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Lexus LF-1 Limitless looks like a curvy crossover concept

Lexus released a teaser for a new concept that will make its debut at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show, and it has quite the name. The company calls it the LF-1 Limitless, a name that wouldn't sound out of place on a battleship. According to Lexus, the name was chosen because this concept "is a flagship crossover that redefines the boundaries of luxury." Frankly, the boundaries that make up the high-dollar crossover segment are definitely well-tread by now. What we can tell is that the concept's heavily raked D-pillar suggests it will have a coupe-inspired look similar to the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe. The bodywork features many curvy lines and exaggerated wheel arches. It will be interesting if this LF-1 has flagship size to go with its flagship description, which would put it in competition with the upcoming Audi Q8. This concept is well-worth keeping an eye on, since Lexus has a history of previewing future production models with the LF moniker. Examples include 2009's LF-Ch that became the CT 200h, 2012's LF-LC coupe that became the LC 500, 2013's LF-NX that became the Lexus NX crossover, and 2015's LF-FC that became the new LS sedan. Not everything makes it to production, such as the LF-SA mini car, and the LF-C2 that suggested an RC convertible. But there's a strong enough history of production cars coming from LF concepts that this LF-1 could be the preview of a new production model. Related Video:

Rebooted Apple program gets permit to test autonomous vehicles in California

For a while, Apple has been pursuing autonomous vehicle technology, but has more or less tried to keep the specifics of those ambitions under wraps. We did learn last fall that the company was killing off plans to build its own car, and clues about its program to develop a self-driving system popped up since. Today, though, we have more concrete information, as the California DMV has issued Apple a permit to test self-driving cars in the state, as TechCrunch reports. In a document released by the DMV, the tech company joins a number of others in California with approval to test autonomous vehicles. Apple will test its systems on three cars, each a 2015 Lexus RX540h, with six approved drivers. Presumably, those cars will be on the road quite a bit, as gathering lots of data is crucial to developing a working system. Per California rules, the company will have to provide accident reports, as well as a log of every instance that a human driver has to take over driving duties from the autonomous system in what the DMV calls a "disengagement report." Those reports will be made public, so we'll be able to glean a little more information about Apple's progress once they're available. Related Video: News Source: TechCrunchImage Credit: GABRIELLE LURIE/AFP/Getty Images Green Lexus Technology Emerging Technologies Autonomous Vehicles California

Most reliable cars and trucks of 2022

Related: Least reliable cars and trucks of 2022   For years now, Consumer Reports has been one of the most prolific sources of vehicle reliability data around. The organization tests a number of vehicles each year and surveys its members on various automotive topics, including reliability. The results of its 2022 annual auto survey are in, and the list of most reliable vehicles has been revealed. Unsurprisingly, Toyota and Lexus dominated the list of most reliable vehicles, but BMW and Mini snuck into the top 10 as well. The list includes: Toyota Corolla Hybrid: 93 Lexus GX: 91 Mini Cooper: 89 Toyota Prius: 89 Mazda MX-5 Miata: 85 Lincoln Corsair: 82 Toyota Corolla: 81 Subaru Crosstrek: 80 BMW 3 Series: 80 Toyota Prius Prime: 77 In terms of the most reliable vehicle type, Consumer Reports says that sedans remain the best choice. Their average score is 58, which is notably better than SUVs’ average score of 51. Minivans and pickup trucks are lower, at 44 and 39, respectively. As Consumer Reports notes, many sedans are older models that have allowed their manufacturers to iron out the wrinkles, making them more reliable. Domestic automakers' SUVs and trucks performed better in the survey than their imported counterparts, with scores of 45 and 41, respectively. The study also showed that hybrids and plug-in hybrids are becoming more reliable, and have climbed the score ladder to the tops of their segments in many cases.  Consumer Reports says its study includes 17 trouble areas, including small stuff like creaks and rattles and much larger problems like drivetrain failures. The organization states that it weights each issue based on its severity to create its predicted reliability scores, with 100 being the best. A car must be in production for at least two model years to be considered for the list. Related video: Green BMW Lexus Lincoln Mazda MINI Subaru Toyota Car Buying Maintenance Ownership Convertible Coupe Crossover Hatchback SUV Hybrid Sedan Consumer Reports reliability