Under the Hood

There's nothing quite like the smell of a new car interior. It's not exactly a fresh scent, but it's definitely an unused scent. So what really causes that "new car smell"?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Henry Ford didn't just build cars - he totally revolutionized the process, inventing new systems and methods that are still in use today. But is everything you've heard about the man accurate?

By Cherise Threewitt

Each year, auto manufacturers issue about 500 recalls. Most of them are small, inexpensive, easy to repair and not terrifying at all. These are not those recalls.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

It's arriving in bits and pieces, but there's a whole new world of automotive tech coming in the next decade. The future of self-driving cars has the potential to be pretty amazing.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

In a truck pull competition, excessive clouds of diesel smoke are a byproduct of the truck's functionality. But coal rollers have taken this idea from the county fair to the public roads -- all in the name of making people angry.

By Cherise Threewitt

Nissan, along with nanotechnology firm Nano Labs, has created an automotive paint that repels water and oil. Will it be an option on your next new car?

By Cherise Threewitt

Nissan's Smart Rearview Mirror is the world's first LCD monitor that helps you see more clearly what is behind your vehicle when you're driving down the road.

By Cherise Threewitt

Audi's Project Traffic Light Online uses the Audi connect Online system to read the signals from a city's central traffic computer. Will this be the end of waiting at tedious traffic lights?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

What if you could get snow tires mounted that offered good traction for most wintery days and, when the sleet hit the fan, could offer studded traction on the fly?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Google isn't content with simply syncing smartphones anymore -- the company wants to get its technology much deeper into the car. Will the Open Automotive Alliance be successful?

By Cherise Threewitt

This robot may be a one-trick pony; but what it does, it does so well. It fills your fuel tank faster and better than you ever could, puny human.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Motor mounts normally hold your car's engine firmly in place. But worn-out mounts allow a running engine to shift and bounce in all kinds of unpredictable, power-sapping ways.

By Cherise Threewitt

There are plenty of great reasons to design a car with its engine in the front; however, the same can be said for placing the engine behind the driver. Does engine placement really matter?

By Cherise Threewitt

Modern car and truck engines are typically efficient and powerful at the same time. But is there a relatively simple way to free-up some additional horsepower through the exhaust?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

A cold air intake is one of those rare modifications that works pretty well on its own. But how much horsepower can you really expect to gain?

By Cherise Threewitt

Replacing your car's stock muffler with a performance muffler is a good idea -- that is, if it's a rusted-out mess and you need to replace it anyway. But will this mod actually increase horsepower?

By Cherise Threewitt

If you're serious about increasing your car's horsepower -- and you have deep pockets -- your options are almost unlimited. But what can you do if you're on a tight budget?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Have the horses under your hood turned into mere ponies? If so, you and your four-banger may have a power problem on your hands. Here's how you can tell.

By Nicholas Gerbis

A supercharger is a considerable investment; however, it's also one of the best ways to improve the fun factor of driving your car or truck. How much additional horsepower should you expect?

By Cherise Threewitt

It seems like clearing out the exhaust as fast as possible would give you a bit of an edge over the competition. But does a dual exhaust system really improve your car's performance?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

If you've ever watched a real pro in action, paintless dent removal appears deceptively simple. But is it really as easy as it looks?

By Cherise Threewitt

There are so many dangerous, irresponsible and downright ridiculous things you can do to a car while "fixing" it that it was difficult to narrow this list down to just 10 examples.

By Cherise Threewitt

How would you like to save $300 to $400 million on your annual fuel bill? The U.S. Navy is ready -- and they'll do it with rotating detonation engines.

By Cherise Threewitt

Modern cars and trucks can keep track of their own health. The problem often comes when they try to communicate their information to the driver. How does your car talk to you?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

A sun visor's primary role in any car is pretty straightforward, right? But as far as automotive designers and aftermarket electronics manufacturers are concerned, anything can be improved.

By Cherise Threewitt