Last week Chevrolet announced that the 2017 ZL1 Camaro ran a lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:29.60—11.67 seconds quicker than the previous ZL1's fast lap. Tthe Nordschleife course is used by manufacturers to set lap times. The Sport Auto Lap is 14.1 miles (22.8km) long, so the new Camaro gained nearly a second per mile. In performance and racing terms, that is a huge pick-up, one which might give rise to some skepticism. So how did the new car make such a big gain? As with all things Nürburgring, "if there's no video, it didn't happen," so have a gander at the lap first. Camaro ride and handling engineer Drew Cattell is at the wheel. Some of the ZL1's hardware has remained the same, including wheel/tire sizes and brakes. But the 2017 ZL1 has aerodynamic differences starting with a smaller profile and extending to new underbody aero panels borrowed from the Cadillac CTS-V, which keep airflow laminar underneath the Camaro. The smaller car has tighter … [Read more...] about How did the new Camaro ZL1 cut 12 seconds off the old one’s Nürburgring time?
20 year old embalmed body
This three-wheel EV is still the most fun thing we’ve driven all year
Without a doubt, the most fun thing I've driven all year is also the cheapest. It's the Arcimoto SRK: a three-wheeled electric vehicle that remains the one thing I liked about CES 2016. Since then the Oregonian startup has been beavering away, refining the design of the $12,000 EV as it readies for production next year. The SRK made its way to DC recently, and that meant another chance to drive it—this time on some familiar city streets. Yet again, the experience blew me away. It's a tandem trike, with each front wheel powered by its own 25kW (34hp) electric motor. But don't let the handlebars fool you; with seats, seatbelts, and a roof, even the bike-phobic like me are quite at home here. In fact, earlier versions of Arcimoto's platform actually used a steering wheel and pedals before evolving into the SRK, and it corners with almost no body roll. There's a 12kWh lithium-ion battery pack, good for about 70 miles (112km) of range, although a 20kWh pack will also be … [Read more...] about This three-wheel EV is still the most fun thing we’ve driven all year
It’s just one big
Star Trek fans have been eagerly awaiting the new series Star Trek: Picard,slated to debut in January 2020. It was first announced at the Las Vegas Star Trek Convention in August 2018, and a nice long trailer just debuted at this weekend's New York Comic-Con. It's practically a Star Trek: The Next Generation reunion, featuring plenty of familiar faces alongside the new cast. Rumors began swirling about a Picard-centric spin-off series shortly after Star Trek: Discovery showrunner Alex Kurtzmann signed a five-year development deal with CBS to further expand the franchise for its streaming service. One potential snag was whether Patrick Stewart, who created the character, would reprise his role. Kurtzman envisioned a more contemplative tone, describing the series as "a more psychological show, a character study about this man in his emeritus years." The concept was sufficiently unique that Stewart signed on.Further ReadingBoldly going where no palate has gone before: A … [Read more...] about It’s just one big
Huawei Sales Director Arrested in Poland on Spying Charges
Huawei is facing another headache, this time in Poland, where one of its executives has been arrested on espionage charges. The man, identified by the Wall Street Journal as Weijing Wang (Stanislaw Wang in Poland) is Huawei's sales director in the region. Another, unidentified man who previously worked for Poland's Internal Security Agency was also arrested. Wang is a Chinese official; the other man is a Polish national. Both are accused of spying for the Chinese government. Wang's home, as well as Huawei's local office, was searched this week, and officials seized documents and electronic information, the Journal says. They also searched the offices of French telecom provider Orange, where the former security official used to work. Both men have pleaded not guilty; they face up to 10 years in prison. In a statement to Reuters, Huawei said it "complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, and we require every employee to abide by the laws and … [Read more...] about Huawei Sales Director Arrested in Poland on Spying Charges
TikTok is the best place on the internet. We should all delete it
Hi, my name is Daniel and I have a problem. A TikTok problem. After dismissing it for over a year, TikTok was thrust upon me last month at, of all things, a bachelor party in Hong Kong. It was a little like The Hangover, but subtract drugs, strippers and Mike Tyson's tiger and replace it with a trendy Chinese video app aimed at 16-year-olds.And now I'm addicted. A feed comprised of millions of silly videos from people around the world, curated to my taste by artificial intelligence. I never really stood a chance. Recent favorites include a dog getting its nails clipped, a teen runner belly flopping into a pool of mud mid-race, and a stoner interrupting a college lecture to heat up popcorn with a microwave he brought from home.TikTok stands out from other social media in one key way: You actually feel good after using it. Expanding Facebook friend counts lead to people sharing less, making the platform feel sterile. Studies show Instagram, acting as a highlight reel of other … [Read more...] about TikTok is the best place on the internet. We should all delete it