Hyundai Ioniq, Sonata plug-in hybrids available anywhere in U.S.

2017 Hyundai IoniqSome manufacturers only offer their plug-in hybrid models in certain markets, even as hybrid models are now generally offered nationwide. Like electric cars, plug-in hybrid sales are sometimes limited to markets deemed suitably friendly to these types of vehicles by their makers. But Hyundai has a more ambitious strategy. DON'T MISS: 2017 Hyundai...

Ford Transit Connect Hybrid taxi prototype to appear in Detroit

Ford Transit Connect Hybrid taxi prototypeThe Ford Transit Connect small van has proven popular among U.S. taxi drivers. In some cities, you're just as likely to find Transit Connect taxis plying the streets as traditional sedans—especially in taxi-rich New York City. But now Ford plans to put a new—and greener—spin on this workaday vehicle. DON'T MISS: Ford plans...

Tesla delivered 76,000 cars in 2016, missing its goal

2017 Tesla Model SWhile the auto industry will start to report December and year-end sales totals today, Tesla Motors issued its year-end delivery and production results yesterday. The Silicon Valley car maker, now completing its ninth year of production, delivered 22,230 electric cars during the fourth quarter of 2016. That brings its total for last year to 76,230...

Most autonomous cars shown at CES are electrified: preview

Hyundai Ioniq autonomous prototypeThe annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has become a major venue for automakers. Increased interest in connectivity and autonomous driving, as well as collaborations with tech companies, have led to a greater automaker presence at CES, held just before the annual Detroit Auto Show. Last year, General Motors chose CES, and not the auto...

2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4: gas mileage review

2017 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 SE, Catskill Mountains, NY, Nov 2016The Mitsubishi Mirage is the underdog of small cars: slow, loud, and archaic, but scrappy. And it's been a much bigger sales success than Mitsubishi expected, given the small numbers of minicars and subcompacts sold in the U.S. these days. For 2017, Mitsubishi added a four-door sedan model dubbed G4 to the existing five-door hatchback, and gave...

Tesla upgrades Autopilot for 1,000 ‘Hardware 2’ cars to test

2017 Tesla Model STesla Motors is now beginning to roll out upgraded software to accompany the more complex suite of sensors known as "Hardware 2" that launched in October. All Model S and Model X electric cars built since then have this array of eight cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, as opposed to the less-elaborate "Hardware 1" package used previously. But while...

UK moves ahead on lower-carbon power to end coal use by 2025

Coal, by Flicker user oatsy40 (Used Under CC License)The United Kingdom is increasing its use of low-carbon energy sources as it moves to phase out coal-fired power plants altogether by 2025. Renewable-energy sources such as wind and solar, combined with nuclear power and generating plants fired with renewable wood pellets, are displacing fossil fuels in the country's electricity-generation mix...