Author: Tabitha

The Sleuth is not one bit surprised that the funky little coupe and convertible are driving off into the sunset following the 2019 model year. Although decidedly different looking in an age of utility-vehicle sameness, the Beetle never seemed to capture the imagination of car shoppers, and sales have been on a downward spiral for the past few years. The Beetle also doesn’t fit with Volkswagen’s plans to fully or partially electrify most of its vehicles over the next decade while it introduces platforms that are adaptable to those technologies. However, The Sneaky One is expecting a rush of buyers…

The Sleuth has been informed that the long-expected fifth generation of Toyota’s premium sports car is nearing completion and will likely be revealed in January at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich. The rear-wheel-drive Supra coupe will be built alongside the new BMW Z4 roadster at a plant in Graz, Austria. Common to both cars are the 260-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 335-horsepower twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6. Both engines will be linked to eight-speed automatic transmissions. A hybrid powertrain is reportedly in the Supra’s future a year or so following the car’s launch. The Supra will likely…

Canada-based Electra Meccanica is preparing to sell its three-wheeled, single-seat Solo electric commuter car in the United States. The startup niche automaker recently completed a US $10-million public offering and is now trading on the United States’ NASDAQ exchange. The futuristic-looking Solo has a 100-mile range, an 85-mph top speed and is expected to sell in the States for about $15,500, reports Charged Electric Vehicles Magazine. Electra Meccanica said it had built 16 units as of Aug. 30, and had delivered three vehicles. The company will also open its first U.S.-based sales location in Los Angeles, Calif., this fall. “We…

Luxury-vehicle automaker Audi began production of its first all-electric utility vehicle Sept. 10, promising the EV would deliver enough range to make it “suitable for everyday use.” And with a quick-charge capacity, it’s “ready for the next long-distance stage in about 30 minutes.” Peter Kössler, board member in charge of production, called the E-Tron “a genuine pioneer” as the first models rolled silently off the production line in Brussels, Belgium. “It features new technologies including virtual exterior mirrors and combines traditional Audi qualities in handling and dynamics.” The Brussels plant was comprehensively modernized to make way for electric cars, Kössler…

Well yes and no, claim The Sleuth’s sources. You won’t be seeing some jacked-up Franken’stang in your rearview mirror, but a tall wagon with front and rear design cues that might resemble those of the current Mustang. The all-wheel-drive vehicle that’s in the works for 2020 will apparently be a midsize five-passenger carryall. The to-be-named model will also be powered by twin electric motors instead of the Mustang V-8 engine that prospective buyers might be wishing for. The new utility model will be built on a brand new platform that Ford is prepping for a number of new electric models.…

Remember the Essentia concept that was trotted out at the 2018 New York International Auto Show? Apparently the response was so positive that Genesis is building a limited-production model based on the ultra-sleek design. If the final product remains true to the show car, you can expect scissors-style door openings (part of a carbon-fiber structure) leading to a cockpit that’s finished in sumptuous leather and brimming with autonomous (self-driving) technologies. The finishing touch would be a battery pack feeding dual electric motors (one for the front wheels and one for the rears). And the price? The Spymaster believes it will…

For people who struggle with depth perception, or for those who drive larger vehicles, parking in their garages can be a problem. The Park Zone PZ 1600 Precision Parking Aid can help you consistently position your car exactly where it needs to be, every time. The two-part unit uses two AA batteries and consists of a sensor and an indicator with green, orange and red lights. Both are attached to your garage wall. Once calibrated, the indicator remains green until you’re about eight feet from the desired spot, when the orange light begins to glow. Once in the correct position,…

Tires that are underinflated wear out more quickly and can make your vehicle more dangerous to drive. The advantage of the Black+Decker 20 V MAX inflater is its high-pressure output that speeds up the inflation process, compared to weaker units that require you to plug in to your car’s power receptacle. The V MAX also comes with a digital pressure gauge that shuts off the unit once the desired pressure has been reached. The lithium-ion batteries can be recharged using 120-volt household current or your vehicle’s 12-volt receptacle. The V MAX also inflates air mattresses, sports equipment, etc. Purchase for…

The company says it plans to build a production facility for solid-state batteries by 2025, and has invested US $100 million with California battery maker QuantumScape to achieve that goal. Solid-state-battery technology stands to more than double the capacity of current batteries, citing for example that the e-Golf’s range could jump to 466 miles per charge from its current 186 miles. The automaker said it has already successfully tested solid-state-battery technology produced after six years of collaboration with QuantumScape, reports Charged Electric Vehicles Magazine. “We think the higher range, faster charge times and inherent safety of QuantumScape’s solid-state technology will…

It’s no longer good enough for supercars to have internal-combustion engines, says the CEO of automotive design house Automobili Pininfarina. “Going electric” is now the minimum entry point, according to Michael Perscke. “It no longer works to launch an aspirational brand with a gas engine,” Perscke told alternative-vehicles webmagazine Green Car Reports. Flush with cash from India-based automaker Mahindra, which bought the Italy-based design company in 2015, Pininfarina is working to launch its own line of cars, starting in 2020 with the multi-million dollar PFO exotic sports car. It will be made from carbon fiber with four axle-mounted electric motors…