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Tesla involved in fatal Washington crash was using self-driving mode
An incident involving a Tesla and a motorcycle in Washington was caused by the Tesla's self-driving mode.
NHTSA investigates Tesla Model S touchscreen failures
The agency opened an investigation Monday after receiving 11 complaints over 13 months, according to NHTSA documents. MCU failure means several features of the touchscreen stop working, like web browsing, climate control and the rearview camera display.
Tesla adjusts Autopilot to comply with new EU regulations
Tesla will push an updated Autopilot in Europe that scales back on a couple of functions in order to comply with new regulations. The changes will require faster lane changes and limit how far you can turn the steering wheel on Autosteer. Electrek reports that while Tesla's Autopilot was approved under older rules, it had to be dialed back in order to comply with the new UN/ECE R79 regulation on driver assistance systems. The update only impacts Model S and Model X vehicles; Model 3 already complies with the new rules.
Tesla Model 3 loses Consumer Reports recommendation
The long-simmering tussle between Tesla and Consumer Reports over car reviews took a fresh turn Thursday, after the publication said it could no longer recommend the Model 3. Tesla had finally claimed the distinction last May after it was able to reduce the car's braking distance. Previously, Consumer Reports declined to recommend the car due to that issue, along with "stiff" ride quality and a "distracting" touchscreen.
You only have two weeks left to buy a Tesla with free supercharging
A few months ago, Tesla gave its customers the bad news: new buyers will have to pay for their own electricity. It was a small surprise, considering the fact that free use of Tesla's Supercharger network was a big bonus for buying the company's vehicles. The free access was supposed to drop off for any vehicle purchased after the start of the year, but the company seems to be offering a slight reprieve: prospective Tesla buyers now have two weeks to buy a car with unlimited free access to the charging network.
Tesla brings its Supercharger network one step closer to covering the UK
Tesla's UK presence might be small, but the company is slowing starting to make inroads. To get things moving outside of London, the electric car manufacturer has opened its fourth domestic retail store in Birmingham and says it's already hiring for new operations in Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle and Edinburgh. To sell the dream of an electric vehicle though, the company needs to increase the size of its free Supercharger network. Today the company promised that within six months, all Model S owners will be able to drive the length of the UK using Tesla's chargers alone. To kick things off, Tesla has officially unveiled six new sites; three in London (Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge and Westfield White City) and a further three in Reading, Bristol and Edinburgh. Some of these may have been open already for testing purposes, but today anyone can pull up in their Model S and start recharging for free. It's a small step forward, but with 83 stations now live in Europe, Musk and co. have proved they're serious about penetrating the continent.
Tesla could soon start selling its own used cars
The second-hand business for most consumer products, including automobiles, is constantly booming. It doesn't matter if you go through the actual manufacturer or websites like Craigslist and Ebay, the marketplace certainly exists. Knowing this, it looks as if Tesla is prepared to offer more than just a brand new, hot-off-the-press option on its Model S vehicles -- something that's typical among car manufacturers. According to Automobile News, Elon Musk & Co. are already working on a plan to sell the Model S used in the near future, as a way to compete against OEMs with similar alternatives in place.
Tesla Model S update adds calendar integration and traffic-based navigation
If you look at the changelog for Tesla's Model S, you'll see most of the updates have been minor bug fixes; it's fairly rare that the luxury electric vehicle gets upgraded with new features. Every once in a while, though, Elon Musk and co. unleash a meaty update and as it happens, today is one of those days. The company just released the (previously leaked) version 6.0 of its software, which adds a built-in calendar that syncs with your smartphone, along with a remote-start feature and traffic-based navigation to help you avoid the busiest roadways.
You'll soon be able to start a Tesla Model S just with an iPhone
It appears that Tesla Model S owners get as excited by firmware updates as gadget nuts get when a new phone operating system gets released. Someone on the Tesla Motors Club forum has posted some plausible-looking screenshots from what purports to be Model S OS v.6.0. The changelog promises some nifty improvements, like being able to start your EV with your iPhone if you forget your keyfob. If the leak is accurate, the car will also integrate your phone calendar into its dashboard, offer better power management options and a Google Now-esque navigation system that predicts busy routes on your commute to-and-from work. The notes also promise that Android handsets will get similar abilities in the near future, although with the update still in beta, we'd presume that it won't be a few more weeks yet. Still, being able to start your car with your phone takes us one step closer to being able to recreate that scene from Tomorrow Never Dies.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: WarkaWater Tower, kangaroo-like robot and an energy-generating carousel
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. The world is flooded with electronic devices, which add up to a huge e-waste problem -- but if a team of MIT researchers has its way, the gadgets of the future could be made from living cells. The team is working on hybrid materials made from bacteria that could grow anything from solar cells to smartphones. The German engineering company Festo is known for its biomimetic creations, producing everything from flying seagulls to wind turbines that flap their wings like birds. Now the company has developed an energy-efficient robot that hops around like a kangaroo. In green lighting news, Torafu Architects has created a series of recycled glass pendant lamps that are inspired by droplets of water. And Philips has developed a new LED bulb that looks and feels like an incandescent. And for those travelers who just can't seem to fit everything in their carry-on luggage, we present you with the JakToGo, a new jacket that stores up to 10 kg of goods, freeing up space in your suitcase.
Rinspeed imagines the Tesla Model S as a self-driving 'living room on wheels'
We've seen some pretty amazing concept cars come from Rinspeed in the past, but this one has to be one of our favorites. On display at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show early next month, the XchangE turns the Tesla Model S into a "living room on wheels." The autonomous vehicle will not only drive itself, but is equipped with a 32-inch 4k monitor and reclining seats to make you feel like you're cruising around in a private jet rather than a four-door sedan. The intense luxury doesn't stop at the television. A built-in espresso machine keeps you powered up for the ride, and If you're traveling for work rather than play, the vehicle's "Business-to-Car" platform ensures you not only have access to all the web services you need, but are surfing safely. Perhaps the most absurd addition to the vehicle is "the world's arguably most expensive watch winder," a $44k Patravi TravelTec wristwatch encased in a transparent globe above the car's steering column. When the car is stationary, the globe uses the Tesla's electric engine to wind the stationary watch. It's all just a concept now, but it's one we can't wait to hit the streets in.
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide 2013: For the Geek who has everything
Welcome to Engadget's holiday gift guide! Head back to our hub to see the rest of the product guides. We all know at least one of them: that borderline-annoying person who always seems to have the latest gadgets the moment they're announced. The Nexus 5 isn't going to cut it for such people; you'll need to think outside the box if you want to really impress them. Consider the ideas below -- from 3D-printing pens to a stunning e-motorcycle, these (probably) haven't found a place in your friends' lives just yet.
Tesla Model S deliveries begin outside of North America, starting with Norway
Tesla's four-door Model S has been trickling into North American garages for a couple of years now, and it seems that production has ramped up enough to finally begin deliveries internationally. Starting today, Model S buyers across various ponds will begin to see stock appear. As seen above, the action is starting in Oslo, Norway, where that guy in the driver seat looks particularly charged up about the parade that awaits. Sorry. It seemed funnier in the moment.
Unofficial Tesla app for Google Glass lets Model S owners find, charge and unlock their car
We may still be looking for excuses to wear Google Glass in the office, but the headset's peripheral display is becoming more and more appealing in the garage: someone just made a Tesla Model S Glass app. The simply named GlassTesla is an unofficial suite of headgear accessible controls for the electric sedan, allowing users to start and stop charging, check battery levels, remotely lock doors and monitor and adjust the vehicle's temperature controls. More features are on the way too -- Sahas Katta, the app's creator, told Engadget that he's working on voice control ("ok glass, unlock my car"), charge completion notification and real-time vehicle tracking. Not bad, if you happen to own both a Tesla Model S and Google Glass. All three of you can find the app at the source link below. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
The Daily Roundup for 02.18.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
The Daily Roundup for 02.14.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
The Daily Roundup for 02.12.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
The Weekly Roundup for 02.04.2013
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 7 days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
The Daily Roundup for 02.08.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
The Daily Roundup for 02.07.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.