The pit crew was really good and they were quick on each stop.”

  • Google’s Driverless Cars Feel the Need for Speed (Cause It’s Safer!)

    Google’s Driverless Cars Feel the Need for Speed (Cause It’s Safer!)

    Try using this excuse the next time you get pulled over for speeding.

    According to Google, exceeding the speed limit is actually safer than strictly obeying the law in some circumstances. For this reason, the company’s autonomous vehicles are allowed to break the law, ever so slightly, if the situation warrants it.

    Dmitri Dolgov, the lead software engineer on Google’s driverless car project, says that speeding is safer than sticking to the speed limit when all the cars around you are going much faster.

    Of course. That’s called the little old lady driving on the interstate theorem.

    Because of this, Dolgov says that Google’s driverless cars are programmed to go 10 mph over the speed limit “when traffic conditions warrant,” according to Reuters.

    Google’s autonomous cars doing 55 in a 45 shouldn’t worry you. What could worry you is how Google’s autonomous cars will react when other cars, you know, driven by dumb, fallible humans, make mistakes. The time is fast approaching, too. Driverless cars should hit UK roads in January of next year. Google is already testing them all across Mountain View in the US, and is hoping to start operating them in other states (pending approval of course) soon.

    Hearts and minds will need to be won, however, as about half of Americans are still a bit wary of robot cars on the road.

  • Driverless Cars Will Hit UK Roads in January 2015

    Driverless Cars Will Hit UK Roads in January 2015

    Business Secretary Vince Cable and the UK Department for Transport have just announced a “fast track” initiative for driverless cars, saying that the autonomous vehicles will hit public roads in about six months.

    As the BBC reports, The Department for Transport is a little late on its own projections. The technology was supposed to hit roads in 2013, but up until now the cars have just been legal for tests on private roads.

    “The excellence of our scientists and engineers has established the UK as a pioneer in the development of driverless vehicles through pilot projects. Today’s announcement will see driverless cars take to our streets in less than 6 months, putting us at the forefront of this transformational technology and opening up new opportunities for our economy and society, said Cable.

    The Department is allowing this through a pilot program, in which cities in the UK can bid for a piece of a £10 million pool to host the driverless cars. In January of 2015, the Department will select up to three cities for the trials. Each trials will go for a year and a half to three years.

    “Driverless cars have huge potential to transform the UK’s transport network – they could improve safety, reduce congestion and lower emissions, particularly CO2. We are determined to ensure driverless cars can fulfil this potential which is why we are actively reviewing regulatory obstacles to create the right framework for trialling these vehicles on British roads,” said Transport Minister Claire Perry.

    Another part of this “fast track” initiative is the launch of a new review “to look at current road regulations to establish how the UK can remain at the forefront of driverless car technology and ensure there is an appropriate regime for testing driverless cars in the UK.”

    Despite some reservations from law enforcement officials, lawmakers, and the general population, driverless cars are pushing forward in the States as well. The most notable push is from Google, whose cars have logged over 700,000 total miles. Some states have already put the wheels in motion on updating current regulations to facilitate autonomous vehicles.

    Image via Google

  • Hyundai Cars Rank High in J.D. Power APEAL Study

    J.D. Power has released its yearly Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study, grading vehicle manufacturers on the customer appeal of their new vehicle models. According to the study, Hyundai vehicles are some of the most appealing non-premium brand vehicles on the market.

    The study, in which new car owners rate their vehicles across 77 different metrics, found that brands such as Porsche and Jaguar top the overall list. Those brands nabbed an 882 and 862, respectively, on J.D. Power’s 1,000-point APEAL scale. The average score for premium brands on the list was 840. The premium brands included in the survey took the top 12 places on the overall list.

    Further down the list Hyundai led the pack of non-premium brands with an 804 APEAL score and 13th place on the overall list. The brand’s Genesis, Elantra, and Accent vehicles were all praised by J.D. Power in their respective segments. Hyundai’s Sonata vehicle finished third in the crowded midsize car segmant. Hyundai also placed highest among non-premium brands in this year’s J.D. Power Initial Quality Study as well.

    “We are so pleased to see the recognition that Accent has received in this year’s J.D. Power APEAL study,” said Mike O’Brien, VP for corporate and product planning at Hyundai Motor America. “And it’s especially gratifying coming on the heels of our best-ever IQS showing just one month ago.”

    Other non-premium brands to score highly in the study include Ram, Volkswagen, and MINI, which all scored over the study average of 794. Mitsubishi came in last in the study with a score of just 748.

    This year’s industry average is one point lower than last year’s overall APEAL study average of 795. According to J.D. Power, owners of all-new and redesigned vehicle models scored their vehicles much higher than carryover models in the areas of fuel economy and interior styling. Technology features such as navigation and voice recognition were not as differentiated between new models and carryovers.

    “Manufacturers often look to new features and technologies to keep their vehicles fresh and attractive, but designing systems that consumers find intuitive and easy to use has been a challenge,” said Renee Stephens, VP of U.S. automotive at J.D. Power. “Newly launched models surpass carryovers in impressing owners with the look and feel of the vehicle. But as we also see in our 2014 Initial Quality Study, owners are not as comfortable with the functionality of the features. To differentiate new models from the pack, automakers must continue to design systems that are not just attractive, but also intuitive and easy to use.”

    Image via Hyundai/Facebook

  • Volkswagen Passat, Beetle Go Fuel-Efficient

    Volkswagen this week announced its 2015 car model lineup. The company is continuing to iterate past models while introducing what could very well be the future of the company.

    Some of the most popular Volkswagen models will remain largely the same.

    Certain models of the Volkswagen Passat (the S and Wolfsburg Editions) are getting a new “Technology Package” option that includes a rearview camera, a higher-end sound system, and built-in SiriusXM (only for the S models). More importantly, the diesel version of the Passat is getting a cleaner 2-liter, four-cylinder EA288 TDI “Clean Diesel” engine. Volkswagen claims that the manual drive version of the Passat with this TDI engine will be able to travel 814 highway miles before needing a fill-up.

    The inexplicably popular Volkswagen Beetle is also getting the same Clean Diesel engine, as are Volkswagen’s Golf and Jetta models. Volkswagen will also offer a limited-edition “Beetle Classic” that includes plenty of leather and 17-inch aluminum wheels that come in either white or black.

    Volkswagen’s Golf compact car is getting a 5.8-inch console touchscreen in its standard model. The Golf GTI is getting a new 210 horsepower engine and a $700 price cut, while the new Golf R model will feature a 292 horsepower engine.

    Along with those changes comes an all-new version of the Golf for the U.S. market. The e-Golf will be Volkswagen’s first fully-electric vehicle offered in the U.S. The car will have an estimated range of 70 to 90 miles of “everyday driving” between charges. Charges should be fast, though, as Volkswagen has included a “Fast Charging” capability for the vehicle, which will supposedly allow it to charge 80% of its battery power in around half an hour. These stats are nearly identical to the popular Nissan Leaf, though Volkswagen claims the e-Golf has “more standard torque and more versatility” than comparable electric vehicles.

    Volkswagen expects the e-Golf to be available in the U.S. sometime in November.

    Other Volkswagen models have gotten minor upgrades as well.

    The Eos, which will be discontinued after 2015, is getting some new trim options, including a “Final Edition” trim that replaces the “Sport” trim of previous years.

    The new Golf SportWagen will be replacing Volkswagen’s Jetta SportWagen and the manufacturer’s new Jetta features a slightly altered exterior design.

    Image via Volkswagen

  • Tesla Confirms Model 3, Its $35,000 Car Slated for 2017

    Tesla Confirms Model 3, Its $35,000 Car Slated for 2017

    Tesla Motors has confirmed the name of its third-gen electric car. It’ll be called the Model 3 and will retail for around $35,000 – much cheaper than the Model S.

    Tesla confirmed a report from Auto Express on Twitter, noting that it will hit showrooms after their Model X SUV.

    So, why the Model 3? Elon Musk says that it has to do with sex and Ford.

    “We had the model S for sedan and X for crossover SUV, then a friend asked what we were going to call the third car. So I said we had the model S and X, we might as well have the E,” Musk told Auto Express. “We were going to call it model E for a while and then Ford sued us saying it wanted to use the Model E – I thought this is crazy, Ford’s trying to kill sex! So we’ll have to think of another name. The new model is going to be called Model 3, we’ll have three bars to represent it and it’ll be S III X!”

    I don’t know, Mr. Musk – Model 3 sounds like it could piss off Ford as well.

    Musk says that the Model 3 could have a “realistic range” of over 200 miles, and the lower price point comes from the fact that it’s going to be about 20 percent smaller than the Model S and be produced with cheaper battery technology.

    You can expect the Model 3 to be unveiled in 2016, and be available to purchase in 2017.

    Image via Tesla Motors, Twitter

  • Hyundai Recalls Elantra Touring Vehicles Due To Airbag Support Bracket Defects

    Hyundai Motor Co. said that they will be recalling 35,000 2010-12 Elantra Touring vehicles in the U.S. and 23,600 vehicles in Canada due to faulty support brackets for airbags. According to them, the support bracket of the airbag can come loose and the airbag can be unintentionally deployed causing injury.

    According to the company’s spokesman Jim Trainor, there have been no injuries reported as of yet. However, Hyundai decided to recall the vehicles based on results from laboratory testing of the car models. The two vehicles use different types of brackets for holding the airbag to the headliner, but they are similar.

    During an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, they found one Elantra Touring car in a salvage yard with a dislodged metal bracket. Hyundai conducted an investigation and testing with the NHTSA and found that the support bracket indeed came loose.

    The loose support bracket is a serious risk, as it can cause major injury during a side impact collision. In one investigation, the NHTSA found out that a driver was injured due to a part of the bracket that was dislodged during airbag deployment. The person sustained a laceration on the left ear.

    Furthermore, they received warranty claims that say the headliner rattles. Reports say that the recall will start by mid-August.

    In a statement, the company said, “Hyundai is voluntarily initiating this action to ensure the safety and quality of vehicles and the continued satisfaction of its customers.”

    To fix the problem, Hyundai dealers will be placing adhesive strips to keep the brackets in place. The adhesives will be available free of charge. Until the recall starts, people who drive a Hyundai Elantra can contact the company’s customer service hotline for assistance.

    Hyundai isn’t the only car company with airbag-related recalls. Just last month Honda recalled three million of its cars due to faulty airbags.

    Image via YouTube

  • Honda Recalls Nearly Three Million Cars Due To Faulty Airbags

    Airbags are now a main concern for top automakers. On Monday, Honda Motor and other automakers recalled nearly three million cars that had faulty airbags.

    Takata Corporation supplied the airbags and the recent recall increases the total recalls to around 10.5 million vehicles in the last five years.

    Last year, BMW recalled 3.6 million cars for having faulty airbags. Toyota did the same a few weeks ago when they recalled 2.3 million vehicles for the same reason.

    Other car manufacturers who had to recall their vehicles because of faulty airbags include Chrysler, Ford, Mazda, and Nissan. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation after they received three reports of injuries that were caused by rupturing airbags.

    One of the victims of faulty airbags is Kristy Williams. In 2010, the airbag on her Honda Civic suddenly deployed and she was hit with metal shards from the canister. A few shards punctured her carotid artery.

    Williams had to undergo many medical operations and suffered strokes and seizures. Honda compensated Williams and the company admitted that the accident was caused by the defective airbags manufactured by Takata.

    On Monday, Takata said in a statement that the defect might be caused by moisture seeping inside the inflators, which cause the propellant inside to destabilize.

    Takata’s Chief Operating Officer Stefan Stocker and Chief Executive Officer Shigehisa Takada said that they are working with carmakers and safety regulators in order to improve their quality control. “We will aim to further strengthen our quality control system and work united as a company to prevent problems from happening again,” they said.

    Takata started making airbags in 1988 at about the time when American regulators started to require them in vehicles. They own 20 percent of the airbag market – with TRW Automotive owning 20 percent and Autoliv owning 35 percent.

    Image via YouTube