2012

BYD to unveil plug-in SUV, e-bus in Detroit

Chinese automaker BYD (Build Your Dreams) will debut two new SUVs and an electric bus at the 2011 North American International Auto Show next month. The world premiere of these vehicles is part of the manufacturer's "Three Green Dreams" lineup--which includes not only vehicles but other green technologies as well--and adds to the F3DM plug-in hybrid sedan that's currently being tested by the Los Angeles Housing Authority.

The 2012 E6 Premier is an all-electric crossover with a top speed of 87 mph and a range of 186 miles. The five-seater can be fully recharged in 6 … Read more

Updated 2012 Mercedes C-Class could get Nokia Terminal Mode

Mercedes released photos of its updated 2012 C-Class, which adds to the entry vehicle lineup a generous handful of technology upgrades and improved fuel economy.

The C-Class vehicles are set to receive Attention Assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Parking Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Blind Spot Assist for added safety. The next-generation infotainment and navigation system will get new features, including the ability to display text messages. And it may also add Nokia Terminal mode, according to an article in Telematics News.

Citing Automobilwoche.de, Telematics News reports that the 2012 C-Class will feature COMAND Online, which brings in Internet access … Read more

Two new Buick Regal models anticipate the road and the driver

In General Motors' latest effort to make the driving experience more comfortable, the company announced that the 2011 Buick Regal CXL Turbo offers three unique driving styles (standard, touring and sport) that can be changed by the flip of a switch from the driver, or automatically as the car senses changes in the road or the driver's style.

The new feature, called Interactive Drive Control System, alters the car's suspension, shift pattern, and steering sensitivity. The touring setting on the CXL offers a relaxed driving experience for long journeys. The sport setting enhances road-holding capability. And the standard, … Read more

Car Tech Live 197: Tale of two pocket rockets (podcast)

We drive the Honda CR-Z, and await the new VW Golf R; ratting out speed traps gets kinda legit; the VW that sounds like a guitar; and Google plays smashmouth with the auto nav industry.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 197 SHOW NOTES

? Navteq buys Trapster

? VW gets Fender audio system

? VW Golf R returning to the U.S.

? CR-Z gets a K engine transplant

? Google video suggests the end of in-car GPS

? CNET's LOLCars gallery

GM working on battery switch for U.K. Volt

The first 40 miles you drive in a fully charged 2011 Chevrolet Volt uses energy stored in the 16kWh battery to propel the vehicle, with the 1.4-liter gas engine kicking in only when the battery is drained and needs to be recharged. But GM engineers are working on a switch for the British version of the Volt, the Vauxhall Ampera slated for 2012, that will let U.K. drivers decide when to drive in electric-only mode and when to use the gas engine, according to an article in TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk.

The tweak is designed to suit the driving … Read more

Next SLK to offer glass darkening technology for hardtop

The 2012 Mercedes SLK's retractable hardtop will offer a new darkening technology for its glass roof called Magic Sky Control, according to an article in The Independent.

Magic Sky Control is an ethereal-sounding name for technology that uses an electrical surge to distribute light-blocking particles across glass. With the touch of a button, the glass changes from transparent to opaque, giving people additional privacy or the ability to block light. In the Mercedes SLK, the application enables occupants to control the amount of light that enters the vehicle through the glass roof of its retractable hardtop on hot days--or … Read more

2012 Nissan GT-R to debut at LA Auto Show

Nissan unveiled the GT-R in Japan with the announcement that the car would also be on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

Very few details were released regarding the GT-R, shown here in Aurora Flare Blue Pearl. The supercar, which has an expected base price of just over $100,000, also comes in Meteo Flake Black Pearl.

Nissan has made changes to the body's GT-R structure, setting it apart from previous models. No performance details were officially released. However, Inside Line today reported the GT-R will deliver 523 horsepower and 451 pound-feet of torque--over the 2011 … Read more

Iconic to unveil its 2012 AC Roadster next week

Iconic Motors made a lot of waves when it debuted its 800-hp bespoke roadster in 2008. Since then, the custom car has been refined, re-engineered, and rebadged, now officially bearing the name of the 60s-era AC Cobras that it strongly resembles.

The 2012 Iconic AC Roadster spec changers are slight but impressive: it offers increased output of 825-hp from its 6.8-liter V8 aluminum engine. The trim roadster put on a few pounds and now weighs 2,400 lbs., but it also dropped a second of its 0-60 time and is now below 3 seconds. Not bad for two year'… Read more

Ford upgrades airbags in 2012 Focus

Most cars are more or less one size fits all, even though its occupants are not. While adjustable seats, pedals, and steering wheels address some of the size differences, there's aren't a lot of accommodations when it comes to the safety features, except to recommend that if you're short you might be better off sitting in the back seat where airbags are less likely to break your face.

Today Ford announced that it will be adding adaptive airbags in the 2012 Ford Focus. These next-generation airbags include features that modify the amount of air pressure deployed in … Read more