Thanks to all-wheel drive, the 2019 Toyota Prius is ready for winter
The 2019 Toyota Prius adds all-wheel drive as an option for the first time, which should expand the appeal of this quintessential hybrid car. But the updates may not extend far enough. The 2019 Toyota Prius makes its public debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, which begins on November 30.
2020 Toyota Corolla sedan aims to offer sharper handling, better tech
The 2020 Toyota Corolla sedan gets the same upgrades as the recently-introduced Corolla hatchback, including a firmer foundation, new engine, and more tech features. Will that be enough to keep the long-lived Corolla nameplate relevant? Like other sedans, the Corolla is in a battle with crossovers.
The DBX SUV will go where no Aston Martin has gone before
When it launches in 2019, the Aston Martin DBX will be the British automaker's first SUV. In the meantime, camouflaged DBX prototypes will undergo strenuous testing around the world. The SUV will be built at Aston Martin's new factory in St. Athan, Wales, which will also build electric cars.
This hydrogen semi truck could help clean up Europe’s roads — if it gets built
The Nikola Tre is the latest in a proposed line of hydrogen fuel-cell semi trucks from Nikola Motor Company. Nikola hasn't delivered any trucks yet, but claims to have $11 billion in reservations from companies such as Anheuser-Busch. The Tre was designed specifically for the European market.
Porsche 911 GT2 RS retakes Nürburgring lap record, with an asterisk
The Porsche 911 GT2 RS has reclaimed its Nürburgring lap record, but that isn't the whole story. Porsche turned to Manthey-Racing to produce a specially modified version of the car for its latest record attempt. The 911 GT2 RS MR is still street legal, according to Porsche, but it isn't a stock GT2 RS.
Infiniti is using Formula One racing to hone its hybrid skills
Infiniti is partnering with the Renault Sport Formula One team, and not just to put sponsor stickers on the race cars. The luxury brand claims its engineers are working with their F1 counterparts to develop future hybrid tech. But how much of this racing tech will actually make it to future Infiniti luxury cars remains to be seen.
Honda turned its Ridgeline truck into a larger-than-life ATV
The Honda Rugged Open Air Vehicle concept is a Ridgeline pickup truck with the body stripped off to create the feel of an oversized side-by-side ATV. It's exactly the kind of craziness you get from the annual SEMA show. Wouldn't it be cool if Honda actually put something like this into production?
Project Clubsport 23 shows the tuning potential of Nissan’s 370Z sports car
Debuting at SEMA 2018, the Nissan 370Z Project Clubsport 23 is the kind of car Nissan envisions its customers building with factory and aftermarket performance parts. The 370Z was treated to an engine swap and numerous other upgrades, including a custom exhaust system exiting through the rear bumper.
Electriq-Global wants to power cars with zero-emission, water-based fuel
Australian-Israeli startup Electriq-Global claims to have developed a water-based fuel that offers zero emissions, with greater range than batteries or fuel cells, and at a lower cost to boot. But as with all emerging technologies, the water-based fuel isn't guaranteed to work in the real world.
SpeedKore found a way to make the Dodge Demon even more ferocious
Wisconsin-based SpeedKore Performance Group took a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, dialed it up to 1,203 horsepower, and put it on a carbon-fiber diet. The result is a truly hellacious muscle car. In the hands of NHRA Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett, the SpeedKore Demon ran an 8.77-second quarter mile.
Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door sets Nürburgring lap record (sort of)
The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door just blitzed Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife in what Mercedes claims is a record-setting time. But that depends on how you classify this fast four-door. The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 lapped the track faster, but Mercedes claims its contender is a more legitimate production car.
Volvo plans to face the future without sacrificing its identity
Volvo is embarking on an ambitious push to fill its lineup with electric and hybrid cars, as well as an infotainment partnership with Google. Volvo Americas CEO Anders Gustafsson explains how the Swedish automaker plans to pull that off, and what customers can look forward to over the next few years.
At 503 mph, Turbinator II is the world’s fastest wheel-driven vehicle
The Turbinator II is a four-wheel drive streamliner powered by a 5,000-horsepower helicopter engine, and it just achieved 503.332 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats. That's an unofficial record for a wheel-driven car. Turbinator II's creators have been trying to surpass 500 mph for 20 years.