The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed a new rule that would mandate vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) on all new cars, saying the technology has enormous potential to reduce crashes and possibly save lives. [More]
cars
Audi Launches Red Light-Sensing Car Technology In Las Vegas
By 12.7.16
Back in August, Audi announced that it was working on technology that would let cars communicate with traffic lights so drivers know when the lights will turn from red to green. The carmaker is now ready to roll that tech out onto real streets, starting in Las Vegas. [More]
Hacker’s Company Handing Out Code That Can Turn Any Car Into A Self-Driving Vehicle
By 12.1.16
Does making a product free mean you don’t have to answer to authorities who might come knocking later? One experienced hacker seems to think his startup can avoid liability while giving away code for a software kit to convert cars into self-driving vehicles. [More]
Mazda Recalls RX-8 Sports Cars Over Risk Of Fuel Leaks
By 11.15.16
If you have a Mazda RX-8 parked outside that’s around a decade old, you’ll need to go to your nearest dealership soon: cars from model years 2004 through 2008, about 70,000 of which are still on the road, have been recalled because their fuel pump sealing rings may weaken over time and cause leaks, which in turn is a fire hazard. [More]
NHTSA: New Hybrid, Electric Cars Must Make Noise So Pedestrians Hear Them Coming
By 11.14.16
Even if car doesn’t have an engine to rev, it still has to make enough noise to warn pedestrians that it’s coming. So says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which just released a new rule that says all hybrid and electric vehicles have to produce an audible sound when traveling at low speeds. [More]
Self-Described “Simple Man” Pays $9M For License Plate
By 10.31.16
While here in the U.S. you can get a personalized license plate, having “ILUVCHEEZ” on your bumpers won’t break the bank. Outside of the U.S., however, there are folks willing to drop millions to get just the right message on their luxury vehicles. [More]
More Companies Turn To Mandatory Arbitration: CreditKarma, Redbox, Kitty Bed Maker
By 10.20.16
People in a wide variety of circumstances, from drivers signing up to work for Uber to senior citizens entering a nursing home, sign mandatory binding arbitration agreements. Two popular online services have recently started to require that customer disputes go to arbitration, and a reader sent along a product purchased online — a cat bed — that came with a arbitration agreement of its own. [More]
Report: Apple Taking A Big Step Back From Electric Car Plans
By 10.17.16 — Updated: 11.1.16
A little over a year ago, Apple was speeding up its quest to join the electric car market, announcing that it hoped to have a vehicle ready by 2019. Fast forward to today, and the company is reportedly putting the brakes on that plan. [More]
The 1976 AMC Pacer From Wayne’s World Could Be Yours
By 10.12.16 — Updated: 11.1.16
If you’ve ever sung your heart out to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” but felt like something was missing, you’re in luck: the baby blue 1976 AMC Pacer driven by Garth in Wayne’s World is now for sale (licorice dispenser not included). [More]
GM President: You Won’t Have Your Own Self-Driving Car Right Away
By 10.10.16
People looking ahead to the future of automobiles realize that car ownership might not work the same way in the near future as car ownership now. Cars with semi-autonomous features like emergency braking and adaptive cruise control are common, and autonomous cars and trucks will available to the public soon. You’ll just be hailing one before you buy one, at least if you want a car from General Motors. [More]
Volvo Planning To Sell A Fully Self-Driving Car In 5 Years
By 9.29.16
Another day, another major auto manufacturer announcing plans for a self-driving vehicle: this time it’s Volvo, which says it will offer a fully autonomous car to luxury buyers in five years. [More]
Google Self-Driving Car Involved In Another Crash
By 9.26.16
One of Google’s self-driving vehicles has been involved in another crash while cruising the streets of Mountain View, CA, the company confirmed, after another driver ran a red light and crashed into the Lexus RX 450h. [More]
UPDATE: McLaren Says It’s Not Talking About Selling Itself To Apple
By 9.21.16
Well, that was quick: shortly after a report from the Financial Times hit the news cycle today saying that Apple was in talks to buy McLaren, the automaker says that’s not happening. [More]
Lawmakers Introduce Bill Aimed At Preventing Hot Car Deaths
By 9.15.16
In an effort to keep children from dying in hot cars, three lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require car manufacturers to integrate technology capable of warning adults that there’s still a child in the backseat. [More]
New Car Infotainment Systems Will Cost You Once Free Trial Is Up
By 9.9.16
It used to be that your new car came with two infotainment systems: a radio and a tape or CD player. (8-tracks were briefly a thing, too, though record players in cars didn’t quite catch on.) Now even basic-model cars come with complex infotainment systems, but they also come with a catch: subscriptions to services that you’ll have to renew if you decide to keep them. [More]
Amazon Wants To Show You Cars Online, But Won’t Actually Sell One To You
By 8.25.16
In yet another effort to strengthen its grip on e-commerce and infiltrate shoppers’ lives even more deeply, Amazon.com has just launched a new online car-browsing tool. [More]
Don’t Waste Your Time Sending These Ideas To Ford
By 8.24.16
We’ve all been there: you’re in your car, driving along, when you’re suddenly struck with an idea for an insanely awesome invention that could totally change the way you and the rest of the world drive. That’s great, and Ford wants you to send it some of those ideas, but others, well, it’s heard’em before. [More]
Uber Reportedly Shrugs Off Idea Of Acquiring Lyft
By 8.22.16
With reports circulating that ride-hailing service Lyft may be looking to sell itself, it makes sense to think of Uber, its most prominent competitor, as a potential buyer. However, it seems very unlikely that regulators would allow this merger, or that Uber is even interested. [More]
