Over the past few years, Lexus has refocused its efforts to become more exciting. The results have been mixed thus far, with the cars like the incredible and rare LFA taking the world by storm, but more accessible rides like the IS and GS F getting a bit lost in the mix. Still, things are looking up. The new LC 500 looks like a concept car in a good way, and the brand has just announced that the all-new LS will bow at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show.
We only have a cryptic teaser image to go on thus far, but many of the intense styling elements from the LC 500 appear to have carried over. The fifth-generation model is built on an extended version of the GA-L platform that underpins the LC, and Lexus says it will offer a more dynamic driving experience than its predecessor. We like the sound of that.
To that end, Lexus is expected to ditch the 4.6-liter, 386-horsepower V8 that powers the current LS in favor of the 5.0-liter, 471-hp V8 from the LC 500. The 354-hp hybrid powertrain from the LC 500h is likely to make an appearance as well, and it should inject some serious life into the automaker’s flagship sedan.
The Detroit Auto Show should be busy one for the folks at Toyota, because Lexus’ parent company will debut the next-gen Camry at the event. Like the cars we discussed above, the Camry looks to have significantly more personality than the version it replaces, at least in a aesthetic sense. Will these people-movers help Toyota and Lexus ditch their conservative image? For the answer, stay tuned to DT Cars for more Detroit Auto Show coverage. The event kicks off on January 8.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.