Teslas Sentry Mode is a powerful tool against people who want to do ill will, and although it cant stop accidents or idiots from doing harm, its a great way to capture irrefutable evidence to use against them.What exactly is “Sentry Mode”? Probably just one of the most well-received features Elon Musks ever pushed across an over-the-air update to his cars software.If you lean on, bump into or scratch a Tesla with Sentry Mode activated, it will display an alert on the screen that says the cameras are recording and, as warned, it will activate several cameras all around the car to capture whats happening to it.If a window is broken, or the car is broken into, Sentry will sound the alarm, increase the screen brightness to full, and plays music through the audio system at maximum volume.Owners will get a notification on their Tesla app if this occurs, and they will be able to download a video of the incident.Suffice it to say, many, many Tesla owners have already found this digital guard dog very helpful. Here are five times Sentry Mode put Tesla-haters in their place.Patriotic KeyingPlenty of people have keyed Teslas, and plenty of those key-ings have been caught by Sentry Mode, but this video really takes the cake.Two dudes walk up from what we can only assume is an old-time-y saloon, drunk out of their minds and ready to give the beat down to anybody who disrespects Merica (as spelled out on the one guys patriotic T-shirt).Since electric cars are, obviously, the most un-American thing in the whole world, the two men decide to key the Tesla, and then stand back to admire their work. Not enough patriotism! were imagining one saying to the other, before going in for a second key-ing and smashing their drivers door into the side of the American-designed American-built American-owned Tesla.The two individuals actually turned themselves in two days later, after being visited in a dream by the ghost of Abraham Lincoln, probably.Swerving TruckThis incident happened to a Tesla Model X driver in Los Gatos, Spanish for the cats. Unlike los gatos, though, heres nothing cute and cuddly about what happened here. A Ford F-150 crosses the double-yellow line and swerves to smash into the front of the vehicle on a downhill section of road in California.Perhaps the truck driver was upset the Tesla turned onto the main road while the Ford was quickly coming down the hill, forcing the driver to apply the brakes, but that doesnt really permit him to cross a double-yellow line and deliberately crash into the Tesla.This could have turned out much worse, as a crash at high speeds could have sent the vehicle into a spin, or activated the airbags, or led to a myriad of other potentially life-threatening situations. After the video was posted, the truck driver was identified as Dennis Munns, 32; he was charged for a hit-and-run.Spinning MercedesUnlike the other videos on this list, this one actually doesnt involve a Tesla being damaged in any way. However, Sentry Mode can also capture when vehicles get close enough to do harm, and this definitely could have done some harm.For some reason, the driver in this Mercedes decided it would be a fun idea to swerve right up next to the Tesla perhaps just to give the owner a funny video to watch? At any rate, his driving talent runs out almost immediately, and he ends up spinning onto a neighbours lawn. Way to go, you really showed that Tesla owner whos boss!A bunch of teenagers jump out of the car and flee, while the driver runs over his own inner wheel well and drives off with all the doors open. Clearly, were looking at some upstanding individuals, all with ambitions of being the next president of the United States. Or theyre drunk.Fist FightWhat starts off as what looks like two friends walking into a parking lot together in Washington D.C. turns into a flailing, flopping punching match, and its all caught on camera by a nearby Tesla.At one point, one of the men actually flicks his flip-flop at the other one in an attempt to distract him and go in for the big one, but his overreaching punch is dodged. The comments of the video suggest its staged and fake, which would explain why everybody is wearing the same t-shirt, unless this is a very strange team-building exercise.Throughout the entire fight, its not clear if either of the men actually land a good hit on each other, but nevertheless, its great entertainment thanks to Teslas Sentry Mode. Whether or not they were arrested or given a TV show is unknown.Breaking ButtsTeslas Sentry Mode caught this incident on camera in Stanford, California, of a man who decided to try and break into the vehicle by breaking the quarter window and accessing the trunk.The owner posted on Twitter about the incident, praising the Telsa for having a subtle but powerful layer of protection thanks to Sentry Mode. Too bad the perp didnt have an extra layer of protection over his cheeks.Sorry to be an old man, but seriously, dude, nobody wants to see
Origin: Watch: Five times Sentry Mode put Tesla-haters in their place
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Tesla Sentry Mode catches couple mistaking Model 3 for their Hyundai Elantra
The Tesla Model 3’s new Sentry Mode yknow, the feature that turns on the parked cars cameras when the vehicle is disturbed has by now caught some very weird things on video, were sure.But this clip of a couple walking up to a white example and repeatedly reaching for door handles that arent there has got to be one of the more chuckle-worthy.The clip, posted to the TeslaMotors sub on reddit, shows the pair walking up the Model 3 from a nearby strip mall. The driver-side Sentry camera shows a man in a white shirt walk up, fumble for the cars retracting flush-with-the-body door handles about three times, pause to press the key fob to unlock the car, then try for the non-existent handle again.On the other side, his passenger fares just about as well. That moment you mistake a Model 3 for your Hyundai from teslamotors Footage from the passenger side of the parked Model 3 shows the couples also-white 2015-ish Hyundai Elantra just two spaces away and explains maybe just a little bit how they mistook one entry-level four-door for another.We get that walking up to and opening your car is something you do so often, thats so subconscious, that even the smallest distraction might throw your brain for a loop and why you might forget your car, last you checked, had door handles, ones that dont pop out via key-fob button.But its mistaking the Model 3 for the Hyundai in the first place you can see the latter at the bottom in the photo below, Model 3 on top that confounds us, unless youre really engaged in your conversation, we suppose. At the very least, I guess its sort of a compliment to Hyundai-designers-of-four-years-ago that people could confound the
Origin: Tesla Sentry Mode catches couple mistaking Model 3 for their Hyundai Elantra
U.S. trend: Porsche owners trading in their cars for Jeeps
Its a Porsche thing you wouldnt understand. If that marketing tagline sounds a little familiar, so will the brand of vehicle many Americans who own Boxsters and Caymans are buying once its time to trade in their German sports cars.No, theyre not moving into BMWs or Audis, or even Teslas, according to Klaus Zellmer, Porsche North America CEO.The exec apparently told Autoblog that Boxster and Cayman owners who dont go straight into another Porsche product are most likely to opt for a Jeep Wrangler.It seems the executives in Germany just about lost their lederhosen when Zellmer told them about the buying habits of those crazy Americans, who are more than willing to go from Porsche precision to one of the roughest-riding sport-utes on the market. Autoblog suspects its because these folks primarily bought their low-slung Porsche sports cars as the familys third vehicle and only for its fun factor and once the lease is up, theyre out to try the next driving adventure on the bucket list.We think the blogs on to something. As it says, just as with the Boxster, you can still get a Wrangler with a
Origin: U.S. trend: Porsche owners trading in their cars for Jeeps
Drivers startled by their cars auto-braking for no apparent reason
Technology, such as Volvos pedestrian- and cyclist-detecting City Safety system, is no substitute for keeping your eyes open and paying attention.Volvo Automatic braking may be cutting down on crashes, but its also scaring drivers when it doesnt work as its intended, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) has received more than 400 complaints about automatic emergency braking systems in the past three years, with drivers reporting that their vehicles either hit the brakes when there wasnt a risk of a crash; or brakes not coming on when there was a risk. The systems can often be confused by non-threats such as shadows or signs.The newspaper reported that 14 of these complaints involved a crash, most of them caused when the vehicle braked suddenly and was rear-ended by another vehicle. Three crashes resulted in injuries, but there were no fatalities.One driver said the vehicle unexpectedly hit the brakes on the highway, with the driver losing control and crashing into a guardrail. Other said their vehicles braked on railway crossings. Nearly 180,000 vehicles have been recalled in the U.S. since 2015 to fix issues with their emergency braking systems.Depending on the manufacturer, the systems use cameras, sensors and/or radar to see objects ahead, which can include vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians or large animals, and apply the brakes if they detect that the driver isnt reacting quickly enough. They are considered an essential component in the development of self-driving autonomous cars. The U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) said that the rate of rear-end collisions is 50 per cent lower in vehicles equipped with emergency braking, and that it will prevent 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries by 2025.NHTSA agrees but said the technology isnt uniformly defined and can vary in how it works, and that drivers are often confused because automakers use different names for their proprietary
Origin: Drivers startled by their cars auto-braking for no apparent reason
17 Pets who love cars more than their owner
A Jack Russell behind the wheel of a MiataGetty There’s nothing quite like cruising with the windows down, music up and the warm summer breeze whipping your hair around. It’s a glorious feeling and one that Canadians truly appreciate given the blip on the calendar that is summer.But as much as we enjoy this feeling of freedom behind the wheel, some domesticated dogs – and, yup, even cats – might have us beat. We scoured the hashtags of Instagram to find some of the furriest and funniest co-pilots to inspire the next road trip with your best four-legged buddy. The #travelpets captured in these 17 photos prove that there are some animals who love a good rip down the highway, if not more than a ‘w-a-l-k’. Who says dogs can’t smile? View this post on Instagram Mila LOVES car rides ! #adoptedandloved #evergladesangelsdogrescue #bullyadvocate #bullyrides #bullyawareness #americanbully #americanbulldogsofig #bulldog #bullylovers #bullypitbull #pitbulladvocate #pitbully #pitbullawareness #pitbulladdict #bullyaddict #carride #dogswholovecarrides #floridadog #outthewindow #mamamila #dollysdreamfoundation #rescueadvocate #rescue #rescued #rescuedogsofinstagram #rescuedandloved #rescuelove #rescueloverepeat #happydog #dog A post shared by Mila (@mila_03122019) on Jun 5, 2019 at 4:27am PDTMila the American bulldog is a rescue who thinks the people who gave her a second chance are the very best — but thinks car rides are even better. Just don’t tell mom and dad.Best. Day. Ever. View this post on Instagram Happy HUMPDAY!!! Tips to stay cool with the 100 degree scorcher today: 1. Stick head out of sunroof 2. Let tongue hang out 👅 3. Repeat as necessary . . . #carrides #sunroofselfie #dogswholovecarrides #chocolatelabmix #storminnorman #dogsofinstagram #humpday #wednesdaywisdom #labsofinstagram #labradorretriever A post shared by Myles Norman (@myles_and_norman) on Aug 29, 2018 at 6:40am PDTWhy bother with the passenger window when you have an entire sunroof to pop your head out of?A weiner behind the wheel. View this post on Instagram The only King in town 👑😏 You’ll never find another like me! Collar: @thesupremepawsupply Jacket: @fuzzyard Car: @bmw M 650 A post shared by 👑The King Of Dachshunds 👑 (@kingkingsley__) on Jul 1, 2019 at 3:22pm PDT“Hold my leash, I’m driving.”Best dog in the Galaxie. View this post on Instagram As soon as I saw the car, I had to take photo, the dog just made it better. . . . #denverdogs #dogsincars #denver #doglife #carlife #classiccars #cars #chevy #chevyimpala A post shared by Tim (@therealyoink) on Jul 4, 2019 at 12:10pm PDTThe whole “car ride” thing isn’t nearly as fun when it’s parked. Still, we dig this doggo and this ’67 Ford Fairlane 500.All of these guys. View this post on Instagram They love car rides ❤️ #dogsofinstagram #jakecharliesophieandabbie #fourdogs #carrides #dogswholovecarrides A post shared by Lindsey Bruce (@lindseydbruce4) on Feb 27, 2019 at 2:20pm PSTSo, who actually called shotgun? Outdoor adventure enthusiast in transit.Paws up if you’re ready for a road trip!Ruiners of black seats. View this post on Instagram Where going hooman? We drive. #dogswhodrive #gsd #driving A post shared by Andy Whiting (@andrewwhiting8) on Jul 6, 2019 at 2:07am PDTHope there’s a lint roller in the glovebox. Porsche enthusiast. View this post on Instagram I wanna be this dog. #doggie #porsche #doginaporsche A post shared by Brooke Vande Zande (@brooklyn_photo) on Dec 15, 2016 at 9:04am PSTKeep your paws and tails inside of the vehicle at all times.Furry Ferrari fanatic. View this post on Instagram #balu #ferrari #fan #maranello #488spider #ferraridog A post shared by Pushstart Test Drive Maranello (@pushstartmaranello) on Sep 29, 2017 at 7:36am PDTThe iconic Prancing Poodle. A well-travelled cat. View this post on Instagram #sundaymorningcoffeerun #catsincarsgettingcoffee #catsincars #windinmywhiskers #roadkitty #catsofinstagram #cats_of_instagram #deafcatsofinstagram #deafcat #whitecatsociety #whitecat #catstagramcat #catstagram #meowstagram #stagramgroup #lovemeow #cat_features #catfeaturesdaily #pleasantcats #catconworldwide #catstercats #moderncatmagazine #prettykittykhaleesi #thedodo A post shared by Khaleesi (@prettykittykhaleesi) on Jul 7, 2019 at 2:04pm PDTThis is the kind of cat that converts dog people into cat people.Good boys in the back. View this post on Instagram Minnie, Forrest, Tilly, Siku Bailey 🐾 #dogsincars #woof #dogfriends #puppals #nissanrogue #bostonterrier #miniaussie #aussiesofinstagram #bullmastiff #bullmastiffpuppy #malmute #husky #bichonfrise #dogwalker #dogwalking #puppylove #bestjobever #happydogs #playdateswithdogs A post shared by Puppy Love London Dog Training (@puppylovelondon) on Jul 3, 2019 at 4:10pm PDTHow many dogs in a trunk are too many dogs in a
Origin: 17 Pets who love cars more than their owner
Robot could let cops give you a ticket without exiting their cruiser
An engineering firm is trying to launch a new RoboCop our words, not theirs that will help keep officers safe in the line of duty.Instead of protecting the city from the Dad in That ’70s Show, though, the purpose of this RoboCop is strictly giving people tickets. The system, affixed perhaps ironically to the front of a Toyota Prius for testing, works by extending the little android officer on a track alongside the vehicle being pulled over.The computer features a camera, printer and a screen where the driver can see the officer sitting in his car. Aww, it even wears a little helmet, how cute.What isnt so cute is the row of spike strips the robot deploys underneath the vehicle to prevent any thoughts of escape entering the drivers mind.This new police robot could make traffic stops safer for everyone. pic.twitter.com/70YnFy672w Autoblog (@therealautoblog) July 24, 2019According to Autoblog, the project started in the basement of engineer Rueben Brewer, but eventually got picked up by a company called SRI International, which hopes to turn it into reality.The idea is to provide a buffer between the officer and the people in the vehicle who might want to do them harm. Or just to make day-to-day tasks like giving people speeding tickets and hassling them about taillights easier.While this is just a prototype, you can expect if it actually takes off that it won’t be attached to a Prius, which couldnt catch a one-legged child on a bicycle. Were just glad the first step for the RoboCop was to give people tickets and didnt involve shooting an inventor and tossing him out of a 30-storey
Origin: Robot could let cops give you a ticket without exiting their cruiser
BMW, Chevrolet and Kia models top their segments in 2019 J.D. Power study
2020 Kia Forte GT The strange trio of BMW, Chevrolet and Kia took home most of the hardware in this years annual J.D. Power Initial Quality Study awards, with American and Korean brands generally making quite the sweep.The J.D. Power quality ratings and awards are based on feedback from more than 75,000 verified vehicle owners who have owned or leased their new rig for a minimum of 90 days.This rating focuses on problems experienced by these verified owners and has, over the years, been a good predictor of long-term durability.Rankings are easy to decipher: the fewer the problems, the better the score. Some folks rag on this award saying that 90 day-old cars are supposed to be trouble-free. However, anyone whos bought or leased a new car only to have it spend days and weeks in the shop know thats not always what happens.This year, there were 22 segment award recipients, listed alphabetically here by J.D. Power. Would it surprise you to learn that over one-third of them are brands from the Detroit Three automakers? Its true.The Ford Fusion, for example, continues to garner accolades despite currently residing in deaths nursery. It tied with the Chevy Malibu to rank highest in the midsize car segment. Youll notice the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are nowhere to be found.The large-and-in-charge full-size SUVs from General Motors also took home awards in their respective categories, with the Chevy Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade being singled out by J.D. Power for IQS greatness. Lexus GX? Mercedes G-Wagen? Nope.However, Lexus did appear as winner in the midsize premium SUV class, expressive face and all.In addition, more than a quarter of the segment award winners were cars from Korean brands. Hyundais popular Sante Fe earned a gold sticker for initial quality in midsize SUVs, boding well for the utility given it is newly packed with gee-whiz tech such as advanced safety systems.Kias Sedona, Forte, Rio and Sportage were all champs in their respective classes. Toss in a win by Genesis for top premium compact car with its G70 and the Koreans certainly have something to boast
Origin: BMW, Chevrolet and Kia models top their segments in 2019 J.D. Power study
Hertz customers arrested after their rentals incorrectly marked stolen
In this May 9, 2011 file photo, a Hertz rental car worker checks out cars at San Jose International Airport in San Jose, Calif.Paul Sakuma / AP Renting a car can be a pain in the neck in and of itself—you gotta bring it back with a full tank, those wipers could stand to be replaced, and where’s the headlight switch anyhow? The last thing anyone needs is to be arrested and stuffed into the back of a cop car because your rental was reported stolen by the very company from whom you rented the thing. That’s exactly what happened to several customers of Hertz, the Florida-based company whose name evokes a trip to the dentist. An ABC affiliate reports there have been upwards of thirty such cases of this in the States, situations which leave confused customers in a sticky spot and even, in some cases, detention. In one incident, a person ended up getting arrested and spending half a day behind bars before being told there was a “glitch in the system.” Some glitch. The report goes on to detail the story of a person in Pennsylvania who was arrested and charged before having a judge toss the case out on its ear. Another client in Indiana had a similar experience of being wrongly accused of stealing the vehicle she was renting from Hertz. For its part, the car rental giant issued statements about the issue, saying “filing a police report is a last resort” and “false reports of stolen vehicles are extremely rare.” Thing is, it’s not an entirely new issue. A report from 2018 describes the plight of other customers who found themselves on the business end of handcuffs after Hertz reported the rental car they were driving as stolen. One person apparently spent over a week behind bars. It’s enough to make a person feel fortunate they only got dinged for fuel charges during their last
Origin: Hertz customers arrested after their rentals incorrectly marked stolen
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