Matt Myftiu has been a journalist for two decades with a focus on technology, NASCAR and autos.
So you want a luxury SUV … but you also want it to be sporty and racy, not just the usual focus on comfort and a smooth ride?
While the options are not plentiful, I may have a solution for you: Meet the 2019 BMW X2 M35i.
In the category of compact luxury SUVs, options include: Volvo XC40, BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Lexus UX, Cadillac XT4 and Infiniti QX30. All of these vehicles have something to offer, but BMW was smart to also offer the X2, a more sporty version of its X1 compact.
The X2 comes in three trim levels, a regular front-wheel drive version (sDrive 28i), a regular all-wheel drive version (xDrive 28i), and finally the best (and really, the only) option to consider: The M35i.
The station wagon is not dead. It's just been upgraded.
The 2019 Volvo V90 Cross Country is proof of that.
For those who aren’t sold on today’s crop of endless SUVS and crossovers, the V90 Cross Country is a refreshing alternative: A throwback to the wagons of the past that combines a high-end design with versatile storage options and also offers the ability to get off the beaten path.
Many SUVs these days aim for a bit of flash.
Some razzle dazzle to get your attention amid a growing sea of offerings.
But not the Toyota Highlander.
It is what it is. No gimmicks.
It’s an SUV for families who want reliability and versatility. And it delivers.
Let's take a more in-depth look at how the 2019 Toyota Highlander measures up in a crowded SUV field.
Flagship sedans need to be showstoppers — high-end, luxurious models that will make their owners feel immediately at home and offer power, looks and technology that can create buyer loyalty.
Only a few vehicles really meet this criteria: S class (Benz), 7 series (BMW), A8 (Audi), LS (Lexus) … and now, the K900 from Kia.
No, that’s not a typo.
In addition to the usual suspects, there is a strong contender emerging in the class of full-size luxury sedans. And oddly enough, it comes from Kia, a brand not often associated with luxury design.
I recently spent some time driving a 2019 Kia K900, and I’m back with a full report on this surprisingly well-executed contender for the luxury sedan crown.
Accurate vision processing software is critical for the development of autonomous vehicles in the mass market, and at the core of this technology is strong deep-learning ability of the camera software.
Sunny Lee, COO at StradVision, spoke at the Autotech Council Meeting: Sensor Innovation for Transportation and Mobility at the Sensors Expo & Conference in San Jose about the bold advances being made in camera technology for autonomous vehicles.
Lee spoke about the breakthroughs being made via StradVision’s lean SVNet software, which can be run on automotive chipsets at significantly more affordable cost levels. StradVision aims to provide the first deep learning-based software provider fully compatible with Automotive Safety Integrity Level B (ASIL B), for functional safety.
Financial Times Future of the Car Summit USA returns to Detroit for Round Two in 2019 — featuring the best minds in the industry discussing the changes and challenges to come as new technology comes into play, and how key players can stay ahead of the curve.
Knowledge and preparation will make the difference between success and failure as the industry evolves, and key issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles and other advances will be discussed by the key players in the industry at the Summit, scheduled for 8 a.m.-5.30 p.m. on October 29, 2019, at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, 400 Renaissance Drive in Detroit.
The event will welcome representatives from OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, dealerships, insurance providers, law firms, transportation companies and more. Public sector attendees will include state leaders in finance and transportation, as well as investment leaders from America’s largest cities.
Confirmed attendees for 2019 include executives from Kia, FCA, Jaguar/Land Rover, Kawasaki, Ford, General Motors, Audi and AM General. More than 150 of the most influential players in the industry are expected in total.
Attendees in 2018 included: AAM, AM General, Bridgestone, Daimler, FCA, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Isuzu, Karma Automotive, Kawasaki, Lyft, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, PSA, Toyota, Uber, Volkswagen and Volvo.
Those in attendance will have a chance to:
BROOKLYN, Mich. — No matter what you look for in a NASCAR race, Sunday’s battle at MIS should have been one you enjoyed.
For starters, there was plenty of drama and cautions to spice things up.
Nobody was able to run away out front, restarts were hectic and, unlike June, there was actual competitive passes up front for the lead throughout the race.
Often, the two cars battling for the lead would be side-by-side for an entire lap or more before either one got the advantage.
There was also great parity, with no clear favorite to win. At one point, all 4 Gibbs Toyotas ran 1-2-3-4 up front.
At another point, the 3 Penske Fords plus affiliated Paul Menard ran 1-2-3-4 up front
Chevys including Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson also ran strong all race and made things interesting.
BROOKLYN, Mich. — A hometrack race just means more.
And for Brad Keselowski and Erik Jones, who both cut their teeth at local Michigan tracks including Waterford Hills, that home track in the Cup series is Michigan International Speedway.
Neither has won a Cup race at MIS (in fact, no Michigan-born driver has won a Cup race at MIS), but this might be the weekend that changes. Both are very fast so far this weekend.
Keselowski’s speed came through in qualifying Friday, when he went out last in qualifying and beat everyone with a speed of 190.471 MPH. He previously won the pole at MIS in August 2017.
“I think the track was in really good shape,. I don't know if there was anything that really favored us, mostly it was just the team doing a great job with the preparation and executing a flawless lap driving the car. Most of the credit goes to my team for sure.”
BROOKLYN, Mich. — I’ll start with a proclamation: The Truck Series is the best and most competitive of the three top-tier series in NASCAR, so when Saturday’s race at MIS kicked off, I had high expectations.
In the end, as per usual, I was not disappointed.
With the exception of the opening 20-lap segment, which was dominated by Ross Chastain before he had some bad luck and incurred damage on pit road, the race was one of the best all season.
Ben Rhodes, in a smooth-looking Havoline throwback paint scheme, threatened to take the win and enter the playoffs. Brett Moffitt was in the hunt for yet another win. Young Tyler Ankrum was on the front row for several restarts, and even the KBM trucks made appearances up front as they battled in their final attempt to make the playoffs.
Electric vehicles will eventually be coming to a mass audience.
It’s just a matter of how fast they get here.
And while that timetable is debatable, what’s happening right now is automakers are each making their claim on this territory at the outset. Kia has jumped into the fray with the 2019 Kia Niro EV — a full-electric version of it’s Niro crossover, which is also offered as a hybrid.
How does the Niro EV compare to the growing field of EVs? Quite well actually, punctuated by a 239-mile range, roomy interior and high-tech offerings.
While other EVs may get more press, the Niro EV displays enough positive attributes to be a dark horse in the EV battlefield.
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