Hasta La Gadget!

Before the 2014 Corvette C7 was officially announced earlier this week, we got a very short glimpse of the all-digital instrument panel back in November, thanks to a teaser trailer about the new car. From just the split-second look that we had, we could tell that the gauge cluster was going to be fantastic, and it looks like that’s actually very true.

Autoblog ended up getting a much closer look at the new instrument panel in the 2014 Corvette at NAIAS 2013, and it’s about as stunning as you’d expect. You’re essentially looking at an 8-inch “high-resolution” display that’s fully reconfigurable, and it has three modes that you can scroll through.

Sport Mode features one large, central tachometer, and you can configure it to show different types of information, like G-forces, tire pressure, oil pressure, etc. Race Mode gives you a bar graph tachometer that’s meant for it to be easily read out of the corner of your eye to make sure that drivers keep their eyes on the racetrack. Touring Mode allows drivers to push the tachometer off to the side a bit and make room for infotainment information or navigation information.

Off to the sides of the 8-inch display are regular instrument clusters. Off to the left is the speedometer, which maxes out at 200mph, and then off the right side, is what appears to be the fuel gauge and the oil pressure gauge, both of which are slightly blocked by the steering wheel, so we’re not 100% sure, but this photo from Car and Driver gives an unobstructed view of the instrument panel.

[via Autoblog]

Chevrolet shows off 2014 Corvette all-digital instrument panel is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The Ford F150 is a hugely important vehicle to the automaker as one of its most popular and bestselling vehicles. Ford is showing off a new concept vehicle called the Atlas Concept that the automaker is billing as the future vision for pickup trucks. What we’re looking at is likely the next generation of the Ford F150.

There’s nothing I see about this truck that is so far out there that Ford couldn’t put it into production tomorrow if it wanted. The concept uses the next generation EcoBoost engine promising increased capability and class leading fuel efficiency. From the side the truck looks very much like the existing F150.

The big change from the existing vehicles comes in the front with a more angular grille and narrow headlights. The large grille looks a lot like the front of Ford’s existing heavy-duty pickups. The Atlas Concept has a number of features aimed specifically at saving fuel via aerodynamics and reducing wind resistance.

The Atlas Concept features active grille shutters that stay open when the engine needs cooling and close on the Highway to improve aerodynamics. The concept also has active wheel shutters that deploy at highway speeds to help aerodynamics and close at low speeds and when stopped. The concept also has a drop-down front air dam that lowers at highway speeds to improve underbody airflow. Power running boards deploy automatically when the doors are open and tuck away under the vehicle when in motion to improve dynamics. Check out the video below to see more of the attractive Atlas Concept.

[via Ford]

Ford Atlas concept is likely the next F150 is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Tesla Motors is making waves, and the company is looking to have a big year during 2013. They already have over 20 stores in North America, with more than 30 located overseas. 13 of them were opened up in 2012 alone, but the company plans to open up even more this year. Tesla confirmed at the North American International Auto Show this week that they plan on opening 25 stores in 2013.

Vice president of sales for Tesla, George Blankenship, confirmed plans for 25 new retail locations opening throughout 2013, with half of them opening up outside the US. One of those stores will include the company’s first location in China, which is due to open sometime in the spring, so just a few months from now.

The company also stated that they’re still committed to blanketing the US with Supercharger charging stations for Tesla vehicles. Only eight of them are fully operational now, and most of them are on the west coast, but Tesla plans to also cover the east cost in the coming years. They also plan to eventually open up charging stations in the middle of the US, as well, which will allow Tesla owners to drive across the US without using a drop of gas or spending any money, since using the chargers will be free for Tesla vehicle owners.

Tesla announced back in November that they expect its Supercharger network to cover the entire United States by the end of 2013. We’re not sure exactly how many charging stations they plan to have opened in order to consider it the “entire United States”, but we’re guessing it means you’ll be able to drive anywhere without running out of juice.

[via Engadget]

Tesla to open 25 new stores in 2013 is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Lexus couldn’t help but tease us with a little-pre Detroit show 2014 IS action last week, but the meat of the sports sedan’s reveal comes today, with the IS 250, IS 350, and further-heated F SPORT variants being officially revealed. Set to hit showrooms in mid-2013, the all-new cars – including the first hybrid in the IS range, the IS 300h – feature a vast upsizing of the Lexus spindle grille, rear- and all-wheel drive options, and performance features borrowed from the company’s bonkers LFA sportscar.

The IS 250 will have a 2.5-liter V6 gas engine, while the IS 360 will have a 3.5-liter V6 gas engine; select international markets – including Europe and Japan – will get the IS 300h, which will pair a 2.5-liter engine with electric motors. The IS 350 RWD borrows the IS F’s eight-speed sports auto shifter, while the whole range gets a Sport mode with “G force Artificial Intelligence” (G-AI) to pick the best gear and downshift pattern depending on the G forces the car is under while cornering.

Of course, serious drivers will be eyeing Lexus’ F SPORT variants, which will be offered across the 2014 IS range. In addition to changes in styling details both inside and out, the F SPORT models will get special suspension and steering tuning, and a Variable Gear Ratio Steering option on the IS 350 F SPORT specifically. 18-inch wheels of an exclusive design, and a sturdier gearbox round out the key changes.

Inside, the 3-inch longer wheelbase adds up to extra space for passengers and more room in the trunk; by slimming the front seats, too, Lexus has given those in the rear an extra 3-inches for their knees. Those rear seats also fold with a 60/40 split. As for the dash, that has touch-sensitive keys for HVAC, and touchscreen infotainment with real-time traffic and weather information, while the steering wheel gets controls for both the driver’s display and the center console screen.

As for safety, there are ten airbags, lane-departure alerts, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and more, some of which are standard and others cost-options. Lexus isn’t talking pricing for the 2014 IS at this stage, with the promise of numbers closer to the launch midway through the year.

Lexus 2014 IS official with F SPORT spice is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Hyundai is unveiling a new concept car at the 2013 N. American International Auto Show. The concept car shows the design direction that Hyundai will be taking in the future for its premium vehicles. The car is the HCD-14 Genesis concept.

The car has an interesting and very angular design, which is a departure from many of the vehicles we see on the roads today. Most vehicles on the roads have lots of curves whereas the HCD-14 concept as straight and sharp lines. I particularly like that has no door handles.

Hyundai says that the concept car conveys a “fluidic-precision, liquid-metal design language.” The car has a straight and angular front fascia with a brushed metal grill that has deep openings. The design also has an extended dash to axle length, short overhangs, large diameter wheels, and a sharply tapered greenhouse. The design is intended to give the silhouette of a classic rear-drive sports sedan.

The car reminds me of a modernized version of the classic Lincoln with rear suicide doors. The rear doors of the concept are rear-hinged, meaning they open the opposite direction of the front doors. Inside the car, Hyundai uses a mix of analog and digital gauges to provide the driver with data. The vehicle also has an iPad storage station in the center console. The power plant for the concept is the Hyundai Tau V8 mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Hyundai unveils HCD-14 concept at North American International Auto Show is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.