Like the Porsche 911, the Chevrolet Corvette crowd is a rabidly loyal, and purist, bunch. Something as trivial as changing the headlights are enough to cause a massive debate. So you can imagine the reaction of some current C8 owners in GM's latest survey. According to the Mid Engine Corvette Forum , several owners have been receiving a questionnaire regarding an electric model, along with options and subscription services they might like. The survey comes from GM, and reactions have been mixed. Perhaps that last bit is unsurprising given the cult following of this sports car. Browsing at the forums, reactions ranged from owners embracing the future, to those who wouldn't touch an EV with a ten-foot pole. While the latter is no surprise, it's also interesting to see Corvette owners open to a plug-in version of their beloved sports car. Mind you, the only ones sent these surveys are C8 owners, and it wasn't likely a massive sample size. Either way, the fact that GM is asking …
Technology
Ferrari Sedan Rendering Reimagines One-Off BR20 With Four Doors
Ferrari’s one-off creations are unique, often transforming the base model into something radically – and stylistically – imaginative. The company’s latest, the BR20 , is quite a departure from the GTC4Lusso and that model’s shooting brake body. It’s sleek, athletic, with a new swooping roof, though it does make us wonder what Ferrari wouldn’t do. A new video from SRK Designs is pushing the imagination by turning the BR20 into a sleek one-off sedan. The video starts with the BR20 before the transformation begins, expanding the wheelbase, reshaping the greenhouse, and correcting the car’s new proportions. The unofficial rendering shows how the BR20’s sleek silhouette could easily skew to accommodate a longer roof and a larger greenhouse, though the extra cabin space eats into the long hood. The front wheel arches lose a bit of their elegant definition, giving the sedan a slightly truncated appearance. Gallery: 2022 Ferrari BR20 6 Photos …
2014 Dodge Durango bows in New York [video]
Dodge has taken the wraps off the 2014 Durango. Looking instantly recognizable, the facelifted model has a new front fascia with a revised grille and restyled headlights that can be equipped LED accents. There's also a new rear bumper, "racetrack" taillights and restyled 18- to 20-inch aluminum wheels. Bigger changes occur in the cabin as the model has been equipped with a new dashboard that houses a redesigned center stack with a 5- or 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system. The Durango also has a new center console with a rotary shifter and USB/AUX/SD card inputs. Other highlights include a new steering wheel, a digital instrument cluster and an optional Blu-ray entertainment system with two 9-inch displays. Under the hood, two engines are available. The entry-level 3.6-liter V6 produces 290 bhp (216 kW) and 260 lb-ft (353 Nm) of torque, while 5.7-liter HEMI V8 develops 360 bhp (268 kW) and 390 lb-ft (528 Nm) of torque. While the engines carryover, they are connected to a new …
Ford Mustang GT4 could be your first step into racing
The Ford Mustang has a long legacy of being one of the most versatile performance platforms on the planet. Whether the owner wants to go drag racing or carve corners at a circuit, the right mods can take the Blue Oval’s pony car to the finish line. For customers who want to hit the track and start competing immediately, the company is introducing the new Mustang GT4 at the 2016 SEMA Show. In addition, drivers who want to know more about what their vehicle is doing might benefit from the upcoming Ford Performance smartphone app. The Mustang GT4 gives racers a complete package that they can buy and start competing in series like the Grand Sport class of the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, Pirelli World Challenge GTS, and GT4 European Series. These coupes use a 5.2-liter V8 that's similar to the road-going Shelby GT350 , except this racing mill has a cross-plane crankshaft rather than a flat-plane design. Power routes to the rear through a six-speed Holinger …
NXP Forecasts Sales Growth Driven By Connected Vehicles
Chipmaker NXP Semiconductors on Thursday said it believes it will hit $15 billion in sales by 2024, with much of the expansion coming from internet-connected electric vehicles. The Dutch company already derives about half of its revenue, which it forecast will reach $11 billion this year, from the automotive sector. Speaking with Reuters after holding a presentation for investors, NXP Chief Executive Kurt Sievers said the company intended to focus on key areas where more chips are going into cars and where NXP believes it can hold a market position at least twice that of any competitor. One of those areas is radar sensors, which are increasingly being put into cars for safety systems that can automatically brake before a collision. NXP has 44% market share in that field and $600 million in sales today, and Sievers said the company believes radar chips could hit $1 billion in sales by 2024. NXP competes against Marvell Technology in selling such chips, but Sievers said NXP …
MotoGP Will Move To More Sustainable Fuels From 2024
The FIM MotoGP World Championship witnessed some of the biggest technological advancements on two wheels. With some of the biggest motorcycle manufacturers on the grid, the organisers have now announced the decision to switch to more sustainable fuels from 2024 across all classes. By 2024, fuel in all MotoGP classes will be of a minimum 40 per cent non-fossil origin. The organisers aim to switch to 100 per cent non-fossil origin fuel by 2027. Speaking about the announcement, Jorge Viegas, FIM President, said, "I'm really proud of this announcement, after many months and even years of negotiations with petrol companies and manufacturers, we've reached an agreement. This will allow MotoGP to be the leader in this real revolution for sustainability. We want to really show the way to all the motorcycle manufacturers that it's possible to have the fun we all like but with sustainable fuels. We hope by 2027 to have completely carbon-free fuels in our competitions, leading the way and …