off-road
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Ford's new trail-finding app is exclusively for Bronco SUV owners
Ford just dropped a trail-finding app specifically for Bronco SUV owners. The appropriately-named Bronco Trail App is available for both iOS and Android mobile devices and includes curated trail maps, video recording features and more.
Jeep and Razor made an off-road electric scooter
Jeep and Razor have teamed up on an electric scooter built for off-roading.
Audi tested its RS Q E-Tron hybrid in the deserts of Morocco
With a little more than two months before the start of the Dakar Rally in January, Audi took its RS Q E-Tron to the deserts of Morocco to test the custom-built hybrid ahead of the grueling competition.
Audi hopes its off-road hybrid will win the 2022 Dakar Rally
Audi has developed a hybrid off-roader, the RS Q E-Tron, that could be the first electrified vehicle to win the Dakar Rally.
Volkswagen's ID.4 will race in the Mexican 1000 Rally
When the Mexican 1000 Rally kicks off on April 25th, Volkswagen's new ID.4 SUV will be one of the cars competing in the grueling 1,141-mile off-road race.
Extreme E's first qualifying round ends with Nico Rosberg's team out front
The off-road electric racing series started its first weekend with some big crashes, and Nico Rosberg's team in P1 after the first qualifying round.
Polaris and Zero team up to build battery-powered snowmobiles
Wanna buy an EV ATV?
Ford's 2021 Bronco SUVs offer 360-degree cameras for a 'spotter view'
Ford has resurrected the Bronco name, and packed its new 4x4 family with technology including Sync 4 and 36-degree cameras that bring an off-road spotter view inside your SUV.
Jeep is showing off its first three plug-in hybrids at CES this week
This week, CES attendees can check out Jeep's first three plug-in hybrid models: the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, the Jeep Compass 4xe and the Jeep Renegade 4xe. All three are scheduled to debut in 2020, but they aren't quite ready yet, so Jeep is offering a VR-based test drive. The Jeep 4x4 Adventure VR Experience simulates a ride in the Jeep Wrangler 4xe on Hell's Revenge trail in Moab, Utah, and CES attendees can take it for a spin.
Electric rollerblades go offroad with tank treads
Polish inventor Jack Skopinski recently debuted his latest electric people-mover: a set of battery-powered "off-road" rollerblades that handle dirt trails as well as they do city streets. Each boot is outfitted with a 350 W DC motor that propels the rider for up to 12 miles at speeds topping 9 MPH. Rather than proper wheels, these rollerblades sit atop rubber treads enabling riders to scoot across grass, gravel and dirt tracks with ease, if the promotional video (below) is any indication. The entire system is controlled by a wired, hand-held remote.
SRI EV1 brings all-electric racing to the Mexican 1000 rally (video)
We've seen electric off-roaders tackle the Dakar Rally, but racing on the Baja peninsula has proven elusive -- until this weekend. After driving in smaller races, SRI's EV1 has joined the big leagues by starting in NORRA's Mexican 1000 rally. The 535HP, 400kW open-wheeler has participated in at least the first trio of special stages, and it will ideally join a handful of further stages that fit within the vehicle's 100-mile range. While the EV1 is far from the front of the Evolution class, at 36th place as of this writing, winning isn't the point -- SRI wants to drum up enough funding to hot-swap batteries and complete every stage in future races. Its project should at least be proof that smaller EVs can thrive in some of the world's harshest racing conditions.
EVDrive offers first batch of e-Moto-CRF250R bikes for $13,700
Motocross riders, go electric and the wildlife will love you for it. In fact, equip yourselves with second-generation e-Moto-CRF250R from EVDrive and human onlookers will love you too, because the 80 horsepower Honda electric motor is plenty sufficient for catching high altitudes and hurtling between trees at 70MPH. It should run for up to 110 minutes on a charge and perform much like its fossil-fueled equivalent, while also being less expensive to run and a heck of a lot quieter. How much quieter? Click past the break for a video of the previous e-Moto in action -- and honestly, there's no need to adjust your volume dial.
Scarpar off-road powerboard coming December 2011, just in time to replace Santa's sleigh
It's been a little over two years since we first came across Scarpar's all-terrain powerboard, and now it's just about ready to hit the streets, or mountains, or whatever. The Australian startup is currently accepting reservations for its surprisingly powerful electric skateboards -- now in two flavors. Scarpar's Model X comes equipped with two 1.5-kilowatt DC Motors and tops out at 28MPH, while the Model S offers two 750-watt motors and hits 18MPH. You can reserve one now for $500 or $600, depending on how much power you want under your feet, but be prepared to shell out either $2,800 or $3,800 when it's finally time to buy. Scarpar expects the things to ship sometime in December, so don't go making any summer vacation plans for you and your new off-roader just yet. [Thanks, Alex]
Brammo taking its electric motorcycles offroad in Vegas next week, puts Zero on notice
You remember the Enertia, right -- that sweet electric motorcycle from Brammo? Well, a few years back the company slapped some dirt bike tires on this silent cycle (seen above) and taunted the world with the possibility of an Earth-friendly offroad ride. Such a creation never made it to market, sadly, but it looks like the company may finally be ready to deliver. The bike hounds over at Asphalt & Rubber were digging through the AMA MiniMoto SX supercross race list of entrants when they spotted the Brammo name... which is odd since the Oregon-based company's current vehicles are all street-only affairs. Guess Zero Motorcycles better watch its back, there may be new challenger for king of the electric dirt bike hill. We won't have to wait long to know for sure -- the Brammo team will be launching its latest creation through the muddy, hairpin turns at the South Point Arena in Vegas next week.
Zero off-road electric motorcycles get recalled, might crash more than usual
The Zero S our own Tim Stevens rode fearlessly through the streets of New York apparently isn't effected, but it looks like Zero's off-road electric motorcycles (the Zero X and Zero MX) have been hit with a recall after it was discovered that they might crash when it's not entirely the driver's fault. Turns out the throttle can get stuck in the open position or become disconnected, and that the "Easy" or "0-25" modes can "unexpectedly" lead to full power when the bike is turned on -- both what you might call "bad things." Of course, this is a fairly small recall (some 200 vehicles), but if that includes you, you'll want to get in touch with Zero to arrange for a free repair. Hit up the link below for all the necessary details.
Monster 4x4 Stunt Racer takes off-roading off the ground
Ubisoft has announced a sequel to Monster 4x4 World Circuit, the Xbox game/Wii launch title most memorable for including a plastic wheel before Mario Kart Wii made people believe it was a good idea. Monster 4x4 Stunt Racer includes a crazy-sounding "vertical driving" feature that allows players to drive up walls like a monster truck-driving Batman to perform stunts and find shortcuts. And just like that, our interest in some off-roading game was piqued. Stunt Racer includes seven new tracks with multiple routes, four-player multiplayer, and driving up walls. We mentioned the wall thing, right? That you can drive up them? It will be out sometime this fall. %Gallery-71134%
Video: Scarpar off-road powerboard absolutely must go commercial
Hoverboards? Too complicated, too far out and too expensive. What the world really needs is the Scarpar. Said device is an off-road powerboard that just moved on from the concept stage to engineering. Its creators have thrown together an absolutely sick video (after the break) which showcases all the possibilities, and now all that's left is for those very folks to procure a good bit of venture funding to get things moving. Take it from us, VCers -- hit these guys up, now.
Electric TH!NK FROST concept vehicle makes snowmobiles cringe
Look, we love taking off through the snow-covered trails of Grand Teton National Park as much as anyone, but we can't say with a straight face that we'd rather take a snowmobile through there than one of these critters. Designed by Anders Gloslie, the TH!NK FROST is an electric vehicle crafted specifically to operate in arctic environments. Based on current drawings, the all-wheel drive contraption can lug two Eskimos around at a time, though there's no mention of a hybrid version for those looking to take long range excursions. Commercialization, please?[Via DVICE]
Motorstorm 2 = Motorstorm: Pacific Rift
If Hollywood has taught us anything, it's that the best entry in a popular franchise will always have a stylized "2" somewhere in its title. Oh, but not Paul Hollywood. Noooo, he's saying that Motorstorm's first sequel won't be distinguished by a number, but rather its "Pacific Rift" subtitle. Also, you'll notice it has a lot more trees than the last game.Speaking at Sony's PlayStation Day 2008 event, the creative director at Evolution Studios talked up some of the features in the upcoming Motorstorm: Pacific Rift. Boasting twice the number of tracks and four times as many racers in local multiplayer (total: four) than the PlayStation 3 launch title, Pacific Rift puts racers in a tropical locale, one filled with interactive vegetation technology. It's a fancy way of saying that when you're playing chicken with a rather large tree, you'd best be inside one of the game's new monster trucks. Another benefit of hurtling through lush island terrain can be found in bodies of water -- splashing through them can cool down your engine temperature.We're sure to learn and see more of Motorstorm 2 Motorstorm: Pacific Rift closer to its planned Fall release. Gallery: MotorStorm Pacific Rift
Joystiq hands-on: Baja (360/PS3)
At a recent sampling of THQ games, Baja entertained me, although I had a hard time deciding if it was a simulation or an arcade racer. Its developers touted the simulation and how accurately the game captures off-road racing. Not being an off-road driver, I can't make a comparison.Relative to other driving games, Baja was unforgiving of my bad mistakes, pitching me off the track like a Colin McRae game. I'm not sure if it was difficult enough -- I guess I equate "difficult" with "realistic simulation" -- but I had fun playing it.This August, 2008 game will include 50 licensed vehicles across nine classes, ranging from big trucks to VW bugs. So simulation fans will have those real-world elements. I drove a big F-series Ford over sand and dirt, even hitting a big jump with a soft landing. (Again, "simulation" doesn't seem quite right to me.)Visuals looked good in my races, although nothing stood out against other games. Ambient life appeared a few times -- a rabbit dodged across the track, and a hawk flew overhead -- but the shadows and details blended together. Real-world billboards for Del Taco caught my eye, but mostly just as an exercise about in-game ads. (Still, there were a lot of billboards in the desert.)But most of all, the game felt fluid, with close objects constantly flying by, and distant mountains drifting with turns. Arcade-and-simulation racing gamers will appreciate that smooth motion. It'll take more time to evaluate its realism, but Motorstorm has another game inching up in the rear-view mirror.%Gallery-19854%
