Author: kirklandc008@gmail.com

Pictures of the new BMW M350 xDrive prototype

A sub-nine-second quarter-mile was once the kind of performance reserved for purpose-built drag cars, heavily modified street machines, and dedicated racing machinery. Today, however, a select group of showroom production cars can cross the same line straight from the factory, backed by the engineering, reliability, and warranties expected of road-going vehicles. The technology behind this extraordinary acceleration is evolving at a remarkable pace, too. Some rely on immense electric motor output and all-wheel drive, while others extract astonishing performance from internal combustion engines, hybrid assistance and sophisticated traction management. The Nine Second Quarter-Mile Has Become A New Performance Benchmark Breaking…

Xpeng’s humanoid robot production line has begun operating, with Iron walking off the line autonomously after assembly. Xpeng reaffirmed plans to begin mass production by year-end, followed by an official launch and deliveries in China and overseas in 2027. Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) has commissioned its humanoid robot production line, with more than 80% of core processes automated, laying the manufacturing groundwork for mass production by the end of this year. The company announced on Tuesday that its Iron humanoid robot had completed assembly and autonomously walked off the line, marking the project’s transition from research and development prototypes to production-line…

A Volkswagen body-on-frame family to take on the Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner? It sounds too good to be true, especially in the wake of the second-largest round of staff cuts in recent automotive history, but somehow, amid all the madness, Volkswagen bosses want to make it a reality. Nestled in a plethora of announcements last week, some of which painted a bleak picture for the Volkswagen Group and its brands, there was a glimmer of hope for an American rival to the 4Runner, Bronco, and the forthcoming Montero and Xterra. Dedicated North American Product Onslaught Is Going Off-Road Volkswagen Atlas…

Photo: China News Service China’s clean energy machine is now moving so fast that it’s meeting soaring electricity demand and pushing coal power backward at the same time. Coal generation has stopped growing in 17 of the 26 Chinese provinces and regions analyzed in a new report from energy think tank Ember. Those regions include industrial heavyweights such as Shandong and Hunan, and together they account for more than half of China’s thermal power capacity. Thermal generation – most of it coal – fell 0.7% in 2025, even as electricity demand jumped 5%. China’s thermal generation fell in 2015, when…

Audi just built its most efficient electric car ever. However, if you’re in the US, you’ll likely only ever see it in photos.  The company’s pitch is simple and quite intriguing. Its A2 e-tron doesn’t sport the largest battery on an Audi, but focuses on squeezing the most range out of it through smart engineering.  Audi So what makes the A2 e-tron so efficient? Two things: an efficient powertrain and an exceptionally low drag coefficient. Let me explain. Under Europe’s WLTP testing cycle, the 140 kW variant with the optional efficiency package consumed just 12.8 kWh of electricity for every…

For buyers seeking a practical family vehicle, crossovers remain a popular option, with Toyota’s luxury marque, Lexus, still investing heavily in the body style. The brand continues to offer a diverse range of crossover vehicles for 2026, bringing its signature qualities of cabin refinement and efficient powertrains to some of the best luxury crossover packages rivaling equivalent European and American models. Two crossover models within the Lexus lineup prove to be the most enticing options. The most immediate differences between the Lexus NX and RX in their current iterations are their size, if only marginally, and an equally small $6,000…

When shopping for an electric vehicle, affordability is becoming a more common trait. But affordable and energy efficient is truly a rare breed. Often you have to sacrifice one for the other. Want something affordable? Great, here’s a range loser. Want something that goes the distance? Be ready to pay the price.Surprisingly, here comes Audi to split the difference. The German automaker’s new A2 E-tron compact crossover is inexpensive, starting at just £32,200 (about $45,000). And it absolutely impresses with an ultra low drag coefficient and a range of battery and drivetrain options that, when configured correctly, can produce a…

On September 3, 2026, Tesla began charging fares for Cybercab rides in Austin, Texas. Federal regulators responded the same day. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened Audit Query AQ26002 covering roughly 1,000 Cybercabs — a formal examination of how Tesla declared a vehicle with no steering wheel, no pedals, and no mirrors compliant with U.S. safety standards written for traditional cars. The audit is not a recall, and NHTSA has not concluded the Cybercab is unsafe or illegally deployed. What regulators want to see is the paperwork and engineering data behind Tesla’s compliance claim — specifically, which safety standards…

How can you compile videos for your Cutest Cat Compilation of 2026 roundup? Ozgurdonmaz/Getty Images YouTube has introduced many user-friendly features over the years — whether it’s the “Jump Ahead” button that quickly skips sponsored segments, or the mobile update to timestamped comments, which flashes them to the top of the pile when the relevant point in the video plays. However, like many of its fellow video-sharing platforms, YouTube does not allow users to fully download videos, leaving only one legal option to do so. And while the rollout of YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red) arrived…