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Autonomy, the car subscription startup that once pledged to buy 23,000 EVs, is now adding internal combustion engine vehicles for the first time. The company will offer gas-powered Ford models like the Mustang, F-150 and Bronco Sport, sourced from Galpin Motors, starting in California with plans to expand through dealer partners in other states.
A JD Power survey of 68,000 owners of 2026 model-year vehicles found that more than a third never use passenger touchscreens, while only six percent use them every time they drive. The firm also found larger screens correlated with more infotainment problems, while simple features like smart ignition and smart climate control ranked as the most valued technologies.
A phase of clinical testing involving sixteen patients with multiple sclerosis and related autoimmune disorders showed symptom improvement after researchers used a modified virus to instruct T cells inside the body to produce chimeric antigen receptors, targeting the B cells responsible for autoimmune attacks. The findings, published this week in The New England Journal of Medicine, mark one of the first demonstrations that CAR-T therapy can be generated directly inside a patient rather than engineered in a lab and reinfused.
A comparison of used-car listings shows that Toyota models command higher prices relative to age and mileage than comparable vehicles from other brands. Shoppers with a $15,000-$20,000 budget can find newer, lower-mileage alternatives outside the Toyota lineup for similar money.
The unofficial Android Auto app Xtream Player, successor to Fermata Xtream, has released version 1.4.0 with a new Games add-on for Premium subscribers, starting with Chess and Connect 4, meant only for use when the car is parked. The update also refreshes app icons, improves YouTube Music playback behavior, and fixes a bug that caused a black screen when using the side-panel skip control.
Android Auto ships with roughly a dozen app icons on its home screen by default, including tools like Adobe Acrobat and IFTTT that most drivers will never use behind the wheel. Users can trim this list and rearrange it by going to Android Auto's Customize launcher settings, keeping only essentials like navigation, calls, messaging and media playback.
The Talix retractable USB-C to USB-C cable, normally $22, is discounted to $14 on Amazon with a coupon. It supports up to 240W and PD 3.2 charging, packing a 4- to 5-foot cord into a compact, magnet-equipped case about the size of a compact mirror.
Researchers have identified that operators behind the BadBox click-fraud botnet are now targeting Android-powered vehicle head units, exploiting built-in update mechanisms to push malicious software onto the devices. This marks an expansion of the botnet's reach beyond streaming boxes and smart TVs into automotive infotainment systems.
Google is gradually enabling a new Motion Assist feature on Android phones, starting with some Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 devices, ahead of the official September Pixel Drop. The feature displays moving shapes on screen that shift in sync with a vehicle's movement, using the phone's accelerometer and gyroscope, mirroring a similar tool Apple already offers on iPhone. Users can check for it under Settings > profile picture > All services > Personal & device safety.
British fabricator Robert Ely built a single-seat, road-legal sports car called the Gasolini AR1 in his home shed for roughly $7,000. The car uses a stripped-down 2017 Honda CBR500 motorcycle engine producing 47 horsepower, Ford Ka wheels, and a fiberglass body designed without complex curves for easier fabrication. Ely says the lightweight design allows about 72 mph top speed and 41 mpg fuel economy.
Digital car keys, which rely on UWB or NFC to confirm phone proximity, avoid the relay attacks that plague traditional key fobs. However, they introduce new vulnerabilities: a stolen or dead phone could theoretically lock owners out or grant access to thieves, though automakers build in safeguards like remote lockdown features and reserve battery power for NFC access lasting up to five hours after a phone dies.
ZDNET compiled a list of over 10 affordable car accessories intended to make everyday driving more convenient, based on its testing and research process. The recommendations span various gadget categories chosen for value and practicality rather than premium pricing.