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    John Snyder

    John Snyder

  • Watch Arnold Schwarzenegger steer customers away from EVs in ridiculous disguise

    Arnold Schwarzenegger is known for his action roles in such films as "Terminator," "Predator" and "True Lies." As governor of California, though, his focus shifted from theatrics to real-world issues, and he has championed environmental causes ever since. Now, he's getting back in front of the camera and going undercover, not as a (kindergarten) cop, but as a sleazy car salesman in a tongue-in-cheek video persuading EV shoppers to stick with fossil fuels. Wearing a ridiculous wig and fake mustache, Schwarzenegger assumes the identity of Howard Kleiner, approaching car shoppers in an attempt to steer them away from electric vehicles.

  • Electrify America and Chargepoint announce interoperability agreement

    One of those accounts is probably with Chargepoint. Perhaps you have a membership with the rapidly expanding Electrify America network, too. Pretty soon, though, you'll only need one or the other, as Electrify America and Chargepoint have announced an interoperability agreement, meaning if you're a member of one, you can charge with the other network.

  • Audi issues recall for E-Tron over potential fire risk

    Audi is clearly looking for mainstream appeal with its new E-Tron electric crossover. The model's launch is just getting under way, so of course Audi wants to avoid anything that could potentially become spectacularly bad news like, say, a raging vehicle fire. As such, Audi is issuing a recall for an issue that could potentially lead to such an event.

  • Rivian confirms V2V charging, auxiliary batteries

    Now, in an interview by The Drive with Rivian CEO R.J. Scaringe, we've got some more tidbits about the upcoming EVs. Among the nuggets of new information is confirmation that Rivians will be capable of vehicle-to-vehicle charging, and that there will be available auxiliary battery packs, both of which should help them get further off the grid than other EVs. "You're starting to get into the long tail of use cases, but even there we've designed the vehicle so you can have auxiliary battery packs.

  • Very important cat obstructs Trump limo in London

    U.S. President Donald Trump — as valuable as his time may be — is not immune to feline whims, as he learned when he met with outgoing U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May in London on Tuesday. Larry, resident of 10 Downing Street and Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office (that's an official title) may have held up Trump's motorcade when he decided to take a break under the president's limo. According to NBC News Chief Global Correspondent Bill Neely, Larry then refused to move from his spot under The Beast (which Neely described as a "huge security issue").

  • BMW's classy tribute to Dieter Zetsche has quite the punchline

    With the retirement of Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche, Mercedes-Benz moves into a new era. It's stepping into the future with a new leader, and a sharper focus on the technology that is reshaping the automotive landscape.

  • Chevy Bolt EUV electric crossover caught in the wild

    The Chevy Bolt EV has been kicking around for a couple years now, but GM has sold enough EVs to start the scale-down on federal tax credits — and the car's price hasn't changed. GM, though, is committed to EVs, and has shown an electric Cadillac concept and confirmed an electric pickup. It has also said it will build another crossover alongside the Bolt, which is rumored to be called the Bolt EUV (as a trademark dug up by GM Authority could suggest), and is almost certainly what you see in the photos caught by our spy photographer, above.

  • Mack's new electric truck hauls trash

    There's nothing quite like being woken up at the crack of dawn by a giant, slow moving truck that — while it may take your trash and recycling from your curb — leaves behind a big plume of exhaust smoke. Thankfully, many waste management companies and municipalities have already moved toward cleaner garbage trucks running on alternative fuels, but they can still be polluting both in terms of emissions and noise. The Mack electric garbage truck is powered by four NMC lithium-ion batteries of an unspecified capacity and a pair of 130-kW AC electric motors.

  • VW's Electrify America launches app, takes us behind the scenes

    The charging network — borne of the consent decree between Volkswagen and the EPA over the Dieselgate emissions scandal — promises to bring fast charging to the growing number of Americans who own EVs without a Tesla badge. Like, really fast charging: up to 350 kW, which is enough juice to add 20 miles of range to a car's battery per minute. Electrify America plans to spend $2 billion on its EV campaign over the course of 10 years, which largely focuses on building charging infrastructure, but also includes awareness/education and green city initiatives.

  • Smart to discontinue sales in U.S., Canada

    UPDATE: A Mercedes-Benz Spokesperson responded to Autoblog with the following statement: "After much careful consideration, smart will discontinue its battery-electric smart EQ fortwo model in the U.S. and Canadian markets at the conclusion of MY2019. A number of factors, including a declining micro-car market in the U.S. and Canada, combined with high homologation costs for a low volume model are central to this decision. "Mercedes-Benz will carry forward its electric strategy in the U.S. and Canada with the arrival of the new EQC in 2020.

  • 2019 Mazda CX-9 Review and Buying Guide | Fun for the whole family

    The 2019 Mazda CX-9 crossover is the biggest vehicle in the Japanese automaker's lineup, and the only one to offer a third row of seating. It has only one powertrain option, but offers a wide variety of other content across various trim levels.

  • 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD diesel unveiled in New York

    Mazda has finally launched a diesel version of the CX-5 for the U.S. market, unveiled at the 2019 New York International Auto Show. Specifically, the 2.2-liter Skyactiv-D turbo-diesel engine will be offered in the higher-end CX-5 Signature AWD, part of what Mazda calls its "path to premium," as the company continues to set its sights on some of the more expensive competition. The Skyactiv-D 2.2 makes use of a sequential twin turbocharger that employs a smaller turbocharger first at low rpm for quick throttle response, after which a valve opens to spool up a larger turbocharger at higher rpm.

  • Mercedes-Benz confirms EQB electric crossover

    At the press conference, Britta Seeger, Daimler board member in charge of Mercedes-Benz sales, updated the gathered media, speaking vaguely about the company's plans, which include 10 new electric models in the pipeline. Then, even more interestingly, Seeger confirmed the coming of an electric version called the EQB, with a launch in 2021. At the time, we speculated that the vehicle would be called the EQB, and now we have confirmation.

  • Porsche 911 Speedster arrives in New York, with pricing

    Porsche has gotten our attention right off the bat at the 2019 New York Auto Show by bringing the 911 Speedster for its North American debut. The 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster will cost $275,750, which includes the delivery fee of $1,250. The 911 Speedster borrows its naturally-aspirated 4.0 liter flat-six engine from the 911 GT3 and 911 GT3 RS.

  • 2019 Genesis G70 vs. 2018 Kia Stinger Comparison | Space vs. grace

    The Genesis G70 is an impressive foot forward by Hyundai's luxury brand. When I first drove the G70, I found it to be solid and enjoyable driving both on the road and at the track. The Genesis G70 borrows a lot from the Kia Stinger, including a version of its platform and a pair of powertrains, though the 2.0T can be had with a manual transmission in the Genesis.

  • SF Motors changes name to Seres, shows production SF5 electric CUV

    SF Motors is another one of those Chinese-backed EV startups that looks to take on the likes of Tesla, as well as established automakers. Last year, SF Motors showed concept versions of its SF5 and SF7 crossovers. Now, the company is talking major steps, renaming itself Seres and unveiling the production version of the SF5, as well as plans to begin selling it in China starting in the third quarter of 2019.Seres notes that its new name comes from the ancient Greek term for an important trade r

  • Mercedes-Benz EQB caught testing as electric GLB

    When it comes to nomenclature, this could actually end up being called the EQB, to follow the EQC in Mercedes-Benz's new all-electric lineup. As such, the eventual look of the EQB could get more of its own look to distinguish it from the internal-combustion versions of the GLB.

  • 2019 Kia Niro EV Review and Buying Guide | Long-range fun

    Kia entered the increasingly competitive small crossover game with the Niro hybrid, followed by the Niro PHEV shortly after. Now it offers the 2019 Kia Niro EV, which retains the same desirable body style but adds a big battery good for an estimated 239 miles of driving range on a single charge, and with the ability to charge at up to 100 kW on a DC fast charger. What are the Niro EV's interior and in-car technology like?The interior design is a little bit funky, with some interesting geometry and blue-green accents here and there.

  • 2020 Toyota Corolla Review and Buying Guide | Clever commuter

    The Toyota Corolla was introduced in 1966, and more Corollas have been sold than any other nameplate in the world. It's Toyota's budget sedan, although now it's offered in a hatchback format as well. It has been completely revised for the 2020 model year (well, the 2019 model year for the Corolla Hatchback), and given another engine choice as well as a hybrid option.

  • 2019 Porsche Cayenne Second Drive Review | Fun for the whole family

    When I brought the 2019 Porsche Cayenne home for the weekend, my large, car-loving son, Wolfgang, was super excited that he'd get to ride to soccer in a "horsey-car Porsche." In the driveway, he ogled the badge on the nose of the car, comparing it to that of his electric ride-on 918 and the tinier one on the Hot Wheels Panamera he's been carrying around with him everywhere lately. Despite the model's very subtle visual evolution — and with the experiential urgings of time spent in the riotous Macan — I had been coming around to the idea that Porsche could finally make its largest crossover, the Cayenne, feel like a true Porsche: aggressive, connected and undeniably special. As much as I love being behind the wheel of a Porsche, I've long felt that the company has struggled to bring the overall quality of its interiors up to the level of the rest of the car.