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TechnologyTechCrunchPeloton responds to concerns over Apple GymKit integration
Peloton this week raised some eyebrows by dropping Apple GymKit compatibility for its Bike Bootcamp program. The situation left some wondering whether the move was a direct response to Apple's recent entry into the home exercise market with Fitness+. Designed with the gym in mind, Apple’s program engages with specific exercise equipment.
BusinessTechCrunchTesla owners can now see how much solar or coal is powering their EVs
Tesla owners can now see exactly what kind of energy is powering their electric vehicles. TezLab, a free app that's like a Fitbit for a Tesla vehicle, pushed out a new feature this week that shows the energy mix — breaking down the exact types and percentages of fossil fuels and renewable energy — coming from charging locations, including Superchargers and third-party networks throughout the United States. "We're tracking the origin of data as it relates to energy, so we know if you're in Tucson or Brooklyn (or any location) where the energy is coming from and what the mix of that energy looks like," Ben Schippers, the CEO and co-founder of TezLab explained in a recent interview.
BusinessAutoblogHyundai Santa Cruz: how the design evolved from concept to production
When the Hyundai HCD-15 Santa Cruz concept debuted at the 2015 Detroit auto show, it was eagerly received. As it turned out, we waited quite a while for it, but now that the production version is here as the 2022 Santa Cruz pickup, we thought it would be interesting to take a look back to see how it differs from the concept. The HCD-15 (on the right) had somewhat generic front-end styling that was not lifted from any existing Hyundai production model.
TechnologyAutoblogRivian hops into the insurance game to cover its upcoming R1T and R1S
As the Rivian R1T and R1S near their official production launch dates, Rivian is hopping into the insurance industry. Simply called “Rivian Insurance,” Rivian wants to be an attractive alternative to the longtime Goliaths of the car insurance industry. The service will initially launch in 40 states, making it far more accessible than Tesla’s car insurance program that is only available to California residents.
NewsAutoblogBird bombs truck driver with fish
It would appear that the long-simmering avian war upon humanity might be heating up again as an unsuspecting truck driver in North Carolina fell victim to a dive-bombing assault by an unidentified Carolina Bird-of-Prey. As the harrowing video above shows, the driver from Wards Transport then slowed and pulled to the side of the road, assuredly taking stock of his good fortune in having survived the assault and mourning the death of the innocent fish at the talons of the avian bomber.
NewsThe TelegraphUK’s rarest cars: the innovative Fiat 127 is almost extinct after 50 years
Fifty years ago this month, Fiat startled many of its more traditionally-minded customers. For the past 16 years, the motoring public associated the company’s small cars with rear-mounted engines, but here was a front-wheel-drive saloon with a transversely mounted engine driving the front wheels. The 127 set the modern supermini template, with the Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta and Austin Metro following in its wake. Project X1/4 commenced in 1968 as the eventual replacement for the Fiat 850. The future 127 employed the brakes, suspension and steering from the 128, with power from the long-established 903cc engine. The launch took place in April 1971, with a memorable advertising campaign starring the great stunt driver Rémy Julienne. One major sales asset was Pio Manzù’s neat styling. The 127 made its British debut at the 1971 London Motor Show, and at £799, it was only £62 more expensive than a Mini 1000. Autocar proclaimed “another winner from Turin”, and one brochure boasted “it holds all the right cards (including the joker)”. The 127 was declared Car of the Year for 1972, and by 1974 sales passed the million mark. Fiat initially built the 127 as a two-door, but a hatchback version became available in March 1972. Five years later, it introduced the Series 2: “It’s good to be back in front”, stated the British-market brochure. There was a revised grille, a new facia and the welcome option of a 1,049cc single overhead camshaft engine – and some witty marketing. Gavin Bushby, the chairman of the Fiat Motor Club, is the custodian of an immaculate 1978-registered 1050 CL that goes by the nom-de-127 of “Freddie”.
LifestyleAutoblogMercedes-Benz EQB teased, will be revealed at Shanghai Auto Show
Hot off the reveal of its flagship EQS sedan, Mercedes will reveal yet another electric model this weekend at the Shanghai Auto Show. This time it will be the Mercedes-Benz EQB crossover, which is partially shown in the teaser above. At least it's good enough for us to see that, like its cousin the EQA, it will be derived from the gas-powered GLB-Class.
NewsAutoblogFord Mustang Shelby GT500 adds carbon fiber accessories
The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, the 760-horsepower monster at the tippy top of the Mustang lineup, can now be made a bit more extreme with a batch of new carbon-fiber exterior accessory parts. The newly announced pieces from Ford Performance include a front splitter, a hood vent, and trim panels for the front bumper and rear decklid. Out of the box, the Shelby GT500 already comes with all kinds of special bodywork.
NewsAutoblogThe Audi E-Tron Sportback is guilt-free luxury, and you can win one here
No, an Audi E-Tron Sportback electric car won’t beat a Tesla Model X in a drag race, but you can’t beat the price tag of this one that Omaze is giving away. Despite the E-Tron’s low center of gravity (a product of its low-mounted battery pack), it still feels as hefty as the specs say it is.
BusinessTechCrunchGM's second $2.3B battery plant with LG Chem to open in late 2023
GM and LG Chem announced Friday plans to build a second U.S. battery cell factory — a $2.3 billion facility in Spring Hill, Tennessee that will supply the automaker with the cells needed for the 30 electric vehicle models it plans to launch by mid decade. Construction on the plant, which is located next to GM's existing Spring Hill factory, will begin immediately, the company's CEO and Chairman Mary Barra said in a press conference. The battery factory is expected to be completed by late 2023, and create 1,300 jobs.
TechnologyAutoblog2022 Infiniti QX55 Luggage Test | The price to be paid for a coupe
The 2022 Infiniti QX55 is the crossover-coupe version of the QX50, which like other such variants available throughout the industry, chops the roofline and cargo area down to create a "coupe-like" appearance. Obviously, this results in a reduction in cargo capacity, but because that reduction is largely above the back seat line, the actual reduction in usable cargo space isn't as great as you might expect. While carrying a large box or some other tall, bulky thing will be more difficult, smaller items like suitcases won't necessarily be much different since carrying them above the back seat line can reduce or eliminate rear visibility and create a hazard by flying forward while stopping as well.
BusinessEngadgetTesla settles with ex-employee over Autopilot code theft accusations
Tesla has settled with a former employee that it sued for downloading data related to its Autopilot feature.
LifestyleAutoblog2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Road Test Review | Adding a TRD Lift Kit
Toyota knows its Tacoma fanbase is a rabid one. There are three levels of TRD models for off-road enthusiasts, multiple engine options, and you can even get it with a manual transmission. Toyota tossed us the keys to a Tacoma TRD Off-Road with this TRD Lift Kit fitted to it so that we could get an idea of what owners should expect were they to drop $1,450 for the gear.
BusinessTechCrunchOxbotica raises $13.8M from Ocado to build autonomous vehicle tech for the online grocer's logistics network
Ocado, the U.K. online grocer that has been making strides reselling its technology to other grocery companies to help them build and run their own online ordering and delivery operations, is making an investment today into what it believes will be the next chapter of how that business will grow: it is taking a £10 million ($13.8 million) stake in Oxbotica, a U.K. startup that develops autonomous driving systems. Ocado is treating this as a strategic investment to develop AI-powered, self-driving systems that will work across its operations, from vehicles within and around its packing warehouses through to the last-mile vehicles that deliver grocery orders to people's homes. "We are not constraining ourselves to work in any one use case," said Alex Harvey, chief of advanced technology at Ocado, in an interview.
TechnologyTechCrunchAll the tech crammed into the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS
Mercedes-Benz lifted the final veil Thursday on its flagship EQS sedan after weeks of teasers, announcements and even a pre-production drive in which TechCrunch participated. The company peeled off the camouflage of the EQS — the electric counterpart to the Mercedes S Class — and revealed an ultra-luxury and tech-centric sedan. "There is not one thing because this car is 100 things," Ola Källenius, the chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz, told TechCrunch in an interview the morning of the EQS launch.
NewsAutoblogAlpha Wolf+ electric pickup adds space for friends, if only just
Another month, and another rendered product from Alpha Motor Corporation is revealed. This time it's the Wolf+, which is basically just an extended-cab version of the Wolf electric pickup truck it showed last month. You can also see the connection to the other proposed Alpha models back to the Ace coupe.
LifestyleAutoblogGM's adorable convertible EV for the masses revealed ahead of Shanghai Auto Show
The Wuling Hongguang MINIEV is one of China's hottest selling EVs. The very affordable city compact went on sale last summer to much fanfare, and now a convertible version is headed to the Shanghai Auto Show. A product of SAIC-GM-Wuling, a joint venture in which General Motors is part stakeholder, the fixed-head MINIEV costs the yuan equivalent of about $4,300.
CelebrityAutoblogRoyal family reveals Prince Philip's custom Land Rover Defender gun bus
A very special Land Rover Defender will be part of the funeral for Prince Philip. The Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth's husband, Philip died on April 9 at age 99. As planned, it will be a ceremonial royal funeral, rather than a state funeral, with most of the details in keeping with Prince Philip's personal wishes, among which was that he be carried in a specially-converted Land Rover that he helped design.
BusinessTechCrunchRivian to initially launch in-house insurance program in 40 states
Electric truck startup Rivian released Thursday details of its in-house Rivian Insurance program, which it says will be integrated into its digital ordering process. Keeping in line with the company’s marketing as an “adventure vehicle” company, customers will also have the option to cover their home and recreational equipment, such as boats, dirt bikes and campers. Rivian's plans to start an insurance program first leaked more than a year ago after a job posting was spotted.
BusinessAutoblogWhy it took so long for the Hyundai Santa Cruz to reach production
The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz was a long time coming. The concept was revealed at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, which means it took six years for Hyundai to bring out a production model. Castillo started off by saying that when the original Santa Cruz concept was launched it had a great reception with a lot of people interested in it.
BusinessAutoblogAn electric Mazda, the driver's Porsche Panamera and an intriguing Citroen | Autoblog Podcast #674
Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day.
BusinessTechCrunchTamika Butler, Remix's Tiffany Chu and Revel's Frank Reig to discuss how to balance equitability and profitability at TC Sessions: Mobility
City officials and agencies learned from those early deployments of ride-hailing and shared scooter services and have since pushed back with new rules and tighter control over which companies can operate. Luckily, we have three guests who are at the center of cities, equity and shared mobility: community organizer, transportation consultant and lawyer Tamika L. Butler, Remix co-founder and CEO Tiffany Chu and Revel co-founder and CEO Frank Reig.
BusinessEngadgetMercedes EQS first look: The pinnacle of EV luxury
The EQS is an EV take on the Mercedes-Benz S Class, the company's classic luxury model. While we wait for US pricing, Mercedes gave us an opportunity to check out the vehicle and test some of its features.
BusinessAutoblog2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS flagship electric sedan comes into full view at last
Mercedes-Benz has finally pulled the sheet off its new EQS electric sedan. This full-size luxury machine with up to 516 horsepower and more than 475 miles of range (770 km per the European WLTP standard) will do 0-60 in 4.1 seconds on the way to a top speed of 130 mph. Due to the delay of the EQC crossover, the EQS will become the first ground-up, all-electric Mercedes-Benz sold in the United States. The single-motor 450+ (the plus stands for "long range," so we assume there will be a variant with a smaller battery pack, though perhaps only for overseas markets) packs 329 hp and 406 pound-feet of torque, which is good enough for a 0-60 sprint in 5.5 seconds, Mercedes-Benz says.
TechnologyAutoblog2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz revealed with sharp styling, smart features
It has been six years since Hyundai first showed us its concept pickup truck, the small and sporty Santa Cruz. It has the stylish dual-cowl dash design, which can be paired with a 10-inch digital instrument display.
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