Motor News
MotorWeek tracks auto industry news, focusing on crash tests, safety ratings, new advances in technology and the latest from auto shows around the world.
Passenger Protection 7.05.2018
Part of the appeal of sport-utilities is the perception they’re safer because of their size and height. But it seems that level of protection varies depending on where you’re seated. Recently the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted crash tests on midsize SUVs. But this time, they focused on front passenger-side protection. In their small overlap test,… Read More
Turbo Silverado | Dropped Diesels 6.21.2018
With sales rising, it’s clear that Americans love their pickup trucks. And these big haulers are “ground zero” in the tug of war between more power and more miles per gallon. Chevrolet has announced a new first-time engine for the redesigned 2019 Silverado 1500. It’s a 2.7-liter turbocharged inline-4-- paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Chevrolet… Read More
New Car Safety 5.31.2018
It’s fair to say that most people would love to own a new car. And as it turns out, newer is also safer. The national highway traffic safety administration has released data showing newer vehicles are the safest on U.S. roads. They looked at fatal crashes involving cars, SUVs and pickup trucks between 2012 and 2016. It turns out that 55-percent of deaths occurred… Read More
IIHS Crash Tests & EV Noise 4.25.2018
In their latest round of crash tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety focused on how well small SUVs protect not only the driver---but the front passenger as well. Since the left and right sides of a vehicle are each unique in design, IIHS wanted to see if small SUVs, that rate “Acceptable” or “Good” in driver-side overlap front crash tests, are just as… Read More
2018 New York International Auto Show 4.12.2018
This time we head to the Big Apple, where we pick the best at the 2018 New York International Auto show. The cold winter hung on outside the Javits Center, but inside, the air was hot with news. Some of the hottest headlines coming from Volkswagen and its Atlas Tanoak (Tan-Oak) pickup concept. This mid-sizer shares its chassis with the Chattanooga-made Atlas SUV,… Read More
2018 Geneva International Motor Show 3.21.2018
The Geneva International Motor Show is known for its cool concepts and premium priced cars. And, this year both made for a lot of “electricity.” The production version of the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE made its show debut. This Tesla-fighting SUV arrives here later this year. Bentley’s first step towards electrification is the Bentayga plug-in hybrid. Volkswagen’s… Read More
2018 Chicago Auto Show 3.01.2018
The Chicago Auto Show is the largest car show in America. Not only in floor space, but also because the attendees actually buy cars. And for its 110th edition, there were plenty of them to choose from. Toyota unveiled the next generation TRD Pro lineup. For 2019, the Tundra, 4Runner and Tacoma all get the lifted off-road treatment, with Fox Internal Bypass Shocks,… Read More
Artificial Intelligence 2.15.2018
We hear a lot about a future where cars will drive themselves. But, even before that, researchers envision autos doing more of the thinking through Artificial Intelligence. Nissan is working on B-to-V, or “Brain-to-Vehicle” technology. Here, a driver wears a device that monitors brain waves. By tapping into the brain’s signals, their system can predict what the… Read More
2018 North American International Auto Show 2.01.2018
For most people, Detroit, Michigan in the dead of winter, would be the last place they’d want to go. But, we’re not most people. we are fanatics of all things automotive. And everyone knows, come January, Motown is the place to be for the scoop on the hottest of the new cars heading our way. Don’t want to go out in the cold? Don’t worry; sit back and relax,… Read More
2018 IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus 1.04.2018
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has a long track record of selecting the safest cars on the road. And, for 2018, only 15 vehicles earned their TOP SAFETY PICK PLUS award. That status is now tougher than ever to achieve. For the first time, the IIHS has added front passenger-side crash ratings to the criteria. Top rating also requires a “good” headlight… Read More