How and why electric vehicles will change the way cars look
While there are more electric cars on the road than ever before, they’re very much still a novelty. But as you may have noticed, EVs look different than traditional cars. What’s changing and why? With the help of some automotive experts, we’ve laid out several ways vehicle design is going to change.
How re-engineering an old technology could give us EVs with 700 miles of range
The electric vehicle industry anxiously awaits the next generation of EV Battery technology. EV adoption is still limited by range and charge time anxiety. Now Portland-based XNRGI thinks they have the solution. Their new battery uses old silicon wafer technology to improve energy density for greater range and reduced charging time.
The evolution of NASA’s moon buggy is even wilder than where it landed
To this day, the thought that we've driven a vehicle on the moon is truly mind-boggling. The feat wasn't accomplished easily, however, nor was it without its hiccups. Here, we delve into the thought behind the Lunar Roving Vehicle, aka the moon buggy, and how it quickly came to fruition.
Formula E races aren’t just exciting, they’re driving EV tech into the future
Formula E made its annual trip to the Big Apple, showing just how far the all-electric racing series has come. The second-generation electric cars have more power and range, and look pretty cool as well. The racing is exciting to watch and continues pushing electric-car tech to the limit.
10 crazy technologies and innovations banned from Formula One
Formula One prides itself on being at the pinnacle of racing technology, but that means teams sometimes push things over the edge. From active suspension to six-wheeled cars, here are 10 examples of tech that was banned from Formula One racing.
ABS brakes helped airlines make more money before they helped you stop
ABS -- a technology that prevents cars from skidding out of control under heavy braking -- has been around since the 1950s, when it was first applied to airplanes. England's Jensen released the first car with ABS in 1966, but Chrysler and Bendix jointly get credit for developing four-wheel electronic ABS in 1971.
2019 Acura NSX vs. 2019 BMW i8
The 2019 Acura NSX and BMW i8 may seem like very different cars, but in fact they are both hybrid, all-wheel drive, two-seaters that retail for around $155,000. In fact, these two are the only two hybrid cars in their class. We put these two through their paces on canyon roads and city streets to declare a winner.
It’s tough to buy a fully American-made car, but here’s 15 that come close
Once upon a time, it was easy to say whether a vehicle was American or an import, but not any more. Today, every major automaker is multi-national, or rather trans-national because the companies build cars in every major market where they are sold.
Volvo invented the three-point seat belt, and it might be the company that kills it
Volvo didn't invent the seat belt, but the firm patented the three-point configuration found in every new car in 2019. The seat belt hasn't drastically changed since its inception, but autonomous technology will force automakers to rethink how they keep motorists pinned to their seats, and Volvo is leading the way again.
How the furious pace of innovation has sculpted the world’s fastest motorcycles
The technology that powers modern MotoGP race bikes isn't just inside of them -- it's everywhere. Literally every single part of the bike, from the brake pad coating to the shape of the gas tank, is painstakingly designed to make the rider go faster.
Tire review: BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport LT
We put BFG’s latest all-season touring tire for trucks and SUVs, the Advantage T/A Sport LT to the test. Tasked with combining on-road performance with everyday practicality, a lot is asked of all-season radials. Can the BFG deliver?
All the haters are wrong: The new Acura NSX is just like the original NSX
Journalists and sports car enthusiasts have bemoaned the new Acura NSX for not living up to the original car’s greatness. They say this new NSX’s engine is too small, that it’s too complicated, and that it lacks character. They are wrong of course, and we’re here to tell you why.
Intel hates that your car is dumber than your phone. Here’s how they’ll fix it
Motorists are often underwhelmed and/or frustrated with their car's native infotainment system, so millions of them rely on Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Intel is helping Google and Volvo change that by bringing phone-like tech to the dashboard. Digital Trends predicts partnerships between automakers and tech companies will become the norm in the 2020s.
2020 BMW X3 M and X4 M Competition first drive review
BMW is launching the first M versions of its X3 and X4. The 2020 X3 M and X4 M Competition pack a new 503-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six and BMW’s usual array of performance tech. But is that enough to make these two SUVs worthy of BMW’s vaunted M badge?
The technologies your car inherited from race cars
From disc brakes to the rearview mirror, many things you might take for granted in your current car were honed on the racetrack. Formula One, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and World Rally Championship racing has contributed many important innovations. Buckle up and see how racing tech has influenced modern car design.
From GoPro to Lenovo, Trump tariffs would have raised prices on tech from Mexico
While the Trump Administration's efforts to place tariffs on Chinese exports to the U.S. have obvious consequences for American businesses and consumers, Trump's Mexico tariffs might have a much more immediate and potentially economy-killing effect.
Buick launched the first in-car touchscreen when the NES was still cutting edge
While it looks like the smartphone had a formative influence on the in-car touchscreen, it's actually the other way around. Buick released the first series-produced car with a touchscreen-based infotainment system back in 1986. The feature later spread to other models but motorists found it too distracting.
Let’s take a moment to marvel at how incredibly high-tech modern car tires are
When you think about it, an ordinary car tire is an amazing piece of work. It’s soft enough that you can leave a mark in it with your fingernail, but it lasts 20,000 to 50,000 miles on your car. In the course of an average tire’s service life, it may have to work in sub-zero temperatures or up to 180 degrees on a hot summer day.
Tesla is now doomed. Here’s how its EV dream will soon come crashing down
Tesla completely transformed the automotive landscape and has done more to further the electric game than anyone else. It deserves total credit for making EVs a part of the discussion when it comes to the future of the automobile. Tesla has changed the world. It’s also doomed.
1950s engine tech was as efficient as today’s. So why didn’t we use it?
Engine technology from the 1950s produced better mpg at the same time as more horsepower. Many thought it was too good to be true, but the U.S. Army tested it and proclaimed it the most efficient engine ever. So why isn’t your family hatchback using an adiabatic engine today?
Car designers can predict your future desires. This is how they do it
Auto designers have an impossible job. They have to interpret crazy and contradictory input from customers, predict where the market is going, and try to understand what people are going to want years before buyers know they want it. It’s a steep challenge, but that’s the game.
Lamborghini’s ST-X will likely spawn a super-Urus with the soul of a race car
Lamborghini is taking the Urus racing in 2020. The racing version will be lighter than the production model it's based on, and we expect it will be a good deal quicker. Digital Trends also learned the ST-X will likely help Lamborghini design a possible SV version of the Urus.
Six advanced tech features that make off-road driving easy
SUVs and pickups carry more advanced off-road driver assistance technology than ever before. We looked at six unique tech features on current-year trucks and SUVs that make any modern AWD or 4WD vehicle a mighty off-road vehicle.
How Nissan’s ‘invisible-to-visible’ tech could pave the way for autonomous cars
Nissan is experimenting with what it calls “invisible-to-visible” (I2V) tech. Unveiled at CES 2019 and currently undergoing testing in Japan, it’s meant to connect cars to a virtual world. It will also be vital for future self-driving cars, says Nissan’s Roel de Vries.
Volkswagen is launching a full range of EVs, but it doesn’t want to be Tesla
Volkswagen is preparing to release the 2020 ID.3, an electric, Golf-sized model developed for Europe. It sheds insight into the brand's future EVs, including ones built and sold in the United States. Digital Trends spoke to Volkswagen board member Jurgen Stackmann and learned what it means for the future of VW.
How GMC built a carbon-fiber truck bed that laughs at cinder blocks
From exotic Lamborghini sports car bodies to working pickup truck beds, carbon fiber construction is gaining popularity for its light weight and surprising toughness. GMC took Digital Trends behind the scenes at its Fort Wayne, Indiana factory where the new CarbonPro bed is made for the 2019 GMC Sierra pickup.
This guy designed Nissan’s beastly GT-R. Here’s what he’s doing next
Known to fans as “Godzilla,” the Nissan GT-R is one of the most formidable performance cars around. Hiroshi Tamura is in charge of keeping this monster sports car in fire-breathing shape. He spoke with Digital Trends about what the future holds for the GT-R and 370Z, two cars that embody Nissan's performance ambitions.
In Moab, Jeep isn’t just having fun off-road; it’s planning its future
Every year, Jeep travels to the Moab Easter Safari to unveil a handful of concept cars. Some are based on production models, while others are classic rigs upgraded with modern components. The company isn't only having fun on the trail; it's planning its future. Digital Trends sat down with Mark Allen to learn more.
5G will make cars chattier and smarter, but there’s also a fun side to it
Qualcomm calls 5G "the invention age," and it predicts the benefits of faster download speeds and instantaneous communication will stretch far beyond smartphones. It will make cars safer, smarter, while unlocking new entertainment options currently only found in homes. Here's what a 5G-enabled car could look like.
There’s finally a way to retrofit your old car with modern crash-avoidance tech
New cars routinely come with a full suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) designed to prevent or mitigate collisions. Several companies offer products designed to retrofit ADAS to older vehicles. They’re being tested on commercial vehicles, but could soon upgrade your existing personal vehicles.
From cars to computers: How data is transforming F1 racing
After a single weekend of racing, a Formula 1 pit crew typically pulls around 2TB of data from the car. Everything, from tire pressure to the temperature of the track, is recorded and analyzed in the name of boosting performance -- and not all drivers are happy about it.
Mercedes wants to turn your car into a comfortable shopping mall on wheels
Mercedes-Benz designed its MBUX infotainment system with e-commerce in mind. Motorists can upgrade compatible cars via an over-the-air software updating system, but the brand wants to take this technology to the next level. It will soon let its customers buy anything, from a shirt to Thai food, through its cars.
Audi’s traffic light information system shows the challenges facing V2X tech
Audi’s traffic light information system is among the first commercial applications of potentially game-changing vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology. Based on a real-world experience of the system, which predicts when traffic lights will change, it looks like the technology is still a work in progress.
Unrestrained by heritage, Polestar sets its sights on becoming a digital brand
With no heritage to worry about, Polestar is free to move full-speed ahead towards its goal of becoming a digital brand. All of the company's upcoming models will be electric, and they will inaugurate an Android-powered infotainment system. Polestar COO Jonathan Goodman explains what the brand stands for.