Electric Cars
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Drivers around the world will need more information and education on electric cars if automakers are to realize zero-emissions goals. Mercedes-Benz has taken a creative step to show drivers that they may be ideal candidates for a switch to the electric lifestyle. The German luxury brand is testing the waters with its "EQ Ready" smartphone app in Australia and New Zealand, which is designed to analyze driving habits and show users how an electric car could benefit them. A user simply activates the app while driving and ends the session when he or she reaches the destination. The app takes...
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Tesla works on tech to flash indicators when drivers forgetThe turn signal is one of the most essential passive safety measures onboard every single new car. Yet, millions of drivers choose to ignore the ability, and let's face it, the decision puts other drivers at risk. Tesla appears ready to flick the indicators whether a driver likes it or not. The...
Sean Szymkowski -
Tesla has a surprise reveal for Grand Basel show; is it the production Roadster?The Grand Basel show in Switzerland will play host to a new Tesla reveal, the electric car manufacturer confirmed Friday. Tesla sent invites to owners declaring it has a "surprise" to showcase at the show that celebrates all things design, as well as "automotive masterpieces." Noting the show's...
Sean Szymkowski -
Dyson reveals plans for electric car test trackIt's been a year since vacuum giant Dyson announced plans to build an electric car, something founder and chief engineer James Dyson has been hinting at since 2008. The company on Thursday gave an update on the plans, confirming that the former Hullavington air force base in southern England it...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Formula E creating off-road Extreme E seriesFormula E has its sights set on tackling extreme terrain. The all-electric racing series is developing an off-road spec series with the goal of racing in challenging environments all over the globe. It will be called Extreme E, and it could be ready to (silently) rock by 2020. According to...
Jeff Glucker -
McLaren electric supercar must last at least 30 minutes on the track, says CEOMcLaren Automotive has every intention to move away from cars powered purely by internal-combustion engines, but it's not ready to go fully electric just yet. And that's because battery technology simply isn't where the brand needs it to be. The supercar and sports car manufacturer's CEO, Mike...
Sean Szymkowski -
Following a reveal at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, Chinese electric car startup Byton is showing it's full-speed ahead for its debut model, the M-Byte crossover SUV. The company announced on Tuesday that it's begun testing prototype vehicles in the real world in Nanjing, China. Company co-founders Carsten Breitfeld and Daniel Kirchert said the prototype stage shows the company is well on its way to full-scale production in China. Prototypes are currently being tested on public roads and on private test tracks, the company said. Byton promises a $45,000 starting price for the electric...
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Nio launches IPO, shares to start trading mid-SeptemberChinese electric car startup Nio on Tuesday launched an initial public offering, with its filing revealing the company intends to sell 160 million shares priced between $6.25 and $8.25. Hitting a share price in the upper range would raise $1.3 billion for the company's coffers and see it valued at...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Faraday Future's first pre-production FF91 rolls off line at Californian plantElectric car startup Faraday Future appears to be back on track with development of its first model, the FF91, following a rough couple of years resulting from cash shortages and a senior executive exodus. The Chinese-backed, U.S-based company reached a major milestone Tuesday with the completion...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2021 Ford electric SUV spy shotsFeast your eyes on the first spy shots of Ford's performance-oriented electric SUV. This is the 300-mile small electric SUV promised for 2020. Ford in early 2018 teased the possibility of using the Mach 1 name for the vehicle but only this week we learned that a strong negative response from...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
This Audi S5 has a Tesla Model S powertrainEngine swaps are an integral part of automotive culture. For decades, gearheads have ripped out factory engines and replaced them with something superior, at least in their eyes. Perhaps the powertrain in the Tesla Model S will soon become the GM LS V-8 swap of the future for those who prefer...
Sean Szymkowski -
Ford's Mustang-inspired electric SUV won't use Mach 1 nameFord's performance-oriented electric SUV due in 2020 won't be called a Mach 1. Ford teased the possibility of using the name of the cherished Mustang trim for the SUV back in January, but a strong negative response from fans has persuaded the automaker to seek another name. "We put that out there...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
In November 2017, Tesla showed us "one more thing" at the company's reveal of its Semi. That "thing" turned out to be the second-generation Roadster, planned for 2020. And at the debut event, Tesla gave depositors their first rides in the future electric sports car. Now, Jay Leno has had his turn. In a new episode of "Jay Leno's Garage" on CNBC, Leno straps into the passenger seat of the 2020 Tesla Roadster with chief designer Franz Von Holzhausen at the wheel. After a quick debrief on the original Tesla Roadster and a quick spin in the Model 3, the two prepare for launch in the new Roadster...
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Radical speedster concept hints at future design, powertrains for InfinitiInfiniti will start switching over to an electrified lineup around 2021 when the first models based on a new modular platform are introduced. That date's a few years off but in the interim Infiniti is providing a glimpse into its future with concept cars. The Q Inspiration unveiled in January gave...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Mercedes' EQ Silver Arrow concept is an electric streamliner with 738 hp of gruntPrior to the onset of World War II, the grand prix racers of Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union (today Audi) were dominating race tracks all over Europe. The cars were referred to as the Silver Arrows, a name Mercedes-Benz still applies spiritually to its current Formula 1 cars, and one of the most...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Russian manufacturer Kalashnikov moves from AK-47s to an electric carReaders may not recognize the Kalashnikov name, but they will recognize one of its best-known products: the AK-47 assault rifle. Now, the same company has decided to gun for the electric car market. It's called the CV-1 and the Russian firm unveiled the car at the 2018 International Military...
Sean Szymkowski -
Audi PB18 e-tron combines Le Mans prowess with electric futureAudi dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the better part of a decade with its R18 TDI prototype diesel race car and the German luxury brand is now on the front lines of the race for an electric future. At Monterey Car Week on Thursday, the brand unveiled a concept car that combines the two, the...
Kirk Bell -
Jaguar's electric E-Type confirmed for productionDue to popular demand, Jaguar announced Thursday that the electric E-Type Zero it showed as a concept a year ago will enter production. The cars won't be built from scratch but conversions of existing E-Types, with the work to be carried out by Jaguar Land Rover Classic. The announcement came ahead...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer on Tuesday gave an update on the progress of the automaker's first electric car, the Rapid-E. Palmer posted a photo of what he described as a “production intent” version of the battery destined for the Rapid-E, and confirmed it will be an 800-volt design. This means the battery, which is in the shape of a T, will be capable of ultra-fast charging speeds. Porsche's upcoming Taycan will also feature an 800-volt battery and will be capable of charging to 80 percent capacity in as little as 15 minutes. The Rapid-E and Taycan are both due on the market in...
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2020 Hyundai Ioniq spy shotsHyundai looks to be preparing an update for its Ioniq family of hybrid and electric cars. A prototype for the updated version was recently spotted undergoing hot-weather tests in California's Death Valley. The Ioniq was introduced for 2017 and we expect this updated version to bow next year as a...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Opinion: It's time for Tesla's Elon Musk to step asideIt’s hard to overstate Elon Musk’s contributions to the 21st century. As one of PayPal’s founders, Musk cemented his fortune. As the dreamer behind SpaceX, he cemented his vision for humanity’s future. As Tesla’s CEO, he’s created an automaker that not only...
Aaron Cole -
Chinese luxury EV brand Gyon debuts without a carYet another Chinese electric car startup has announced its intentions, only this one doesn't have a flashy concept to show us just yet. The new company goes by the name Gyon, and its launch took place on August 8 in Los Angeles, California. Present at the event was Tom LaSorda, a former Chrysler...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Elon Musk says talks with Saudis led him to tweet "funding secured"Tesla [NYSE: TSLA] CEO Elon Musk provided insight Monday behind his "funding secured" comment made last week when he floated the idea of taking the automaker private. Musk released a statement on Tesla's blog and wrote the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia approached him multiple times in the...
Joel Feder -
Mercedes' halo concept for EQ sub-brand debuts August 24Mercedes-Benz is preparing a striking concept that blends elements from the past and future. It's called the Aesthetics Progressive Luxury, and its covers will come off on August 24 as part of Monterey Car Week. The annual Californian car extravaganza runs from August 18-26. In a new video released...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran