Author: admin
Reducing the size of EV batteries and generally lowering levels of car ownership and use could have a significant environmental impact, according to a new study. The study, commissioned by the Climate and Community Project, a climate policy think tank, used UC Davis research (first spotted by DriftBreath Congress). It found that limiting the size of EV batteries while maintaining current U.S. levels of car ownership could cut lithium demand by as much as 42%. It also found that, if car ownership and use were reduced, lithium demand could be lowered 18% to 66%. Lithium demand for U.S. light-duty vehicles…
Comedian and television personality Jay Leno has revealed he suffered multiple injuries in a motorcycle crash in mid-January. The crash comes after Leno was taken to the hospital last November after a fire broke out in a car he was working on, burning his face and hands. In an interview with the Las Vegas Review Journal published on Thursday, Leno said he broke his collarbone and two ribs, and cracked both kneecaps after he was knocked off his motorcycle in a somewhat bizarre crash. Leno said he was riding a 1940 Indian when he noticed the smell of gas. He then…
The Model Y doesn’t deviate from the well-trodden, premium electric path that Tesla has made good progress on over the past few years. With a practical and reliable range, fast charging capability, plenty of space and user-friendly onboard technology, the Model Y will appeal to buyers who need to take care of the family basics, but who also want the kerb appeal and badge kudos that Tesla provides.It’s not perfect, though; the Model Y’s two-tonne weight and lacklustre steering won’t necessarily appeal to keener drivers, while its overly firm ride can be uncomfortable over less-than-smooth tarmac. The Model Y is…
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is being treated to a mid-life refresh, and while most of the changes are light touch, they’re going to add up to a more enticing small sedan. Exterior changes are subtle, but Mercedes adds a new three-pointed-star-studded front grille along with a revised front bumper. The headlights are now Mercedes’ “LED High Performance” lights with a new design. Additionally, the rear is treated to standard LED taillights and a new rear diffuser design. Three new wheel designs and a pair of blues — Hyper Blue and Starling Blue — join the options list for 2024, as…
Genesis announced plans for a six-vehicle lineup that would include a coupe when it was first established as a standalone brand back in 2015. Since then Genesis has focused on expanding its lineup with higher volume models like SUVs, though soon it may finally see the arrival of a niche offering like a coupe or convertible, or possibly both. In an interview with Automotive DriftBreath (subscription required) published last week, Peter Lanzavecchia, the head of the Genesis National Dealer Advisory Council and owner of a New Jersey Genesis dealership, said Genesis Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke confirmed plans for a…
Legendary racer Stirling Moss is no longer with us, but a limited-edition supercar named after him still holds a lot of value and one lucky enthusiast can soon own it. A Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss is set to go under the hammer at an RM Sotheby’s auction running Jan. 31 to Feb. 8 in Paris. The car, bearing chassis number WDD1999761M900055, is one of 75 examples of the wild speedster built briefly in 2009, and according to the listing there’s just 150 kilometers (approximately 93 miles) on the odometer. The car was originally delivered in Germany and has been…
It will be a sad day when the sound of a V-8 or V-12 screaming is no longer associated with a modern Ferrari. However, with some governments pushing to ban internal-combustion engines, automakers, including exotic brands like Ferrari, are making plans to switch their lineups to electric vehicles. EVs have proven to be fast, and their disadvantages involving weight and slow charge times should only be improved over time. However, part of the allure of a Ferrari is the sound of its engine, something that quiet-running EVs can’t match. To get around the issue, automakers have started adding sound generators…
Audi is considering an electric off-road electric SUV that would use the platform from parent Volkswagen Group’s planned Scout EV brand, according to an Autocar report. VW announced the Scout brand in 2022, using a name that originated on the classic International Scout SUV, with plans for a North American-market electric pickup truck and SUV and a targeted launch date of 2026. The more luxurious Audi model derived from the Scout platform would arrive in 2027, according to the report. Teaser for Scout SUV concept The Audi SUV would reportedly be a rival to the upcoming electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class, or…
California EV sales increased again in 2022, with Tesla once again taking the lead. But could other automakers’ expanded EV sales threaten Tesla’s top-dog status? Firstly, 2022 was another good year for zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales in California. This week, the California Energy Commission (CEC) reported 345,818 new light-duty ZEV sales for the year, including 292,496 battery-electric vehicles, 50,748 plug-in hybrids, and 2,574 fuel-cell vehicles. The EV total represents 16% of 2022 California new-vehicle sales, continuing the momentum from mid-2022, when EVs cracked 15% of the vehicle market in California for the first time. 2023 Tesla Model Y – Courtesy…
Despite the names and capabilities of the advanced driver-assist systems offered by many automakers, no system offered in a production vehicle has qualified for Level 3 self-driving capability, according to the SAE’s rules. That’s about to change, as on Thursday Mercedes-Benz announced that the 2024 S-Class and EQS sedans will feature Drive Pilot, a Level 3 system that will be capable of operating legally in Nevada beginning in the second half of this year. To qualify as a Level 3 system by the SAE’s definition, a system “can drive the vehicle under limited conditions and will not operate unless all conditions…