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Tesla last week outlined some of the details that distinguish its heat pump system that’s now included throughout its vehicle lineup. The electric vehicle maker claims that its design performs well in very cold weather, where other heat pumps fall short. Depending on the exact situation, Tesla claims, its cars might be using as little as a quarter of the energy with the heat pump system than without, to keep the cabin warm. Overall, it can result in up to 20% less energy consumed during cold-weather travel, Tesla says—although it’s unclear if this is specifically referring to the energy consumed…
Formula 1 will continue with 23 rounds held in 2023, matching the record set in 2022, and three of them will be held in the U.S., highlighting the sport’s growing popularity here. The calendar for the 2023 F1 World Championship was published by the FIA in September 2022 and includes the new Las Vegas Grand Prix first announced in March. Scheduled for Nov. 18, the race will take place on a Saturday instead of the usual Sunday schedule. It’s the penultimate round and will take place at night to show off the lights of the famous strip which will form…
Quick Facts About Diagnosing Brake Problems Don’t delay any brake repair, as it’s critical for your safety to get it done immediately. A squeaking noise indicates that your brakes are worn and likely need replacement. Your brakes are made up of multiple parts, including rotors, brake pads, and calipers. Like any other moving part of your vehicle, the brakes could one day need repair. Unlike some car parts that can wait for repairs, it’s essential to get your brakes repaired immediately if you suspect an issue, and a mechanic can help diagnose the exact problem. Well-maintained brakes can mean the difference…
Those who have known me for a while – or have been reading the words I’ve been spewing on this and other sites – know that I’m a minivangelist. I’ve owned several (I’ve lost count) of these unrestrained vehicular symbols of virility and/or fertility, and have appreciated their presence in my driveway every time I had to bring home a dishwasher from the big-box store, or shuttle a few stray children about town. There is no vehicle type better suited for suburban families than a minivan.But nobody wants ‘em. “There goes Tonn preaching to the choir,” I can hear already.…
General Motors has filed a patent application for an augmented reality (AR) auto-dimming windshield to protect drivers from the glare of oncoming headlights. First spotted by Motor1, the application was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and published Jan. 17, 2023. It describes a lot of added hardware, including an AR head-up display, sensors to detect the amount of light shining on the windshield, and smart glass that allows the amount of light transmitted through the windshield to be electrically tuned. General Motors augmented reality head-up display patent image If the sensors detect that light shining…
Global demand for luxury cars increased significantly in 2022. After Bentley, BMW M, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce, Porsche has announced that its North American division set a new delivery record in 2022, while its global deliveries increased by 3% compared to 2021. Porsche delivered a record-breaking 70,065 cars in the United States in 2022. In comparison, the company’s 2021 deliveries checked in at 70,025 units. It’s a razor-thin margin but it’s a record nonetheless. Fourth-quarter deliveries grew by 14% over 2021 to 20,955 units. Unsurprisingly, the Macan took the top spot on the sales podium with 23,688 deliveries in 2022, a…
Mercedes-Benz has been spotted testing a compact electric sedan with coupe-like styling, which will likely end up as an electric alternative to the CLA-Class. It isn’t clear what it will be called, but if Mercedes sticks to its current naming practice the sedan might be called the EQA. If that happens, the current EQA compact electric crossover sold overseas would need to be rebranded as the EQA SUV, something that has a strong chance of happening next year when the current EQA is updated along with the related GLA-Class. The prototypes are believed to be the first testers based on…
New federal EV tax credit rules have set price caps that are narrowing the field of qualifying EVs, but a leasing loophole is already opening up a much wider field eligible for federal subsidies. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) re-upped the federal EV tax credit of up to $7,500 for qualifying vehicles. It added price caps of $55,000 for cars and $80,000 for pickup trucks and SUVs. That nominally excludes luxury EVs like the Lucid Air and Tesla Model S, if you buy them. Luxury brands are already at work on the leasing workarounds that may, conveniently, help counteract rising…
A prototype for the redesigned Mercedes-Benz E-Class due out later this year has been spotted. The new mid-size sedan looks like it’s taking on a sleeker design for its next generation, adding to rumors that the sleek CLS-Class and GT 4-Door Coupe may be phased out at the end of their current life cycles. After selling a handful of supercars from his collection in 2021, Toto Wolff, the current chief of the Mercedes-Benz AMG Formula 1 team, is now selling another one. This time it’s a Ferrari F40 with less than 3,500 miles on the clock. Historic F1 team Vanwall…
Quick Facts About Roadblocks to EV Sales Despite nonstop positive press, government subsidies, and Americans’ propensity for wanting and acquiring the newest “big thing,” electric vehicles (EVs) remain out of reach or unwanted by many in the United States. EVs are those cars, SUVs, and light trucks powered solely by electricity from a battery charged by plugging into an outside source. You will also sometimes see them called battery electric vehicles (BEVs). According to the latest numbers, 5.8% of all U.S. new vehicle sales in 2022 were EVs, up from 3.2% in 2021. The number will grow even more in…