It's past time for automakers, suppliers and tech companies (I'm looking at you Google and Geohot) to be more candid and transparent about the real limitations of today's vehicle automation technologies.

Automakers Need to Start Being More Candid About the Limits of Autonomous Technology
When was the last time you ever actually read an end-user license agreement or terms of service before clicking “Accept” to install a piece of software or join the latest social network. Odds are t…

Accurate and precise map data will be a crucial component of a robust and reliable transportation ecosystem

Whoever Owns the Maps Owns the Future of Self-Driving Cars
??Inside the battle to own the data that will drive the automotive industry of tomorrow.?

The automotive market is moving toward utilities but for those that don't want to follow the crowd, +Hyundai Worldwide has a great new compact car in the 2017 Elantra

2017 Hyundai Elantra Limited – Rising Star In a Shrinking Market – Sam’s Thoughts
As an engineer at heart, I can’t help but be excited by the technology that is likely to transform the transportation ecosystem over the next couple of decades. But as someone that actually likes to drive, the move toward autonomy is kind of depressing but realistically, that’s unlikely to affect me much for many years …

I'm still a car guy first but the 2017 +Kia Motors America Sportage is a looker and drives well.

2017 Kia Sportage SX AWD – All Grown Up – Sam’s Thoughts
When Steve Ballmer left the CEO’s office at Microsoft, he went and spent a good chunk of the fortune he had amassed buying the Los Angeles Clippers. If instead, he had chosen to become an automotive marketing executive, I could picture him stomping around the stage at a dealer meeting in a sweat drenched shirt …

Half a century ago, the auto industry panicked at the thought of safety and emissions regulations. Ultimately those rules drove the development of electronic control systems that gave us transportation that is faster, cleaner, safer and more efficient than ever. For this we can thank Ralph Nader. As we move into the next era of mobility, the industry should be looking at how to make regulations work for a smooth transition and the benefit of all rather than fighting new rules http://www.navigantresearch.com/blog/ralph-nader-enters-automotive-hall-of-fame-a-legacy

Ralph Nader Enters Automotive Hall of Fame: A Legacy
For more than 5 decades, many in Detroit and other automotive capitals have considered Ralph Nader to be public enemy number one. Despite the strong feelings against Nader throughout much of the au…

This weekend, 50 years after finally getting its first victory at Le Mans Ford Motor Company will try to repeat that achievement albeit in the GT class rather than as a prototype running for overall victory. The iconic design that we know today as the Ford GT/GT40 actually has its roots in the in the original Mustang I concept of 1962. Check out how that one-off roadster was transformed into a world-beater

From Mustang I to 2015 – Evolution of the Ford GT over 50 Years – Sam’s Thoughts
It’s not often anymore that automakers actually get to keep anything completely secret heading into auto show season. Aside, from the Buick Avenir concept which no one really saw coming, the closest thing to a true secret at this year’s North American International Auto Show was the all-new third-generation Ford GT. While rumors had been …

Sometimes when I start thinking, seemingly random dots get connected

Mercedes-Benz, Apple, Ford And The Fuel Cell Plug-In Hybrid
Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell, fuel-cell plug-in hybrid coming in 2017 (photo credit: Mercedes-Benz) Recently at an event in Germany, officials from Mercedes-Benz announced plans to introduce the GLC F-Cell in 2017. This is a version of the compact GLC SUV with a fuel-cell, plug-in hybrid drivetrain. As so often happens, this got […]

Some wonderful amateur footage of the 1966 Le Mans

1966 was a big year for Bruce McLaren. In addition to a controversial win in the 24 hours of Le Mans in the Ford GT40, McLaren launched his eponymous Formula One team. Over the past half century it has grown to become one of the most successful racing teams in history although sadly McLaren did not live to see the team's greatest successes. This is a very cool video of the over-the-shoulder view in many of the cars since 1975. What's particularly interesting is the way the steering "wheel" has changed over time.