WEALTH

AUTOS

Here’s What Google’s Self-Driving Car Sees When You Crash Into It

– Google’s self-driving cars are busily racking up miles on public streets—roughly 10,000 miles a week with humans aboard to provide safety backup, according to Chris Urmson, head of Google’s autonomous vehicle program. And in a blog post on Medium describing a low-speed crash involving a Google-modified autonomous Lexus on July 1, Urmson showed us what Google’s self-driving machines see when pesky human drivers crash into them. – Urmson explains how the scene

Ferrari Airbag Recall: This One’s Not Takata’s Fault

– In what is quite possibly the most one-percenter-oriented NHTSA recall announcement extant, it has come to light that Ferrari is recalling certain 2015 model-year 458 Italia, 458 Speciale, California T, FF, F12berlinetta, and LaFerrari models over improperly installed Takata-supplied driver’s-side airbags. Notably, the problem is unrelated to the exploding, shrapnel-shooting Takata airbags fitted to roughly 19.4-million recalled U.S.-market vehicles. – – According to Ferrari’s filings with NHTSA, the driver’s-side airbags in the

Ford Developing Fancy Adaptive and “Spotlighting” LED Lamps [w/ Video]

– While the U.S. waits for changes to affect its ancient headlight regulations, it must watch as cool, futuristic tech such as Matrix LED and laser headlights wow the European car market. We’re not the only ones frustrated—the automakers themselves would love to sell Americans high-tech peepers (especially Audi, which uses the ornate lighting as a key component of its styling) and now Ford has joined the fray. The American automaker has revealed that it,

2016 Dodge Viper ACR First Drive: Making the Viper Faster By Making It Slower

-The 2016 Dodge Viper ACR is the fastest Viper around a racetrack—at least that’s what Dodge claims—but a 177-mph top speed makes it the slowest Viper. With the exception of a finned differential for cooling, the ACR’s drivetrain is identical to that found in the rest of the Viper lineup. That means an 8.4-liter V-10 that throbs out 645 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque and looks to be about

REAL ESTATE

LUXURY

Nordstrom gives back with gift cards

Nordstrom Instalog image Department store chain Nordstrom is letting consumers give back through their gift card purchases through a new donation program. Now, when consumers buy gift cards, 1 percent of the amount will be given to local nonprofits in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. The new initiative is launching right before Mother’s Day, enabling consumers to gift with good conscience. Corporate philanthropy The funds Nordstrom earmarks will

Nordstrom gives back with gift cards

Nordstrom Instalog image Department store chain Nordstrom is letting consumers give back through their gift card purchases through a new donation program. Now, when consumers buy gift cards, 1 percent of the amount will be given to local nonprofits in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. The new initiative is launching right before Mother’s Day, enabling consumers to gift with good conscience. Corporate philanthropy The funds Nordstrom earmarks will

Should luxury brands stop avoiding ecommerce?

Promotional image for Chanel’s Coco Crush capsule Affluent consumers have shown their interest in buying goods online, but many luxury brands have been hesitant to embrace ecommerce as part of their retail strategy. Chanel is the latest luxury brand to dip its toe into ecommerce through a three-week fine jewelry capsule on Net-A-Porter, but the brand currently limits its direct operated ecommerce to cosmetics. Even with the possibilities through ecommerce from

Harry Winston invites social media fans to digital bridal unveiling

“HW” diamond engagement rings U.S. jeweler and watchmaker Harry Winston sent an invitation via its Facebook page for its Bridal Showcase. This showcase was released with two short videos and hashtag #FindTheOne to unveil the jeweler’s bridal ring options. Releasing an invitation to all social media followers for the unveiling creates the sense of community and entices consumers to come back for the reveal. I do Followers were invited to

Michael Kors directs attention to South Korea

Video still of Michael Kors’ Big Sur U.S. fashion label Michael Kors has created a new position within the brand to focus attention toward the South Korean market. Hanjoon Kim, who goes by Michael, will lead the brand in South Korea as the president of Korea. Mr. Kim will help to oversee expansion and brand growth within the market place estimated to be worth $4.5 billion and continues to grow.