Jeff Zurschmeide
Contributor
Jeff Zurschmeide is a freelance writer from Portland, Oregon. Jeff covers new cars, motor sports, and technical topics for a variety of newspapers, magazines, and online outlets. Additionally, Jeff is the author of eight published books on automotive topics, including photo histories of Portland International Raceway and Portland Speedway. His current automotive passion is divided between his 1976 Mini Cooper and his 1920 Model T Ford. His daily driver is a Mazda Miata, because duh.
Hyundai shocks us with its mid-engined RM19 sports car concept
Hyundai revealed its all-new RM19 mid-engine racing prototype at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The latest idea from Hyundai’s performance N sub-brand carries a two-liter engine rated at 390 horsepower, and points the way toward future road cars. It’s not a production model, but we’re hoping it becomes one.
The Lamborghini Museum houses 55 Years of technical innovation
The Lamborghini story begins with angry words between Enzo Ferrari and Ferruccio Lamborghini and ends with a company that currently creates some of the most exciting and revolutionary technologies is all the car world. Their Museum is a perfect place for a trip down a technological memory lane.
Performance, Luxury, and Subscription – Everything That’s New with Volvo in 2020
Volvo took Digital Trends to Banff, Canada to drive the new 2020 XC60, XC90, and V60 Cross Country SUVs. This year, the venerable Swedish automaker is focused on performance with new Polestar models, new safety and tech features, and making Volvos more convenient and affordable through the Care by Volvo subscription service.
In exclusive interview, legendary racer tells us his plans for 1,000hp new Supra
The 2020 Toyota Supra is barely off the trucks at dealerships, but award-winning engine builder Stephan Papadakis is already tearing into it to find more power. He thinks 1,000 horsepower is possible from the new BMW/Toyota joint venture. Best of all, he’s capturing the whole process on a series of four videos. We caught up with him to ask him how he plans to tackle this challenge.
Vonnen can make you a 911 Hybrid before Porsche can
Vonnen has created an aftermarket hybrid system designed to boost performance on Porsche 911 models made since 2012. The system installs over the stock drivetrain and adds up to 150 foot-pounds of torque. The system works with both manual and twin-clutch transmissions, and supports both RWD and AWD Porsche 911s, plus Boxsters and Caymans.
BMW shows us how advanced tech help make you a better driver
A modern performance car carries a bewildering array of advanced driver assistance features. We wanted to understand how these systems work together to keep the driver in control. To learn a little more we asked the experts at the BMW Performance Center for a primer, and the chance to drive their best M vehicles like we stole them.
2019 Audi Q3 first drive review
The 2019 Audi Q3 isn’t perfect, but it’s very good. This is a small SUV that you can use and enjoy every day. It’s small enough to take into the city without a worry, and big enough to haul your stuff and be comfortable. Most of all, it’s affordable. The Q3 really covers all the bases very well.
How re-engineering an old technology could give us EVs with 700 miles of range
The electric vehicle industry anxiously awaits the next generation of EV Battery technology. EV adoption is still limited by range and charge time anxiety. Now Portland-based XNRGI thinks they have the solution. Their new battery uses old silicon wafer technology to improve energy density for greater range and reduced charging time.
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS first drive review
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS replaces the aging second-generation GLS as Mercedes’ premium three-row SUV. Mercedes claims the all-new GLS is “the S-Class of SUVs.” We put that boast to the test. It’s fair to say the GLS offers a competent interpretation of S-Class luxury, but what surprised us is what happened when the road ended.
Let’s take a moment to marvel at how incredibly high-tech modern car tires are
When you think about it, an ordinary car tire is an amazing piece of work. It’s soft enough that you can leave a mark in it with your fingernail, but it lasts 20,000 to 50,000 miles on your car. In the course of an average tire’s service life, it may have to work in sub-zero temperatures or up to 180 degrees on a hot summer day.
How GMC built a carbon-fiber truck bed that laughs at cinder blocks
From exotic Lamborghini sports car bodies to working pickup truck beds, carbon fiber construction is gaining popularity for its light weight and surprising toughness. GMC took Digital Trends behind the scenes at its Fort Wayne, Indiana factory where the new CarbonPro bed is made for the 2019 GMC Sierra pickup.
2019 Nissan Kicks review
The 2019 Nissan Kicks is a subcompact crossover, but without the AWD pretensions of many small SUVs. Simply put, this is a next-generation hatchback that’s fun, useful, and affordable. There’s a lot to like here, and plenty of good reasons why the Kicks should be at the top of your test-drive list.
There’s finally a way to retrofit your old car with modern crash-avoidance tech
New cars routinely come with a full suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) designed to prevent or mitigate collisions. Several companies offer products designed to retrofit ADAS to older vehicles. They’re being tested on commercial vehicles, but could soon upgrade your existing personal vehicles.
2019 Mazda3 AWD first drive review
Since its introduction in 2003, Mazda’s compact Mazda3 has been a mainstay of the brand’s driver-oriented strategy. Mazda now plans to move upmarket, and the all-new 2019 Mazda3 offers some clues about how that’s going to work. This model also receives available all-wheel drive for the first time in its history.
2019 Nissan Rogue review
The 2019 Rogue is the latest iteration of Nissan’s consistently successful compact crossover SUV. This model routinely outpaces the giants from Honda and Toyota in sales, and there are a few good reasons for that, including a good-looking exterior, reasonably nice interior, and good performance at a value price.
Road Rave: Taking the guesswork out of public EV charging stations
Chargeway is a startup company with a bold idea: it wants to catalog every public electric car charging station in America, and use a free app to show you only the stations that match your car. It will also help you plan a road trip, and manage your accounts with different charging station providers.
2019 Toyota RAV4 review
The new 2019 Toyota RAV4 offers more tech, more luxury, and a higher price tag than prior generations. It’s also more capable off-road. Taken together, these changes signal an upmarket move for Toyota’s best-selling compact crossover SUV. Is the RAV4 following the 4Runner into near-premium territory?
Can electric motors finally make three-wheeled cars great?
Every few years, someone tries to sell a three-wheeled vehicle to Americans. Historically, it hasn’t gone very well. We’ve got our suspicions about why people don’t buy trikes, and they boil down to this: To compete as a car a vehicle has to work like a car, and a trike is just not a real car.
2020 Toyota Corolla first drive review
The Toyota Corolla is the best-selling car of all time, with more than 46 million sold in the last 53 years. The latest update is true to the formula that made the Corolla a winner: a quality compact car at a bargain price. The winning factor is a full suite of advanced technology features at a stunning price point.
Sim racing gets real: iRacing gamer wins test in pro race car
The Mazda Hot Lap Challenge is a partnership between iRacing and Mazda Motorsports to give the best drivers in the gaming world a shot in the real world. Anyone can play at home or at any IMSA race throughout the year. After a shootout at the Rolex 24, the winner gets a test day in a Global MX-Cup car.