Cars

Giant-scale model cars (and airplanes) powered by small gasoline engines have been popular with adult racers for quite a few years now. The largest scale models available through conventional RC hobby outlets are one-fifth or one-sixth scale, but the serious racers go quarter-scale. Now the smallest (quarter-scale) blown V8 gasoline engine in commercial production is being turned out by Conley Precision Engines to power.  Read More

The McLaren P1 has arrived ... almost. We've already had a glimpse of the company's brand-new halo supercar but as it's still at design study stage, specs have yet to be finalized – and McLaren isn't providing any official clues on a few things that folks are more than a little curious about. Still, we now have some more details (and more pictures to drool over) than we had before.  Read More

Mazda has announced that it will be unveiling its 2013 CX-9 crossover SUV at the 2012 Australian International Motor Show, October 18 - 28. Highlighting a stouter “refreshed” design than the 2012 CX-9, the latest version has a more aggressive front that’s all bumps and forward-thrusting angles.  Read More

Aston Martin has officially taken the wraps off of its latest Sports GT car, the 2013 Aston Martin DB9. Taking its styling cues from the now discontinued Aston Martin Virage and aimed squarely at the GT market, the 2013 DB9 is now available in both two-door coupe and Volante versions.  Read More

The SARTRE (Safe Road Trains for the Environment) project that first hit the road in 2011 before conducting its first public road test earlier this year has now been completed. As well as finding that semi-autonomous “follow the leader” road train technology is mature enough for practical applications in the near future, the participating partners in the project have concluded that it could be integrated on conventional highways and operate in a mixed environment with existing road users.  Read More

A recent study of auto consumers performed by Maritz Research revealed that, despite the auto industry's growing use of social media and websites, the salesperson is still the most valuable source of car information for consumers. Nissan customers may soon sing a different tune with news the automaker is launching a new dealership feature based on Microsoft Kinect hardware and software that will allow customers to perform a virtual inspection of a given vehicle – even when the vehicle hasn't yet rolled off the assembly line.  Read More

The European Commission plans to make Autonomous Emergency Braking systems (AEBs) a mandatory requirement in all new vehicles on the Continent by 2014. These systems typically use one or a combination of radar, lidar or video-recognition technologies to measure the distances between vehicles, warn drivers if they get too close, and to then engage the brakes if the driver fails to take any action.  Read More

BMW’s 6 Series has always been its “golf club’ car. A louche boulevardier aiming to impress more than a 3 Series but still with pretensions to sportiness. The range lost its way during the Chris Bangle design era, turning into a large and ugly beast that offended one’s eye and social sensibilities equally. The latest 6 is a much improved creature and BMW clearly had faith enough to unleash a new M variant after a couple of year’s hiatus. As you can see from the pictures, BMW has gone all-in on the aggressive styling. Has the M6 gone hardcore?  Read More

In April of 2010, we told you about Los Angeles-based electric vehicle manufacturer CODA, which hoped to have its EVs in the driveways of Californians by the end of that year. Well, it may have taken a little longer than planned, but the company is now at a point that various other start-ups in its industry have never reached – it’s delivering cars to its first costumers.  Read More