Former Smart plant was headed all-electric, now might make diesel SUVs

Daimler Hambach factoryHere's a textbook case of taking two steps forward, and one step back. The former Smart factory in Hambach, France, became all-electric when the brand dropped its gasoline models, and was initially planned to continue making electric cars for fellow Daimler division Mercedes-Benz. Instead, the factory may build gasoline and diesel SUVs. That's...

Report: Audi A9 EV due in 2024 could be a high-efficiency flagship

2019 Audi E-tronThe "highly efficient electric car" Audi said was being developed by its new Artemis team for 2024 won't be a compact vehicle as originally expected, but a large flagship sedan, Autocar reported Monday. The new model has the internal codename E6, but could take on the A9 E-Tron name for production, the magazine reported, citing anonymous sources...

2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime: How its 42-mile range and 38 mpg compare to rivals

2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSEOfficial EPA ratings were posted Monday for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, and they’re exactly as anticipated by Toyota ahead of the model’s launch. That includes a rating of 42 all-electric miles on the model’s plug-in charge, then 40 mpg city, 36 highway, 38 combined. With a full charge and a full tank of gas, the RAV4 Prime can...

Jay Leno drives Canoo’s subscription-only electric van

Canoo electric car on Jay Leno's GarageCanoo won't put its subscription-only electric van on the road for customers until sometime next year, if all goes well, but Jay Leno already got to drive it for a recent episode of his "Jay Leno's Garage" YouTube show. Leno also toured Canoo's Torrance, California headquarters. Founded as Evelozcity, and including some Faraday Future veterans...

Jay Leno drives Canoo’s subscription-only electric van

Canoo electric car on Jay Leno's GarageCanoo won't put its subscription-only electric van on the road for customers until sometime next year, if all goes well, but Jay Leno already got to drive it for a recent episode of his "Jay Leno's Garage" YouTube show. Leno also toured Canoo's Torrance, California headquarters. Founded as Evelozcity, and including some Faraday Future veterans...

2013-2017 Toyota Prius models recalled for potential hybrid-system defect

2013 Toyota Prius liftbackToyota is expanding a recall of Prius hybrid models over a hybrid-system defect that could cause a sudden loss of propulsion. The fault lies with the inverter in the Intelligent Power Module (IPM), a part of the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Repeated driving under high-load conditions, such as hard acceleration from a stop, can cause high...