CYBER LOCKPICKING
Experts have recently noted keyless entry on Tesla vehicles and how the added convenience is largely outweighed by the cybersecurity vulnerabilities this relatively new technology possesses. Sultan Qasim Khan, a principal security consultant at Manchester, UK-based security firm NCC Group, says that thieves can exploit the entry systems of Tesla Model S and Y vehicles with relative ease and be speeding off in your vehicle in a matter of seconds. Criminals have learned how to redirect communications between a car owner’s mobile phone, or key fob, and the car, and fool the entry system into thinking the owner is located physically near the vehicle. Khan says this exploit is by no means exclusive to Tesla vehicles. He says that he has been in talks with Tesla and other automakers to try and implement updates to improve cybersecurity on vehicles equipped with this technology. In many cases, a physical update of a vehicle’s hardware and the keyless entry system itself would be required to effectively fix the vulnerabilities.
ROLLING GAZEBO
Any day now and we’ll catch a glimpse of the robot arm in the Ford engineering department that has been furiously flinging bowls of spaghetti at walls over the past couple of weeks—see the OEMs’ recent patents for more context—as its latest patent approval consists of a screen door system on off-road Bronco models. According to the official patent documentation published on April 21, designs for a screen door system on the Ford Bronco would see some sort of mesh-like material seal the vehicle’s openings when its metal roof and doors are removed. The design specifies the use of a series of motors and sensors, as well as airbag-style components that will allow the spring-loaded system to be stored compactly and deployed very quickly. The applications of this technology are wide-ranging; from simply keeping bugs and dust out of the face of off-roading drivers, to adding just a little bit of security and protection for those times when your vehicle’s roof is where the wheels should be.
MORE GIGAWATTS THAN EVER
The people behind the DeLorean were peddling some real progress this May 4, teasing some previously unseen looks at the famous model’s upcoming EV update. In a short clip posted to the DeLorean Motor Company’s Instagram page, the time-travelling sportscar can be seen in a rear silhouette before a full-width LED lamp slides a red light across the rear bumper, evoking very strong lightsaber energy. To demonstrate the evolution of the DeLorean’s design over the decades, partnering design company Italdesign plans to release images of previously unseen 1990, 2000 and 2010 DeLorean concept designs, ahead of the car’s official August 18 debut.
