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Technical innovations happen constantly in small and big ways across our modern society, but relatively few breakthroughs ever have far-reaching impact.

Consider Wi-Fi and the smartphone, to name a couple. Increasingly, savvy observers are adding blockchain technology to the list of creations that could transform our universe. 

Decidedly a hot topic today, blockchain is the protocol behind bitcoin digital currency, but it was around as a...

An electric car company to rival Tesla has chosen Arizona as the base for their car factory. 

Lucid Motors - formerly Atieva - was founded in California back in 2007. It's since developed battery technology, as well as making an aluminium prototype, which was only recently unveiled.

The company markets itself as a 'new era of luxury mobility" and claims its cars will redefine the auto experience.

Lucid said its factory site selection process began over a...

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Several large motor companies are planning a high-powered DC charging network for battery electric cars covering long distances around Europe. 

The ultimate goal by the group - which includes BMW, Daimler AG, Ford, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche - is to build a "sizable" number of stations. 

The planned ultra-fast charging network, with power levels up to 350 kilowatt, is set to be quite a lot faster than the most powerful charging system already out there. 

The project is planned...

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The automotive retail sales model is on the cusp of radical change. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and dealerships are moving away from the traditional approach based on  fixed display assets and hard-copy brochures towards a new paradigm, focused around real-time visualisation.

Such innovation is delivering a new generation of virtual experiences both in store and online, driving experiential retail solutions that allow customers to digitally explore and customise their new...

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Imagine walking up to a rental car, not filling in any paperwork; just confirming that it’s the right one on your app, hopping in and driving off into the sunset.

For anyone who has ever stood in a queue at a rental car company in an airport, this will sound like a dream. But it’s a dream that’s quickly becoming reality, thanks to Avis.

The company has made smartphone-only car rental available in the US and is trialling it at several...

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With the potential to improve the entire driving experience, as well as advance safety standards across the board, there’s a good reason why many drivers are excited to see what the future of the connected car has in store.

However, alongside this excitement, there have been concerns voiced around the security of the connected car. With examples such as Nissan admitting some of its Leaf cars can be easily hacked, allowing their heating and...

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People buy cars they benefit from – whether it’s merely the compliments they receive on the colour or body or the time it takes off their commute. The problem with this is that they are uninformed about the multiple advantages of owning a hybrid model or how a hybrid works. This article will share the benefits of driving a hybrid vehicle and explain the technology that makes a hybrid unique to the automotive industry.

What is a hybrid car?

A hybrid car is a vehicle...

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In recent times, it hasn’t been uncommon for industry sectors to face scandal or massively increased regulatory constraints; just think of the banking sector and national supermarkets, over the past few years.  But news from Volkswagen (VW) – one of the most trusted and reliable brands in the fleet business – has taken us all by surprise.

There are 29.6 million cars on the road in the UK, but with reports saying that as many as 1.5 million VW cars may have to be...

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Cars are getting more human-like in their abilities, but according to new research they don't give the same regard to privacy that (most) humans would. A study conducted by German motorists’ organisation ADAC has found that - in addition to trip and distance data - one recent vehicle reported maximum engine revolutions, the status of vehicle lights, and far more...

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Compromising the ‘Internet of Things’ seems to be one of the most ‘fashionable’ areas among today’s hackers, including connected cars. Just consider the extensive coverage given to the remote takeover of a Jeep Cherokee by security researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek, which took place via a security vulnerability in the...

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A report from the In-Vehicle UX (IVX) group at Strategy Analytics argues that automakers should utilise connected car services to take customer relationship to the next level.

At present, the spotlight is only on infotainment, location-based services and big data at the OEM. However, automakers now have the opportunity to boost consumer perception of their brands with vehicle-related information and services.

The report sheds light on consumer preference towards vehicle service and...

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The integration of multiple wireless systems into the vehicle is increasing test complexity and as a result automotive manufacturers are facing a wide range of new verification and validation challenges. In the mobile industry, manufacturers typically conduct testing in the early stages of the development cycle, when issues...

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With the potential capabilities of connected vehicle technology, we can hope for a safer, smarter and greener road transport industry.

The vision for connected vehicle technology is to transform and modernise road transport systems to create a future where:

• Road traffic accidents and fatalities as a result are dramatically reduced
• Traffic managers being able to access data so they can accurately review transport system performance and actively manage the system in real-time, for optimal performance
• Drivers have access to accurate, up to date travel...

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Tech giants Apple and Google, alongside automotive behemoths BMW, Ford and Volkswagen, are among the top 20 connected car companies according to a new market report by Visiongain.

The top 20 companies, according to Visiongain, are Airbiquity, Apple, AT&T, BMW, Broadcom, Daimler, Fiat Chrysler, Ford Motor, General Motors, Google, Honda Motor, Luxoft, OnStar, Qualcomm, Sierra Wireless, Tech Mahindra, Toyota Motor, Verizon Telematics, Visteon and Volkswagen.

The global connected car...

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Big data technology firm INRIX has launched its new INRIX Road Weather service to provide critical road condition information to drivers in Europe and North America.

The new service provides information on road precipitation, surface condition visibility and other characteristics of the road itself, distinguishing itself from other conventional weather information solutions. It also provides road condition update alerts every 15 minutes.

INRIX Road Weather was developed by the...

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There’s an old joke about the elderly driver who’s never had an accident in their 60 years on the road – but they’ve seen hundreds of them. Is that ancient gag to be re-applied for self driving cars? Google has admitted that its autonomous cars had been in 11 minor traffic accidents over a six year period, yet was adamant their cars had not been the cause of the accident.

Chris Urmson, principal engineer and software lead for Google’s self-driving car...

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I sense a revolution on the horizon. A revolution that will slow the advance of technology, but one not stopping the advance. This revolution will redefine who and how the users, consumers, customers will use the next stage of integrated (wearable) convergence technology.

Defining wearable technology

There is, as you can imagine, a broad and somewhat vague definition available of wearable technology. One definition includes the term...

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It has been a big year for connected cars. Automakers, handset vendors, app developers and aftermarket CE manufacturers have graduated from a primary education in the best ways to support car and smartphone connectivity. There is now a solid outline of what the future body of connected driving will look like.

As the anatomy fills out, we have learned some critical lessons. Most importantly, smartphones are without question the brain of the connected car organism. They have the...

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Digital rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation has moved to dismantle copyright legislation that prevents car owners from tinkering with their own vehicle's software programming.

The USA’s Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), a series of copyright laws that aims to protect the rights of both copyright owners and consumers, restricts access to a car’s electronic control unit (ECU) on the grounds of vehicle safety.

A host of requests have been filed with the...