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Tesla Model S test ride and factory tour (video)
Tesla's been teasing us with the Model S electric car for what seems like a cruelly long time. But, we gadget fans need to remember that designing and releasing a car is a rather different prospect than something like a phone. If your new iDevice crashes you might lose your patience, but if your new car crashes, well, the results could be rather more disastrous.Tesla is keeping up the teasing act with the Model S Beta launch, an opportunity for a lucky few to come and check out the company's factory (once the NUMMI facility in Fremont, CA) and to take a quick ride around the company's test track -- and we do mean quick. How do we know? Well, we got to come along. Join us for our impressions after the break.%Gallery-135957%
Hands-on with Toyota's Prius plug-in hybrid (video)
Yesterday we attended Toyota's Green Drive Expo where we were given the opportunity to take the production version of the Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) -- and its smorgasbord of technology -- for a spin. We spent a couple hours driving interfacing with the computers aboard the Advanced model, which besides being outlet-friendly, includes some unique features within the Prius lineup. Explore our gallery below, and hit the break for our impressions and hands-on videos with the latest incarnation of Toyota's iconic vehicle.%Gallery-134091%
Prototype Tesla-powered RAV4 driven, demonstrates extreme brake regen
What happens when you put the powertrain from a Tesla Roadster into an SUV? You get the Toyota RAV4 EV, an early prototype of which PluginCars got a chance to drive. It referred to a "sophisticated proof of concept," basically a drivable show car, and the performance is reasonably stout: 0 - 60MPH in nine seconds -- not bad for a 3,900lb car. Range is estimated to be 100 miles in real-world conditions, but that's liable to change between now and when the car is expected to hit dealers, sometime toward the end of 2012. We're guessing the Roadster-style pushbutton gear selector will be gone by then, too.
Delta E4 electric coupe goes out for a spin, carrying lucky humanoid (video)
When was the last time you rode in an electric vehicle almost entirely constructed of carbon fiber and good for 250 miles on a charge? We're laying odds on "never," which is why we turned a shade of violent green when we saw Fully Charged host (and part-time Series 4000 Mechanoid) Robert Llewellyn set foot in just such a car. Delta Motorsport's E4 Coupe, originally designed to win an Automotive X-Prize, is the vehicle we're referring to here, and despite the fact that only one-third of its full projected power was available to coax Mr. Llewellyn firmly into his racing seat (four-wheel drive and regenerative braking are also TBD) and set his teeth on edge, we have to give the man some major props for documenting the experience for us on film. Watch it after the break.
Amazon.com lets you play with an Android virtual machine, try apps before you buy them
When Amazon's Appstore rolled out last week, we glossed over one detail that merely seemed neat. Today, we're inclined to say that Test Drive may be the most significant part of Amazon's announcement that day. Basically, Test Drive allows US customers to take apps for a spin at Amazon.com, with all the comfort that their tried-and-true desktop web browser brings -- but rather than sit you down with a Flash-based mockup of the app, Amazon is giving you a taste of bona fide cloud computing with an Android virtual machine. In other words, what you're looking at in the screenshot above isn't just a single program, but an entire virtual Android smartphone with working mouse controls, where you can not only try out Paper Toss, but also delete it, browse through the device's photo gallery, listen to a few tunes, or even surf the web from the working Android browser -- as difficult as that may be without keyboard input. Amazon explains: Clicking the "Test drive now" button launches a copy of this app on Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), a web service that provides on-demand compute capacity in the cloud for developers. When you click on the simulated phone using your mouse, we send those inputs over the Internet to the app running on Amazon EC2 - just like your mobile device would send a finger tap to the app. Our servers then send the video and audio output from the app back to your computer. All this happens in real time, allowing you to explore the features of the app as if it were running on your mobile device. Today, Amazon's Test Drive is basically just Gaikai for mobile phones -- its purpose is simply to sell apps, nothing more. But imagine this for a sec: what if you could access your own smartphone data, instead of the mostly blank slate that Amazon provides here? %Gallery-119809% [Thanks, Ryan]
Car2go test drive: RFID, GPS, and mobile apps make for a smarter Smart
As you read this (assuming you're reading this sometime before March 20th) zillions of music, movie, and tech mavens and moguls have descended on Austin, Texas for SXSW. We made a run through the city just before festivities kicked off, stopping by to check out the Car2Go carsharing service that launched last summer and that, as of March 19th, will expand its coverage area to include 52 square miles worth of the heart of Texas. We took one of the company's customized Smart Fortwos for a ride and also test drove the new iPad app that makes finding cars as easy as pie. Pie, as it turns out, is also quite easy to find in Austin. %Gallery-119036%
Chevy Volt preview: escape from DC in today's car of tomorrow
Okay, we're no Snake Plissken, but let's just say that DC has become something of an interesting town lately, with mock-left and faux-right wing pundits holding giant rallies, political candidates being accused of witchcraft, and various other signs of the apocalypse happening every day. We were glad to make it out with both eyes and we were glad to be doing so in the car of the future that's finally a part of the present: Chevrolet's $41,000 Volt. It's actually (honestly) in proper production now, being delivered to select dealers soon, one of those production models given to us to drive from our great nation's capital to the cultural capital of the world: New York City. We easily managed it on a single tank of gas, but what kind of mileage did we get? You'll just have to read on to find out. %Gallery-106832%
Nissan Leaf launches in Europe, takes us for a drive
26,000 people can't be wrong, right? That's the current tally of Leaf pre-orders that Nissan has collected from US and Japanese drivers excited by its all-electric hatchback. Yesterday, the car that's built to plug into the same wall outlet as your toaster held its official pan-European launch party -- with the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, and Portugal getting the first deliveries in early 2011 -- and we were on site to grab a few closeup pictures and some precious time in the driver's seat. American drivers should look out for a new set of keys in their mailbox this December, so there's probably no better time than now to give them a preview of what they're getting themselves into. Jump past the break for more on the Nissan Leaf.%Gallery-105887%%Gallery-105918%
Toyota Prius PHEV preview: three days in plug-in paradise
The future of modern transportation awaits us. By 2012 we expect to have multiple proper, reasonable choices for fully electric vehicles, but check your calendar and you'll see it's still 2010, leaving us still waiting for cars like the Leaf and the Volt to make their proper appearances. Toyota would like to remind you that the Prius is still here, celebrating an amazing tenth year of availability in the US and teasing us with the upcoming plug-in model, offering a taste of EV with the practicality of a hybrid. We just spent three days with one and managed a quite impressive 91mpg average -- no hypermiling required. Click on through for our detailed impressions of this five-door eco-warrior. %Gallery-105286%
Engadget test drives the Chevy Volt (video)
For a car that's been as eagerly anticipated and hyped as the Chevrolet Volt, seeing it in person is not exactly an awe-inspiring experience. In fact if you don't look twice it's very easy to mistake it for Chevy's Cruze, an eco-friendly (though decidedly traditionally powered) small car. The Volt is, of course, a little more special -- a car with both electric and internal-combustion engines on-board. That's not a particularly rare thing in this age of the Prius, but Chevrolet is being very clear: the Volt is an electric car, not a hybrid, and if you read on after the break we'll tell you exactly why -- and what it's like to drive one. %Gallery-89256%
Tesla Roadster Sport gets taken for a test drive, photo shoot
Like the Tesla Roadster but think it's just not expensive enough for you? Then fear not, person we'd like to get to know, 'cause the Tesla Roadster Sport is here complete with a $19,500 premium over its less sporty counterpart. Thankfully, according to the lucky folks at Autoblog Green, you will get quite a few bonuses for that extra cash, including an improved 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds, a new suspension that can be set to one of ten different settings and, perhaps most importantly, a new set of black-finish forged wheels (paired with some Yokohama ADVAN A048 tires) that'll ensure no one mistakes it for a "low end" Tesla. Be sure to hit up the read link below for Autoblog Green's full report, not to mention plenty of pics inside and out.
Wheego Whip gets pictured, driven around at mind-blowingly slow speeds
Given just how difficult it has been for even Chevrolet to get its all-electric gears going, we kind of wondered if we'd ever hear more about the Wheego Whip after it quietly faded earlier this year. Lo and behold, the low-speed city car has made an appearance at AltCar 2009, and after receiving about 100 orders, it seems the car is all but ready to begin pleasing those who shelled out just under 20 large for the privilege of a pink slip. Our good pals over at Autoblog Green were able to zip around in the car recently and serve up some impressions of the drive, and while it didn't seem to live up to the "Cadillac of neighborhood electric vehicles" claim, it definitely got the job done... at 25 miles per hour. Hit the read link for a gallery of shots and a fresh take on what a whisper quiet, low-speed driving experience is like.
Dodge Circuit EV goes for a test drive
Value your bodily safety too much to get within shouting distance of an electric motorcycle or a two-seat Segway? Our friends at AutoblogGreen have you totally covered with a test drive in the utterly safe, normal and boring Dodge Circuit EV. It's based on the same powertrain that Chrysler is stuffing into all of its ENVI vehicles, but with the lightweight Lotus-derived frame on top, there's quite a bit of get-up-and-go to it. Unfortunately, the cabin is a bit cramped, and Chrysler still has some bugs to work out with its EV platform. Right now the regenerative braking bites right away, instead of letting the car coast, requiring constant use of the accelerator to keep moving, but Chrysler is working on it. There are still big questions on price and availability, but so it goes with most electric vehicles -- at least this one seems fairly ready to go. Note: Gallery jumps to AutoBlogGreen
Verizon axing Test Drive, making New Every Two program less awesome
Verizon Wireless certainly isn't planning a romantic weekend with its customers this Valentine's Day, as it's completely nixing its Test Drive program and slashing benefits on its New Every Two initiative. Or, it will if documents rounded up by Boy Genius Report prove accurate. Currently, prospective subscribers who'd like to test out Verizon's network for a month without worrying over usage fees can do so; after February 15th, they can kiss that option goodbye, as anyone who signs up and ports out within a month will have to pay for their wireless access and usage charges during that window. On the same day, a few changes in the NE2 program will also go into effect, and while we'll point you to the read link for all the details, here's the skinny: the discounts you once got are being lessened. Awesome.
Verizon opens up FiOS TV test-drive kiosk in new Virginia Beach store
We know -- everyone lacking FiOS just wants Verizon to push it out to more areas, but Verizon's hoping to secure more customers in the locations it's already in. For the second time in a week, we're being treated to a new Verizon store opening, and within is a test-drive kiosk where patrons can see first hand what the outfit's fiber-based programming / high-speed internet services are all about. The newest location is on Virginia Beach Boulevard in Virginia Beach, VA, and hey, even if you're completely uninterested in signing up, why not stop by just to check out the home theater setup and rest your loins in the plush chairs?
Atari CEO resigns as company exits game development
Amidst spiraling profits, Atari Games has announced its intent to fully depart from the game development business. The company's rapidly-depleting assets will instead be focused primarily on the acquisition, distribution and publishing of parent company Infogrames' titles.In the wake of the restructuring, David Pierce, Atari's chief executive officer, has also announced his resignation. Curtis G. Solsvig III, the company's chief restructuring officer, will temporarily take over Pierce's duties as the company searches for new blood. Solsvig himself was only hired last month, following Infogrames' decision to eject the majority of Atari's board of directors.Atari's original IPs have been slowly disintegrating over the last two years, as the company sold the Driver series to Ubisoft, and the Stuntman franchise to THQ. The Test Drive series has now been licensed to Infogrames, who own 51% of Atari's stock. Sorry, Atari, but do you know what we like to do when the chips are down? Sing! Check out the video after the break to help cheer yourselves up.
Mojo's new HD auto series, Test Drive
Mojo, the network formerly known as INHD, is putting its latest offering on the street. The new series, Test Drive, is all about guys and cars and it's in HD to boot. We know, women drive cars, too. But with segment titles like "Chick Magnets," somehow you know that Mojo hasn't changed its target demographic. Beyond the standard exotic car test drives, there are segments with a "news you can use" bent -- "Taking on Traffic," "Surviving the Concrete Jungle," and "Road Rage," for example. Look for the series to debut this October.
Take Verizon Wireless for a test drive starting Monday
You wouldn't buy a new car without giving it a test drive first, right? Verizon Wireless has taken the "test drive" concept to the U.S. wireless industry and will now allow potential customers to take out the Verizon Wireless network for a spin before committing to that new $300 Windows Mobile Smartphone purchase and lengthy two-year contract. The CDMA carrier said that a new program to be unveiled on March 26th (this coming Monday) will give customers a 30-day "test drive" on the company's network. If you're unimpressed in any way and want to take you new number to another carrier, Verizon Wireless will refund your money for all calls up to that point, equipment, activation fee and taxes; and, you'll get out of that pesky contract if you return that phone.[Via Wirelessinfo.com]
Aperture 30 day test drive
I'm not a very good photographer, but I take lots of digital pictures which is why I was interested in checking out Aperture, but I didn't want to plunk down $299. Apple has heard my silent pleas and made a 30 day 'test drive' available for all to download.It is available in English, French, German, or Japanese. All features are enabled for 30 days, but the trial does not include the sample images that are available retail version.At the moment the trial page isn't working for me, but I am sure Apple's trained web professionals will get that all sorted out.Thanks, Rob.Update: I was right, they fixed the page quickly. Download away.
Atari customers getting testy
Atari's reputation for solid customer support (relative to say, 2KSports) is being put to the test in their community forums where fans are complaining about car trouble in Test Drive Unlimited, particularly: No sure-fire way to run into friends/clans members in free roam, plus The car trade feature has been disabled as a temp fix to a data loss problem, which effectively disabled an achievment. According to reader Aragom, Atari has acknowledged these issues and ultimately promised a patch in November, but the extended silence didn't relieve the road rage? These guys were the gold standard for customer service at the TLU release, when we praised their prompt response to complaints and feedback-friendly approach. Is this as good as it gets for the pissed and the patchless, or are people being just a little too testy with Atari?[Thanks Aragom]
