challenger

Picking up where the late uber-adventurer Steve Fossett left off, Virgin impresario Richard Branson said today he wants to go to the deepest spot on Earth.

In a press conference today in Newport Beach, Calif., Branson announced his Virgin Oceanic and Five Dives initiatives, which could send a Virgin-branded deep-sea submersible with a single pilot to the deepest spots in each of the planet's five oceans.

Virgin Oceanic will use the DeepFlight Challenger, a submersible built by Hawkes Ocean Technologies of Point Richmond, Calif., for the dives.

The five dives are intended to be to the Pacific Ocean's … Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif.--I'm going to just come out and admit it--I was rooting for the humans.

By "humans," of course, I mean Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, two men who on the one hand are the greatest champions in the history of "Jeopardy" and who on the other just ended up getting their butts handed to them at the game by a computer that didn't even seem to know that Toronto isn't in the United States.

In case you were somehow in a cabin in the mountains with no Internet access and … Read more

It's a frequent question from readers and co-workers, as well as friends and relatives: "What's the best laptop I can get for around $500?" A crisp William McKinley seems to be a psychological line in the sand for many: it will buy a reasonable set of components, but is still easy enough on the wallet to not be a life-changing decision.

In previous years, we haven't been particularly happy with the choices available around $500. Most were either dumbed-down midsize systems that were going to feel out-of-date before the box was even opened, and others … Read more

Cadillac is known for its racy television commercials, but now, once again, it'll be known for racing.

Executives from General Motors today announced that a race-ready 2011 CTS-V Coupe will compete in the Sports Car Club of America World Challenge.

The CTS-V, which is being designed by engineers from GM and Pratt & Miller, in New Hudson, Mich., will debut at the SCCA race to be held March 25 to 27 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Cadillac hasn't raced competitively since 2007.

Johnny O'Connell, a three-time GT1 champion in the America Le Mans Series, and Andy Pilgrim, who … Read more

Attendees of the 2012 London Olympic Games may be in for a 'green' ride.

A seven-seat electric taxi was awarded Most Economic & Environment Friendly Multi-Purpose Electric Vehicle at the Royal Automobile Club's (RAC) Future Car Challenge.

The Mercedes Electric Vito (eVito) Taxi, which was a collaboration between Mercedes Benz, Zytek Automotive, and Valence, is powered by Valence batteries.

The challenge was to produce a concept of a pollution-free fleet vehicle that could be used as taxis during the Olympic games.

The eVito beat out 59 other vehicles by finishing the 57-mile run with about 30 percent of its … Read more

LOS ANGELES--As just about everyone knows, the mandate in the auto industry these days is to try to be more green and more efficient.

That's why this year's version of the annual Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge was to come up with a concept for a highly efficient vehicle that is less than 1,000 pounds in total weight.

Nine car companies submitted designs. Here are their entries (click on the following slideshow for full information):

Earlier, we featured the 470-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT8 392, boasting more displacement and more power than the standard SRT8. But for pure bragging rights, the aftermarket can always do better. Enter the Cult Motorsports Challenger SRT8. This menacing custom, set to debut at the 2010 SEMA Show, has a look that borders on demonic and an estimated power output that you wouldn't believe.

Photographer Webb Bland of Not Bland Photography brings us the first look at the Cult Challenger. Details are slim, but the rumors circulating this matte-black beast point to an 8.3-liter blown V-8 replacing the standard … Read more

At the end of our week with the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8, we had a short list of cabin-tech quibbles that could stand improvement (starting with putting a voice-control button on the steering wheel), but we didn't want to get greedy and ask for "more power." Fortunately, Dodge's engineers can think for themselves and will be unveiling a new, more powerful variant of the SRT8 at the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392.

The 392 designation at the end of the model name refers to the engine's displacement, its … Read more

Mercedes beats Ford to Pandora streaming, OnStar wants to make its service free (sort of), a smart car seat for kids, and we take a run in the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8.

• Mercedes in the hunt for in-car Pandora streaming

• Microsoft updates automotive version of Windows

• Smart car seat: Can't you just do this yourself?

• Electronically darkening glass roof coming to the Mercedes SLK

• CNET drives the 2010 Challenger SRT8

• CNET LOL cars