wheels

Auto Moto's all-weather three-wheeler packs a wallop

Three-wheel rides aren't big surprises here in Asia. Thailand has its Tuk-tuk, Southeast Asia its rickshaws or trishaws, the Philippines has its tricycles.

However, we're more familiar with these chariots as taxis for commuters. For personal transportation, the West, in the throes of economic recession, is turning increasingly toward affordable and more economical vehicles, particularly the three-wheel variant. While similar outings like Peugeot's HYmotion3 compressor concept vehicle look a lot yummier in the design department, the upcoming Auto Moto appears less intimidating and zippy enough to convert the scooter covey to the three-wheelies crowd.

The vehicle has … Read more

New Michelin tech puts power to the wheels

Issues with battery tech aside, electric motors allow for the creation of much simpler vehicles, without the need for exhausts, cooling systems, or complex lubrication schemes. The next logical step for electric vehicles is to move the electric motors into the wheel hubs themselves, replacing driveshafts, transmissions, and differentials with much lighter wires and switches. The primary problem with this configuration is the huge jump in unsprung weight that comes with mounting heavy electric motors inside of the wheels. Michelin Tires thinks it may be a step closer to solving this problem with its Active Wheel technology, unveiled at the … Read more

Photos: The Lexus Hybrid Living Tour

Lexus invited us to test drive its entire lineup of Hybrid vehicles. Along the way, we got a peek at how luxury living and sustainable living can go hand in hand.

We took delivery of the Lexus GS450h in Berkeley, Calif. This was to be the first of the three Lexus hybrids we'd be driving over the weekend. Using the Lexus' crisp and colorful touch screen and GPS navigation, we selected our first location--San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel--and took the GS for a spin.

Check out the photos of the Lexus Hybrid Living Tour.

2009 Dodge Ram is tough outside, tech inside

When we first laid eyes on the Dodge Ram, a few words came to mind: gargantuan, behemoth, colossal. The words that didn't immediately come to mind when the big ol' truck rolled into the CNET garage were "high" or "tech." However, after--literally--climbing into the Ram's cab and spending some time behind the wheel, we found a surprising amount of drive-train tech and, more surprisingly, some very sophisticated cabin tech.

Satellite TV, a hard drive-based audio system, and in-vehicle Wi-Fi are just some of the ambitious, if unrefined, tricks the Dodge Ram has up its … Read more

Review: 2009 Mazda CX-7 Grand Touring

Earlier this year, we tested a Mazda's CX-9. So when we heard that we were getting a CX-7 Grand Touring in the CNET garage, we braced for more of the same, only smaller. The tiny Mazda crossover didn't disappoint; the CX-7 has a lot in common with the CX-9, particularly in its cabin tech.

However, like a scrappy little brother, the CX-7 works hard to differentiate itself from its larger sibling. On the road, the CX-7 feels faster and more connected to the road, though this comes at the expense of a little ride harshness. Everything we liked … Read more

Lexus adds all-wheel drive to LS sedan for 2009

The all-wheel drive (AWD) system of the world's most expensive hybrid, the Lexus LS 600h L, has finally trickled down to the more conventional drive trains of the LS 460 and LS 460 L luxury sedans.

The AWD versions of the LS 460 and LS 460 L will utilize a drive train almost identical to their hybrid counterpart, with the obvious omission of Toyota's hybrid synergy drive. The AWD system features a Torsen Limited-Slip Differential (LSD) that distributes drive torque between the front and rear wheels. In normal driving conditions, the drive train carries a moderate rear-bias, sending … Read more

Canon rolls out 6 printers for every occasion

Tuesday, Canon announced six new printers that are sure to appeal to a variety of users including small- to mid-size business professionals, photography enthusiasts, students, and creative hobbyists. This new release includes four new Pixma printers and two new Selphy compact photo printers. Let's take a closer look at the offerings:

Pixma iP3600 $80 9600x2400 color dpi resolution Dual paper trays for plain and photo paper Five color individual ink cartridge bay Bundled with one ChromaLife100+ ink set and Easy-PhotoPrint EX software Pixma iP4600 $100 9600x2400 color dpi resolution Reported print speeds of up to 26 pages per minute for black, and up to 21 ppm for color Auto-duplexer with two separate paper trays Easy-PhotoPrint EX software includes Auto-Photo Fix for easy edits… Read more

Lead wheel weights banned in California by 2009

The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) in Oakland, Calif., announced it has reached a legal agreement with Chrysler and the three largest producers of automobile wheel-balancing weights (Plombco, Hennessey, and Perfect Equipment), requiring the companies to end the use of leaded wheel weights in California by the end of 2009.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), about 65,000 tons of lead wheel weights are in use on cars and trucks in the U.S., and it is estimated that at least 3 percent of wheel weights fall off of cars and trucks. USGS states that the discarded … Read more

Review: 2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring

After spending time with the top-of-the-line 2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring, we found much that we liked; however, we also found almost every positive thing we had to say about the SUV came with a caveat.

Inside, the CX-9's leather seats and ambient lighting give the appearance of luxury, but the materials feel cheap compared with a true luxury vehicle. The spec sheet touts an impressive amount of cabin tech, but the components don't work well together, creating a confusing experience. Overall, we formed a positive impression of the CX-9, but the vehicle lacks the final bit of … Read more

Logitech goes wireless with Wii racing wheel

Earlier this summer, Logitech debuted the Driving Force Wireless steering wheel for the PlayStation 3. It was essentially a streamlined, downsized version of the Logitech Driving Force GT, adding wireless connectivity to the console and dropping the gearshift--and making the whole rig a lot more living-room-friendly for casual gamers.

Now the company is applying that same basic design to the Wii. Except for the Nintendo-friendly color scheme, control setup, and built-in brake and gas controls, the Logitech Speed Force Wireless is a near doppelganger of the PS3 version: it utilizes the same sort of contoured, expandable lap (rest rather than … Read more