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BERLIN — Porsche is considering fully integrating Google software into its car cockpit, a source close to the company said on Thursday, marking a shift in strategy for the newly listed carmaker. The deal, which is only being considered for the Porsche brand and not the Volkswagen Group more widely, would enable Porsche customers access to Google applications like Google Maps and Google Assistant without needing to connect the car to an Android phone. Spokespeople for Porsche and Google were not immediately available for comment. A spokesperson for Volkswagen software unit Cariad declined to comment. Porsche Chief Financial Officer Lutz…

A prototype for a redesigned Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been spotted testing again, this time in sedan guise. The current E-Class arrived for the 2017 model year and was given a mid-cycle update for 2021. In Mercedes tradition, the redesigned E-Class should arrive in 2023 as a 2024 model. It appears the design is taking on a more dynamic look, as the roof line looks a little more sloped at the rear than on the current model. With rumors that both the CLS-Class and GT 4-Door Coupe aren’t getting replacements, perhaps designers were free to make the E-Class look a bit…

COLUMNSEditor’s Letter: The SetupCustomizing a car’s controls is probably best left to the engineers, but sometimes I can’t resist.By Tony QuirogaEzra Dyer: The Automotive Wisdom of the CrowdBy rigorously observing my fellow drivers, I’ve learned a bunch of new tricks that help me every time I get behind the wheel.By Ezra Dyer Elana Scherr: The Perfect Line of Code for DriversAre autonomous-vehicle engineers the enemies of driving enthusiasts, or can we share the road and the track?By Elana ScherrFEATURESToyota⬆︎2023 Toyota Prius Amazes with a Hot New Body and 220 HorsepowerEven the base Prius hybrid now has a healthy 194 hp,…

Window Tint Quick Tips Consider the pros and cons of different types of window tint; less expensive options might be less effective at blocking harmful rays. State laws regulate how dark you can tint your car windows. DIY kits are available, but technicians at professional shops have skills that come after plenty of practice. Car window tinting can give a stylish look to your ride and improve visibility by reducing glare. Fans of tinted windows say the darkened glass slows fading of interior surfaces due to sunlight exposure. They also say tinting helps keep the temperature inside a car cooler.…

Fast Facts 2022 Honda Civic Si HPT Fast Facts Powertrain 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (200 horsepower @ 6,000 RPM, 192 lb-ft @ 1,800 RPM-5,000 RPM) Transmission/Drive Wheels Six-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive Fuel Economy, U.S. 27 city / 37 highway / 31 combined (EPA Rating, MPG) Fuel Economy, Canada 8.7 city / 6.4 highway / 7.7 combined. (NRCan Rating, L/100km) Base Price $27,500 (U.S.) / $33,750 (Canada) As-Tested Price $28,910 (U.S.) / $35,661 (Canada) Prices include $1,015 destination charge in the United States and $1,880 for freight, PDI, and A/C tax in Canada and, because of cross-border equipment differences, can’t be…

There’s Fast. There’s Furious. And then there’s Hennessey. In 2021, Hennessey released the Venom F5, which is one of the fastest and most powerful hypercars ever produced. Motorsport enthusiasts can also enjoy a drop top of the Venom F5, although with only 30 copies slated for production, good luck getting your hands on one. Right now, however, Hennessey is offering a package deal for the Venom F5 convertible in conjunction with Robb Report. For $4.2 million, a lucky buyer will get a Venom F5 drop top roadster and a Hennessey VelociRaptor 600. Hennessey Special Vehicles will also fly you down…

BERLIN — Mercedes-Benz is set to drop the EQ product brand for battery-electric cars as soon as the next generation of compact cars, set to be on the market from the end of 2024, German daily Handelsblatt said on Thursday, citing company sources. The decision is based on Chief Executive Ola Kaellenius’ focus on electric-only cars, making the EQ brand redundant as Mercedes turns away from the combustion engine, Handelsblatt cited the sources as saying. The German carmaker now markets its all-electric model series under the EQ brand, first announced in 2016, with its first model, the EQC electric SUV,…

Hertz is beginning the rollout of what the company claims is North America’s largest EV rental fleet in Denver, and showing how it plans to continue that rollout nationwide. The company on Thursday announced Hertz Electrifies, a public-private partnership model aimed at bringing EVs to rental customers and rideshare drivers in major cities, along with accompanying charging infrastructure. Hertz plans to deploy up to 5,200 EVs in Denver while adding charging stations at Denver International Airport and its own rental locations. BP Pulse, a unit of the oil company, will also help install public charging stations in Denver neighborhoods as…

After seeing so much news about heavy storms across Europe recently, I understand why Roni Collin decided to build a lifted first-gen Porsche Cayenne Turbo as his winter daily driver. You see, Roni – whose name you might recognise from his part-ownership of the SpeedHooked Pitstop – lives on a Finnish island that’s connected to the mainland by a single road. Sometimes in autumn or spring it disappears entirely underwater, while in winter, heavy snowfall can make it impassable for regular SUVs. Roni set a goal of not getting stuck in the snow even once this year, and so far all is good. Visually, the Cayenne looks a whole lot tougher than…

Nikola wants to use mobile hydrogen stations to support its fuel-cell trucks. The company on Wednesday that it had developed a trailer-mounted mobile fueling rig that can deliver hydrogen at 10,000 psi. It plans to display the rig publicly next week. The first unit “has completed commissioning and testing and has been released for market operation,” according to a Nikola press release. Nikola Tre Additional units are scheduled for completion later in the first quarter of this year, forming part of a “mobile fueler program” to supplement permanent hydrogen stations. This program will use a mix of Nikola-owned mobile hydrogen…