Author: kirklandc008@gmail.com

When Microsoft released Windows 11 five years ago, it felt like an operating system that was still being renovated, a work in progress. You’d think by now that those renovations would be complete, with Microsoft turning its attention to Windows 12. Instead, Windows 11 feels like it’s here to stay, forming the foundation for Microsoft’s next big ambition: transforming Windows into an agentic OS.At a Windows and Surface event this week, Microsoft laid out its plan to bring AI agents to Windows, including hybrid intelligence that lets Windows take advantage of free local models instead of expensive cloud ones. “I…

In the face of expensive development and slowed EV demand, Honda announced to the world that it was canceling its planned EVs last year. Instead, Honda would focus on hybrids. Since that announcement, the company has been previewing the technology that it will be implementing. This week, Honda reiterated its commitment to the hybrid segment by updating its planned list of new vehicles, as well as new branding for its technology. The name is a bit boring, but the wave of cars coming shouldn’t be. The wordmark logo for Honda Hybrid against a white backgroundHonda North America Is Getting Most…

While average prices for new cars continue to increase, it makes sense for those who decide to explore the secondhand market for alternatives. There are plenty of options to choose from in the used market for buyers who feel they can get more for their money, especially if it’s possible to get a luxury or performance car for the same amount of money that a new, entry-level Nissan Sentra currently costs. It’s especially true for those eyeing something that can offer open-top motoring on a budget, whether it’s for pure driving excitement as a roadster, or a refined cruiser that…

Automotive Rivian is getting into the Halloween spirit in a big way this year, and fans of the iconic Ghostbusters movies are in for a pretty entertaining treat. The electric vehicle manufacturer has teamed up with Sony Pictures to introduce a special Ghostbusters-themed Halloween Mode that transforms its EVs into modern-day ghost-hunting machines. Complete with eerie sound effects, animated characters, customized lighting, and a healthy dose of nostalgia, the update brings a little Hollywood magic to Rivian’s growing lineup. Better yet, the experience isn’t limited to a special-edition vehicle or an expensive option package. Owners of compatible Rivian…

And the data it provided sheds light on the origins of fast radio bursts. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, T. Nanayakkara (USYD). Image Processing: J. DePasquale (STScI) Back in 2024, scientists detected the farthest fast radio burst we’ve ever seen to date, thanks to observations by the MeerKAT ground telescope array. Fast radio bursts are ultra-fast radio waves from deep space, which last a fraction of a second but release as much as energy as what the sun emits in three days. They were first discovered in 2007, and not much is known about them. Now, astronomers have…

The Drive 🤝 your inbox. Every weekday The Daily Brief wraps up the biggest stories and our exclusive reporting on the auto industry and car culture. I don’t often find one thing about a car so egregious that I write a standalone blog about it, but this one really deserves it. I’ve been driving a 2026 Lexus TX350 for a few days, and I was immediately blown away by how quiet and refined it is—even by Lexus standards. Even the four-cylinder turbo and eight-speed automatic are a gem and drive as smoothly as a BMW straight-six. And then, I tried…

Honda Canada has detailed updates for the 2027 Civic Type R, which features revised exterior styling, improved engine cooling, and chassis refinements. To improve thermal management during sustained high-load driving, the vehicle receives a redesigned front fascia featuring a deeper splitter and larger grille opening to increase airflow velocity and reduce turbulence. Honda also modified the braking system by adding a yoke spring to the brake pedal linkage to suppress mechanical play and improve pedal feel. Interior and functional updates include standard heated front seats, an Ultrasuede instrument panel designed to reduce windshield glare, and two additional USB-C ports. For…

EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, left, and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao co-chair the second meeting of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism in Beijing. Credit: China’s Ministry of Commerce. China said the understanding complies with WTO rules; the EU trade commissioner said it includes halving hybrid vehicle exports to the bloc. Both sides will continue procedures for company price undertakings and reviews in the EU’s anti-subsidy case involving Chinese EVs. China and the European Union reached an understanding on hybrid vehicle trade, marking progress in negotiations as the bloc seeks to curb imports, though details…

Volkswagen unveiled the ID. Tiguan, an all-electric version of its best-selling vehicle. The ID. Tiguan will go on sale in early 2027, replacing the ID.4 and ID.5 with up to 372 miles of range and plenty of other upgrades. Meet the ID.4’s replacement, the Volkswagen ID. Tiguan The ID.4 and ID.5 are on the way out as the new ID. Tiguan steps in. With over 950,000 models sold since they went on sale in 2021, the ID.4 and ID.5 have been at the core of Volkswagen’s EV lineup. Following the ID. Polo and ID. Cross, the ID. Tiguan is the…

Mercedes-Benz turned 140 years old this year, or rather, the 29th of January marked 140 years to the day since Carl Benz filed the patent for the Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1886 — the world’s first car. But what does that have to do with a new flat-plane crank V8? Well, to celebrate 140 years of innovation, Mercedes launched a new S-Class on that date, and just days after, it embarked on a road trip around the world in three (almost) identical 2027 S-Class sedans powered by this new flat-plane crankshaft motor. The goal: visit 140 places around the world, one…