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Latest by S. Edelstein

Ford Advanced Manufacturing Center

Ford’s new Shelby GT500 Mustang will have 3D-printed brake parts

Ford's new $45 million Advanced Manufacturing Center will focus on emerging technologies, including 3D printing. One of the staff's first jobs is to print parts for the 700-horsepower Shelby GT500 Mustang. The facility will also work with robots and virtual reality tech.
Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign (production version)

Nissan and Italdesign’s GT-R50 concept will become a $1.1 million reality

The Nissan GT-R50 is a customized sports car built to celebrate the 50th anniversaries of both the GT-R and design firm Italdesign. Underneath the sleek bodywork sits a 710-horsepower engine fortified with race car components. Nissan and Italdesign will build 50 cars for customers.
Rivian R1T side view

Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe wants his startup to be the Patagonia of electric cars

Rivian is the latest startup hyping new electric cars. But unlike most other startups, Rivian is focusing on off-road vehicles. It launched an electric pickup truck and SUV at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. CEO R.J. Scaringe explains why Rivian chose these vehicles instead of luxury sedans or crossovers.
2019 Nissan Murano

The 2019 Nissan Murano isn’t afraid to let you know it’s a crossover

The 2019 Nissan Murano gets minor styling changes and some new driver-assist tech. Will that be enough for this Nissan to match fresh new competition from Honda, Chevrolet, and Volkswagen? The 2019 Murano debuts at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, and goes on sale in December.
Ferrari SP3JC

One-of-a-kind Ferrari SP3JC boasts a vintage aesthetic with a twist

The Ferrari SP3JC is a custom-built car made for a longtime Ferrari collector. The blue-and-white paint job was inspired by the customer's interest in pop art. The car itself is based on the Ferrari F12tdf. Ferrari often builds one-off cars and special editions for its most loyal customers.
2019 Nissan Maxima

2019 Nissan Maxima gets more driver-assist tech, keeps aggressive styling

The 2019 Nissan Maxima gets minor styling tweaks and Nissan's Safety Shield 360 bundle of driver aids. But the big sedan is a long way from its glory days as a "four-door sports car." The 2019 Maxima debuts at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show and goes on sale in December.
2019 BMW 3 Series

BMW’s 2020 M340i will show off mix of tech and luxury at the Los Angeles show

The 2020 3 Series represents the seventh generation of BMW's bread-and-butter luxury sedan. Where previous generations emphasized the driving experience, the 2020 3 Series focuses more on tech than ever before. Available features include a long list of electronic driving aids and BMW's new personal assistant.
2019 BMW 8 Series convertible

BMW’s 8 Series convertible packs a twin-turbo V8, display screens galore

The 2019 BMW 8 Series convertible is the first drop-top version of BMW's two-door flagship ever. Like the 8 Series coupe, the convertible sports a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and a long list of tech features. The convertibles debuts at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.
2019 Toyota Prius

Thanks to all-wheel drive, the 2019 Toyota Prius is ready for winter

The 2019 Toyota Prius adds all-wheel drive as an option for the first time, which should expand the appeal of this quintessential hybrid car. But the updates may not extend far enough. The 2019 Toyota Prius makes its public debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, which begins on November 30.
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid delivers 50 mpg in a compact package

The 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid marks the first time a hybrid powertrain has been offered in Toyota's compact car over its 52-year history. The hybrid model is based on the updated 2020 Corolla sedan. Both new 2020 Toyota Corolla models debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.
2019 honda passport mb 2020 1

2019 Honda Passport ditches some seats, gains some ruggedness

The 2019 Honda Passport should look familiar, because it's basically a five-seat version of the existing Honda Pilot crossover. Honda claims the Passport is more rugged than its family-oriented stablemate. The Passport makes its public debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Rivian R1S

Rivian’s all-electric, seven-seat R1S isn’t your typical family SUV

Electric-car startup Rivian's second vehicle is the R1S, a seven-seat SUV with a claimed 400-mile range. The R1S can also do zero to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds, according to Rivian, which hopes to start deliveries in 2020. The R1S will be launched alongside the R1T pickup truck.
2018 Chevrolet Impala

General Motors purges factories, staff, vehicle lineup to fund future tech

General Motors is reducing staff and closing factories in a major cost-cutting plan meant to fund technologies like electric powertrains. GM will kill off the Chevrolet Impala, Volt, and Cruze, as well as the Buick LaCrosse, as part of the plan, leaving mostly trucks and SUVs remaining.
Rivian R1T

Rivian R1T electric pickup boasts 400-mile range, supercar-baiting acceleration

The R1T electric pickup truck is the first vehicle from startup Rivian. Expected to enter production in 2020, it features one of the most impressive spec sheets of any recent vehicle. Rivian claims the R1T will offer up to 400 miles of range, and super-quick acceleration.
Volvo Cars at Automobility LA - This is not a car

Volvo will be at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, but it won’t bring any cars

Volvo has declared that it won't unveil anything at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, and that its display at the show won't feature a single car. Instead, Volvo plans to focus on mobility services, partnerships with tech companies like Amazon and Google, and autonomous-driving tech.
Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro teaser

With lessons learned from racing, Mercedes-AMG takes GT R sports car to next level

Mercedes-AMG keeps finding ways to make its GT sports car even more hardcore. If you thought the GT R variant was as good as it got, get ready for the GT R Pro, which will race into the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. Mercedes says the Pro was designed with lessons learned from racing.
Lamborghini SC18

Drool over Lamborghini’s latest dream machine: The one-off SC18

The Lamborghini SC18 was built by the automaker's Squadra Corse racing department at the request of a customer. Based on the Lamborghini Aventador, it features upgraded aerodynamic aids and reduce weight. Lamborghini plans to build additional racing-inspired one-offs in the future.
2020 Toyota Corolla sedan

2020 Toyota Corolla sedan aims to offer sharper handling, better tech

The 2020 Toyota Corolla sedan gets the same upgrades as the recently-introduced Corolla hatchback, including a firmer foundation, new engine, and more tech features. Will that be enough to keep the long-lived Corolla nameplate relevant? Like other sedans, the Corolla is in a battle with crossovers.
Aston Martin DBX prototype

The DBX SUV will go where no Aston Martin has gone before

When it launches in 2019, the Aston Martin DBX will be the British automaker's first SUV. In the meantime, camouflaged DBX prototypes will undergo strenuous testing around the world. The SUV will be built at Aston Martin's new factory in St. Athan, Wales, which will also build electric cars.
Roborace DevBot 2.0

Roborace wants human drivers and machines to work together

Roborace believes the future of racing is autonomous, but it's keeping human drivers in the picture for now. For its first race season, Roborace will use a car called DevBot 2.0 that can be driven by humans or machines. Roborace plans to switch to fully autonomous racing in 2021.
Spin Scooter

Ford buys scooter-sharing service Spin as it looks to expand beyond cars

Ford has acquired San Francisco-based scooter-sharing company Spin. The Blue Oval believes mobility services like scooter sharing can complement its existing car business going forward. Spin competes in a crowded market with the likes of Bird and Lime, as well as Uber and Lyft.
Nikola Tre

This hydrogen semi truck could help clean up Europe’s roads — if it gets built

The Nikola Tre is the latest in a proposed line of hydrogen fuel-cell semi trucks from Nikola Motor Company. Nikola hasn't delivered any trucks yet, but claims to have $11 billion in reservations from companies such as Anheuser-Busch. The Tre was designed specifically for the European market.
Uber self-driving car

Uber wants to restart self-driving car tests in Pennsylvania

Uber is seeking to resume testing self-driving cars on the streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania following a fatal crash in Arizona that shut down on-road testing for months. Uber claims to have made safety improvements, including better software and new policies for human safety drivers.
Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR at NĂĽrburgring

Porsche 911 GT2 RS retakes NĂĽrburgring lap record, with an asterisk

The Porsche 911 GT2 RS has reclaimed its NĂĽrburgring lap record, but that isn't the whole story. Porsche turned to Manthey-Racing to produce a specially modified version of the car for its latest record attempt. The 911 GT2 RS MR is still street legal, according to Porsche, but it isn't a stock GT2 RS.
infiniti and renault sport formula one team engineering partnership projectblacks 1

Infiniti is using Formula One racing to hone its hybrid skills

Infiniti is partnering with the Renault Sport Formula One team, and not just to put sponsor stickers on the race cars. The luxury brand claims its engineers are working with their F1 counterparts to develop future hybrid tech. But how much of this racing tech will actually make it to future Infiniti luxury cars remains to be seen.
Honda Rugged Open Air Vehicle concept

Honda turned its Ridgeline truck into a larger-than-life ATV

The Honda Rugged Open Air Vehicle concept is a Ridgeline pickup truck with the body stripped off to create the feel of an oversized side-by-side ATV. It's exactly the kind of craziness you get from the annual SEMA show. Wouldn't it be cool if Honda actually put something like this into production?
2020 Kia Forte GT

2020 Kia Forte GT gets dash of sportiness to make daily commuting more exciting

The 2020 Kia Forte GT is a sportier version of Kia's Forte compact car, complete with a more powerful engine and available six-speed manual transmission. The GT debuts at SEMA 2018 alongside two wildly customized Fortes, including a drift car co-developed with Red Bull.
2019 Ford GT Carbon Series

Ford’s GT supercar goes on a carbon fiber diet to keep its performance edge

The 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series is the latest iteration of Ford's race-proven supercar. Ford claims the Carbon Series sheds unnecessary weight without sacrificing creature comforts. The Carbon Series will be available to order when the Ford GT application process reopens November 8.
Volkswagen I.D. Crozz concept

Volkswagen and Mobileye plan autonomous ridesharing service for Israel

Volkswagen and Mobileye plan to launching a ridesharing service in Israel using autonomous electric cars. Development work will begin in 2019, with full-scale commercialization in 2022, according to the partners. Many other companies plan to use self-driving cars in ridesharing programs.
Nissan 370Z Project Clubsport 23

Project Clubsport 23 shows the tuning potential of Nissan’s 370Z sports car

Debuting at SEMA 2018, the Nissan 370Z Project Clubsport 23 is the kind of car Nissan envisions its customers building with factory and aftermarket performance parts. The 370Z was treated to an engine swap and numerous other upgrades, including a custom exhaust system exiting through the rear bumper.
dot designated proving grounds automated vehicles route 101 california ventura highway 1200x0

Electriq-Global wants to power cars with zero-emission, water-based fuel

Australian-Israeli startup Electriq-Global claims to have developed a water-based fuel that offers zero emissions, with greater range than batteries or fuel cells, and at a lower cost to boot. But as with all emerging technologies, the water-based fuel isn't guaranteed to work in the real world.
2019 Ford Edge ST camera car

This 2019 Ford Edge ST camera car is ready to capture all the action

A 2019 Ford Edge ST was transformed into a camera car for Hollywood films by specialist firm Pursuit Systems. The matte-black crossover sports a roof-mounted rig that can house a remote-control camera. Ford said discussions are underway to use the Edge ST for feature films.
2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse

2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross first drive review

The 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross relies on 1990s nostalgia, spiffy styling, and a new turbocharged engine to add some spice to a bland crossover recipe. Mitsubishi is trying to rebuild itself with a focus on SUVs, and the Eclipse Cross is an important part of that strategy.
SpeedKore Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

SpeedKore found a way to make the Dodge Demon even more ferocious

Wisconsin-based SpeedKore Performance Group took a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, dialed it up to 1,203 horsepower, and put it on a carbon-fiber diet. The result is a truly hellacious muscle car. In the hands of NHRA Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett, the SpeedKore Demon ran an 8.77-second quarter mile.