After more than a yearlong development process, BMW of North America presented a new prototype of its two-man bobsled for the official U.S. team.

Designed in collaboration with the USA Bobsled & Skeleton Federation (USBSF), the high-tech bobsled will be used for the first time today at the FIBT World Cup in Igls, Austria.

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If you had any doubts that GM is attempting to make future buyers of its all-new Corvette Stingray feel younger in one by adapting the car's styling as well as its own marketing efforts to reach the PlayStation and Nissan GT-R generation of youths, look no further than to its connection with the Gran Turismo 5 (GT5) racing game. Read more »

With the internet abuzz about the seventh generation Corvette Stingray, General Motors wants to take advantage of all the hype surrounding its new sports car, all for good reason, though, as it donated the first issue of a limited edition run of press kits to the American Cancer Society (ACS), which is auctioning them off on eBay as we speak. All proceeds from the sale will help raise funds for the organization’s fight against cancer. Read more »

Autonomous vehicle systems are one of the technologies that are being developed not only by automakers such as Audi, but by companies like Google, as well.

Toyota and its luxury division, Lexus, are of a different mindset; namely, that the aim to reduce and if possible, eliminate traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities can be achieved not necessarily by self-driving vehicles but by active-safety features.

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The brand with the four rings from Ingolstadt has always strived to be more than just another luxury carmaker placing a heavy emphasis on technology.

That said, it's only natural that Audi would participate in the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which is held in Las Vegas from January 8 to 11, and is considered as the world’s most important electronics trade show.

Audi welcomed show-goers with a host of current technologies and future solutions ranging from its autonomous driving and networking systems to the latest developments in lighting and customizable digital instrument panels.

Of particular interest are Audi's experimental lighting solutions, including the laser tail light generated by a laser diode, said to provide drivers behind with a bright, clear signal, which changes shape according to the weather and lighting conditions.

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The new generation of the Lexus IS that's due to be unveiled next week at the Detroit auto show will become the first car in the U.S. market to offer subscription-free, real-time traffic and weather information on its integrated audio systems when it goes on sale this summer.

The announcement was made today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, that runs through January 11.

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Following in the footsteps of technology giant Google, Audi today became only the second company and the first in the automotive industry to be granted a license from Nevada that allows it to operate autonomous vehicles on the state’s public roads. Read more »

Just like most other carmakers, Maserati now has its own dedicated website for finding pre-owned vehicles including certified models, though, unless we were…blinded from the Italian brand's premium sports cars, we couldn't find a link on the site explaining what "certified pre-owned" really means to buyers and how it compares to non-certified vehicles.

One major difference over many other websites or pages of the sort is that the so-called Maserati Stock Locator provides access to dealers all across the world.

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South Korea's Hyundai and Kia brands have both announced a new partnership with Google that will see the integration of latter's content and search-based solutions enabled by Application Program Interfaces (APIs) on their respective telematics platforms.

The move will enhance the new generation of Kia's UVO eServices and Hyundai's Blue Link with fresh features supported by the integration of Google Maps APIs such as Send to Car, Point of Interest Search and Local Search by Voice.

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Sure Apple's new iPad Mini might have some shortcomings including its smaller, 7.9-inch non-Retina Display and a steep price tag, but in regards to its footprint, it looks like it could be the perfect fit for automotive applications.

No sooner than it landed on the market, an audio system specialist from Florida named "Soundwaves of Tampa" went ahead to become the first company in the field to install the tablet in a car and specifically, on a 2012 Toyota Corolla sedan.

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Some might say it is a yet another gimmick and a distraction or one more electronic accessory to worry about, but BMW and German motorsports expert and race driver Tim Schrick, beg to differ claiming that the firm's M Performance Steering Wheel with a race display is what the doctor ordered for enthusiasts. Read more »

It’s true that the current series of letters and numbers on the side walls of the tyres can be confusing to the average buyer, who relies on his tyre provider or a friend’s recommendation when the time comes to change his or her vehicle’s OEM rubber.

That’s why, effective November 1, a new labeling system has been introduced in the European Union. The goal is to inform consumers of the characteristics of each type of tyre and make driving more cost effective, quieter and safer.

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The wildest crossover ever to make the transition from concept to production, the new limited run Nissan Juke R that utilizes a modified version of the GT-R's platform and twin-turbo engine, is ready to be placed into the hands of a select few customers.

Nissan announced today that the first Juke-R road car has been built and tested and is now on its way be delivered to its new owner, adding that production of car No002 is "well underway".

The Japanese carmaker said that the exact price of the Juke R's depend on the precise specification requested by each buyer, but noted that it starts from a whopping €500,000 (about US$652,500) a pop, or more than five times the cost of a GT-R in Europe (6.5 times in the U.S.).

The street-legal, production version of the Juke R is more powerful than the 485bhp concept, as Nissan used the latest GT-R's 545bhp twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter engine that allows for an estimated 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 275km/h (171mph).

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Companies all over the world seem hell-bent on bringing carbon fiber and its weight and strength advantages into the hands of the everyday motorist.

After Ford’s display of a prototype CFRP bonnet earlier this week, Australian-based company Carbon Revolution launched the CR9, the world’s first one-piece production carbon fiber wheel.

Carbon Revolution says that this is the result of “nearly a decade” of research and development. The benefits in weight and rigidity have been established both by its own testing as well as with premium European OEMs.

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Carbon fiber is up to five times as strong as steel, twice as stiff, and one-third the weight, which is why it has been widely used in aerospace applications and in the construction of racing cars.

Production models make use of this material as well; that is, if you consider a McLaren MP4-12C, a Pagani Huayra or a Ferrari Enzo a regular “production car". Carbon fiber is very expensive and takes a lot of time to produce, but those companies can afford to price their products accordingly.

The problem is that, so far, no manufacturer or supplier has managed to reduce its cost to a level that would make it suitable for regular, mass production vehicles.

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On September 26, California Governor Jerry Brown signed law SB 1298, which will allow self-driving cars on the Golden State’s roads. The Governor, as well as Google that has been testing the technology for some time now, announced that, under the new law, “science fiction becomes tomorrow’s reality”, to quote Brown.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, however, whose members account for 77 percent of all passenger car and light-truck sales in the U.S., believes that even though many carmakers like GM, VW and BMW are jumping on the autonomous vehicle bandwagon, there are still many unresolved issues.

“If the state’s intention is to promote autonomous vehicles, all the concerns –like liability- need to be properly addressed in advance, or we can expect a bumpy road ahead”, read a statement released by the Alliance.

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One of the key highlights of the 2013 model year Cadillac SRX is the addition of the firm's new CUE infotainment system incorporating touch-screen controls, but it isn’t the only new feature to be offered on the subtly updated crossover. Read more »

Plug-in hybrid vehicles claim to be much more fuel efficient, and thus cheaper to run, than regular models powered only by international combustion engines.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch, though; in the case of plug-in hybrids, you have to factor in the energy consumed to charge the battery at your home, which adds to the electricity bill.

General Motors’ OnStar service is currently testing an application that will inform Chevrolet Volt owners about the cost of charging their extended-range plug-in hybrid.

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