Amazon has just invested into self-driving startup Aurora, according to a news report from Bloomberg. The $530 million cash infusion, which came from an investor group led by Sequoia Capital, also includes T. Rowe Price Group and has increased Aurora’s value to over $2.5 billion. Led by Chris Urmson, Sterling Anderson, and Drew Bagnell, who came from Google, Tesla, and Uber, respectively, Aurora has created partnerships with a number of automakers including Volkswagen Group and Hyundai Motor Group. The company, however, remains an independent entity and designs its hardware and data services to accommodate multiple manufacturers.
Sequoia Capital’s investment and the backing of Amazon and T. Rowe Price is considered a big vote of confidence for the self-driving startup. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve met with more than 15 of the top autonomous vehicle companies from around the world,” said Carl Eschenbach of Sequoia Capital who describes Aurora’s founders as the dream team [...]
FCA rolled out a limited-build 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Italia at the Chicago auto show. Each of the beautiful mid-engine two-seaters will be built alongside other 4Cs in Modena, Italy, and the special edition is limited to a run of 15 examples sure to sell out fast. Or not, as that amounts to about a month’s worth of 4C sales these days.
The Italia Spider gets a 4C-exclusive splash of Misano Blue Metallic paint—a color already available on the Giulia and the Stelvio, by the way—with a piano-black front air intake and rear diffuser, as well as Italia stickers on its flanks. The only changes inside are an aluminum dashboard insert with a “4C Spider Italia” logo and a numbered plate on the center console.
As with its non-Italia but equally Italian brethren, the new model packs a turbocharged 1.7-liter inline four with 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated [...]
Toyota is adding the Sequoia to its list of vehicles with a TRD Pro variant. Debuting at the Chicago auto show, the 2020 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro gets a beefier suspension and other upgrades.
Like all TRD Pro models, the Sequoia receives Fox shock absorbers. With these shocks, the damping becomes progressively firmer through the piston stroke to resist bottoming out on rough surfaces.
The shocks have been specifically tuned for the Sequoia’s unique characteristics. The front 2.5-inch Fox shocks include seven compression zones and two rebound zones, and Toyota reduced the front spring rate. The rear suspension uses 2-inch-diameter Fox piggyback monotube shocks that have beefier pistons and shock rods than the rear shocks on the standard Sequoia.
The engine hasn’t changed. The 5.7-liter V-8 still makes 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque. That comes paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. Towing maxes out at 7,100 [...]
The tailgate wars are on. On the heels of GMC introducing its MultiPro tailgate for the 2019 Sierra 1500, Ram is now offering a trick Multifunction Tailgate. But while the Sierra’s gate has a center section that drops to transform into steps or to ease loading, Ram’s tailgate has a vertical 60/40 split. It can be dropped down in its entirety like a traditional panel or each side can be opened barn-door-style.
The new gate comes after the brand first patented the idea some five years ago, and will be available on all seven 2019 Ram 1500 models. It retails for $995 and an optional retractable center step adds another $295. Ram says the new tailgate retains the strength of a dampened drop-down tailgate, and has a 2,000-pound load rating.
The dual side-hinged doors make it easier to load and access the bed—key in this age when even [...]
The Year of the Pig begins February 5, and you know what that means—bespoke variants from the fine folks at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are coming. The brand unveiled versions of the Ghost, Wraith, and Dawn customized in design themes that celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at its dealership in Beverly Hills, California, over the weekend.
The three special edition cars sport lucky exterior colors of Aurum, Mugello Red, and Diamond Black. Each car receives a Rolls-Royce Year of the Pig badge and Lunar New Year embroidery on the headrests, and are exclusively available through Rolls-Royce Beverly Hills.
Additionally, the British luxury marque has partnered with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to celebrate the holiday. The hotel will offer special packages and other perks that include special access to a Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV in red through February 8. A Rolls-Royce white-glove product specialist will be on hand for [...]
