Electric Vehicles & Cars - Page 9

Electric automaker Fisker will reportedly prioritize production - and deliveries - of its Ocean electric vehicle over software that provides owners with some expected features. Production will begin Thursday, October 17 at a factory in Austria. The US company wants to reach 42,000 units manufactured in 2023, which will make a serious dent in the company's closed reservation list.

As Fisker plans to get production underway for its Ocean SUV, the automaker already has 62,000 reservations for the EV.

The first Ocean One units fresh from the factory won't have software features like lane assistance, automatic high beams, and blind spot monitoring just yet - Fisker should issue updates sometime in early 2023. Features such as lane centering, cruise control, and traffic avoidance functionality shouldn't be expected until late 2023, at the earliest.

General Motors continues to find ways for the safe deployment of its advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) - and the effort is expanding to more vehicles. GM hopes its Super Cruise, marketed as the first actual hands-free advanced driver assistance platform, will give the US automaker a step up over competing solutions.

Select vehicles will have up to 400,000 miles of roads supported in the Super Cruise road network - double the amount previously supported. Ultra Cruise is GM's next generation of Super Cruise ADAS technology, and Qualcomm will develop the custom SoC design - the software controlling sensors and data collected from the driving experience.

Full-size SUVs built October 3, 2022, or later - with deliveries beginning mid-November - and will be supported by the following models/trims:

The Buick Electra electric vehicle crossover prototype has been spotted out in public, while General Motors remains silent about models and specifications.

We aren't even sure what to call the secretive prototype, so it's temporarily called the Electra SUV - and it was covered up well. It's unknown if this is closer to a Blazer EV or a Chevrolet Equinox EV - or maybe neither - as there is no official announcement.

The vehicle could be riding on 20" wheels wrapped with Michelin e-Primacy tires - and features a tri-bar third brake light.

German automaker Volkswagen has big plans for its ID. Buzz vehicle, with a specific interest in software, offers a unique driving experience. Interested drivers will be able to select between a passenger version and a cargo van.

Using swarm data generated by thousands of Volkswagen vehicles, VW's Travel Assist helps drivers keep the middle of the lane. The system can adjust based on a driver's driving style. Volkswagen has spent years researching and developing swarm data, which will remain a major endeavor as vehicles inch their way closer to fully autonomous driving support.

Simply tapping the turn signal when the vehicle is traveling 55 mph or faster supports lane changes - once sensors don't detect any objects or vehicles nearby - the ID. Buzz is able to automatically steer itself into another lane.

Ahead of its public debut during the LA Auto Show later this month, the Porsche 911 Dakar underwent testing on gravel, sand, and snow. The Dakar model name is a nod to the victory by Porsche in the 1984 Paris-Dakar rally with a purpose-built Porsche 911 car.

Overall, Porsche tested the 911 Dakar for 300,000 miles in different weather conditions, including 6,000 miles of off-road testing. These varying environments gave Porsche the best baseline on how the car drives in any type of weather or terrain.

During testing on sand dunes in Dubai and Morocco, the 911 Dakar conquered a 160-ft. steep dune climb with outside air temperature topping 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

Swedish automaker Volvo has unveiled the all-electric EX90 SUV, as the company lays the groundwork for a fully electric future. Each EX90 will have next-generation LiDAR and software support to enhance safety for everyone in the EV.

Volvo is known for industry-leading safety and promotes the EX90 as a vehicle able to understand drivers - and will be able to keep drivers and passengers safe with help from constant learning. Volvo teamed up with NVIDIA to roll out the tech company's DRIVE platform, which creates a full 360-degree view around the vehicle, done in real-time. The car LiDAR sensors were designed to assist drivers identify - and avoid - any safety hazards while in motion.

A single charge should provide upwards of 300 miles of driving - and can recharge from 10 to 80 percent somewhere around 30 minutes. The dual-motor configuration is supported with a 111-kWh battery pack, and it's unknown how that will change based on trim configurations.

The push from traditional internal combustion engines towards an electric future is inevitable, with automakers and governments sorting themselves out. Although EV batteries heavily rely on lithium-ion now, researchers hope seaweed-based nanomaterials can one day offer a more energy-efficient storage platform.

The seaweed-inspired battery separator is strong enough to prevent punctures by sodium-created metal structures - and successfully keeps the plus and minus ends separate for the charge to freely move.

EVs are noticeably pricy when released which is heavily influenced by the high costs of lithium procurement - and producing the heavy battery packs. Researchers and engineers are keen to find more sustainable solutions to lithium batteries. Researchers from the University of Bristol, University College London, and Imperial College found brown seaweed cellulose nanomaterials to be an effective alternative.

To commemorate Ford's launch of the F-150 Lightning Lariat this year, the Legoland Florida Resort had a special idea in mind. A full 1:1 replica was created with 320,740 Lego bricks and took a team of 15 Master Builders 1,600 hours. The full build weighed in at 3,730 pounds.

The design team used a honeycomb-like structure to prevent the Lego blocks from collapsing due to the weight - much of the total weight is the steel frame inside the structure. The use of CAD programs and other design software helped design the Lego truck's curves and contours. Even the headlights and rear lights are functional, with the team clearly taking a realistic approach to developing their Lego model of the electric truck.

Lego's Master Builder is an actual position with a salary, reserved for a select few model designers and creative minds. One of their objectives is to create massive Lego builds for retail display or public events with heavy foot traffic to draw attention. The team is tasked with developing elaborate builds that seem impossible - and shouldn't be possible - just to show what can be done with Lego blocks.

German automaker Audi has refreshed the 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron electric SUV, promising better battery range and efficiency. The US auto market will be able to choose from two different configurations, the Audi Q8 e-tron and Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron, which can be selected based on driving style and range expectations.

The fully electric vehicle will feature two different versions of the Q8 e-tron - the Q8 55 e-tron and the SQ8 e-tron. The 55 e-tron has two motors and generates 402 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque - with a 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds. The SQ8 has one front axle motor and two on the rear, generating 496 hp with 718 lb-ft of torque - and can tackle the 0-60mph in just 4.5 seconds.

Although the power output remains unchanged, a redesigned electric motor coupled with improved aerodynamics greatly aids the battery. Certain versions of the new model will have more than 300 miles in drive range, which is a drastic increase over the current 222-mile capacity.

Aehra might not be a recognizable name, but that doesn't matter now, as the luxury Italian electric automaker has introduced its first vehicle. Simply called the Aehra SUV currently, the vehicle designers wanted to find ways to build an efficient EV with a bold design and character to match.

The car's aerodynamic design was made with the help of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which molded the SUV's shape. Since we're early on in the process, Aehra didn't disclose a lot of details, including its first model's wind tunnel results.

Drivers can expect to drive an SUV made with well-researched, light, sustainable materials - including forged carbon fiber - with a monocoque construction.

The Subaru WRX has maintained a long success as a quality all-wheel drive high-performance sedan but faces some real competition. Can the 2022 Hyundai Elantra N outpace the 2022 Subaru WRX? Here are the general specs of both cars, compared head-to-head, courtesy of Car and Driver:

Judging from early comparisons, actual road tests, and head-to-head racing competition, it looks like the Elantra N is highly successful. Subaru will finally be forced to innovate to get back ahead, which wasn't necessary as of late. Hyundai's car is better on paper - and on the road - according to reviewers.

Here is what Car and Driver thought after comparing the two:

In one of the more perplexing vehicle builds at SEMA Show 2022, a new BMW M4 Competition xDrive was converted into a pickup truck. The "M4 Maloo" includes a truck-style bed still fed by the twin-turbo 3.0-liter engine, controlled with an automatic eight-speed gearbox. The six-cylinder engine cranks out 503 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque.

There was no vinyl wrap on the model shown off - a scratch-resistant polyurethane paint protection film was used. The DYNOchrome can include a color to result in a chrome-like finish that absolutely pops when it's seen.

Automaker Kia is working on prototype pickup trucks, and one has been spotted out in the wild in Korea. Both kia_club_official and Bobaedream were quick to the news and pictures:

Obviously, details about the truck remain scarce, with Kia keeping quiet. We honestly aren't even sure if this was an electric prototype. It does look like Kia's Mohave SUV is now sharing the same front end as this secret truck. Despite a hood cover, the truck's LED headlights also appear to be borrowed from the Mohave.

Cadillac China is showing off a CT5 in honor of the God of War game series, ahead of the impending release of God of War: Ragnarok. The Chinese market exclusive has a clean paint job, featuring white body paint with red, black, and gray highlights on the full exterior, rooftop, and mirror caps.

A God of War logo is placed on the front of the hood, and PlayStation's iconic triangle, circle, X, and square from the controller can be found near the rear wheels.

The car has a striking paint job in honor of Kratos, whose backstory as the protagonist of the game series is quite in-depth. Kratos isn't actually covered in white paint - but the ashes of his wife and daughter to turn his skin white - which is part of a curse placed on him. The red is a tattoo in honor of his brother, Deimos.

Two car enthusiasts took their heavily modified cars to the track to determine which one would succeed between a Nissan GT-R and Acura Integra. The race is part of Hoonigan's HONDA vs HATERS YouTube racing series, which puts unique and high-powered cars to the test.

Before I jump into the drag race details, let's first start by defining "hoonigan": "A person who operates a motor vehicle in an aggressive and unorthodox manner, consisting of, but not limited to, drifting, burnouts, donuts as well as acts of automotive aeronautics. One who hoons."

The 1994 Acura Integra GSR featured 1,400 hp, a 4-speed manual, and a 1.9-liter turbocharged inline 4 motor. The all-wheel-drive car weighed just 2,700 pounds. The competing 2015 Nissan GT-R featured 1,300 hp, a 6-speed DCT, and a 4.1-liter L twin-turbo V6 engine. Also sporting AWD, the car weighed in heavier at 3,400 total pounds.

Honda showed off its e:N2 Concept vehicle during a recent event hosted in Shanghai, China. It's the latest futuristic prototype after the company unveiled the e:N concept publicly in 2021. Trying to figure out what category this vehicle fits in may prove difficult - is it a coupe? A hatchback-type vehicle? Or is it an SUV?

The eye-catching surface finish of the vehicle is met with a clean metallic look that highlights sharp body lines. Interested auto buyers in the United States could be disappointed as it looks like this concept will one day initially focus on the Chinese market.

Honda designed the car so people behind the wheel have a driving experience to remember in an EV that stands out. Using Honda's current technologies, designers hope to offer vehicle stability and responsive handling.

German automaker Mercedes-Benz has a partnership with Riot Games and the studio's popular League of Legends title - and it has led to the Project SMNR (Summoner) virtual show car effort. Project SMNR has a fully 3D virtual user interface, so viewers interact with a real-time hologram environment.

Using "metamaterials" provides a fully virtual environment that is not limited by physics or production constraints. Instead of vehicle wheels, only energy fields are demonstrated - or something like the axles are removed so the void sculptural axle tunnel is revealed. Here is what Mercedes-Benz noted about the project:

"The resulting use of completely new materials, known as 'metamaterials', pushes the limits of what is possible. For example, the two-seater vehicle has a dynamic silhouette with a centrally located driver's cockpit and increased ground clearance. The wheels in the conventional sense have been replaced by energy fields and are fluidly integrated into the overall design of the vehicle. The flexible energy fields make it possible to completely dissolve the axles and bring their absence into focus. In addition, the spokes run inwards and accentuate the sculptural axle tunnel."

The consumer automotive industry is packed with models and trims providing a few different categories. A particular trend that is often overlooked is beginning to receive more attention: camping vans.

Ford recently started taking orders for the Ford 2023 Transit Trail Van, while Mercedes-Benz is teasing the Concept EQT Marco Polo camper van. Electric automaker Rivian is expected to launch the Adventure Van sometime in 2025 - and its electric R1T truck has a three-person tent or kitchen cooking add-ons.

It might appear to be a random niche customer base, but it has grown enough for organized support. The Adventure Van Expo Series 2022 went on a multi-city west coast tour throughout 2022 for van life enthusiasts - where van builders, rental companies, and others were on hand to speak to the public.

The Porsche GT Team will say goodbye to the FIA World Endurance Championship's GTE-Pro class with two special 911 RSR race cars. The German automaker wanted to create a design that matches modern styles and combines them with historic colors.

The WEC GTE-Pro class will be shuttered after the 2022 race season. To mark the occasion, both 911 RSR cars will rock red, blue, black, pink, gold, and grey stripes on the white base coat - on the front, sides, and rear wing. The race team spelled out "goodbye" in bold lettering and has it on each car's windscreen.

All drivers who raced for the team have their names spelled out on the roof, along with goodbye written in different languages. After the next race, the 911 RSR cars will have competed in 62 total GTE-Pro events. Each of the 16 class victories dating back to the 2013 season is noted on the fenders.

Mini doesn't want the ability to drive a manual transmission to become a lost art. To help do its part, the automaker recently launched a training initiative to teach interested drivers how to master using a stick shift.

Mini will host its driving seminars on closed tracks under supervision. This will be done at the BMW Performance Center in California, which offers teen driving classes, a driver's school, and driving experience packages. The driving knowledge taught will include vehicle controls, finding the correct friction point, and learning smooth starts, stops, and acceleration.

Mini has a number of 2023 vehicles with manual transmission - the automaker showing continued dedication to stick shift. A steady decline in cars sold in the US market using a manual transmission - 37% more than 10 years ago has dwindled to just 13% in recent times. And that trend will likely continue with the auto market increasingly going electric.