Audi Finally Renames its Sporting Division, Promises Eight New Performance Models

While the general populace will likely remain confused, automotive enthusiasts will now be able to differentiate between Audi's all-wheel-drive system and its performance sports car subsidiary. The company has officially taken its Quattro GmbH division and renamed it Audi Sport GmbH. Quattro (which means four) will now only refer to the all-wheel drive system and Sport (which […] The post Audi Finally Renames its Sporting Division, Promises Eight New Performance Models appeared first on The Truth About Cars. from The Truth About Cars http://ift.tt/Jh8LjA

Comma.ai Bypasses NHTSA, Releases Self-Driving Technology to the Public

George Hotz has revived his Comma One self-driving technology project — sort of — after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shut down the commercial launch of his product earlier this year. Today, Hotz announced he would release the hardware schematics and code for the project for free to the public, targeting hobbyists and researchers. […] The post Comma.ai Bypasses NHTSA, Releases Self-Driving Technology to the Public appeared first on The Truth About Cars. from The Truth About Cars http://ift.tt/Jh8LjA

New Lease on Life, or Delaying the End? Faraday Future’s Dad Drops off Some Cash

	After a myriad of financial troubles and irresponsible corporate dealings, we assumed Faraday Future's end was near. However, its spectral parent company now claims it has convinced more than ten Chinese companies to invest $600 million into its automotive division. While the future of Faraday can not be considered even close to bright, the brand could theoretically […] The post New Lease on Life, or Delaying the End? Faraday Future's Dad Drops off Some Cash appeared first on The Truth About Cars. from The Truth About Cars http://ift.tt/Jh8LjA

Nah, We’re Keeping our Fuel Economy Targets: EPA

	Fuel economy standards set by the Obama administration for the 2022 to 2025 model years will remain, the Environmental Protection Agency has stated. The environmental regulator announced its proposed determination earlier today, part of its midterm review of the country's corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) targets. Forget cheap gas and never mind the SUV craze — […] The post Nah, We're Keeping our Fuel Economy Targets: EPA appeared first on The Truth About Cars. from The Truth About Cars http://ift.tt/Jh8LjA

Trump Chooses Elaine Chao for Transportation Secretary

	After much speculation, President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Elaine Chao, former labor secretary and current spouse of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, as his Secretary of Transportation. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy spilled the beans, The New York Times reports, stating that the Trump camp named Chao for the role on Tuesday afternoon.  While Chao's establishment […] The post Trump Chooses Elaine Chao for Transportation Secretary appeared first on The Truth About Cars. from The Truth About Cars http://ift.tt/Jh8LjA

Ask Bark: To Focus ST or Not (Plus An Update!)

	Tommy writes: I love reading your columns, and have a question that I think you'll enjoy. I've been living in Washington, D.C. for seven years, about half of that time without a car. I'm planning on getting a raise soon, and with that, I'd like to buy a car. And not just any car, but an […] The post Ask Bark: To Focus ST or Not (Plus An Update!) appeared first on The Truth About Cars. from The Truth About Cars http://ift.tt/Jh8LjA

Audi Vehicle Packs Its Bags, Books Ticket to the Moon

	It's a one-way flight, obviously. Audi has announced that its Lunar Quattro has a ticket to ride on a moon-bound spaceflight booked for later next year. Refined, finessed, and now 18 pounds lighter, the automaker's plucky moon rover is bound for a rendezvous with another extraplanetary car. That one, however, is a 1970s model. Since […] The post Audi Vehicle Packs Its Bags, Books Ticket to the Moon appeared first on The Truth About Cars. from The Truth About Cars http://ift.tt/Jh8LjA

This New Parking Enforcement Device Really Sucks

	There is a new form of embarrassment for rule-breakers of the parking variety. It's an irremovable suction-based clamshell blindfold for your car that inconveniences you to the point of having to cooperate with authorities. Devised by Barnacle Parking as a friendlier alternative to the infamous "boot," the device is already being tested in a few American […] The post This New Parking Enforcement Device Really Sucks appeared first on The Truth About Cars. from The Truth About Cars http://ift.tt/Jh8LjA

2017 Mazda 3 5-Door Grand Touring Review – It’s The One To Have, Not The One You’ll Buy

	American consumers acquire more than 200,000 new compact cars every month. Only 4 percent of those cars are Mazda 3s. Compact car buyers are far more likely to drive away from a new car dealer in a Corolla, Civic, Sentra, Elantra, or Cruze; more likely to choose a Focus, Jetta, or Forte, too. While U.S. […] The post 2017 Mazda 3 5-Door Grand Touring Review – It's The One To Have, Not The One You'll Buy appeared first on The Truth About Cars. from The Truth About Cars http://ift.tt/Jh8LjA

Ace of Base Redux: 1995 Buick Riviera

	Let's play a game: I'll name a few cars and you tell me if you think they'll ever be found plying the roads of their real life namesake. Ready? Sebring. Ha! Corsica. Pfft. Monaco. Nope. Colorado. Wait, hang on; that one actually works. You know another one that works? The Buick Riviera, especially in its first […] The post Ace of Base Redux: 1995 Buick Riviera appeared first on The Truth About Cars. from The Truth About Cars http://ift.tt/Jh8LjA

Next-generation Ford Fiesta Debuts, But Doesn’t Tell All

	The next-generation Ford Fiesta had its coming out party at a corporate event in Cologne, Germany today, and there's no mistaking the updated B-segment runabout. Ford clearly wasn't willing to mess with the exterior too much, but changes abound on the 2018 model year Fiesta. That includes an industry-first advancement made to its available three-cylinder […] The post Next-generation Ford Fiesta Debuts, But Doesn't Tell All appeared first on The Truth About Cars. from The Truth About Cars http://ift.tt/Jh8LjA

Uber Select: It’s For Morons

	There are some absolutely terrible people in this world who are fools for prestige, suckers for any shiny bauble or deplorable frippery that might permit them the despicable foppery of believing themselves to be somehow better than their fellow men for the least justifiable of reasons. I am one of those terrible people. I wear […] The post Uber Select: It's For Morons appeared first on The Truth About Cars. from The Truth About Cars http://ift.tt/Jh8LjA

BMW, Daimler, Ford, and VW are Planning a High-Power EV Charging Network to Connect Europe

	Due to a wildly cooperative joint venture between German carmakers and the Ford Motor Company, owning an electric vehicle in Europe will soon become far more practical. Daimler AG, BMW, Ford, and Volkswagen Group intend to establish a continent-wide network of ultra-fast 350 kW capacity charging sites that will begin juicing up vehicles as early […] The post BMW, Daimler, Ford, and VW are Planning a High-Power EV Charging Network to Connect Europe appeared first on The Truth About Cars. from The Truth About Cars http://ift.tt/Jh8LjA