Author: News Room
Too much of a good thing is real. With cars, too many goodies means real expensive. Then subscriptions happened and owners became annoyed. And, according to a recent study, everyone still is. Smartcar, which develops platform/app management for connected cars, released its annual report on the current state of in-car technology and the results…are not good. For automakers, that is. The report states that by 2030, 96% of new vehicles will be connected cars. Meaning they’ll have built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and access to connected services, AKA fertile hunting grounds for subscription services. But most owners don’t use any of it.…
Most EVs don’t have a transmission in the conventional sense. They use a direct-drive, single-ratio unit to transfer the motor’s power to the wheels. The new, third-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA is a rare exception: its rear axle uses a two-speed transmission, which is a setup usually reserved for performance cars like the Porsche Taycan. Mercedes-Benz told The Drive that it sees this solution as a unique selling point. Christoph Starzynski, who is in charge of Mercedes-Benz’s product strategy, explained that the new CLA employs a two-speed transmission to offer a non-compromised blend of power and efficiency. “You shouldn’t underestimate the power…
What was once seen as a key element of European’s electrification strategy is in serious financial trouble. Northvolt, which is partially owned by Volkswagen and Goldman Sachs, filed for bankruptcy in Sweden this week, Reuters reports. The company filed for Chapter 11 protection in the United States in November, however, this time around, its U.S. operation and its German venture are not included in the proceedings. Multiple manufacturers have begun negotiating with other suppliers as the situation has deteriorated in recent months, and several owners had already written off their stake in Northvolt. Porsche has begun searching for alternatives, and…
What’s Ford’s tagline, “Built Ford Tough?” That doesn’t only apply to its trucks, apparently. Ford was the first legacy automaker to work out a deal with Tesla so that its electric vehicles could use Tesla’s Supercharger network with a North America Charging Standard (NACS) plug adapter. Now, Ford is selling an adapter, and it promises to be as tough as the trucks themselves, as Ford claims it can survive being run over by an F-150 Lightning. When Ford first announced the NACS adapter, it said it would ship one for free to any customer who ordered one between February and…
Usually, the trickle-down effect from race cars to daily drivers is in the tech or data related to quality, dependability, and reliability (QDR). Wheels, on the other hand, are not an automaker priority. So, leave it to a Formula 1 fan to make the racing series wheels available for public consumption—and with intimidatingly awesome results. Sharing the final result on social media a while back (but we just came across his ride recently), Jon Olsson outfitted his matte black Audi RS6 with his custom matching rims, and the look is if Batman were turned into one of the Transformers. Something…
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR W 196 S served as a development car for sports car racing Junkyard 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster sold for $1.19 million 1997 Renntech E60 RS was owned by Jerry Seinfeld 2009 Mercedes-McLaren Stirling Moss Edition hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds Ask the head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage what the heritage of the brand is and performance isn’t top of mind. “The real heritage is the pioneering spirit, the top execution, the timeless design, the top materials, and it’s the same today,” Marcus Breitschwerdt told me last weekend at the Moda Miami concours. And yet, many…
Toyota brought back the Land Cruiser, kind of The Land Cruiser’s coarse, cheap, unrefined, and poorly packaged America deserves the real Land Cruiser, known as the 300 Series Enthusiasts bemoaned the death of the Toyota Land Cruiser in 2021. We then rejoiced upon its return in 2024. Disappointment has ensued for many, though not all, that have ridden this rollercoaster of emotions. During our all-too-brief first encounter with the new Toyota Land Cruiser in 2024 it was clear the icon attempted to pivot to retro charm. Living with the Land Cruiser has proven that the retro charm only goes so…
Anyone who’s ever owned a vehicle with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto knows that the technology can be fickle, and doubly so if we’re talking about the wireless forms of those features. But owners of various recent General Motors products—save the EVs, obviously—have found Wireless CarPlay to be even less reliable in their cars. The automaker says it’s working with Apple on a solution, but in the meantime, these customers are getting the full Cadillac Lyriq or Chevy Equinox EV experience. As many owners complain, attempting to connect an iPhone—doesn’t seem to matter which model, as this issue apparently affects…
The BMW E46, the 3 Series of the ’00s, is a great driving platform with a healthy aftermarket that can still be bought and built with relatively modest means. They’re important cars to the culture, and we should be protecting them. That includes making sure the circuit boards behind their headlight switches don’t spontaneously combust. Yep. “LCM fires” have been discussed on BMW forums and Facebook groups for years, but somebody finally took the time to articulate and show exactly how they happen. And more importantly, how to prevent them. Most of the issues that E46 owners deal with these…
Last week, the Trump administration ordered all electric vehicle chargers at federal buildings to be shut down and all federal government EVs to be sold. It’s a reversal of Biden-era policies that spent $300 million installing those EV chargers and buying those cars. But rather than saving the $300 million, the new policy reversal could reportedly cost United States taxpayers an additional $1 billion. According to Politico’s E&E, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)—the agency in charge of government real estate, buildings, products, and equipment—is being forced to remove 654 EV charging stations, which totals 2,226 charging ports, and sell…