Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

Ford showed off the 2013 Escape at last year's Los Angeles auto show.

The Escape SUV gets a radical model update for 2013. The car goes from a boxy small truck to a modern crossover in one swoop, and it takes a wide variety of engineers to get all the details right.

CNET talked to Ford acoustic engineer Christine...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

2013 Infiniti JX Luxury Crossover Production Ceremony.

Production of the 2013 Infiniti JX, which offers the first backup collision intervention (BCI) system, is now in full swing in Nissan's Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in Tennessee.

The 2013 JX gets 21 mpg and 20 mpg for the front-wheel-drive and intuitive all-wheel-drive models,...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

The Virttex virtual reality simulator has been involved in driver distraction research and new safety technology development at Ford since 2001.

Ford's Virtual Test Track Experiment (Virttex) just got a major technology upgrade.

Virttex, developed in 2001, is a high-fidelity, motion-based simulator that features a dome on top of a...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

A sketch of the Toyota FT-Gh hybrid concept.

Toyota appears to be doubling down on its hybrid bet. In addition to the world premiere of the Toyota Yaris hybrid, the auto manufacturer will show off a new affordable hybrid city car at the 2012 International Motor Show in Geneva next month. The company released a sketch of the concept...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

The Toyota FCV-R concept car.

On the second stop of its world tour, the Toyota FCV-R fuel cell concept vehicle will make its European premiere at the Geneva auto show next month.

The hydrogen-powered concept debuted at the Tokyo Motor show late last year. Few details about the FCV-R were shared, but the compact car seats four and...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

Honda's new CR-V model keeps many of the values intact that have made it such a popular small SUV, but also does not take advantage of new opportunities to make it an even better car. The engine and transmission are a complete hold-over from the previous generation. Honda is developing more efficient engines with...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

The stylish new Range Rover Evoque has been collecting awards like a blue whale in a patch of krill. And considering its high tech, efficient engine and off-road capability, most of those awards are deserved.

But in the area of cabin electronics, it falls short of its luxury car competition. Where other car...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

How not to get fooled when buying new tires, better tech for a 2007 Prius, and why your best in car upgrade is often just bringing your phone to the car.

Listen now:

EPISODE 45

Related Links

• Cooley's...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

Feds issue strongest position yet against distracting car tech, Tesla Model X has us excited, and confounded. Is Washington state penalizing electric car drivers? And we drive the 2012 Subaru Impreza.

Car Tech Live

Listen now:

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

For the 2012 update, Subaru downsized the engine, losing half a liter and a little power. But mating that smaller engine with a continuously variable transmission results in very good fuel economy, high 20s in our testing.

As an urban runabout and occasional ski weekend car, the new Impreza is a good choice. The...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

The Audi RS 4 Avant. Is it too cool, or not cool enough for U.S. buyers?

Audi released images of the suped-up, esoteric station wagon it is selling only across the pond, seemingly to show Americans what they're missing. It's almost like Audi is punishing us for our SUV favoritism.

The Audi RS 4 Avant is a wagon that counts high...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

The 2012 GMC Terrain

GMC is General Motor's fastest growing brand, due in part to its popular crossover, the GMC Terrain, which attracts families that want the size and cargo capacity of a small SUV, but don't want or need third-row seating. To meet customer demand, it doubled production of the Terrain since 2010, and plans to lure...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander has the highest levels of toxic chemicals in the 205 vehicles tested by the Ecology Center.

Hundreds of chemicals, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFR), are used in automotive interiors. These chemicals are used to make plastics flexible, make fabrics...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

Porsche released this sketch of the Macan, which shares little resemblance to spy photos around the Internet.

The Porsche design department apparently spends most of its time thinking up names for new models, rather than coming up with a new look for the 911, as evidenced by its announcement today that a new, small SUV, going into...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

The XtremeMac InCharge Auto BT crams a Bluetooth receiver and a 10W USB charger into one cable.

The InCharge Auto BT is a simple device, both in form factor and function. Essentially, it features a 12-volt power connection on one end of a 4-foot cable and a male analog auxiliary audio connection on the other. You may...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

Tesla unveils the new Model X SUV at its design center in Los Angeles.

In a shareholder letter released in conjunction with its fourth-quarter results, Tesla gave some tantalizing details about buyer interest in the Model X electric SUV. The company received 500 reservations for the Model X, at a refundable cost of...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

The Plugless Power charging pad.

Hertz announced last week that it was testing a wireless charging station with Plugless Power on a Nissan Leaf. The new wireless charging station trial means that drivers won't get their hands dirty plugging the EV into the grid, and it's a foolproof way to make sure they recharge the...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

The Parrot Minikit+ in its natural environment.

With its low-profile design, the Parrot Minikit+ doesn't command a lot of the driver's attention. That's a good thing.

It even knows to turn itself on when you enter the car thanks to its vibration sensor and automatic power feature. Beyond a basic setup and the...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

During your dating life, you will meet many a prospective life partner, and their cars will serve as a good indication of their personalities, likes, and dislikes.

You can tell a lot about a person by the car they drive, and some cars say more than others. In some cases, the message conveyed by these cars will let you know you have found a home. In...

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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:32

Sketch of the Kia "KH" sedan.

To be seen as more than a budget car maker, Kia follows the example of Hyundai's Equus in releasing a luxury sedan.

The Korean automaker published several images of its upcoming flagship sedan that's set to debut on its home turf in the first half of 2012. Code-named the "KH," the rear-wheel...

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