2020 Audi Q5 TFSI E first drive review
Audi will roll out a range of plug-in hybrid models for the 2020 model year. The Q5, the A7, and the A8 are all getting electrified. Digital Trends took a gasoline-electric Q5 for a spin in the German countryside to find out whether it lives up to the Audi emblem on its nose, and how it performs as a hybrid.
Land Rover searches for ways to keep customers and regulators satisfied
Motorists want big, heavy SUVs they ride tall in, but regulators demand cleaner cars, and these two boxes are difficult to tick simultaneously. The company is looking at alternative ways to turn its biggest, heaviest models into zero-emissions cruisers. Hydrogen technology could help the British firm solve this puzzle.
Semi trailer carrying five Teslas and one Subaru mysteriously goes up in flames
An equal amount of facts and assumptions gravitate around the enigmatic fire. What we know is that a hauler being towed across Nevada caught fire, and the six cars on it -- five Tesla EVs and one Subaru -- were a total loss. Tesla quickly blamed the fire on the trailer, but the cause isn't known yet.
BMW M bundles supercar-like performance into the X5 and the X6
Buyers who want 600 horsepower under their right foot no longer have to compromise space or comfort. BMW's M division released high-performance variants of the third-generation X5 and X6 both powered by a mighty, twin-turbocharged V8. Both will arrive in American showrooms in early 2020 with a six-digit price tag.
Smarter and sharper-looking, the Toyota C-HR now plays nice with Android phones
Toyota resisted Android Auto for years due to privacy and safety concerns, but it settled its differences with Google. The 2020 C-HR comes standard with Android Auto. It also offers Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Minor visual changes round out the list of updates for the 2020 model year.
Bosch is detonating mini-explosions in electric cars to make them safer
An electric car's powertrain becomes a rescue team's worst enemy during a crash. Bosch developed a semiconductor-based technology that detonates mini-explosions when it detects the car has been involved in a crash to prevent electrical shocks. When this technology will reach the market depends on EV manufacturers.
Tesla software version 10.0: Everything you need to know
Tesla's V10.0 software adds the ability to plug an Xbox controller into their center console to play games. It also adds Smart Summon, which lets the car drive itself to where its owner is waiting, and Tesla Theater, which allows motorists to watch videos on Netflix and YouTube while parked.
EVs, hybrids, and sports cars dot Maserati’s 2020s product road map
Maserati is turning to its Italian roots to future-proof its range of luxury and performance models. It announced plans to release an array of new or comprehensively updated cars in the coming years, and all of them will be made in Italy. Electrification plays a significant role in its future lineup of cars.
Bollinger’s electric trucks are a big step closer to production
Bollinger Motors isn't your average electric car startup. Bollinger's B1 and B2 are rugged off-roaders that trade luxury for capability. Both vehicles are still in the prototype stage, and Bollinger hasn't released a firm timeline for production. Meanwhile, other companies are developing electric trucks.
Tesla Model S police car almost runs out of electricity during high-speed chase
"I am down to six miles of battery on the Tesla, so I may lose it here in a sec," police officer Jesse Hartman said during the incident. He later explained that someone had forgotten to charge the Tesla, so he didn't leave with as much range as he should have. Officers called off the chase when it became too dangerous.
The 2020 Audi RS Q3 is a souped-up SUV you’ll have to admire from afar
Enthusiasts worried Audi would deep-six its sonorous five-cylinder engine can sleep easy. It makes a comeback in both variants of the RS Q3, and it's tuned to deliver 400 hp to the four wheels via Quattro all-wheel drive. Inside, the digital instrument cluster and the infotainment system learn a few new tricks.
Nissan recalls 1.2M cars to ensure owners can’t turn off the rear-view camera
The list of models included in the recall campaign includes nearly every nameplate Nissan offered during the 2018 and 2019 model years. Technicians will fix the rear-view camera-related problem by updating the software. The recall campaign will begin in October 2019, it will end the following month.
The Porsche Taycan is the first EV tuner Hennessey is putting its hands into
Hennessey will begin making powertrain modifications to the Taycan when it receives the example it ordered in early 2020. In the meantime, it's designing aftermarket parts like alloy wheels, new-look interior parts, and a body kit for the first electric Porsche. Pricing information hasn't been announced yet.
2020 Audi RS 7 first drive review
Audi's new RS 7 is so quick that our phone flew from the center console to the back seat after we floored it. Giving phones wings is a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 engine that makes 590 hp and 591 lb.-ft. of torque. The RS 7 is more than a big engine; it's full of tech, including an excellent infotainment system.
New Hyundai airbag keeps front passengers from injuring each other during a crash
Hyundai developed an airbag that deploys from the driver's seat to fill the space between the front occupants of a car. The middle airbag will prevent the front passengers from hitting each other during a crash. Hyundai will begin offering this technology on some of its models in 2020, and Kia might, too.
Hyundai, Aptiv form $4 billion joint venture to develop self-driving cars
Hyundai teamed up with Aptiv to form a joint venture that aims to put autonomous cars on the road by 2022. The two firms will begin testing prototypes in 2020, and they hope to sell their technology to other companies -- including rivals -- as soon as possible. The joint venture is a $4 billion project.
How do you get a Bugatti to 304 mph? Grit, really good tires, and a lot of tech
Andy Wallace talked to Digital Trends about how he set a world speed record in a Bugatti Chiron, and he told us about the technology that made the run possible. Michelin engineer Benjamin Vilpert also explained what went into testing tires capable of safely carrying a car to speeds planes normally take off at.
Amazon orders 100,000 vans from a company that has never made a car before
Jeff Bezos announced Amazon ordered 100,000 vans from a company that has never built a car before. It bought a fleet of electric vans from startup Rivian, and it plans to deploy them all by 2024 in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint. Details about the deal and the van are still trickling in as of writing.
This 750-hp Chevrolet Camaro is not your average, soul-crushing rental car
Hendrick Motorsports is bringing two limited-edition variants of the Chevrolet Camaro to select Hertz locations across America. The most alluring model is a V8-powered ZL1 upgraded to 750 horsepower thanks to a bigger supercharger. 224 cars will be available to rent starting halfway through October.
Audi balances carsharing, EVs, and sports cars as it prepares for the 2020s
Digital Trends sat down with some of Audi's top executives to learn about how the company sees itself evolving during the 2020s. It will continue to build sports cars -- that's never changing -- but they'll be joined by a bevy of electric vehicles and shared vehicles. Some will even tick all three boxes.
Volkswagen makes it easier for customers to talk to their car via their phone
Volkswagen improved its Car-Net infotainment system for 2020 by adding more features and making it quicker. Smartphone connectivity lets owners lock or unlock their door and check their fuel level, among other functions, by tapping their screen a few times. The company also wants to make in-car Wi-Fi cheaper.
Live out your Mario Kart fantasies on this Norwegian cruise ship
Norwegian Cruise Lines began building go-kart tracks on top of its ships in 2017, and it's preparing to inaugurate the most epic course yet. The two-story, 10-turn speedway will take racers right over the ship's edge. It's on top of a mammoth ship named Encore that will go on its first cruise in November 2019.
Mercedes-Benz taps into its heritage to build an electric sci-fi hot rod
Mercedes-Benz unveiled a modern interpretation of the 1902 Simplex, one of its most significant prewar cars. Presented as a sculpture, the Vision Simplex concept blends heritage-laced styling cues with futuristic technology, including an infotainment system that knows exactly what the driver needs to see.
Nissan’s Leaf follow-up will become its best-selling electric model
Nissan is preparing to release a futuristic, high-tech electric crossover positioned as a more-spacious alternative to the Leaf. Dealers who have already seen the car said it looks like nothing else on the road, and its interior is unbelievably sleek. It will offer up to 300 miles of driving range and room for five.
Superwagons, EVs, and autonomous 4x4s wowed us at the Frankfurt Auto Show
Automakers from all over the spectrum show their wildest designs, their most advanced electric cars, and their quickest performance models at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The 2019 event didn't disappoint. Here are the most exhilarating cars Digital Trends spotted while walking around the town-sized convention center.
BMW previews the next 4 Series with a concept car you’ll either love or hate
BMW previewed the next-generation 4 Series at the 2019 Frankfurt Auto Show by introducing a concept called simply 4. It shows a bolder design that differentiates the 4 from the more elegant-looking, four-door 3 Series it's based on. The production variant of the next 4 Series could arrive in 2020.
Ford’s all-electric F-150 pickup truck may arrive sooner than expected
Worried about the threat of rising gas prices, Ford will add the F-150 pickup truck to its growing portfolio of electrified vehicles. The Blue Oval is currently developing a gasoline-electric F-150, and it will release an electric version of the next-generation truck. Its competitors will come from Tesla and Rivian.
The Hyundai 45 is a heritage-laced, forward-thinking concept car
Hyundai introduced a forward-thinking, heritage-laced concept car named 45 at the 2019 Frankfurt Auto Show. It channels the spirit of the Pony, the first car the company developed in-house, while previewing how what future electric models will look like, and the technology users will be able to enjoy.
The Audi AI:Trail Quattro concept is the autonomous off-roading EV of our dreams
Autonomous, electric concept car are a dime a dozen, but Audi put a different spin on the idea by making a self-driving, battery-powered off-roader. It's loaded with useful tech features, like a roof-mounted drone that lights up trails. It's not ready for production, but it could become a reality by 2030.
Land Rover gives the emblematic Defender a 21st-century makeover
Land Rover gave the Defender a full reboot. The original SUV was a rugged machine built to go anywhere. Its replacement proudly ticks those boxes, too, but it adds a dose of technology and luxury the first-generation Defender could only dream of. The two- and four-door variants will go on sale in 2020.
Audi’s stylish RS 7 Sportback returns with more tech, space, and power
Audi's second-generation RS 7 Sportback builds on its predecessor's strengths with a sharper, more muscular design, better technology, and an engine that's both more powerful and more efficient. The RS 7 shares most of its mechanical components with the RS 6, and it will reach showrooms in time for the 2020 model year.
The limited-edition Sian is a hybrid supercar only Lamborghini could build
The limited-edition Sian takes Lamborghini into the hybrid segment for the first time. It's an exotic, scissor-doored coupe with one of the most advanced gasoline-electric powertrains we've ever seen. Its interior features 3D-printed parts. The Sian is sold out, but it will influence future Lamborghini models.
Bugatti ends its record-chasing career with a stunning, limited-edition Chiron
Bugatti reclaimed the fastest car crown in a spectacular manner. British pilot Andy Wallace drove a one-of-a-kind, Chiron-based prototype to 304 mph on a private test track in Germany. Bugatti got its bragging rights back from Koenigsegg, and it became the first automaker to break the 300-mph barrier.