The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge started this week from Darwin, Australia on a 1,900-mile race to Adelaide in a collection of 44 solar-powered vehicles. The biennial race crowns the fastest solar powered cars in the world. Entries come from 20 different countries.

A true racer could never let a goal like that go unchallenged, Dan Parker being a true racer immediately started planning an assault on Newman's record. His weapon of choice is a modified 2008 Chevrolet Corvette.

Toyota has announced that starting with its 2020 line up of seven hybrid vehicles and one fuel cell model it is extending warranties on the hybrid battery. Previously covered for eight years and 100,000 miles the new warranty is extended to 10 years and 150,000 miles.

Senators Tom Udall and Rick Scott are slated to introduce legislation requiring automakers to install devices that will detect blood alcohol levels and disable the vehicle from starting. The bill looks to mandate a 4-year countdown from passage to full implementation on all new vehicles sold in the U.S.

Jaguar has been making a push in Germany to carve into Mercedes Benz stranglehold on the taxi business previously with the SE model and now with the I-Pace. In 2018 Jaguar started the "racing taxi" at the famed Nurburgring in their XE SV V8 model.

Ike Robotics has a different approach to using public highways. In a 90-page safety report filed with the NHTSA describes a series of simulations before public road testing. Of the 16 of these safety reports filed by different companies, Ike Robotics is the first to eschew testing on public roads.

On October 16, 2019, Volvo will introduce an all-electric XC40 featuring an Android Auto based infotainment system featuring Google technologies. The new infotainment system offers customers unprecedented personalization, improved levels of intuitiveness, and new embedded Google technology.

Female Honda R&D engineers enter a woman's only off road rally to test themselves and the vehicles they help design in a 1,200 mile trek through the deserts of Nevada and California.

The recent fires in the Amazon rainforest brought extreme damage and devastation. Extreme E, the new all-electric Dakar style rally series, wants to shine a light on the issue, and has announced that sections of the area will be used for a racing event.

A case has been brought against Volkswagen in which 470,000 owners of the 2.0 liter TDI EA189 engine seek compensation due to the company's diesel emissions scandal. The scandal was uncovered in 2015 via a tip from researchers to the Environmental Protect Agency and the California Air Resources Board.

A Maryland gas station owner who has become disenchanted with petroleum company contract structures has teamed up with the state energy administration and the Electric Vehicle Institute to make the first conversion from petroleum to electric charging in the United States.

Within the 4-year/50,000 mile warranty, the Cadillac CUE screen allegedly became unresponsive. Repairs would be about $1,200. This, despite a NHTSA technical bulletin dated December 2014 and again issued in August 2017 identifying the problem and suggesting a full replacement of the center stack.

Audi AG is simplifying its lineup to cut costs and consequently increase profits. The automaker has already pared down its line by 27% and is looking for an eventual 45% reduction. Audi AG CEO Bram Schot explained: We want to get more penetration in the high-end segment.

"These agile, electrically powered scooters are the perfect way to cover short distances quickly and without harming the environment," Mercedes-Benz said in a statement. The new E-Scooter in the Mercedes-Benz EQ brand family was developed in cooperation with the scooter specialist micro. Specs remain under wraps.

After all its recent success with hybrids, you might think Porsche had discovered some new technology, but Porsche started with a hybrid way back in 1900. Yes, 1900. Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the company of the same name, was fascinated by electricity even as a teenager.

Yanfeng Automotive Interiors wants your next ridesharing experience to be a bit more hygienic. The company is introducing what it's calling the Wellness Pod that claims to kill about 99.9% of germs in every vehicle by using a UV air sanitizer.

Land Rover has been working overtime to bring a fresh kind of tech to the newly redesigned Defender. Land Rover claims that the most in-depth technology redesign in 70 years is coming to America in spring 2020. The new Defender 90 and 110 series vehicles will keep you connected, informed, and entertained.

Imagine heading into the office sipping your coffee and reading the paper at 65 miles per hour while Alexa or Google drives your car. Well, put that dream on hold for now. The Washington Post released a very interesting online simulator showcasing how difficult a problem full Level 5 Autonomy truly is.