Big news! Tonight, Tesla will be live streaming the highly-anticipated unveiling of their Model 3.
Be sure to tune in tonight, 11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT on www.teslamotors.com and check back with us tomorrow as we’ll have photos and more information!
Tesla Motors
A small preview for what’s coming this week from Saturday’s exclusive photo event hosted by Lamborghini Paramus and McLaren Bergen County.
Hey Autocrats! Today is the second Press Day at the New York International Auto Show. Continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and right here for live coverage!
Today is the day! 2016 New York International Auto Show Press Day has arrived. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and right here for live coverage, beginning today at 5PM. 
The 2016 Easter Jeep Safari is already underway in Moab, Utah for their 50th year running. It kicked off Saturday, March 19th and is running straight through to Sunday, March 27th. The Safari is an event starting in Moab, using your own vehicle on 40 different trails ranging in difficulty for a 9-day long adventure! Every year, Jeep shows off new concepts at this event which utilize both production and prototype Jeep Performance Parts. The Safari is hosted by the Red Rock 4-Wheelers Inc., which is one of the the local four wheel drive clubs of Moab.
For almost 30 years, the CJ-5 was in production, making it the longest-living Wrangler model to be produced. It’s been said throughout the years that the CJ-5 was one of the hardest vehicles to kill off. The CJ-5 went through years and years of changes and upgrades since it was produced for so long. Some of the most noticeable changes were gas tank relocation, frame length and width and various transmissions and engine size upgrades. The CJ-5 sure is an iconic Wrangler model, which is what makes this 2016 Shortcut Concept that much more special.
The 2016 Shortcut Concept is inspired by the classic CJ-5 to handle tight, winding trails. It is overall a tad more than 2 feet shorter, while the wheelbase remains the same. The bumpers were also pushed in a small amount and the rear spare tire was taken off – bringing the Shortcut closer in size to the older CJ-5. The Shortcut features no doors and roof as well as a restyled grille, hood and tailgate. The Shortcut also shows off the classic round side-view mirrors. Another eye catcher of course are the matching body color 17-inch rims that are fitted into 35-inch tires. As for the engine specs, the Shortcut will be running the same 3.6-liter V6 and five-speed automatic from the current Wrangler.
Jeep is extremely excited this year for the Easter Jeep Safari. Mike Manley, the head of Jeep for FCA Global said, “Every year, the Jeep team looks forward to pushing the limits with new, exciting, and capable concept vehicles for our most loyal enthusiasts at the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, where we receive a tremendous amount of valuable feedback.” I think we can all agree that this year’s concepts are on point. Manley continued, “This year is extra special, as together with our biggest fans, we celebrate Jeep’s 75th anniversary, as well as the 50th running of the Jeep Safari”.
Jeep Crew Chief 715
The Crew Chief is a salute to legendary Jeep military service vehicles
Jeep Renegade Commander
The Jeep Renegade Commander is built to blaze a trail deep into the secluded wilderness.
Jeep Comanche
The Jeep Comanche is designed to be off-road ready with practical utility.
Jeep FC 150
The Jeep FC 150 is a heritage cab-over design, rich in history and capable of tackling any terrain.
Jeep Trailcat
The Jeep Trailcat is a Hellcat-powered off-roader, capable of both crawling and high-speed runs.
Jeep Trailstorm
The Jeep Trailstorm has added offroad capability with a 2-inch lift kit, 37-inch tires and Dana 44 axles.
To view more photos of the Jeep concepts, check out our album on Facebook.
Photography by Michael Simari and Jeep
Ford has always been a staple in law enforcement vehicle history – going all the way back to 1919 when departments used Model T police trucks. Then, came the infamous Crown Victoria era in the early 90s and late 2000s. Now, we have the new Explorers and Tauruses we see most departments using on the roads today.
Ford is taking their dedication to law enforcement one step further, and will now be offering doors that protect against armor-piercing bullets. Since 2008, they’ve offered factory-installed ballistic panels on their police car doors, but they only protect against handgun fire and non-armor piercing bullets. Only about 5 to 10 percent of police vehicles sold by Ford have the optional ballistic protection, which costs about $1,500 per door.
Controlling 60 percent of the US police vehicle market in 2015, Ford will be the first in the US to meet the Justice Department’s highest standard for body armor, which is the equivalent of a bulky SWAT team vest.
The ballistic panels, which cover the majority of the door, have two layers. The first layer is made from ballistic-grade ceramic tile, which disperses the energy and starts to break the bullet into pieces on impact. The inner layer is made from aramid fiber, which is the same material used for Kevlar, and catches the shrapnel from the bullet.
Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations said that “any kind of protection that can be added into the vehicles that officers are driving in is a great idea”, since officers are frequently targeted when they are in their patrol cars.
Unavailable to the public, the doors are destroyed when police cars are scrapped so they don’t wind up in the bad guys’ hands.
Engineering the doors proved to be a challenge since the added weight of the ballistic protection had to be supported by the hinges of the door, though they made it happen. Ford will continue to offer both non-armor piercing and armor-piercing protection doors for departments with different needs. Pricing for upgraded protection has not been announced.
Photo Credit: Ford
All systems are go! Nissan just recently released a teaser photo for the 2017 Nissan GT-R, which is set to make its debut at the New York International Auto Show.
Nissan. New York. 2016.
In the photo, the 2017 GT-R taillights appear to be quite similar to the current model, which only leaves us more in a great deal of suspense as to what’s changed. One thing is for sure — Nissan won’t disappoint. Nissan has not released any further information regarding the 2017 GT-R other than it will debut this year at the New York International Auto Show.
The 2016 GT-R comes standard with a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 which cranks out 545 horsepower AND only comes in all-wheel drive, to boot! For those that want a little something extra, Nissan offers the GT-R Nismo which boosts power 55hp, bringing that up to 600. With power like that at a fraction of the price of a supercar, who wouldn’t want to give the GT-R a chance?
The GT-R’s competitors include the Porsche 911 Turbo and Chevrolet Corvette Z06, which are some solid models to be in competition with.
The Autocracy will be in full force covering the Auto Show and we’ll be posting live to Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Be sure to keep checking back for Auto Show coverage, as well as a first look at the 2017 Nissan GT-R.
We all remember the days when cars had only a little metal key. Eventually, laser cut keys were made; fast forward a few years and cars with push button start using a key fob were the next big thing. The push button start feature comes with many pros, the major one being never having to take your key out of your pocket to open the doors and start the car. But, what if you’re getting tired of carrying around keys in your pocket?
Volvo has the answer, but there is still one major question to ask. What is the one thing you can almost guarantee that every person walking down the street has, long before they even get their learners permit?
Answer: a smartphone.
Volvo has set off a trial run on manufacturing keyless cars using three things that almost everyone use today: bluetooth, a smartphone and an app! With these simple features, Volvo is looking to perfect the next big thing in the automotive industry. Just so you are not deterred from purchasing a Volvo if you are not too technologically inclined, Volvo plans to still offer physical keys for their customers.
The Bluetooth enabled app will give the cars owner a “digital key” that they will be able to share with other people that also use the app, like family members who will also use the car. Not only will it be useful for families that share a car, but it can also be utilized for rental car companies that will be able to send a digital key to the app. Volvo’s app will also able to control door locks and engine starting/stopping.
Having an app on a phone to control your car does cause concern for battery life for the phone but Martin Rosenqvist, New Car Director of Special Products at Volvo Cars says, “Our app has marginal effect on battery life”. The concern for a phone breaking or being misplaced is also bothersome as to how that gets resolved. Rosenqvist is also quoted saying, “If you lose your car key you need to go to the Volvo dealer, if you lose your phone you have to get a new phone. You can acquire a new app on a new phone”.
If this new technology will become a production reality, there is only one way to find out. Stayed tuned with us as we plan on keeping you guys updated with Volvo’s trial of a keyless car.
Video from: The Volvo Group – Volvo Cars
We have finally received our business cards! What do you think?
We’ve been working real hard (until 3am! OK, maybe not that late) to bring you our Facebook page — a place where you can share YOUR photos, YOUR ideas, and YOUR opinions about anything cars. We’ll have all of our galleries on there — even the behind the scenes photos that you won’t see here on the blog. Be sure to check it out and tell your friends. Right now, we’re busy populating it with all of our past stories, but stay tuned for more exclusive content!
(and here’s a picture of the new Porsche 911 GT3 because, why not?)
Photo from NY Daily News
The Autocracy 