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.
Major EV Investment
There’s a surge of electric vehicles coming to the auto industry. Some brands are embracing EV’s faster than others. Ford is one of those making a bigger commitment to going electric. Their latest move… the blue oval company is investing $500 million in Rivian. They’ll help develop a next-generation battery electric vehicle for Ford. It will be based on Rivian’s… Read More
Pickup Truck Crash Tests
Pick-Up trucks offer a big ride… but some protect their passengers better than others. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested 11 small and large pick-ups in the passenger-side small overlap front test at 40 mph. This simulates when the front corner of the truck hits another vehicle or a stationary object like a tree or utility pole. Three large… Read More
2019 New York International Auto Show
It’s Spring and the 2019 New York International Auto show was in full bloom. The fourth generation Toyota Highlander 3-row crossover arrived with more dynamic styling. It rides on a new platform with V6 and revamped hybrid powertrains. New too, the Toyota Yaris becomes a more useful 5-door. New York is the first public showing for the redesigned Ford Escape.… Read More
2019 Geneva Motor Show
The Geneva International Motor Show is always a glitzy affair. This year supercar styling joined the forecast of an electric future. The smooth looking Audi Q4 e-tron compact EV SUV has a 280-mile-plus range. Due out in two years, it shared the spotlight with several plug-in hybrids. Volvo’s compact EV Polestar 2 appeared in Geneva after an online reveal the week… Read More
J.D. Power Rankings
Many factors go into buying a car, including long term reliability. To help in that decision, J.D. Power has released their 2019 Vehicle Dependability Study. For the eighth year in a row Lexus tops the list. The poll states that Porsche and Toyota tied for second, while Chevrolet and Buick round out the top five. For the first time in the 30-years J.D. Power has… Read More
2019 Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is known for being a showcase for new trucks. And this year was no exception, starting with some heavy haulers. Chevrolet arrives with the all-new Silverado HD pickups. They sport an aggressive look, more interior room, new powertrains, and max towing of 35,500 pounds. This GMC Sierra Heavy Duty pickup has a 15 camera view system including a… Read More
Revolutionary Tech
Porsche engineers have a bit of a dilemma on their hands. As they develop a sports car that dominates the track and successfully handles rainy weather. The 8th generation of the Porsche 911 comes standard with an industry-first “wet mode” feature. Sensors inside the front “wheel well” can detect water on the road. Then it automatically sets up the car to help… Read More
2019 North American International Auto Show Recap
The North American International Auto Show is always a special event for us here at Motorweek. But this year’s Detroit festivities are even more noteworthy, as this is the last time the show will be held in usually frigid January. It migrates to a warmer June time frame next year. But, before we get all nostalgic, let's see all of 20-19’s big reveals! While most… Read More
Consumer Electronics Show
The annual Consumer Electronics Show always highlights the latest “gee-wiz” technology… but lately it’s become a preview stage for automakers to looking to shine a light on their latest innovations. At CES 20-19, BMW introduced their Intelligent Personal Assistant. It enables occupants to speak with the vehicle in a more conversational way to control key… Read More
Autonomous Advancements
Self-driving cars with little or no human input are moving closer to reality… and they’re being developed in a variety of ways. Waymo’s pilot program in the Phoenix area…. has been testing the technology during daily commutes with ordinary people. Now, they’ve launched a ride hailing service called Waymo One. It’s available to the Phoenix public at large. Riders… Read More