Skip to main content

Latest by S. Edelstein

Nissan Leaf

Leaf electric-car batteries can outlast vehicles by up to 12 years, Nissan claims

Nissan Leaf batteries have roughly twice the life span of the cars they're installed in, according to an executive from the automaker. Nissan is investigating alternative uses for those batteries. That includes Nissan home energy storage, as well as projects to power larger buildings.
2016 cadillac cts v first drive sedan 029

Cadillac confirms V-Series performance versions of the CT5 and CT4

Cadillac will unveil CT5-V and CT4-V sports sedans in Detroit May 30. They will be the latest cars in the General Motors luxury brand's V-Series performance line, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. Cadillac did not disclose any details on the CT5-V and CT4-V, however.
Audi TT 20th Anniversary Edition

Audi TT will get the ax to make way for electric cars — and the R8 may be next

Once a design leader, the Audi TT will meet its demise to make room in Audi's lineup for more electric cars. Audi executives confirmed plans to kill off the TT at the automaker's annual shareholder meeting. Audi plans to replace the TT with an electric model in the future.
Mercedes-Benz GLE580 4Matic

Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV tries to balance power and efficiency with mild-hybrid V8

The redesigned Mercedes-Benz GLE will get a V8 mild-hybrid powertrain when it launches in the United States later in 2019. The 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 makes 483 hp on its own, but can also get a 21 hp electric boost. Mercedes-Benz hasn't disclosed gas mileage figures for the V8 mild-hybrid model.
2020 BMW X7 M50i

Parents will never miss soccer practice with BMW’s new 523-horsepower SUVs

BMW is launching M Performance versions of its biggest SUVs, the X5 and X7. While not full-on M models, they do pack 523-horsepower twin-turbo V8 engines, allowing both SUVs to sprint from zero to 60 mph in under five seconds. BMW will start building the X5 and X7 M Performance variants this summer.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom Trail Boss

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup lets you see through trailers — sort of

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup truck gets a handful of updates for the new model year, including a transparent trailer camera system and a big boost in maximum towing capacity. A diesel engine option for the Chevrolet Silverado is also expected to launch following a delay.
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'

Live out your 007 fantasy with this special edition Aston DBS Superleggera

Aston Martin is releasing a limited-edition DBS Superleggera inspired by the James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The Superleggera's ancestor was 007's car in that movie. Aston Martin will build 50 of the special edition cars.
2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport

2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport uses cameras to spot off-road obstacles

The 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport gets a host of new tech features, including a camera system that shows what's underneath the car. It also gets a mild-hybrid powertrain to improve gas mileage. The 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport goes on sale in the United States this summer.
A person driving a car.

Many Uber and Lyft vehicles have glaring safety issues, report says

A Consumer Reports survey of roughly 94,000 cars registered with Uber and Lyft in New York City and Seattle found that many had open safety recalls. The rate of open recalls was similar to that of personal cars, however. It's down to the drivers to ensure these recalls are fixed.
Mercedes-Benz ESF 2019

Mercedes-Benz safety-car concept monitors the road ahead and your kids

The Mercedes-Benz Experimental Safety Vehicle 2019 was designed for a world where humans and machines share driving duties. It can use lights to communicate with other road users, and even monitor an infant's vital signs. It's the latest in a long line of Mercedes-Benz safety-car concepts.
Ford F-150 Limited 2019

Ford aluminum truck beds prove haters wrong, are cheaper to repair than steel

Repair costs were a major concern for truck buyers when Ford launched its aluminum F-150. But insurance data indicates that, if anything, the F-150 may be cheaper to repair than traditional steel trucks. Part of that is due to Ford's thorough training of dealers on aluminum bodywork repairs.
2019 audi e tron electric suv review etron us fd feat

2019 Audi E-Tron U.S. spec first drive review

We've been chasing the electric Audi E-Tron around the world for nearly a year; what a trip it's been. We finally got to spend time behind the wheel of the regular-production model in the bustling cities and arid desert of the United Arab Emirates to see how it compares with Jaguar and Tesla's competitors.
2020 Cadillac CT5

GM thinks up new electronic brain for its cars, allowing over-the-air updates

General Motors is launching a new electrical architecture to support more tech features in its cars. The system debuts on the 2020 Cadillac CT5, and will roll out to most other GM models by 2023. General Motors promises much faster processing speeds and over-the-air updates.
2020 Ford Explorer hybrid

Ford gears up to build rugged, capable hybrid trucks and SUVs

Ford is planning to put hybrid powertrains into big trucks and SUVs, and doesn't want to sacrifice things like towing capacity and off-road capability. A new hybrid system may help do that. The system debuts in the 2020 Ford Explorer, and will likely migrate to other vehicles after that.
Nissan ProPilot 2.0

Nissan ProPilot 2.0: Hands-off highway driving, here we come

Nissan is launching a new version of its ProPilot Assist system in Japan that's much smarter than the current version. It can handle acceleration, braking, and steering on highways while using a camera to make sure the driver doesn't fall asleep. Nissan will launch the new system in Fall 2019.

Aston Martin will revive James Bond’s DB5 at a price only Goldfinger can afford

Aston Martin will build 25 new versions of the DB5 from the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, complete with gadgets. These "continuation cars" will cost millions of dollars, but won't be road legal. It's Aston's second continuation-car project, after the recent revival of the DB4 GT.
Volvo Car Accident Advisor

Volvo’s new app walks you through what to do after an accident

Volvo's Accident Advisor sends information on what to do after an accident directly to a driver's smartphone. Drivers can also use it to notify their insurance companies and find a repair shop. Volvo is making Accident Advisor available free of charge on all 2015.5 model year and newer vehicles.
nissan roel de vries interview i2v render feat

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.
hyundai venue targets with used cars 2020 off 4

Hyundai’s new entry-level Venue crossover targets used car buyers

The Hyundai Venue was always intended to be an entry-level model, but Hyundai may be aiming lower than most competitors. The Venue will be priced cheaper enough to compete with used cars, according to a new report. The Venue is Hyundai's seventh crossover, and its smallest.
BMW M8 coupe

The upcoming BMW M8 is dripping with new performance-focused tech

The BMW M8 will likely be the most luxurious BMW M performance model ever, and one of the most complex. Drivers will be able to adjust the feel of the brakes, and rejigger digital displays to minimize distraction. The BMW M8 will be available in coupe, convertible, and four-door Gran Coupe guises.
Workhorse W-15

Workhorse could give a castoff GM factory new life building electric trucks

General Motors could sell an idled Ohio factory to Workhorse Group, a company that specializes in electric vehicles. The factory could go from building compact cars to electric pickup trucks. General Motors ended Chevrolet Cruze production at Lordstown in March.
2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA45 leaked photo

Leak gives an early sneak peek at Mercedes-AMG’s pocket rocket CLA45

The 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA45 was leaked on Mercedes' own German website. A photo of the rear of the sporty four-door appears in an online configurator for the lower-level AMG CLA35 model. Mercedes-AMG is expected to extract more than 400 hp from the CLA45, which is scheduled to debut later this year.
McLaren GT teaser

McLaren’s next supercar will focus on comfort as well as performance

The new McLaren GT will be a high-performance car built for long-distance driving. McLaren has made similar promises with other cars, but will the GT be the first to actually pull it off? The McLaren GT will be unveiled May 15, with an on-sale date likely to be announced soon.
2019 Volkswagen Arteon Review

2019 Volkswagen Arteon first drive review

The 2019 Volkswagen Arteon is the German automaker’s new flagship sedan. It clothes familiar mechanical components and tech features in distinctive exterior styling unlike anything we’ve seen from VW recently. The Arteon is the latest in a long line of MQB-based Volkswagen models, and the most upscale to date.
Lamborghini Miura P400 from The Italian Job

The Italian Job’s Lamborghini Miura is rediscovered after 50 years in hiding

This Lamborghini Miura had 15 seconds of fame in 1969's The Italian Job, then disappeared into anonymity for 50 years. Lamborghini did some sleuthing and rediscovered the Miura's movie star history. The car was one of two used in The Italian Job; the other was destroyed.
Dodge Durango SRT Pursuit concept

This 797-HP Dodge Durango Police SUV is a speeder’s worst nightmare

Dodge stuffed a 797-horsepower Hemi V8 into a Durango Pursuit police SUV. The monster cop car was built for One Lap of America, where entrants drive around to a series of racetracks to compete head-to-head. Dodge is looking to defend its title in the Truck/SUV class.
nissan gt r chief product specialist hiroshi tamura interview 2020 nismo feat

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.
2019 Honda HR-V Touring review

2019 Honda HR-V Touring review

The 2019 Honda HR-V is part of a growing crop of subcompact crossovers. But while some competitors settle for cramped interiors and front-wheel drive, Honda made sure the HR-V was a true utility vehicle. For 2019, the HR-V adds Touring and Sport trim levels, as well as an updated infotainment system.
2019 Shelby GT-S Mustang Sixt rental car

This 600-horsepower 2019 Shelby GT-S Mustang is the ultimate rental car

Shelby American developed this GT-S Mustang for the Sixt rental car company. Shelby has a long history of building high-performance Mustang rental cars for Hertz, but this is the first time it's worked with another company. The Sixt Mustang rental cars will be available in certain regions this summer.
Zotye T600

Chinese automaker Zotye wants to start selling cars in the U.S. within two years

China's Zotye Automobile is aiming to launch its T600 small crossover in the United States in late 2020 or early 2021. The T600 could be the first Chinese-branded passenger car sold in the U.S. Other Chinese automakers are also eyeing the U.S. market, but Zotye is already signing up dealers.
2020 Chevrolet Camaro SS

2020 Chevrolet Camaro gets a face-lift to erase controversial styling

The 2020 Chevrolet Camaro gets a styling update following negative feedback to the 2019 model's look. Chevy is also adding a new, cheaper V8 model to the lineup, undercutting the cheapest V8 version of the rival Ford Mustang. The 2020 Chevrolet Camaro goes on sale this fall.
2019 Kia Niro EV

2019 Kia Niro EV electric car offers 239 miles of range for $39,495

The all-electric 2019 Kia Niro EV joins hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of Kia's pseudo crossover. With three green powertrains available in one vehicle, Kia is certainly giving customers plenty of choices. The Niro EV will soon be joined by an electric version of the Kia Soul.
Aston Martin Vantage AMR

Aston Martin Vantage AMR marks the return of the manual transmission

The limited-edition Aston Martin Vantage AMR will have car enthusiasts rejoicing. Why? Because it's bringing back the manual transmission to Aston Martin. Just 200 AMRs will be built, but Aston Martin plans to offer the manual option on the standard Vantage beginning in 2020.
Dodge Super Charger and Hellephant V8 engine

What car wouldn’t be better with this 1,000-horsepower Hellephant engine?

The "Hellephant" is a 1,000-horsepower Hemi V8 "crate engine" that can be dropped into any pre-1976 car. It references one of the greatest muscle car engines in history, but incorporates modern tech from Dodge's Hellcat motor. Mopar stuffed the Hellephant into a 1968 Dodge Charger.