Europe
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Eleven European countries propose banning the sale of gas and diesel cars by 2040.
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New European regulation means future sports cars won't be as loud
A new European noise regulation means sporty Mercedes-AMG models won't be as loud moving forward, at least from the outside.
Sean Szymkowski -
VW launches EV car sharing ahead of ID 3 arrival
Volkswagen will deploy about 1,500 e-Golfs to Germany later this year.
Sean Szymkowski -
European heatwave prompts Autobahn speed limits, Paris bans older cars
Unseasonably hot weather has prompted Germany to put speed limits on its famous Autobahns, while Paris is banning older cars from its city center.
Sean Szymkowski -
Emissions laws will kill Chevrolet Corvette, Camaro SS in Europe
Tightening emissions laws mean that the big, burly sports cars won't have a home in Europe for much longer.
Sean Szymkowski -
The 1,307-horsepower Milan Red is Austria taking on the world
Austria isn't known for its cars, but a new firm confusingly named Milan Automotive aims to put the country on the map. The company has debuted its Milan Red supercar, and it packs 1,307 horsepower without hybrid power. Instead, the Red uses a 6.2-liter quad-turbocharged V-8 engine that sends power...
Sean Szymkowski -
The future for diesel-powered passenger cars is a little hazier now. A week after Porsche announced it would stop offering diesels in its SUVs, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will propose similar action in its small passenger cars, according to a report by the Financial Times. The report indicated that FCA will announce its plan to drop small diesels by 2022 in a June 1 midterm review for investors. The report indicated that FCA is expected to keep diesel engines in its trucks and SUVs, including the 2019 Ram 1500 and Jeep Wrangler. Skyrocketing costs to bring small diesel engines into compliance...
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European Union launches battery cell alliance to compete with Asia
Battery cells are poised to become the most important component in future vehicles as the industry moves away from internal-combustion engines and toward battery-electric vehicles. With an increased demand for battery packs, battery cell production will be paramount, and the European Union plans to...
Sean Szymkowski -
Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE is too dangerous to be sold in Europe
The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is the most extreme sixth-generation Camaro we've seen yet. But, it's a little too extreme for Europeans. During the most-recent episode of Motor Trend's "Ignition," we learn the 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE and all of its track prowess won't be sold on the old continent...
Sean Szymkowski -
High-Tech Self-Cleaning Paint Coming To A Car Near You Soon?
Nissan is experimenting with a material that creates an air barrier around painted surfaces.
Stephen Edelstein -
Bow Tie-Wearing Brit Flips Out During First Ride In Ford Mustang: Video
This is one unforgettable first ride.
Stephen Edelstein -
Tesla Model S Heads To Europe, First Stop The Autobahn
Now that Tesla has successfully launched its Model S sedan in the United States to near-universal praise from buyers and the automotive press, the electric automaker is turning its attention to the other side of the Atlantic. Yesterday, Tesla announced a marketing push for Europe, which began with...
Kurt Ernst -
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) systems combine adaptive cruise control with full automatic braking to avoid frontal collisions, even without driver input. Still in their infancy, such systems are currently available on just 20 percent of the cars sold in Europe. New regulations may be coming to change that, and by November of 2013 all new commercial vehicles sold in Europe must be equipped with the system. What’s good for trucks is also good for passenger cars, but EU regulators are afraid of mandating the (potentially expensive) collision-avoidance systems for passenger cars just...
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Europe's Big Brother Insurers Trialing Black Boxes
For years, women in Europe have been paying less for car insurance than their male counterparts. Statistically, the claims that women make on their insurance are significantly less expensive, hence the lower rates. However, December 2012 brings a European ban on assessing rates based on gender...
Antony Ingram -
Volkswagen Debuts Cylinder Shut-Off Tech In 4-Cyl Engines
Cylinder deactivation has been with us for several years in big V8 engines. Both GM and Chrysler have used it and Audi now offers it on its S range. Rather firing on all cylinders during steady freeway driving, the units use cylinder deactivation to save fuel when the power demand is low, shutting...
Antony Ingram -
Beat An F1 Star In "World's Biggest Race" On Gran Turismo 5
For everyone who has ever uttered the words, "I bet I could beat that guy" when watching motor racing on television, getting a chance to actually go head to head with a Formula 1 driver could be your opportunity to prove it. European gamers will do just that on September 5, when Gran Turismo 5 fans...
Antony Ingram -
Video: Don't Have Active Stop Tech? Take The DIY Route
The only trouble with flashy new technology is that it tends to be expensive. Manufacturers spend millions developing the latest infotainment and safety kit and they have to recoup their costs somehow. So what can Billy Joe Average do if he hasn't got the money to get a car with the latest safety...
Antony Ingram -
2012 Chevrolet Sonic: Spotify Invites For Info Requests
As a replacement for the dull and unfashionable Chevrolet Aveo, GM is hoping the funky 2011 Chevrolet Sonic will appeal to a more savvy car buyer, and tempt people away from their Ford Fiestas and Honda Fits. One way of doing this is giving free invitations to the Spotify digital music service to...
Antony Ingram -
For many of us, the thought of motoring through the backroads and byways of Europe sounds like a dream vacation, but such trips come with their share of challenges -- namely, unfamiliar roads, signs in foreign languages, and, like anywhere, rush hour traffic. (Hey, someone's gotta keep punching the clock.) Now, Google has come to the rescue. It's no secret that Google Street View has been heavily criticized by privacy advocates, but its big sister, Google Maps has been widely lauded by travelers. Available on a range of smartphone operating systems -- not to mention most browsers on laptops...
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Toxic Tests Ensure Your Car Can't Give You Cancer, Allergies
Safety isn't a glamorous subject but it's nice to know that when you put yourself and your family into a car you'll all be safe. Not just on the road, but sitting there and breathing normally, too. That's why manufacturers such as Ford are making the effort to put their cars through the rigorous...
Antony Ingram -
Easier Parking In Hungary With GPS-Based Meter Service
The good old coin-operated parking meter is a bit of an enigma in the modern automotive world. When virtually everything can now be paid for by cards or even mobile phones, having to fumble around in the ashtray for a few quarters seems a little last-century. Not so for Hungarian motorists, who...
Antony Ingram -
Heard The One About The... 200mph, 600bhp Bonneville Skoda?
Whilst Skodas have never been sold in the United States, gearheads probably know a little about the Czech Republic-based subsiduary of the Volkswagen Audi Group and some of the great cars the company has produced since becoming part of the VAG empire. As such, the brand has shaken off the...
Antony Ingram -
Bing Brings Streetside To Britain: Is Google Losing Ground?
We've talked a lot about the chilly reception Google Street View has gotten overseas. And yesterday, tech reporters were all a-flutter with reports that Google is losing ground to Microsoft's Bing in the search wars. Now comes news that Bing is bringing its Street View competitor, Streetside, to...
Richard Read -
Ford On The Fight Against Potholes At European Test Centers
If you live somewhere with particularly changeable weather and low temperatures during the winter you'll be familiar with potholes. The broken road surfaces and large holes that result can play havoc with traffic and vehicles, damaging suspension, wheels, tires and bodywork and even causing...
Antony Ingram