All of the cool car companies have a venture-capital sandbox that ferrets out innovative entrepreneurs with ideas that need fostering. Hyundai’s is called CRADLE. That’s an acronym for Center for Robotic-Augmented Design in Living Experiences. Founded in November 2017, CRADLE has already invested in some 30 startups covering fields ranging from artificial intelligence, to robotics, smart cities, smart mobility, and energy. Shortly after the group was founded, Hyundai’s executive vice chairman Mong-Koo Chung was walking around the CES show floor with CRADLE vice president John Suh and wondered aloud why nobody had crossed robotics with the automobile? Suh offered to give it a shot and his team dreamed up Elevate.
The concept is a modular go-anywhere electric vehicle that could be used for anything from rescue missions to exploration of other planets. The modular part involves a “skateboard” to which bodies suited to different purposes could be mounted. [...]
To the delight of lead-footed enthusiasts everywhere, the 2019 Mazda CX-5 now offers a more powerful turbo-four engine option. The 227-/250-hp 2.5T engine—output depends on whether you use regular or premium—wonderfully adds to the charm of the CX-5, already the most stylish crossover in its class. We spent a couple weeks driving the new CX-5 Signature to determine whether the turbo upgrade is worth the money.
If you’re aghast at how a CX-5 could possibly hit $39,030, know that the engine upgrade is only available with all-wheel drive, and even then, only on Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims that have more content than the 187-hp CX-5’s lower trims. Trying to convince your spouse the turbo is worth it? Tell them the 2.5T’s GT Reserve is only $1,800 more than a base-engine GT model with a package that matches equipment.
Or just get in the CX-5 2.5T and [...]
If you’re headed to Scottsdale for this year’s Barrett-Jackson auction, you’ll have more than 1,500 vehicles to bid on. With enough funding, you could buy everything from the first production 2020 Toyota Supra to Ford’s 2001 F-150 Lightning Rod concept truck, all four Transformers Bumblebee Camaros, and even a custom Mitsubishi Eclipse from The Hangover. But as interesting as those cars may be, the one we can’t stop staring at is something completely different.
Yes, we’re talking about this 1990 Toyota Sera. And if you only look at the spec sheet, we would totally understand you not getting why we’re excited. After all, it’s a front-engine, front-wheel-drive coupe that’s mechanically similar to the Toyota Paseo. It’s powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 110 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque. It has an automatic transmission and 75,000 miles on the odometer. Oh, and since the Sera was built exclusively for the Japanese market, it’s right-hand-drive [...]
It takes more to stand out today than ever before. Where you may once have been able to made do with a standard Mercedes G-Class or even an uprated AMG version in the past, now you need something truly different to pique the interest of your Instagram followers. And what better way to do it than with the six-wheel-drive G63 AMG 6×6? Fortunately, the 2019 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction will provide a chance to put this G63 6×6 in your garage—or driveway, if your garage is too small. This is a 19-foot-long, seven-foot-wide SUV, after all.
With a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-8 under the hood sending 536 hp to all six wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission, you should be able to conquer just about any sort of traffic situation. Acceleration is actually fairly impressive given that the 6×6’s curb weight tops 8,000 pounds: Mercedes claimed a 0-60-mph time of [...]
After redesigning the Sorento for 2016, Kia revealed the refreshed version of its popular midsize crossover late last year. Following three years on the market, that was probably a smart decision. But unless you park both versions next to each other, you probably won’t be able to tell the difference. The question is, though, does the new Sorento drive any differently than it did before? We brought in a 2019 Kia Sorento SXL with a V-6 and all-wheel drive to find out.
Granted, the Sorento was already a solid midsize crossover. With the 2016 original, we appreciated the extra 3 inches of length the engineers added, as well as its more attractive design and comfortable ride. The long features list, slick infotainment system, and a nicely designed cabin were added bonuses. It could possibly have used more room in the third row, but that will become less of [...]
