As reported on TechCrunch. by Matt Burns Hold on to your hat. The Tesla Model S is about to get more breezy thanks to a drop-top conversion by Newport Convertible Engineering. Both hard and soft top conversions are now available — they don’t come cheap, though. A soft-top conversion costs $29K and a hard-top $49K. Plus, the buyer has to supply the Tesla Model S. But, once converted, there’s no question that you’ll have the raddest…
As reported on TechCrunch. by Ingrid Lunden Those with a sharp eye who visited the Geneva motor show or who own a Model S in Europe may have already noticed a connection between Telefonica and Tesla by way of the “car connected by Telefonica” signs on the sides of cars, or through the in-car navigation system that played Spanish ads. Now the two are making it official: Telefonica says that it will be providing the wireless connectivity for Tesla…
As reported on Engadget. BY DANIEL COOPER We love using motorcycle gear with built-in airbags, but not the extra heft of carrying the sensors that make the thing work. Ducati knows this, and has teamed up withDainese to develop a system that spares our shoulders the added burden. The new Ducati Multistrada D-Air has sensors attached through the bike’s electronic system that monitor the vehicle’s acceleration, breaking and orientation. If it detects that you’re about to crash, it’ll send…
As reported on The Verge. By Ben Popper The war of words heats up between the tech billionaire and defiant local salesmen Last week, New Jersey announced that it would begin enforcing a ban on the direct sale of automobiles by manufacturers, a change that will cripple electric-vehicle maker Tesla’s business in that state. The company’s CEO, Elon Musk, responded with a fiery blog post accusing state legislators of cutting a backroom deal with traditional franchised auto retailers…
As reported on Engadget. BY TIMOTHY J. SEPPALA With its latest research project, Volvo is hoping to make driving in inclement weather a bit less dicey. The Swedish automaker is testing a safety system that uses mobile data networks to relay icy road conditions from vehicle to vehicle. Once you hit a slick spot, the location data uploads to Volvo’s database and then an instant notification is sent to other cars nearing that area. As the outfit tells it, the…
As reported on Engadget. BY JON FINGAS Tesla’s direct-to-customer sales model just hit another big roadblock. New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission has voted in favor of a rule banning direct car sales, effectively kicking Tesla out of the state as of this April. For those keeping score, this is the EV maker’s third such defeat, following similar moves by Arizona and Texas — while Tesla won a legislative battle to go dealer-free in North Carolina, it appears to be losing the…
As reported on Engadget. BY TIMOTHY J. SEPPALA Audi’s been talking about its in-car LTE for awhile, but how much it’ll cost hasn’t been clear until now. A six-month plan with 5GB of data will run $99, while a 30-month plan with 30GB runs $499, both through AT&T. However, you’ll snag half-a-year’s service absolutely free should you drive off the lot in one of the new A3 sedansequipped with Audi Connect. The German automaker says it plans to roll the feature out…
As reported on Wired. by WES SILEREMAIL Unstoppable Soviet Motorcycle Now Comes With Bourgeois Luxuries ADVERTISEMENT 1 / 7 VLADIMIR PAVLENCO WIRED Old-school, unstoppable off-road capability now paired with modern ease-of-use. Improved stability makes the handling almost safe. Will carry your dog anywhere on the planet you’d like to take him. TIRED Performance is incredibly limited by modern standards. At $16,000, the Gear-Up is solidly in the realm of luxury goods. New, folding shovel…
As reported on The Verge. By Josh Lowensohn Supercars are designed to push the limits, be it in performance or design sensibilities. But in a flat out race, speed is everything. That’s what makes a new record set by the Hennessey Venom GT so impressive. The supercar — which runs between $600,000 to $1 million — was clocked at 270.49 mph earlier this month, reports Top Gear. That narrowly beats out a previous record set in a…
As reported on The Verge. By Aaron Souppouris Lotus and Kodewa reunite for the limited-run C-01 Lotus has a new superbike called the C-01. Designed by Daniel Simon, whose work you’ll know from Tron: Legacy, Oblivion, and Captain America, the bike balances the Lotus form of old with a decidedly modern finish. Although Simon is more known for his concept work, and the C-01 certainly looks like a designer’s wild fantasy, the bike will actually go on sale: the British company…