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NASCAR could introduce hybrid race cars by 2022
NASCAR has been talking about hybrids for a while, but it has kept quiet about a timeline. Now, the association says hybrid tech could show up in its vehicles by 2022. "We travel the world visiting other sanctioning bodies and are not ignorant to the fact that the world's going towards more hybrid technology," NASCAR's senior vice president for racing development John Probst told TechCrunch.
Lamborghini’s crazy looking hybrid is more interesting under the hood
"We are a game-changer and a provocateur," Lamborghini's CTO, Maurizio Reggiani told Engadget. The automaker has a long history of making waves with traffic-stopping designs and more recently, innovative tech. At last week's Frankfurt Motor Show, the Italian company unveiled its Sian hybrid supercar. But it ditched the traditional battery pack in favor of a supercapacitor to power an electric motor, which is exactly what you would expect from the Italian company.
Honda's first hybrid SUV for the US is the 2020 CR-V
Honda hasn't exactly been quick to electrify (the Honda E won't even reach Europe until mid-2020), but it is making up for lost time in a significant way. The automaker is finally bringing a hybrid SUV to the US in the form of the 2020 CR-V. The new variant (pictured on the right) gets only a slight bump in total power to 212HP versus the gas-only model's 190HP. However, fuel economy is really the star of this show. The CR-V Hybrid's city fuel economy should be about 50 percent higher than its regular counterpart, although official ratings aren't available yet.
Fossil's latest hybrid watch is likely powered by Wear OS
Back in January Google announced its plans to buy Fossil's smartwatch technology. Now, after a report by Wareable revealed that the deal involved the acquisition of the movements used in hybrid watches, we have our first clue as to what Google might be planning.
Lamborghini's V12 gets electrified with the 819HP Sian hybrid
The first electrified Lamborghini doesn't disappoint. If anything, the green-tinted Sian with its fins, channels and hyper-sharp styling feels like the most Lamborghini thing the company builds.
Mercedes’ 350e 4MATIC EQ extends EV-only range to 26 miles
Mercedes has jumped into EVs in a big way with its EQ lineup, but realistically, it's going to be selling a lot more hybrid vehicles in the near term. To that end, the German automaker has unveiled the all-new GLC 350e 4MATIC EQ that uses its third generation of hybrid tech. The biggest update over the last generation is a 13.5 kWh battery, up from 8.5 kWh. That will allow it to go up to 26 miles in all electric mode (WLPT range) before the 208 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine needs to kick in.
Volvo’s XC90 brings Swedish minimalism to a sea of luxury SUVs
There's one word to describe Volvo's high-end SUV offering: smooth. The ride is smooth. The steering is smooth. The braking is (now) smooth. The interior? Smooth. It's like a serene lake in Sweden that also has massage seats. If only it had more USB ports.
Lamborghini's first hybrid supercar is the 819HP Sián
Even Lamborghini can't resist the pressure to electrify its lineup, although it's definitely not following a conventional route. The Italian automaker has introduced the Sián ("flash" or "lightning" in Bolognese dialect), its first hybrid car, and the emphasis here is on raw performance over eco-friendliness. The coupe mates a 785HP V12 engine with a 34HP electric motor that provides both "immediate response" and, conveniently, the most power ever in a production Lamborghini. It can reach 62MPH in a brisk 2.8 seconds while reaching a 217MPH top speed, and you'll see tangible improvements in traction force that help it out-accelerate previous beasts like the Aventador SVJ.
Lamborghini teaser hints at a hybrid 'hypercar'
Ever since Lamborghini showed off its wild MIT-collaborated Terzo Millennio concept we've been waiting to see what a production version could look like, and we might find out soon. Autoblog points out this teaser image posted to the company's Instagram page which shows the logo, a silhouette and some Y-shaped LEDs that harken back to the 2017 concept. Features like a self-healing carbon fiber shell, in-wheel electric motors and supercapacitor energy storage probably aren't ready for prime time yet, but Lamborghini has seemingly been preparing for a limited edition follow-up ever since. The Aventador and Huracan are scheduled to get hybrid drivetrains eventually and Lamborghini's Asterion concept showed one possible future, but this could give an early preview of the technology. Whatever the vehicle is, we should see more of it at the 2019 Frankfurt Auto Show that officially begins September 12th.
Mercedes unveils A-Class and B-Class plug-in hybrids
You've typically had to splurge on higher-end vehicles like the GLC if you've wanted a plug-in hybrid with Mercedes' tri-star badge, but you won't have to be quite so well-heeled going forward. Mercedes-Benz has introduced PHEV versions of the A-Class (above) and B-Class (below), both of which are considerably more accessible. The A250e and B250e are virtually identical to their gas-only counterparts on the outside, but supplement their 1.33L four-cylinder engines with a 75kW motor that gives them a healthy 47 miles of all-electric driving based on the NEDC testing cycle (a more conservative 43 miles on WLTP). You might not invoke the gas engine at all during your commute.
Formula 1's underdogs struggle with the technical challenges of the sport
As Renault approached the French Grand Prix, a lot was at stake. The race was on the team's home turf, at a make-or-break point in the season. Nobody was panicking. Yet. Despite having won twice in 2018 with Red Bull, new driver Daniel Ricciardo knew what he'd signed up for with Renault. The team was ready: It came in with both engine and chassis changes. But the Paul Ricard circuit at Castellet in France was not the best test for Renault, given the high speeds and the team's continuing aerodynamic issues. The changes to the chassis and motor didn't help, a fact confirmed in qualifying on Saturday. Ricciardo was on the fourth row in eighth place and Nico Hulkenberg in 13th -- not the results Renault was looking for.
Porsche’s Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid makes a quick SUV even quicker
The Porsche Cayenne Hybrid is an outstanding SUV. It's quick, agile and sort of tricks you into thinking you're driving a smaller vehicle. But Porsche being Porsche the automaker wasn't happy to leave the vehicle be. So they introduced the Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid an even faster sort of eco-friendly sports utility vehicle.
Hyundai’s first car with a solar roof is available in Korea
Last fall, Hyundai revealed plans to outfit its cars with solar panels. Now, its first car equipped with a solar roof is ready. The New Sonata Hybrid is available now in Korea, and it should arrive in North America soon.
IndyCar will switch to 900-horsepower hybrid race cars in 2022
IndyCar just announced plans to get a little greener. Beginning in 2022, its race cars will be hybrids. They'll use a combination of internal combustion engines from Honda and Chevrolet and a hybrid system to produce somewhere in the ballpark of 900 horsepower. In comparison, current IndyCars race at between 500 and 700 horsepower.
BMW Vision M Next: An autonomous car for people who love driving
There's a fear from some that when cars drive themselves, that'll be the end of the joy of driving. Why even get behind the wheel if your vehicle can get you to your destination while you sit back and relax? BMW -- which boasts the tag line "the ultimate driving machine" -- has a concept that'll appease the future-looking owner that doesn't want to deal with the horrors of gridlock but needs to feel like they're in control while carving up mountain passes.
‘Pokémon Go’ creator buys hybrid board game company Sensible Object
Niantic, the company behind Pokémon Go, is up to something -- but exactly what is yet to be revealed. Following a number of AR and game company acquisitions over the last 18 months, Niantic has now purchased London-based Sensible Object, a games developer probably best known for blurring the lines between digital and table-top gaming.
This week in tech history: Microsoft shows us the Surface
At Engadget, we spend every day looking at how technology will shape the future. But it's also important to look back at how far we've come. That's what This Week in Tech History does. Join us every weekend for a recap of historical tech news, anniversaries and advances from the recent and not-so-recent past. This week, we're looking back at Microsoft's first Surface devices.
Ferrari's first production plug-in hybrid is its fastest supercar yet
You can throw out notions that Ferrari is completely averse to electric cars. The Italian supercar maker has unveiled its first production plug-in hybrid, the SF90 Stradale, and it's a clear attempt to bridge the gap between the gas-powered tradition and the electrified future. The machine mates a 4-liter, 769-horsepower turbo V8 with a trio of electric motors (217HP effective horsepower) that, combined, can take the car to 62MPH in 2.5 seconds while offering a modicum of eco-friendliness. If you like, you can drive just over 15.5 miles purely on electric power -- confusing to onlookers expecting a roar, no doubt, but helpful if you'd rather not consume gallons of fuel while you're stuck in traffic.
The 2019 Acura NSX is a supercar built for everyday auto nerds
By law, I have to mention the 1990 Acura NSX before telling you about the 2019 NSX. It was a big deal -- supercars were supposed to be from Europe, not Japan. The NSX changed that with an outstanding vehicle that caught everyone's attention. People adored it, then Acura stopped it.
Germany tests its first 'electric highway' for trucks
Germany is joining the ranks of those countries betting on "electric highways" to foster eco-friendly trucking. The country has started real-world tests of an eHighway system on a 3.1-mile stretch of the Autobahn between Frankfurt and Darmstadt, with an electric-diesel hybrid truck merging into everyday traffic while it received power from overhead cables to keep it from using its combustion engine. Earlier tests in the country relied on either slow nighttime tests or the safety of an unused military airfield.
