Tesla unveils more affordable Model 3 with 198,000 preorders now on queue

Tesla Motors took the wraps off its anticipated Model 3 sedan. The most affordable Tesla in the market with an estimated price of US $35,000 (before government incentives), the Model 3 features 215 miles of range on a full battery charge, zero to 60 mph acceleration of six seconds, autopilot safety features and is expected to ship in late 2017.

The Model 3 has reportedly recieved 180,000 preorders in the first 24 hours of being offered, interested buyers can deposit US $1,000.00 to get on the list, which the company has worked out to around $7.5 billion, which is possibly the biggest presale for any electric vehicle to date.

180,000 cars is a huge step up from the 50,580 cars total in 2016. Tesla will need to ramp up its production capacity to meet demand. 

Source: Autoblog

Toshiba recalls over 100,000 batteries that are melting its laptops

If you're an owner of a Toshiba laptop, you might want to check your machine. The Japanese electronics company is recalling over 100,000 computers sold in Canada and the United States because some of the lithium-ion Panasonic battery packs are said to be prone to overheating, which could result in spark fires and put you at risk. These batteries were sold with 39 models of the Toshiba Portege, Satellite, and Tecra laptops. If the battery pack number seen in the image above matches yours, click this link for a step-by-step instruction on how to remove the battery. Affected units start with G71C. You can get a free replacement battery from here. And yes, you can keep using it if the laptop stays plugged into the wall, but really, get it replaced first. 

Source: Gizmodo 

BMW's new app aims to be your personal assistant in the car

BMW's new app, Connected, is set to become your ultimate personal assistant while on the road. Its features are centered around navigation but it also wants you to stay on top of other aspects in your life. This iOS app can show you things like estimated travel times based on current traffic conditions, send you directions to your destination and even send "last mile" guidance from your parking spot to your destination. It can also pull locations from your calendar and have that appear in the app.  

Connected is powered by Microsoft's cloud-based Azure platform and it is designed to get smarter the more you use it, with capabilities of predicting your next destination based on your habits and it can even reroute you based on current traffic conditions and warnings. Other features include the ability to remotely lock and unlock your car, turn the lights on and off, start your car's ventilation, and even sound the horn. 

Source: Mashable 

Chevrolet's 2016 Malibu gets bigger, safer and more connected

Chevrolet's midsize Malibu has been beefed up in terms of size, space, technology smarts and safety while being made 100 pounds lighter than the model it replaces. Offering a range of models replete with the latest performance, safety and technology solutions, the 2016 Malibu aims to shakes up the midsize sedan market on Canada.

An all-new, Ecotec 1.5L turbo is the standard engine in the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, offering a fuel consumption rating of 6.3 L/100km  highway. It is part of a new global family of small-displacement gas engines designed with greater power density to deliver confident performance with excellent efficiency.

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