Automotive

From the first steam-powered vehicle, through the introduction of affordable mass-produced gas-guzzlers, to the latest futuristic flying car concepts, humankind's love affair with all things automotive shows no signs of abating. After more than a century of fossil fuel-powered dominance the automobile is in for a serious overhaul; electric and hydrogen-powered cars have arrived and fast developing self-driving capabilities may relegate us all to the back seat. New Atlas keeps you up to date on new cars, concepts, EVs and the latest automotive news including test drives, reviews and coverage of all the major auto shows around the globe.

Automotive Audio available

Honda tests self-driving, off-road “Autonomous Work Vehicles”

Loz Blain December 17, 2018

They’re almost cute, these little seatless quadbikes, and they can be programmed to perform a bunch of handy tasks outdoors. Honda has been testing them in search and rescue, firefighting, construction, agriculture, landscaping and snow removal applications.

Honda sees potential for its AWV in a wide range of applications, including construction

Automotive

Flexcamper creates a solo mini-campervan out of Fiat's tiniest van

C.C. Weiss December 17, 2018

Lately we've seen more and more companies shrinking camper vans down into mini-campervans. Germany's Flexcamper takes it a step further, making single-person mini-campers out of some of the smallest multipurpose vehicles out there.

Flexcamper's Fiat Fiorino mini-campervan

Automotive

Lincoln breaks out the suicide doors for 80th Anniversary Continental

Loz Blain December 17, 2018

Shy of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, we haven’t seen a whole lot in the way of forward-opening doors in recent times. But they’re still the nicest way to enter and exit a back seat and Lincoln has tricked up a limited-edition Continental with them.

2019 80th Anniversary Lincoln Continental: bang shoulders with the driver as you both get out together

Automotive

Bloodhound supersonic car project rises once more

Paul Ridden December 17, 2018

As you might expect, development of the Bloodhound supersonic car has proven costly and just last week it was announced that lack of funds had ended the project for good. But that was last week. Now a new backer has been found and the world land speed record attempt is on again.

Bloodhound SSC's immediate future has been secured thanks to a Yorkshire-based investor

Automotive Audio available

Hyundai prices its electrified Kona SUV for the mass market

Nick Lavars December 16, 2018

Hyundai has finally shared pricing details for its electric Kona SUV, and the figures will be welcome news for those looking to shed fuel costs and emissions from their everyday travel without breaking the bank.

The 2019 Kona Electric will start at $36,450

Automotive Review

Review: 2019 Volvo XC40 looks to set a new standard in compact luxury

Aaron Turpen December 14, 2018

After spending a week with the new 2019 XC40, we came away impressed with Volvo’s attention to detail on this compact luxury crossover. The XC40 builds on the excellence of the larger XC60 and XC90 models, without downsizing their ergonomics for the compact market.

Power and performance are not exactly the expected high points of the compact crossover classes, but ...

Automotive

Honda plans to swarm CES with aids to traffic safety

Aaron Turpen December 14, 2018

Honda will be busy at CES 2019, showcasing several concepts and products related to vehicles and robotics. Among these is an interesting traffic safety system utilizing vehicle-to-vehicle communications. Honda is calling it Safe Swarm and its goal is to improve traffic flow and safety.

The Safe Swam concept shows how vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications can improve traffic flow ...

Automotive

Honda looks to get remote work done with autonomous ATV

Aaron Turpen December 14, 2018

Honda will attend the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2019 with a working prototype of an autonomous all-terrain vehicle, which it's calling the Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle. The ATV is equipped with self-driving gear and artificial intelligence, to allow it to go almost anywhere on its own.

The Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle can manage any terrain that the Honda ATV it's based upon ...

Automotive

Porsche plugs into 450 kW EV charging station

Paul Ridden December 13, 2018

Car makers in Europe have been working together for a while now to develop and roll out a network of fast chargers for electric vehicles. Now Porsche has announced that one of its research cars has received a 400+ kilowatt charge from a prototype charging station in Germany.

The research vehicle from Porsche achieved a charging capacity of more than 400 kW at the ...

Automotive Audio available

Aston Martin’s Valkyrie V12 engine: 1,000hp, 11,100 rpm, naturally aspirated

Loz Blain December 12, 2018

Aston Martin has released information about the combustion component of its insane Valkyrie hypercar's powertrain – and it's a doozy. Co-developed with Cosworth, this 6.5-liter V12 monster will make 1,000 hp, without the aid of forced induction – and in addition to electric motors.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie will be road legal