June 2018

Charging time cut in half for 2019 Chevrolet Volt

(June 29, 2018) DETROIT — A new 7.2 kW charging system on the 2019 Chevrolet Volt cuts recharging times nearly in half by adding about twice the all-electric driving range per hour of charge. The new system headlines a number of additional enhancements for the 2019 Volt and increases the vehicle’s all-electric utility for owners who take advantage of “opportunity charging,” or plugging in around town to top off the battery charge.

Researchers demonstrating so-called phantom traffic jams can be minimized

(July 1, 2018) ROMEO, Mich. — Ford and Vanderbilt University researchers are demonstrating that so-called phantom traffic jams could be minimized with widespread use of adaptive cruise control available today in most Ford vehicles.

The team conducted what is believed to be the largest, most realistic demonstration of its kind, showing that existing technology could help minimize phantom traffic jams, which happen for seemingly no reason and can cause hazardous traffic backups.

Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo driven by Timo Bernhard sets Nürburgring lap record

(June 30, 2018) STUTTGART, Germany — On Friday morning Timo Bernhard (D) lapped the 12.94-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife race circuit in 5 minutes and 19.55 seconds in a Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo. This resulted in an average speed of 145.3 mph on what is revered by race drivers, engineers and enthusiasts alike as the world’s most difficult track. Driving the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo, Bernhard beat the previous lap record, set by Stefan Bellof, by 51.58 seconds.

The remains of a muscle car



This 1969 Pontiac GTO was found in eastern North Carolina in a state of disrepair. The GTO was built from 1964 through 1974 and helped cement the muscle car generation with a variety of high-horsepower V-8 engines. The second-generation began in 1968 with a slightly fastback design. The door vent windows were eliminated in 1969 helping differentiate the 1968 from the '69. There were 72,287 GTOs built for the '69 model year.
(Photos by Jim Meachen)

'Detroit, Comeback City' documentary will air on History Channel Sunday

(June 30, 2018)  DETROIT, Mich. —On Sunday (July 1) The History Channel debuts a new documentary entitled Detroit: Comeback City that charts the mutual rise, fall, and rise again of Detroit and Michigan Central Station — in the words of real Detroiters. The documentary airs at 9 p.m. eastern time.

Ford announced last week plans to transform the 105-year old building into the centerpiece of a vibrant new campus in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood that will serve as an innovation hub for the company’s vision for the future of transportation.

Dodge Charger revamped with new face, new interior, performance upgrades

(June 29, 2018) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Dodge continues to run at full throttle in the North American large sedan segment, revamping the entire Charger lineup for 2019. As America’s only four-door muscle car and the sales leader in the segment five years running, Dodge continues to charge ahead of its competition with upgrades both inside and out.
 
New for 2019, Dodge is repositioning the Charger lineup into six distinct, attitude-infused models that offer a range of performance and powertrain options for every modern muscle-car customer.

Rare Porsche 550A Spyder heads to Mecum Monterey auction

(June 28, 2018) The Porsche 550A Spyder ranks among the all-time royalty at the head table of Porsche history. One of these rare models — one of only 39 built and a three-time race winner during the 1958 season — will head to the auction block at The Daytime Auction in Monterey, California. Mecum’s annual event on the Monterey Peninsula takes place Aug. 23-25.

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe to start at $26,480

(June 28, 2018) FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — Hyundai Motor America has announced pricing for its all-new 2019 Santa Fe, starting at $26,480 including destination charge for the SE 2.4 model. The all-new Santa Fe comes with a price increase of $550 compared with the 2018 Santa Fe Sport.

New standard features on the 2019 SE trim include:

    Hyundai SmartSense
        Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
        Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist