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Connected cars have gotten reliable enough not just for safety features but also for shooting sprites on a screen. At CES this week, Nvidia announced it will bring its GeForce Now cloud-based gaming service to vehicles from the Hyundai Motor Group, Polestar, and BYD.Playing games on your car’s screen while it charges is one use case, and if you have a strong enough 4G or 5G connection, passengers can also play on the go.In a separate announcement, Nvidia said it will work with Foxconn to manufacture new electronic control units for upcoming automated electric-vehicle platforms.Video games in cars are nothing new, but Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud-based gaming service hasn’t yet made the jump to vehicles. That’s about to change after Nvidia announced at CES that three automakers have now agreed to stream GeForce Now games in “select vehicle models.”Nvidia describes GeForce Now as a low-latency streaming service that “instantly transforms nearly any laptop, desktop, Mac, SHIELD TV, Android device, iPhone, or iPad into the PC gaming rig you’ve always dreamed of.” The tech company can now add select Polestar, BYD, and Hyundai/Kia/Genesis vehicles to its list of supposedly dreamy PC gaming setups. GeForce users can play over 1,000 paid and free-to-play games, including popular favorites Fortnite and Destiny 2, from online stores like Steam and Epic Games Store. GeForce Now is available in North America and Europe from Nvidia and GeForce Now Alliance partners in other areas of the world.”We’ve done a lot of optimization to enable it to run on all different devices, whether it’s a laptop or a phone or a tablet, a smart TV, and now cars,” Nvidia’s vice president of automotive, Danny Shapiro, said during a briefing with reporters. “The tuning that has to happen is to enable what we call the shortest amount of time from click to photon.” “Click to photon” describes the time it takes between when a player pushes a button, sending a signal up to the cloud and back down to cause a reaction on the screen, Shapiro said. When in an electric vehicle that’s sitting somewhere as it charges, a strong Wi-Fi connection should be enough for the service to work well, he said, but cars are notorious for not staying in one place all the time.Nvidia “On the road, you need a reliable 4G or 5G connection,” he said. “So it really depends on the strength of your network. We’re doing a lot of tuning and optimizing with our automotive partners to basically have a seamless experience in the car integrating GeForce Now into the infotainment system.”Other automakers have introduced video gaming to their vehicles with different levels of success. A year ago, both Tesla and Mercedes both had to rethink how their screens worked for passengers who wanted to play games while in motion. Last month, Tesla updated its in-car gaming service to include Steam, while BMW just announced that it will bring casual games to its cars through AirConsole in 2023. BMW’s service requires a smartphone to serve as a game controller.Nvidia has partnerships with many automakers, so it’s not a surprise that the three OEMs that will bring GeForce Now to their vehicles first already have Nvidia components in some of their cars. Hyundai Motor Group and Polestar use Nvidia Drive technology in their vehicles, while BYD is developing new EVs on the Nvidia Drive platform.Nvidia also announced a new strategic partnership at CES, this one with supplier and automotive manufacturer Foxconn. The two companies said they would build automated electric vehicle platforms, with Foxconn producing new electronic control units based on the latest Nvidia Drive Orin technology.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.A storm is coming | Aston Martin DBS 770 UltimateWatch onThe 2023 Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate is a high-performance send-off to the grand tourer.Aston teased this special edition in a short video on YouTube and said production will be limited to 499 copies.Along with expected performance enhancements, the DBS 770 Ultimate has 759 hp—44 more than normal. The Aston Martin DBS is knocking on death’s door. That imagery is rather dramatic, but it matches the tone of the short video the automaker released teasing a send-off to its sultry grand tourer. While the DBS nameplate lives on for 2023, that model year looks to be the last with the introduction of the limited-production DBS 770 Ultimate.Going Out with a 759-HP BangBilled as the “ultimate finale” to the DBS lineup, Aston says it has been “re-engineered” with a “sharper dynamic focus”. We assume that means it has some enhanced performance hardware and other upgrades, but we won’t know the full details until the company releases them.Aston MartinWhat we do know is that the special DBS has 770 metric horsepower—title drop—which translates to 759 mechanical horses. That’s 44 ponies more than the normal DBS coupe and convertible make, both of which are powered by a 715-hp twin-turbo 5.2-liter V-12. We presume the 770 Ultimate uses a retuned version of the same engine, but, again, we don’t know for sure. That’s part of the tease. Aston Martin’s Dramatic TeaseAs far as teasers go, Aston Martin certainly put an effort into the short video it posted on YouTube. A lot of dramatic imagery is packed into the 55-second clip, which is mostly shot in black and white, save for some glimpses of the DBS bathed in green light.Aston MartinAston MartinAmid images of storm clouds forming, a wick for a dynamite stick burning, and pressure building, a baritone voice narrates the video with a poem called “The night is darkening round me” by British author and poet Emily Brontë, probably best known for her book Wuthering Heights.It’s all very theatrical, and viewers don’t get any clear shots of the car, but it successfully builds tension and excitement, to some degree. Now, we just have to wait for the actual reveal of the 2023 Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate, which the company says will be early this year.This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Last week, German police evidently faced a new sort of dilemma: how to pull over a driver who appeared to be asleep. According to a report from the Bavarian police, the cops tried to pull over a Tesla—model not specified—on the A70 autobahn, but the driver didn’t respond. They pulled alongside and saw Herr Teslaman appeared to be asleep at the wheel. Thus ensued 15 minutes of a game we’d call, “Wake up the guy who’s pretending to be asleep so he can blame his car for whatever he did to get pulled over in the first place.”Deeper Dive into Self-DrivingWe guess there’s an outside possibility that this all really happened in the way it’s described, but the report omits some key details. It does say that the police pulled in front of the car and it maintained a safe following distance at 68 mph, but that the driver appeared to be reclining in the seat, eyes closed, with his hands off the wheel. The police then resorted to 15 minutes of honking (or perhaps sirens—we’re thinking there’s a nuance to the translation of “hupen”) before the 45-year-old sleepyhead acknowledged it was time to hit the ausfahrt and talk to the polizei. Once he actually stopped, they found a weight in the footwell. Which, as we proved, could be hung on the steering wheel to trick the car into thinking there’s a sentient being at the helm.The cops also said the guy was probably on drugs. That we can believe.This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.KITT Helps Michael Lose The Cops | Knight RiderWatch onSure, Blame the CarBut was he really asleep? That’s a good question. It would be helpful to know why the police decided to pull him over in the first place. Because if the reason was erratic driving, that’s at odds with the narrative that Tesla’s Autopilot system is so good that it drove for more than 15 miles just fine all by itself. Just maybe—bear with us here—our man knew he was busted for whatever caused the stop in the first place, so he decided to double down and blame it all on the car. Not that being asleep at the wheel is great, but maybe that’s better than whatever else he was doing. These dang Teslas! You take an Ambien or three and the next thing you know, your car brought you from Bamberg all the way to Bayreuth! Also, if the cops noticed that the Tesla maintained a safe following distance, why didn’t they just get in front of it and stop? Was there a second car to prevent a lane change? So many questions.We’d ask Tesla for comment, but its PR department is a laughing-crying emoji on Twitter. So let’s just say that either someone in Germany pushed their Tesla’s driver assistance to the limit, or they came up with a novel new way to defend a traffic ticket. Or maybe both. But we know at least one crime was committed: driving at 68 mph on the autobahn. This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Honda has announced pricing for the new 2023 Accord.It starts at $28,390 and ranges up to $38,985 for the loaded Touring model.The LX and EX have a carryover turbo 1.5-liter engine, while the Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring models are offered only as hybrids.The 2023 Honda Accord looks good and already won a 10Best award, and there’s good news in terms of pricing, too. Not only is there still a base LX model, unlike some other new Hondas, the prices rise by just $300–$825 depending on trim level, and the EX-L is actually $500 cheaper than last year’s equivalent model.The 2023 Accord LX is the only trim to slide in below $30,000, at $28,390, and it comes standard with a 192-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four and a continuously variable automatic transmission. It also includes a 7.0-inch touchscreen, a digital gauge cluster, and 17-inch wheels. The $30,705 EX, also powered by the 1.5T, adds heated front seats, a sunroof, a power driver’s seat, and dual-zone automatic climate control.More on the New AccordUpper Trims Now Hybrid-OnlyThe bigger changes come in play starting with the Sport model. It starts at $32,990 and is now available only as a hybrid—the old model’s optional 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four is gone. The hybrid lineup also includes the $34,635 EX-L, the $34,970 Sport-L, and the fully loaded $38,985 Touring.The 2023 Accord’s hybrid system has been revised and now provides slightly better fuel economy: 44 mpg combined for the Sport, Sport-L, and Touring, and 48 mpg combined for the EX-L. Those ratings are each up 1 mpg compared with the 2022 Accord hybrid.All hybrids come with a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. The Sport, Sport-L, and Touring are visually differentiated with black 19-inch wheels. Notable features available on the Touring include a head-up display, a Bose audio system, and a number of Google functions for the infotainment system.Honda says the 2023 Accord will start to reach dealerships this month.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

A new interior concept called the Chrysler Synthesis is debuting at CES 2023.It features two large screens that run Stellantis’ latest infotainment system, called STLA Smart Cockpit.We expect to see these features offered in the upcoming Chrysler Airflow EV.Chrysler has not released a new car in a while, but at CES 2023 it’s showing a concept for a new interior that could make its way into future Chrysler products. Called the Synthesis Cockpit Demonstrator, this two-seat cabin with a futuristic dashboard layout and an advanced infotainment system previews what Chrysler’s upcoming EVs, the first of which is due in 2025, will look like inside.ChryslerThe main focal points of the dashboard are two massive 37.2-inch screens, one in front of the driver and one spanning the other half of the cockpit in front of the passenger. These incorporate a software that Chrysler calls STLA Smart Cockpit, which includes a virtual assistant, various display modes, and over-the-air updates.Chrysler’s Present and FutureThe infotainment system is also optimized for the planned Level 3 autonomous driving system, called STLA AutoDrive, that Chrysler says will offer hands-free driving in future vehicles. While in autonomous mode, the infotainment screen will allow the driver to use video conferencing software and other functions, since the system will differ from current Level 2 systems such as GM’s Super Cruise in that it will permit the driver to look away from the road when certain conditions are met.ChryslerIn terms of design, this interior concept incorporates interesting textures for the dash top, the seat perforation, and the walnut flooring. There’s no chrome trim, and the plastics and other materials are recycled and “responsibly sourced,” Chrysler says. The interior is presented in an interesting pod-like structure that looks almost boat-like in the rear.We expect to see components from this interior inside the eventual production version of the Chrysler Airflow concept car. This electric SUV model is a likely candidate for Chrysler’s first new EV model scheduled to debut in 2025, and the automaker says it will offer a broader EV lineup by 2028. Parent company Stellantis says that the Chrysler brand will be on the forefront of the company’s newest tech offerings, and other brands including Dodge, Jeep, and Ram will eventually receive features like STLA Smart Cockpit and STLA AutoDrive, too.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Volkswagen’s next EV will be called ID.7, and today a camouflaged version debuted as part of CES 2023. Previewed by the ID.Aero concept, the VW ID.7 is a mid-size sedan that will be sold in America, likely as a 2024 model.While an undisguised ID.7 will be revealed in the coming months, the camoed car provides more details to chew on. Volkswagen wants everyone to know its next electric model will be a mid-size sedan called the ID.7, which the company today revealed as part of CES 2023. What VW doesn’t yet want everyone to know is what it actually looks like, hence the light-up camouflage disguising the details of the car’s final design.Despite its obscured appearance, we have a pretty good idea of what the VW ID.7 will look like based on the ID.Aero concept we saw last year. The two are one and the same, only now we know the sedan’s real name. Volkswagen says an unwrapped production version of the ID.7 will make its world debut in the next several months, but, for now, the camoed car previews more of what to expect.First Look InsideUnlike the Aero concept, the ID.7 gives us our first glimpse of the sedan’s interior. The dashboard has a simple layout, but it boasts a big 15.0-inch touchscreen. VW also appears dedicated to stripping its cars of physical switchgear, as the few visible controls are almost exclusively operated by touch. The sedan’s touch-centric interior will also be available with a head-up display with augmented reality.For those who have fiddled with the digitally controlled air vents in Porsche models such as the Taycan and Panamera, Volkswagen adopts similar technology inside the ID.7. We haven’t been fans of the setup in the past, and we doubt this will change our minds. Still, VW says the HVAC controls will be accessible on the center touchscreen at all times. The “smart air vents” are also said to have extra skills, such as detecting when the driver is approaching and either heating or cooling the cabin.Technicolor Paint CoatObviously, don’t expect this car’s intricate technicolor paint to make the final cut, but it’s cool, nonetheless. VW says it has at least 40 layers, with a mix of conductive and insulating layers among those. The paint is separated into 22 areas, and all but the top layer is electrified, creating illuminated sections that can even be synced up to music. The company also incorporated QR codes into the design, directing people who scan them to a VW website.Still, even trippy electroluminescent paint can’t disguise the ID.7’s dimensions, which are said to be similar to the outgoing Volkswagen Passat. The ID.7 is essentially that car’s spiritual successor, and it represents VW’s first electric sedan. Along with a 116.9-inch wheelbase, it’s based on the same MEB platform that underpins the ID.4 SUV and ID.Buzz van.Potential Powertrains and Battery RangeThe ID.7 will likely be available with either a single rear-mounted electric motor or an all-wheel-drive setup with dual motors, but Volkswagen hasn’t yet released any powertrain details. Instead, the company estimates the ID.7 will provide up to 435 miles of range. That’s based on the more optimistic European WLTP cycle, though, so we think its EPA-rated range will be closer to 350 miles.With the VW ID.7 set to make its official debut in the second quarter of this year, we think the U.S. version will likely be a 2024 model. We also expect to learn more about its powertrain and features as well as its price, which we think could start around the $35K mark.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Chevrolet increased pricing on the Bolt EV and EUV by $900 and $600 respectively. The midyear price increases come mere months after Chevy dropped Bolt EV and EUV prices by $5900 and $6300 in June, making them the cheapest EVs in the United States for 2023.It’s a shame Bolt prices are trending upward once more, but both vehicles remain enticing with the massive price cut in June, and with both vehicles qualifying for the full $7500 tax credit for EVs until at least March.Decision making can be tough, but it is still odd that after deciding in June it would dramatically reduce pricing for the Bolt EV and EUV—cutting them by roughly $6000 each—Chevrolet would decide barely six months later on a midyear price increase. Granted, the increases are small: the Bolt EV is going up by $900, to $27,495, and the EUV’s price is increasing by $600, to $28,795.Marc Urbano|Car and DriverAccording to a statement by a Chevy representative, “Due to ongoing industry-related pricing pressures, the Chevy Bolt EV and EUV will see modest price increases starting in 2023, but we expect it to remain America’s most affordable EV. Chevrolet remains committed in its long-standing role to provide true value. We expect to continue building the record sales momentum we saw in 2022.” More on EVsDue to an odd loophole in the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act where the IRS has failed to issue clarification of sourcing provisions, EVs including the Bolts have become eligible for a full $7500 tax credit again as long as the total price stays under $55,000—not an issue with the Bolts—and buyers take delivery before March, when the IRS plans to release the new proposed guidelines. Even taking into account the most recent price increase, the 2023 Bolt EV and EUV are thousands cheaper than they cost in the last model year. Adding in the renewed $7500 tax credit, we suspect Chevy will have very healthy sales figures between now and March. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Lego has released a new 1466-piece Technic set of the 2022 Ford GT, complete with independent suspension at each corner and a moving V-6 engine. The set will retail for $119.99 when it goes on sale in March. Other newly announced Lego Technic sets include a Bugatti Bolide and a NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro Stock Car, with the cheaper Speed Champions series getting a whole new lineup.Not just anyone can purchase a Ford GT. Your local dealer doesn’t carry them, they cost half a million dollars, and you need permission from the company’s top brass to get one. Plus, after announcing a seemingly endless slew of special editions, Ford is wrapping production on the GT. Lego is stepping in with a 1/12-scale model to help the vast majority of us who don’t tick all those boxes: now we can at least own a replica of the GT.As the starring set for 2023, the Lego version of the GT measures in at 3.5 inches tall, 15.0 inches long, and 7.0 inches wide, and is made up of an impressive 1466 pieces. As part of the Technic series, the GT features rear-wheel drive, a moving V-6 engine, independent suspension at all four wheels, front-axle steering, a moving spoiler, and a hood and doors that open. LEGO Bugatti Bolide, Lego Technic #42151LEGO Bugatti Bolide, Lego Technic #42151The Bugatti Bolide has also gotten the Technic treatment from Lego. It went on sale with the new year, while the third Technic set of the year is a NASCAR Next Gen Camaro Stock Car, which, along with the Ford GT, will go on sale in March. The $119.99 retail price of the Ford GT set may be a rounding error in comparison to the price of the actual car, but in terms of buildable toys/displays, it is still a bit pricey. For those enthusiasts who may be seeking smaller and cheaper options, Lego’s Speed Champions series has a fresh new lineup for 2023. Paul Walker’s R34 GT-R from 2 Fast 2 Furious can be ordered now, while a Pagani Utopia hypercar, a Ferrari 812 Competizione, and a Porsche 963 LMDh racer will all be available in March. Finally, the McLaren F1 LM will be available as part of a set that includes the limited production track weapon Solus GT. Check Out Past Lego KitsThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More