Car Technology
Hybrid vs Plug-In Hybrid vs Electric: What's the Difference?
Mild hybrids, full hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery-electric cars explained: how each works, how far they go on electricity, and which suits which driver.
2 min read
The Journal
Car Technology
Plain-English explainers on the technology that makes a luxury car quiet, smooth, safe and smart.
39 stories · page 2
Car Technology articles
Car Technology
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars Explained: How They Work and Why They're Rare
Hydrogen fuel cell cars like the Toyota Mirai make electricity on board and emit only water. How they work, refueling, and why stations remain scarce.
2 min read
Car Technology
Level 3 Autonomous Driving Explained: Mercedes Drive Pilot and the SAE Levels
What the SAE levels of driving automation mean, how Mercedes Drive Pilot allows eyes-off driving in limited conditions, and where it's legal.
2 min read
Car Technology
Long-Wheelbase Sedans Explained: Why Chauffeur Cars Are Stretched at the Factory
Long-wheelbase sedans add inches between the axles, all for rear passengers. Why the U.S. S-Class is long-wheelbase only, and why China loves 'L' models.
2 min read
Car Technology
Magic Body Control Explained: The Suspension That Reads the Road
Mercedes Magic Body Control uses a stereo camera to scan the road ahead and prepare the suspension for bumps. How it works, its limits and its successors.
2 min read
Car Technology
How Car Massage Seats Work — and Which Cars Have the Best
Car massage seats use air bladders or rollers to knead your back. How they work, 'hot stone' massage, and which luxury sedans and SUVs offer them.
2 min read
Car Technology
Car Night Vision Systems: How Luxury Cars See in the Dark
Night vision in cars began with the 2000 Cadillac DeVille. How thermal and near-infrared systems detect pedestrians and animals beyond the headlights.
2 min read
Car Technology
Panoramic Sunroofs and Smart-Glass Roofs Explained
Panoramic glass roofs brighten luxury cabins. How they're built, heat and privacy trade-offs, and smart glass that darkens at the touch of a button.
2 min read
Car Technology
Premium Car Audio Explained: Burmester, Bowers & Wilkins, AKG and More
Which audio brands luxury cars use — Burmester, Bowers & Wilkins, AKG, Bang & Olufsen, Naim, Meridian — and what makes a car sound system great.
2 min read
Car Technology
Rear-Wheel Steering Explained: How Long Cars Turn Like Small Ones
Rear-wheel steering turns the back wheels to shrink turning circles at low speed and add stability at high speed. How it works in the S-Class and others.
2 min read
Car Technology
Regenerative Braking Explained: How EVs and Hybrids Recycle Energy
Regenerative braking turns the electric motor into a generator to recover energy while slowing down. How it works, one-pedal driving and passenger comfort.
2 min read
Car Technology
Run-Flat Tires Explained: How They Work, Pros and Cons
Run-flat tires let you keep driving after a puncture for a limited distance. How self-supporting and insert types work, their pros and cons, and TPMS.
2 min read
Car Technology
Soft-Close and Automatic Doors: Why Luxury Car Doors Close Themselves
Soft-close doors pull themselves shut from the first latch position. Their origin on the 1991 S-Class, how they work, and today's fully automatic doors.
2 min read
Car Technology
Super Cruise vs Autopilot vs BlueCruise: Hands-Free Driving Compared
GM Super Cruise, Tesla Autopilot/FSD and Ford BlueCruise compared: how they work, where they work, driver monitoring and why all are Level 2.
2 min read
Car Technology
The Three-Point Seat Belt: Volvo's 1959 Invention That Saved Millions
Nils Bohlin's three-point seat belt debuted in 1959 Volvos, and Volvo shared the patent freely. How it works and New York's first seat belt law.
2 min read
Car Technology
How Tires Affect Noise and Ride Comfort in Luxury Cars
Tires shape how quiet and smooth a car feels. Sidewall height, foam-lined 'acoustic' tires, pressure and winter tires explained for passengers.
2 min read
Car Technology
Twin-Turbo Engines Explained: How Luxury Cars Get Big Power From Smaller Engines
How turbochargers work, why luxury V8s use two, what 'hot-V' layouts and electric turbos do, and how twin-turbos compare with big naturally aspirated V8s.
2 min read
Car Technology
V8 vs V12 vs Inline-Six vs Electric: What Makes an Engine Smooth?
Why V12s and inline-sixes are naturally smooth, how V8s compare, and why electric motors may be the smoothest of all. Engine balance explained simply.
2 min read
Car Technology
Window Tint Laws in New York and New Jersey: A Plain-English Guide
How dark can car windows be in New York and New Jersey? A plain-English overview of front, rear and windshield tint rules, SUV privacy glass and exemptions.
2 min read
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