Electric Vehicles & Cars - Page 6

We're all very familiar with the idea of wirelessly charging our phones, watches, and earbuds but have you ever considered wirelessly charging your car?

That obviously only applies to people who have electric vehicles, but wireless charging would fix one of the bigger problems with owning an EV - having to plug it in all the time. Now it appears that Tesla is working on fixing that with some sort of wireless charging technology.

While Tesla hasn't confirmed that it's working on anything of the sort, the company might have teased something during this week's Investor Day.

Ford has filed for a patent on a new type of system that is designed to cause drivers "discomfort" if they happen to miss consecutive car repayments.

The car manufacturer filed for the patent back in August 2021, but it only became public last week when it was published online. The Drive reports that the patent includes technology that would revoke key features of the vehicle in the event of car repayments being missed by the buyer. Features that would be taken away incrementally would be air conditioning, GPS, and even the radio.

Furthermore, the patent describes a new system called the "repossession system computer", which will serve as the brain for carrying out all these discomforts. The patent states that this new computer would begin with minor annoyances to the driver, such as removing air conditioning, cruise control, or the radio. Then if warnings of missed payments are continued to be ignored, the system could initiate an "incessant and unpleasant sound" whenever the driver is around.

Flying cars has always been this benchmark for something futuristic; that is, once flying cars are real - we're well and truly living in the future. And that's precisely what we've got here, with the Airspeeder MK4 from Alauda Aeronautics - based in Adelaide, South Australia.

A fully crewed flying racing car because we're already at the flying racing car stage. The Airspeeder MK4 is described as the world's fastest hydrogen electric "Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft."

It can reach its top speed of 360km/hr (225m/hr) in 30 seconds from a full-standing start and is set to debut in the burgeoning field of Airspeeder racing. Yeah, it's a flying racing card built for performance motorsports. As mentioned above, this is a hydrogen-electric flying car with an impressive range of 300km - with the vehicle weight being just 950kg.

Tesla has made an appearance at the Super Bowl, but it isn't a positive one, as the advertisement comes from one of the company's biggest critics Dawn Project.

The above Super Bowl ad was created by Dawn Project, an organization committed to making "computers safe for humanity". The organization was created by tech entrepreneur Dan O'Dowd and has been going after Tesla since the company began rolling out its Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature. The Super Bowl ad is designed to bring awareness to purported faults within Tesla's FSD software, and these faults are demonstrated numerous times throughout the duration of the video.

Dawn Project shows Tesla vehicles failing to stop for child-sized dummies that are crossing the street, failing to stop for stop signs attached to the side of a school bus, crossing illegally into the oncoming lane, driving past 'do not enter' signs and even hitting a stroller in the middle of the road. Dawn Project's goal for the Super Bowl ad is to bring awareness to FSD in hopes that lawmakers will ban the feature from public roads.

Mercedes-Benz has received a new level of driving automation for its Drive Pilot system, which is a direct competitor to Tesla's Autopilot system.

Mercedes took to its website with a press release that states its Drive Pilot system is approved for use in Nevada, receiving the first Level 3 "conditionally automated" driving certification, making it the very first car company to reach Level 3.

According to the announcement, Mercedes' Drive Pilot system at Level 3 capabilities will be able to keep the car in a lane, change lanes, and maintain the car at a safe distance behind the one that it's in front of by adjusting speed and more. However, all of this new technology is only permitted at speeds up to 40 mph. Notably, Tesla currently sits at Level 2 autonomy with its Autopilot system, but many of the features that make up Level 3 autonomy are already present in Level 2, which are already present on the road.

Sacramento Metro Fire District took to its social channels to share information about a Tesla Model S suddenly bursting into flames while traveling down eastbound Highway 50 & Sunrise Blvd.

According to the posts by the fire department, the firefighters arrived at the scene, and the vehicle was already engulfed in flames, and according to the driver, the Tesla Model S began emitting black smoke from under its hood while it was traveling at "freeway speeds". The driver pulled over, and the fire eventually took over the vehicle, causing it irreparable damage. Metro Fire of Sacramento notes that there were no injuries as a result of the incident.

Firefighters had to use 6,000 gallons of water to completely put out the fire as the vehicle's battery cells continued to combust, refueling the fire. Comparatively, a normal combustion engine requires approximately 700 gallons of water to extinguish and typically a single fire truck. Metro Fire of Sacramento states it needed two fire engines, a water tender, and a ladder truck.

Californian carmaker Rezvani has unveiled the Rezvani Vengeance, and the Batmobile-like SUV comes with a military package that is truly shocking.

The Rezvani Vengeance is not your typical SUV as this vehicle is truly equipped for an apocalyptic event with the inclusion of bulletproof glass, blinding strobe lights, electrified door handles, smoke screen, thermal night vision, EMP protection, gas masks, and even a pepper spray dispenser. Looking at the Rezvani website, the company states that "vengeance is yours," and if you decide to get the military package, all of the aforementioned features are yours.

Notably, these features and the vehicle by itself don't come cheap. The Rezvani Vengeance base model, without the bells and pepper sprayers, comes in at $285,000. Those that decide the military package is a necessary upgrade will have to pay a whopping $499,000. It should be noted that tactical weaponry equipped to the Rezvani Vengeance isn't marketed towards the US military personnel but to everyday Americans.

A Tesla owner has bragged online that he used his vehicle while intoxicated to make it back home after Christmas celebrations.

The Tesla owner, whose Twitter handle is @denguyen73 admitted to the act on Twitter Spaces, where he said that he was a little bit "tipsy" after Christmas day celebrations and that he was "probably drunk" when he got behind the wheel. The driver said that he engaged Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) after jumping behind the wheel and Tesla's autopilot driving software "flawlessly" took him home.

As you can probably imagine, driving while intoxicated, even with Tesla's FSD beta software engaged, is completely illegal, which led to many members of the public speaking out about the driver's admission. One Twitter user whose handle is @eriz35 simply booed the driver while the Twitter Spaces call and said, "Don't do that", adding, "please don't do that again".

CES 2023 - Sony's new electric vehicle packs in serious high-end tech including tons of sensors and a fully-fledged PlayStation 5, but the car's name is rather odd.

Sony and Honda are teaming up to make an electric smartcar that fully utilizes each company's breakthrough tech, namely Sony's sensors and Honda's overall vehicle designs. The result is an interesting new car called Afeela that blends entertainment, connectivity, and something that Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida calls "intelligent mobility."

Sony unveiled a concept prototype for its new EV platform at CES that's essentially a roving tech ecosystem on wheels. Afeela features 45 cameras and sensors inside and outside of the vehicle specifically designed by Sony, including a system of onboard computer chips and SoCs that deliver a combined 800 TOPs that will help facilitate advanced AI and deliver both automated drive and ADS (Automated Drive Assistance) to operators.

Adrenaline junkie Travis Pastrana decided to wind down 2022 by releasing "Gymkhana 2022" - a video of him driving a tricked out 1983 Subaru GL Wagon able to produce more than 850 horsepower.

Of course, a simple driving video wouldn't be any kind of fun for Pastrana and company. Instead, the video needs to feature cameos of a fighter jet, helicopter and 3000-hp Chevrolet El Camino - along with Pastrana managing to grind his car like it's some kind of insanely oversized skateboard.

The car has full active aero, AWD sequential transmission, rear-mounted radiators and a 2.3-liter billet Subaru Boxer 4-cylinder engine - with carbon fiber roof racks and carbon fiber found throughout the rest of the vehicle.

Kindred Motorworks recently showed off its latest creation, the Kindred Chevy 3100 pickup truck - a late 40s-50s era truck with an electric drivetrain. Interested buyers will need to wait a couple of years and can expect to pay at least $159,000.

Kindred used Chevy 3100 models built from 1947 to 1953 and packed in a 294hp direct drive electric AC motor electric powertrain. The 74 kWh battery provides a 200-mile range - with a 6.6 kW on-board charger with 120v and 240v support. Charge time with a level-2 charger will take nine hours.

The interior features a bench seat with custom leather upholstery with headrests and center seating. There is an EV-specific style gauge cluster, a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, and a wireless charging dock. Overall, the exterior also underwent a full restoration, so Kindred put in the effort to refurbish the old school truck.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E electric model has reached 150,000 models produced, with the US automaker expanding sales. The Mach-E already is available in 37 countries, with Ford adding new markets starting in 2023.

Ford first introduced the Mustang Mach-E on Nov. 17, 2019, and the 2021 model hit the market in December 2020. Ford wants to step up to 600,000 EVs produced by the end of next year - and 2 million made annually by 2026.

Here is what Deborah Manzano, director of manufacturing at Ford, said in a press statement: "The plant is buzzing. There's a new battery line, new chassis line, additional assembly line, we're literally maxing out the space to make more Mustang Mach-E vehicles. We most recently added a new paint shop, too. Nothing is standing still for long!"

Lamborghini typically focuses on luxury sports cars able to rip up the track or street, but the Italian automaker has a concept car designed away from the road. Even the design of the car forced engineers to convert the automaker's DNA to push different boundaries that they usually never had to worry about. Here is action of the first Huracan Sterrato driving on the open road:

The car was designed and equipped specifically to handle off-road driving - the tires are wider with increased sidewalls, drastically improving grip and shock absorption. Lamborghini first showed off the concept in 2019, though was confirmed as a production model starting over the summer.

Between the V10 5.2 I engine and a physical design tailored for adventures, there is a modified departure angle and increased ground clearance - with a front frame and underbody that have been reinforced. The integrated aluminum is covered with an aluminum bulkhead while drivers conquer dirt-road surfaces.

General Motors will help the Chevrolet Corvette evolve into a sub-brand that includes both electric vehicles and traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. An electric Corvette is expected sometime in 2023, and a track-specific C8 is also in the works for 2024.

The thought of an electric Corvette is rather intriguing, as the car will benefit from instant torque when the driver hits the accelerator. Long-time Corvette fans will probably need an adjustment period when the car goes electric - and GM will still hear from enthusiasts that don't like what they see. However, Car and Driver chatted with someone from the GM Tech Center to learn the following:

German manufacturer ZF has shown off a smaller, lighter new e-drives designed for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The company believes the auto industry's immense backlog for electronic drive components is worth upwards of $26 billion - and more can be done to help car companies.

Instead of finding ways to engineer better mechanical components for an internal combustion engine, R&D is now focused on creating efficient electric powertrains.

To meet customer demands, ZF plans to hone in on efficiency, performance, and cost, among other major requirements drivers may have. The company's next-generation platform includes the electric motor, power electronics, transmission, and control software to help it all run properly.

The Hennessey Mammoth 1000 TRX Overland Edition features a 1,012 bhp beast of an engine designed to help owners experience the most out of overland trucking.

Hennessey will make the Overland Edition available for its Mammoth 900 or Mammoth 1000 versions, based on the Dodge Ram TRX.

The Overland Edition adds the bed rack with rock lights, grab handles, and full wiring harness - with a hard-shell nimbus rooftop tent, 55-inch hybrid awning with LED light, shovel and shovel guard, 2x gas tanks and mounts, and more. Hennessey focused on user-friendly equipment that can be used as part of truck-based living - and features a modular system, TRX bed rack, with grab handles and a retractable ladder to help offer easier accessibility.

German automaker Mercedes-Benz has a unique collaboration with 20th Century Studios and the Avatar movie brand - with a theme of technology, innovation, sustainability, and mobility of the future. The two companies want to show the futuristic side of vehicles from Mercedes, with a special interest on becoming more environmentally friendly.

Mercedes is going electric-only in the very near future, promising a fully electric future by 2030 - with models such as the beastly EQE SUV and others showing what the German company can do.

Vehicles are now packed full of technology, with electric drivetrains, feature-rich infotainment systems, and autonomous driving technology being some of the most popular trends. However, Mercedes and Avatar want to share the following message: "Earth is our Pandora," and there must be an increased focus on sustainability, respect, and the global community.

About 1 million Tesla owners are expected to get a significant upgrade to their sound system when the company rolls out a software update that enables Dolby Atmos.

According to an exclusive report from BGR, Tesla is currently working on an upcoming software update that will improve the sound quality of the vehicle's speakers. The publication spoke to an unnamed source that said the company has been working with major record labels for several months to fine-tune the software and make Dolby Atmos available in Tesla cars. Notably, the software update will be rolled out to 1 million Tesla vehicles that are on the road, and all newly manufactured Tesla cars will come with the software already installed.

For those that aren't familiar with Dolby Atmos, the software is a surround sound technology that is developed by Dolby Laboratories. The technology, originally designed for the cinema market, began to be implemented in 25 cinemas worldwide in 2012, and as of 2022, there are more than 10,000 Dolt Atmos-enabled cinemas. The software itself adds height channels that enable sounds to be interpreted as 3D objects, creating a more immersive surround sound experience with more accurate sound.

The 2023 Honda Civic Type R is something the Japanese automaker can be proud of. Although the engine is manufactured in the United States, the car itself is assembled in Japan. A recent Honda YouTube video shows the full assembly of the Civic Type R, so you can watch the process from start to finish.

Promoted as the most powerful production vehicle Honda has ever sold for the US market, the Civic Type R has a bit of extra boost. The turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine produces 315 hp with 310 lb-ft. of torque - with maximum of 4,000 rpm.

The car's body is pressed and welded to form the external panels, with the shell receiving a sprayed polyurethane top coat. The front fenders and rear door side panels and fenders doesn't need multiple pressings, thanks to quality design software simulations. When things such as the front and rear bumpers, doors, trunk, and hood are installed - Honda uses robotic automation to help ensure these pieces have been installed correctly. Before Honda ships anything overseas, a suspension alignment and other inspections are conducted.

The 2023 EarthRoamer SX is a beast designed to let people go camping or enjoy some rugged terrain, but with luxury included. Obviously won't be something most of us will have in our driveway, but customers that have some money to burn might be interested.

The SX is powered by a 6.6L Turbo Diesel Chevrolet 6500 4WD chassis, with the 6-speed transmission seizing 350 hp and 700 lb-ft. of torque. It also has a gross vehicle weight rating up to 23,500 lb.

The 43" military-grade Goodyear tires on Beadlock Rims are supported by an air ride suspension, custom road shocks, and anti-sway bars - all of which were specifically designed for EarthRoamer. Drivers can raise or lower each wheel and axle independently.