Car Tech Articles

LOS ANGELES--Using a rigid aluminum structure and a Ford-sourced engine, the MXT looks good and should feature excellent handling.

The MXT should go a long way toward changing perceptions in the U.S. about Mexican craftsmanship. This little sports car, the brainchild of Daniel Mastretta, uses a rigid, lightweight chassis made from aluminum and a short wheelbase, which should give it excellent handling.

… Read more

The Prius family is about to get bigger and smaller at the same time.

Toyota continues its diversification of the Prius line of hybrid vehicles (which currently comprises the Prius v, the Prius Plug-in, and, of course, the standard Prius) with a new downsized model that the automaker thinks will be great for the tight-quarters driving of major metropolitan areas and as an entry point for young drivers interested in hybridization. We've known that this was coming--we've already seen the concept. Now, however, we finally know what the production model of the Prius c will look like when … Read more

This week kicks off the Los Angeles Auto Show, where automakers show off their latest models and concepts in the city known for its car culture. CNET will be at the show during press preview days this week, getting a first-hand look. Here are some of the cars we are looking forward to seeing at the show: … Read more

The 2011 SEMA Show has come to a close, but I've still got an SD card full of photos of the hundreds of wild rides displayed there.

With that in mind, I've rounded up 130 photos of some of the hottest rides found on the floor of the SEMA Show. The cars have been split into four bite-size categories for quick navigation.

There were plenty of Asian imports to be found, with styles ranging from VIP to street tuner to race ready. This was the first year that I was able to check out the anime-inspired Itasha style … Read more

Ford has announced an update to its much-criticized car tech interface, previously plagued by slow performance and cluttered screens.

Ford came out with its new MyFord Touch interface on the 2011 Edge last year. This interface featured LCDs on the instrument cluster showing navigation, phone, audio, and trip data, along with a big center touch screen allowing control over these different car tech functions. But the touch-screen interface came under much criticism by CNET and others for its slow performance and cluttered displays.

Today, Ford showed off an update to the system intended to address its various problems. According to … Read more

LAS VEGAS--This week, tuners showed off their latest automotive creations, putting new body work, stereos, and engine mods in cars such as Civics and Velosters at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

The Specialty Equipment Manufacturer Association (SEMA) held its annual show in Las Vegas this week, and CNET was on hand to see the latest outlandish car mods and new technology on display. SEMA is a show for stuff you can do to a car after it leaves the factory.

Here are a few highlights from the show: … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Hyundai's last few appearances at the SEMA Show have been so Genesis-heavy that I had to double-check I hadn't stumbled into Sega's booth.

Although the Genesis Coupe is still a large part of Hyundai's aftermarket strategy for the 2011 SEMA Show, the automaker's focus has been shifted to its new weapon of choice: the brand-new 2012 Veloster. Hyundai's booth was home to the unveiling of five custom Veloster models, including the ARK Performance Veloster that we saw previewed not too long ago.

The ARK Veloster features a laundry list of modifications that touch … Read more

LAS VEGAS--When a manufacturer of headlights and auxiliary lights shows you its newest products, it's probably not a good idear to look directly into the light.

Sylvania isn't shy about boasting that it is the leader in automotive lighting technology, but I'll admit that I wasn't expecting to be wowed by a bunch of light bulbs. I was, quite literally, dazzled.

Once the after-image had cleared from my vision, it was explained to me that the new Slyvania Silverstar zXe line of aftermarket replacement headlight bulbs attempts to mimic the ultra white light of HID headlamps … Read more

LAS VEGAS--A letter F on a report card is usually a bad thing. However, when Lexus slaps an F-badge on the back of one of its vehicles, you should know that the automaker means fast and not fail.

Actually, the F stands for finesse, but let's not split hairs. The GS 350 sedan with F Sport package that Lexus debuted at the 2011 SEMA Show is no mere appearance upgrade, it should also be faster than the standard model.

However, the extra performance comes in the form of suspension, aerodynamic, and chassis upgrades, as the GS 350's 3.… Read more