Transport

When BMW redesigned the X5 SUV in 2019 it became larger and more accommodating while retaining its driver-centric nature and smart interior, but the hybrid model went missing from the lineup. It's back for 2021, along with some efficiency upgrades.

EasyMile has been developing and testing its driverless shuttle at various locations around the world, and has now added another feather to its cap, becoming the first vehicle authorized to operate without a human driver on public roads in France.

Highlighting the present and distant future, Buick has unveiled the Smart Pod concept. The car provides a futuristic vision of pure autonomy, in which occupants are more likely to enjoy a game on the big screen than actually take the wheel.

This year marks 60 years since Renault launched the Quatrelle, and though the company has been celebrating all year, a collaboration with design studio TheArsenale to build a flying car concept is arguably its best birthday present to itself yet.

Czech company Zuri has commenced hover testing on its first near-scale VTOL air taxi tech demonstrator. With a hybrid powertrain on board, this team promises real-world range figures up to 720 km (447 miles) at cruise speeds up to 320 km/h (200 mph).

Zeva is deadly serious about bringing this tail-sitting eVTOL flying saucer to market as a one-person air taxi, and if you can get over the idea of soaring above the city head-first, face-down and Superman-style, it's got some interesting advantages.

Back in 2019, Luna Cycles unchained the ground-breaking X1 Enduro ebike, a 50-lb performance monster with up to 2,000 watts of power on tap, full suspension and up to 40 miles of per-charge range. Now the company has unveiled an improved model.

It was just a couple of weeks ago that we told you about DirtySixer's latest 36-inch-wheeled mountain bike. If you liked it, but would prefer something with a carbon fiber frame and wheels, then you might want to check out the Trentasei//36 Carbon 1.

On most full-suspension mountain bikes, the rear shock sits between the swingarm and the main triangle, with connectors at either end. The Datum bike is different and supposedly better, though, in that its rear shock slides into the frame's top tube.

At the EICMA 2021 expo in Milan, Taiwanese e-mobility firm the Ottobike Group celebrated the launch of a new e-moto brand with a gorgeous cafe racer concept, as well as a new ebike brand with an e-MTB, a city ebike and a BMX-style ride for the kids.

EICMA Milan: it's motorcyclese for Christmas, when the factory elves bring forth a bounty of gifts for the coming year – and we stand in cold, cynical judgement on their labors. Here are the bikes that have caught our attention thus far.

Sweden's Cake has updated the work-focused Ösa electric utility motorcycle and given jobs to other models in its line to form the new Cake :work series. Each new family member has been optimized for extra power, reach, efficiency and capacity.

In recent years, we've heard about electric surfboards, bodyboards, hydrofoil boards and underwater scooters. Buying all of those separately could get pretty expensive, which is why the mo-jet system combines them in one modular setup.

A future-focused ship designed as the world's first all-electric, autonomous cargo vessel has debuted in Norway, where it is intended to replace 40,000 diesel-powered truck journeys every year and significantly reduce NOx and CO2 emissions.

Australian mining billionaire Andrew Forrest has announced he's challenged his team to get the world's first ammonia-powered ship into service by 2022, following their rapid success with hydrogen mining trucks and ammonia-powered locomotives.

E-scooter maker Silence has pulled the cover off a new electric nanocar called the S04 at EICMA in Milan, Italy. Coming to Europe next year, the vehicle will be available in two versions – one of which only requires a moped license to drive it.

Although we hear a lot about the development of urban aerial delivery drones, it's quite likely that autonomous ground-based delivery vehicles will be in wide use first. REE Automotive's Leopard EV is one example, and it's just been unveiled as a physical concept vehicle.

Riding on the back of a US$400 million investment from Luxembourg's GEM Global Yield, startup Biliti Electric is looking to bring the GMW Taskman three-wheeled electric delivery vehicle to the US, debuting at AutoMobility LA on November 17.