The automotive industry latched on to 12-volt electrical systems in the Fifties and hasn’t changed since. Even hybrids and EVs with high-voltage traction batteries still have a 12-volt battery to run things like window regulators, seat motors, headlights, and more. While we’ve seen several 48-volt “mild-hybrid” vehicles over the years, Tesla is the first to
This Nearly Restored 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser Evokes Nostalgia for the 1990s.
The new Toyota Land Cruiser is nice, but call us nerds for lusting after the old-school ones of the 1990s. These robust, radly retro machines helped set the foundation of today’s off-road, off-grid overland scene. Catch a right-hand drive one on the road, and we’re destined to become dangerously distracted. To us aging folk who
RTR-Enhanced Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear Escapes the Pavement Scene at Last
Electric trucks have, thus far, been limited to mostly street-level performance, with notable effort from Rivian and GMC to build upon the off-road nature of these vehicles (and the Tesla Cybertruck notably suffering). RTR Vehicles would like to really start challenging that pavement-pounder notion and broaden the capability of the Ford F-150 Lightning to create
Honda’s Hybrid Comeback: Introducing the 2025 Civic Hybrid in a Face-off Against Toyota
Honda hasn’t sold a Civic Hybrid here in America since 2015, when it relinquished gas-electric compact car duty to its Insight—itself then closely related to the Civic—until the Civic’s redesign for 2022. Confused? It gets slightly less complicated: When the current-generation Civic arrived in 2022, Honda dropped the Insight, choosing to go hybrid-less in the
GM’s Challenges with Ultium Will Not Impact the Launch of Associated Honda and Acura EVs
Lately, GM has had some software bugs with newer Ultium vehicles, forcing a temporary suspension of sales of the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV while the automaker addressed some quality issues reported by owners. The Chevy team has been working on a update to fix any problems. Owners reported problems with infotainment system crashes and problems
Safely Riding with Additional Vision: The AI-Enhanced Verge Motorcycle
An electric motorcycle capable of accelerating zero to 60mph in just 3.5 seconds and capable of jetting to a top speed of 124mph is a tempting proposition for the thrill-seeking set. But many motorcycle riders also depend on their bikes for their daily commute, sharing city streets and highways with much larger cars, trucks, and
Spanish Motorbike Racer Carles Falcon Passes Away Following Dakar Rally Crash in Saudi Arabia
Jan 15 — Spanish motorcycle rider Carles Falcon has died more than a week after crashing in the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, his team said on Monday.Falcon, 45, had been in an induced coma since he was flown to hospital with severe injuries from a fall during the second stage on Jan. 7.Race director
Chicago Supercharger Stations Deal with Dead Tesla Cars Amidst Harsh Cold
A bunch of Tesla vehicles were unable to charge at Supercharger stations across Chicago amid an extreme cold wave. Cars have problems in extreme cold. That’s a fact, regardless of if the vehicle is electric or powered by an internal combustion engine. It’s very common for gas-powered cars not to start in the cold. As
Tesla Reduces Model Y Prices Across Europe
Stellantis Unveils New Chief for North America Operations
In a sudden move, Stellantis, the automaker behind brands like Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat in the U.S., announces a new top man in North America. Effective Feb. 1, Carlos Zarlenga will replace Mark Stewart as North America chief operating officer. The announcement comes a day before Stewart, known for his flashy fashion
Innovation Unveiled: A Comprehensive Recap of Automotive Breakthroughs at CES 2024
Cutting-Edge EV Range Extension Tech Showcased at CES 2024
Mediocre driving range is the main thing we dislike about our long-term Ford F-150 Lightning test truck, and range (along with America’s currently hinky public charging network) are the chief hurdles to more widespread EV adoption among consumers. It’s no surprise, therefore, that the CES 2024 show floor was chockablock with technologies to improve EV
Carpet-Embedded Car Audio Speakers: Truly Impressive!
Sometimes the coolest innovations in a given category come from a completely unknown player in the space. This is more likely to happen when lesser-known players and outsiders collaborate, which is the whole point of the Audio Foundry. This confederation serves as a makerspace/think-tank for automotive audio innovation and boasts a tech-center sandbox in Wales
Tesla Model 3 Sales Halted in Australia Due to Violation of Rules
Tesla has been forced to halt deliveries of its updated ‘Highland’ Model 3 in Australia as it resolves a compliance issue, but says it expects deliveries to resume within weeks. It’s understood the updated version of the Model 3 which recently began being delivered to Australian customers doesn’t have an accessible rear centre top-tether point
Aston Martin’s Sports Car Transformation Continues with the Revamped Vantage
Aston Martin will reveal its overhauled Vantage on February 12, 2024, and has teased the updated sports car in a pair of videos on its X (formerly Twitter) account. One video shows a seat in the middle of a road with a voiceover by F1 driver Fernando Alonso. The video is captioned “Engineered by real
Sumo Wrestlers Put Toyota’s Latest Luxury SUV to the Challenge
Toyota has revealed a convertible version of its new flagship Century SUV, and is pressing it into duty as a chariot for sumo wrestlers. The brand first teased the droptop in September 2023 during the reveal of the Century SUV. The Japan Sumo Association has confirmed the Century convertible will be used in its parade
Significant Savings Await 750,000 Sydney Motorists
The New South Wales Government expects 750,000 motorists will be eligible for its new toll relief cash rebate. It’s trialling the scheme over a two-year period, which started on January 1, 2024. Eligible drivers will be able to claim a cash rebate for any toll usage over $60 per week per vehicle. Drivers will be
The Production of the Apple Car is Approaching Gradually.
Apple has added more drivers to its autonomous vehicle test program as it continues development of its long-awaited, top-secret first car. According to macReports, the company has added 17 additional drivers to test its vehicles. A memo from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) claims Apple, as of January 5, 2024, has 162 drivers
Tesla Model Y Claims Top Spot as Australia’s Best-Selling New Car Among Private Buyers
The best-selling vehicle among private buyers in Australia in 2023 was electric. The Tesla Model Y topped the charts, despite being the sixth best-selling vehicle overall and starting at $65,400 before on-road costs. Tesla sold 28,769 Model Ys in Australia in 2023, with 20,577 of these – or 71.52 per cent – going to private
Hyundai Owners Urgently Call for Resolution Regarding Paint Peeling Issues
A number of Hyundai vehicle owners are seeking action over allegedly defective paint jobs that have seen paint peel off. As reported by 7News Australia, around a dozen of Hyundai owners conducted a public protest at Channel 7 head office in Perth, Western Australia late last year to draw attention to the issue. Handle my
