Tesla to roll out Autopilot self-driving capabilities ‘very soon’

2016 Tesla Model STesla Motors will soon begin rolling out software to restore lost Autopilot driver-assistance features, its CEO says, as a prelude to what the company claims will be the launch of genuine self-driving capabilities. Last month, Tesla announced that it was equipping new Model S and Model X electric cars with a more elaborate suite of sensors, known...

Tesla to roll out Autopilot self-driving capabilities ‘very soon’

2016 Tesla Model STesla Motors will soon begin rolling out software to restore lost Autopilot driver-assistance features, its CEO says, as a prelude to what the company claims will be the launch of genuine self-driving capabilities. Last month, Tesla announced that it was equipping new Model S and Model X electric cars with a more elaborate suite of sensors, known...

EPA boosts required 2017 ethanol volume above expected level

Big square baler harvesting wheat straw for production of cellulosic ethanolDespite pressure to lower the amount of ethanol blended into the U.S. fuel supply, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has boosted its proposed ethanol volume for 2017. Under the Renewable Fuel Standard enacted in 2007, specific quantities of ethanol must be blended the national fuel supply. Recently, critics have tried to cap that amount...

Electric cars to get big boost from emissions rules on engines: report

2016 BMW i3Stricter global emissions standards may finally force the majority of established automakers to get serious about electric cars. But while automakers build more electric cars to meet emissions standards, the extra cost of developing these new models may eat into profits. That's the conclusion of a new report from global investment bank Morgan...

Hatchback renaissance: are they seen as utility vehicles now?

2017 Honda Civic HatchbackThe U.S. may be in the midst of a somewhat unlikely hatchback renaissance. Three- and five-door body styles have never been as popular in the U.S. as in other markets, with U.S. buyers often opting for four-door sedans while dismissing hatches as "econoboxes" or "econocars." During the past year, passenger car sales have also slumped as consumers...

Consumer Reports’ view of Tesla Model X: ‘fast but flawed’

2016 Tesla Model XConsumer Reports has an interesting relationship with Tesla electric cars: it's complicated. The magazine initially praised the Tesla Model S, but pulled its "recommended" rating after reliability issues cropped up. It has also become one of the loudest critics of Tesla's Autopilot system, criticizing the name and its beta status among other...

2009 bet against hydrogen fuel-cell car sales: which side won?

2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell, 2016 Toyota Mirai at hydrogen fueling station, Fountain Valley, CAThere's nothing like a bet to make things interesting. The arrival of hydrogen fuel-cell cars has been anticipated for decades now, leading to many predictions of both failure and success for hydrogen. In 2007, hydrogen critic Joseph Romm, believing that fuel-cell vehicles would never become mainstream, made a bet with hydrogen advocate Greg...

2017 Volkswagen e-Golf preview

2017 Volkswagen e-GolfThe 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf electric car gets a number of notable updates this year, including considerably increased range and a more powerful electric motor. Unveiled at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, the e-Golf gets similar styling and content changes to other models in 2017 Golf lineup. Crucially, the electric version also gets a 50-percent...