We Finance! Limited Only 8900 Miles Roof Nav 1owner Non Smoker Carfax Certified! on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Volvo leads and Mini fails in JD Power's Tech Experience Index

New cars are basically rolling computers. Everything from the engine to the infotainment runs on a series of ones and zeros, and a lot of that technology requires input from the driver. So it's no surprise that JD Power has a study designed specifically to discern which bits of tech drivers love and which bits they loathe. "New technology continues to be a primary factor in the vehicle purchase decision," says JD Power's Kristin Kolodge, executive director of driver interaction & human machine interface research. "However, it’s critical for automakers to offer features that owners find intuitive and reliable. The user experience plays a major role in whether an owner will use the technology on a regular basis or abandon it and feel like they wasted their money." The J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study found that Volvo owners are happiest with the technology packed inside their vehicles, followed by BMW and Cadillac, all brands that JD Power classifies as premium. The highest-rated mainstream brand is Hyundai, followed by Subaru and Kia. As was the case with the organization's Initial Quality and APEAL studies, Tesla's numbers aren't officially included because they are the only automaker that has not granted JD Power approval to contact its owners in states that require it. Tesla's projected score of 593 would have put it in second place, right behind Volvo's score of 617. The lowest-ranked brand in the TXI Study is Mini, with Porsche right behind. Diving a little bit deeper, JD Power's findings suggest that the technologies new car buyers care most about are related to helping them see their surroundings better. Camera systems, including rear-view mirror cameras and ground-view cameras, scored highest in five of the six satisfaction attributes measured in the study. The technology that owners could really do without? Gesture controls. Owners who answered JD Power's survey say they don't use gesture controls much at all after initially trying them, and they don't really care if their next vehicle has them. We have to wonder if those responses might be what kept BMW out of the top spot. The TXI Study also found that owners are split on automated driving helpers, like lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking. JD Power suggests that owners may need more training on those systems before they learn to trust them. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences.

Hyundai Veloster Turbo BTR Edition goes demonic at SEMA

Just a few days after Halloween, Blood Type Racing's custom Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec is bringing a demonic look to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas on Nov. 3. This mean little hatchback sports some sinister carbon black paint with crimson accents all around, and a set of red projector headlights top off the devilish details. What's happening under the hood is pretty fiendish, too. The BTR Edition Veloster starts with Hyundai's 1.6-liter four-cylinder, but it's strengthened with parts like forged connecting rods and pistons. The company then adds a high-boost Garrett turbo and retuned ECU. The result is over 500 horsepower to go like a bat out of hell. Beyond the wicked black-and-red aesthetic, Blood Type Racing also fits a carbon-fiber wide body kit, complete with crimson canards at the front corners. Inside, the interior is replaced with a four-point roll cage and racing bucket. The driver can still enjoy some music thanks to a suite of Rockford Fosgate speakers. The Veloster BTR Edition joins a growing slate of custom Hyundais at SEMA this year. In addition to this hellacious hot hatch, there's also a 500-hp Genesis Coupe and a 700-horsepower Tucson. BLOOD TYPE RACING RETURNS TO SEMA, BRINGING ALONG A SINISTER VELOSTER TURBO FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 7, 2015 – Blood Type Racing Inc., the renowned Chicago-based tuner known for his extreme take on Korean vehicles, has revealed its Veloster Turbo R-Spec built for SEMA. The BTR Edition Veloster has an evil twist, designed to look as though it just switched over to the dark side. The car will be revealed at Hyundai's SEMA press conference on November 3 at 11:30 a.m. PT, in Las Vegas. The vehicle's evil appearance began with a "Carbon Black" paint job, accented with a red racing stripe running from the front splitter up onto the hood. A carbon fiber wide-body kit gives the car a muscular, more aggressive stance, and front-mounted aero canards, front splitter and a rear deck spoiler provide down force at speed. Red accents on the custom SSR three-piece wheels, along with red projector "demon eye" headlamps add a final demonic touch to the vehicle's exterior. Using the Veloster's 1.6-liter "Gamma" four-cylinder as a starting block, BTR added new cylinder sleeves, a high-boost turbocharger from Garrett, and custom connecting rods and pistons.

Recharge Wrap-up: Peugeot eF01 folding e-bike, Australia orders Hyundai FCEVs

Australia has ordered 20 hydrogen powered vehicles from Hyundai. The Australian Capital Territory Government in Canberra will take delivery of the fleet of Hyundai's next-generation fuel cell vehicles (set to replace the Tucson Fuel Cell in 2018) for its Renewable Transport Fuels Test Berth project. As part of the program, the vehicles will be powered by hydrogen made with a Siemens Silyzer System with electricity from Hornsdale Wind Farm in South Australia. The Siemens refueler is capable of powering over 1, 000 fuel cell vehicles each averaging 14,000 miles per year. Read more from Hyundai. Peugeot has unveiled its eF01 electrically assisted folding bike. Meant to facilitate multimodal travel, Peugeot's eF01 folds up quickly to be thrown in the trunk of a car, carried on public transport, or wheeled in its folded position while walking. It's a little hefty, at 37 pounds, but its compactness helps make up for that. It can be charged in the cargo area of any vehicle with a 12-volt outlet, so it's ready to provide 18 miles of electric assistance at speeds of up to 12 mph. It can also communicate with a smartphone via Bluetooth to show current charge and range. Read more from Peugeot. A123 Systems will collaborate with Argonne National Laboratory to create safe, better performing lithium-ion batteries. The partners will focus on cathode technology in order to increase energy density and durability in order to improve the driving range of electric vehicles. A123 expects to increase energy density and range by more than 60 percent over its current offerings. "Working with Argonne will further advance our already strong presence in plug-in vehicles and support the increasing market demand globally," says A123 Systems CEO Jason Forcier. "We look forward to expanding our customer base as we offer increasingly greater range to our plug-in vehicle programs without compromising on the life and safety performance that the market has come to expect from A123." Read more in A123's press release. Featured Gallery Peugeot eF01 Folding E-Bike Related Gallery 2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell: LA 2013 View 19 Photos News Source: Hyundai, Peugeot, A123 Systems Green Hyundai Peugeot Alternative Fuels Bikes Electric Hydrogen Cars recharge wrapup