2012 Dodge Charger Sxt on 2040-cars

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Weekly Recap: Toyota propels hydrogen fuel cells

Toyota is serious about hydrogen fuel cells, and it wants the auto industry to follow suit. The Japanese automaker said this week it's releasing 5,680 fuel cell patents from around the world, including technologies used on its upcoming sedan, the 2016 Mirai. The move is unusual, but not unprecedented, as Tesla similarly released its electric vehicle patents last year. The idea for Tesla, and now for Toyota, is to spur development of alternative propulsion. "By eliminating traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the development of new technologies and move into the future of mobility more quickly, effectively and economically," said Bob Carter, Toyota Motor Sales senior vice president of automotive operations, in a statement. Toyota's fuel cell patents will be free to use through 2020, though patents related to producing and selling hydrogen will remain open forever. Toyota said it would like companies that use its patents to share their own hydrogen patents, but won't require it. "What Toyota's doing is really a logical move, and really a good move for the industry," Devin Lindsay, principal powertrain analyst with IHS Automotive, told Autoblog. The announcement was made at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It comes as Toyota prepares to launch the hydrogen-powered Mirai in a limited number late this year in California. The launch will be extended to the Northeastern United States next year. Toyota also has announced plans to support networks of fueling stations in each region to try to smooth consumer adoption. The Mirai has a 300-mile range on a tank of hydrogen, and it takes about five minutes to refill. Fuel cells have been receiving increased attention recently, and Audi and Volkswagen debuted hydrogen-powered cars at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. Honda, another proponent of the technology, also showed its updated FCV concept in November in Japan. The company, however, has delayed its fuel cell sedan a year until 2016. Like Toyota, Honda says its hydrogen-powered car will have a range of 300 miles or more. Meanwhile, Hyundai currently offers leases for fuel-cell powered Tucsons, which have a 265-mile range, in Southern California. Despite the optimism some automakers have for fuel cells, the technology still faces barriers. A lack of filling stations has long held it back, and many consumers are not familiar with the potential benefits.

8 things you learn while driving a cop car [w/videos]

Let me start off with the obvious: it is absolutely illegal to impersonate a police officer. And now that that's out of the way, I'd just like to say that driving a cop car is really, really cool. Here's the background to this story: Dodge unveiled its redesigned 2015 Charger Pursuit police cruiser, and kindly allowed Autoblog to test it. That meant fellow senior editor Seyth Miersma and I would spend a week with the cop car, and the goal here was to see just how different the behind-the-wheel experience is, from a civilian's point of view. After all, it's not technically a police car – it isn't affiliated with any city, it doesn't say "police" anywhere on it, and it's been fitted with buzzkill-worthy "NOT IN SERVICE" magnets (easily removed for photos, of course). But that meant nothing. As Seyth and I found out after our week of testing, most people can't tell the difference, and the Charger Pursuit commands all the same reactions as any normal cop car would on the road. Here are a few things we noticed during our time as wannabe cops. 1. You Drive In A Bubble On The Highway Forget for a moment that our cruiser was liveried with Dodge markings instead of those of the highway patrol. Ignore the large "NOT IN SERVICE" signs adhered around the car. Something in the lizard brain of just about every licensed driver tells them to hold back when they see any hint of a cop car, or just the silhouette of a light bar on a marked sedan. Hence, when driving on the highway, and especially when one already has some distance from cars forward and aft, a sort of bubble of fear starts to open up around you. Cars just ahead seem very reluctant to pass one another or change lanes much, while those behind wait to move up on you until there's a full herd movement to do so. The effect isn't perfect – which is probably ascribable to the aforementioned giveaways that I'm not really a cop – but it did occur on several occasions during commutes from the office. 2. You Drive In A Pack In The City My commute home from the Autoblog office normally takes anywhere from 25 to 30 minutes, and it's a straight shot down Woodward Avenue from Detroit's north suburbs into the city, where I live. Traffic usually moves at a steady pace, the Michigan-spec "five-over" speed.

Dodge revives Challenger T/A and Charger Daytona trims for 2017

Dodge is reviving the Challenger's T/A trim and the Charger's Daytona line for 2017. Introduced on iconic Woodward Avenue just days before the annual Woodward Dream Cruise kicks off, the new variants promise more performance hardware and sportier aesthetics. We'll start with the two-door. The Challenger T/A, available with either the R/T trim's 5.7-liter V8 or the fire-breathing 6.4-liter Hemi V8, is inspired by the Challenger T/As of old. That means a less restrictive, 2.75-inch active exhaust system and a conical Mopar air filter. But there's no clear bump in output – Dodge still lists the base 5.7-liter at 375 horsepower and the 6.4-liter model at 485 hp. But hey, they're going to look cooler. Unlike the Challenger Hellcat, which should have it as standard, Dodge is including a Satin Black hood on every Challenger T/A. In fact, Satin Black is a recurring theme on this Challenger's front fascia, roof, rear decklid, and T/A bodyside stripes. And yes, the 20-inch Mopar wheels are black, too – they're also an inch wider than normal. Dodge is offering the T/A in three different trims. The base T/A has everything we described above, while the T/A Plus adds some comfort features like heated and vented Nappa leather seats, an 8.4-inch UConnect system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a six-speaker stereo, and a shortcut button for the Dodge Performance Pages. The T/A 392, meanwhile, adds the 6.4-liter V8, even wider wheels, and Brembo six-pot calipers. If you prefer smoking tires with four doors, there's the new Charger Daytona. No, there's not an enormous wing on the back. But Dodge added the same kind of engine/exhaust upgrades found on the T/A while upping the top speed from 135 to 150 miles per hour. Satin Black features prominently again, with hood and rear fender graphics. The roof is also black. Unlike the Challenger, Dodge is only offering two different versions of the Daytona – the 5.7-liter base model and the 6.4-liter version, called the Daytona 392. Prices for the Challenger T/A start at $38,485, including a $1,095-destination charge, while the T/A Plus adds $2,750. Adding the 392 means shelling out $45,090. For the Daytona, you'll need a check for $40,985 for the 5.7-liter or $46,090 for the 6.4-liter. Orders for the Charger Daytona open in September, while the T/A is a month later. Related Video: