|
A mobile app for carpooling
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The Zimride company is about to launch a smartphone app called Lyft, aimed at facilitating carpooling.
|
|
Steve Jobs dreamed of an iCar
Friday, May 18, 2012
According to J.Crew CEO and Apple board member Mickey Drexler, Steve Jobs had dreamed of one day developing his own automobile since he believed American automakers paid no real attention to styling.
|
|
Tom Tom brings out more new GPS
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Last week Tom Tom launched the 1605 GPS, which, at 6 inches, has presently the biggest screen on the market. Now comes the Via 135 TM.
|
|
HomeLink 101
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
You know those three little buttons on the driver's sunshade or the overhead console? Well, they can do a lot of things for you.
|
|
TomTom releases its biggest navigation system yet
Friday, May 11, 2012
On Wednesday, TomTom announced the new VIA1605 TM navigation system for North America. Similar to Europe's Start 60, it features the largest screen of all TomTom's portable navigation devices at 6''. The bigger menus and buttons also make input simpler.
|
|
Reverse psychology
Friday, May 11, 2012
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 300 fatalities and 18,000 injuries occur in the US every year that involve a vehicle backing up. Among the death count, 78% involve cars and light trucks, and of those, 44% involve children under five while 33% involve people 70 and up.
|
|
Google's autonomous car driving itself around Nevada
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
For the first time ever, a license plate has been granted to a self-driving car. Google's model is now allowed to take itself for a ride out on public roads, thanks to the Nevada state.
|
|
Honda pioneers new traffic-busting technology
Friday, May 04, 2012
In conjunction with the Research Centre for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo, Honda reportedly developed the world's first technology to detect the potential for traffic congestion. It's based on acceleration and deceleration patterns, and ultimately improves driving habits in an effort to reduce traffic jams and fuel consumption.
|
|
Bosch unveils Drive Drowsiness Detection
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Both the National Highway Traffic Security Association (NHTSA) and the German federal office came to the conclusion that too many accidents are caused by driver's fatigue.
|
|
Autonomous driving: 37% of drivers say yes
Saturday, May 05, 2012
A J.D. Power and Associates study has revealed that almost 4 drivers out of 10 would "definitely" or "probably" be interested in buying a car equipped with folly autonomous driving technology.
|
|
China launches two navigation satellites
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
The Xichang launch centre announced that China has put into orbit two satellites, on Monday at 4:50 am, local time. They are the 12th and 13th units of the Beidou positioning and navigation network.
|
|
Texting at the wheel?
Monday, April 30, 2012
A Belgian driving school is helping people realize how dangerous texting while driving is. How are they doing it? They simply make their students try.
|
|
Jaguar shows off XJ Ultimate
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Jaguar brings the Ultimate XJ to Beijing, based on the long-wheelbase XJ and featuring every luxury appointment you can think of.
|
|
BMW Connected: safe or not? (video)
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
The increasing use of electronic gadgets and technologies has become a major road safety issue. On February 16th, 2012, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published the first-ever federally proposed guidelines to encourage automakers to limit the distraction risk for in-vehicle electronic devices.
|
|
Audi creates the sound of silence
Monday, April 16, 2012
Audi's got the solution for wary pedestrians concerned about stealthy electric vehicles sneaking up on them -- it's called e-sound.
|
|
Driving GM's semi-autonomous Cadillac
Friday, April 13, 2012
Call me a Luddite if you will, but in-car technology has always been something that incenses, rather than excites me. All of my vehicles pre-date "connectivity," and never once has my phone enjoyed an automotive hookup - because it's generally turned off while I'm driving.
|
|
Driving Buick Regal's eAssist System
Monday, April 09, 2012
Après avoir fait l'essai de la Buick Regal CXL l'automne dernier, votre humble serviteur s'est trouvé fort impressionné par différents aspects, notamment celui de l'économie mesurée en carburant.
|
|
Chrysler is first with in-vehicle wireless charging
Monday, April 09, 2012
We knew it was coming, and now we know who got there first -- Chrysler will be first to eliminate "unsightly dangling power cords" in its vehicles by offering in-vehicle wireless charging, with the help of its Mopar parts and service brand.
|
|
Cadillac's Sensor Fusion
Friday, April 06, 2012
Although we're not quite at the stage where machines have become, as in the Terminator movies, sentient beings ready to take over the world - the recent integration of systems has given vehicles an almost uncanny sensory awareness.
|
|
Flying car makes successful maiden voyage: "About time," says George Jetson
Sunday, April 08, 2012
If you had given up on the flying car, take heart: the Dutch company PAL-V successfully concluded test flights of its PAL-V (Personal Air and Land Vehicle) over the past two weeks. The patented vehicle flies like a gyrocopter with lift generated by auto-rotating rotor and forward speed produced by a foldable push propeller on the back.
|
|
Start-stop technology
Thursday, April 05, 2012
It should be standard on all cars as of the 2014 model year. Not as an option, not part of a package, it should be included in the basic vehicle much like a steering wheel or wipers.
|
|
AT&T steering wheel gives good vibrations
Saturday, March 31, 2012
AT&T Labs has come up with a vibrating steering wheel that will deliver tactile cues for navigation information. The wheel prototype features a clockwise pattern of vibrations to mean turn right, counter-clockwise to mean turn left. The wheel uses 20 actuators that can fire off in any pattern.
|
|
Cadillac XTS Safety Seat
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The all-new Cadillac XTS luxury sedan begins production this spring as the industry's first car to use "directional tactile sensation" to warn of crash threats while driving and parking. And what are those exactly? Bum cues.
|
|
Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC all-wheel drive overview
Friday, March 30, 2012
Mercedes Benz is celebrating both the introduction of the 4th generation of 4MATIC and its 25th year of being offered on Mercedes-Benz products. The importance of this fact becomes apparent when you take a new Mercedes-Benz like the E 350 Coupe for a drive on low-traction surfaces such as most of Canada has at some point in time during the winter.
|
|
Magic Vision Control from Mercedes-Benz
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Johnny Nash sang it, as did Jimmy Cliff and even Bob Marley, but the lyrics I can see clearly now the rain has gone don't necessarily work when you're behind the wheel of a car! In the real world, especially here in Canada, what's left is a mixture of road film and the dreaded crystallized salt during winter, which is why car manufacturers need to install a decent wash/wipe system on their vehicles.
|
|
2012 Toyota Prius c First Impressions
Monday, March 26, 2012
SEATTLE, Washington - The first thing you should know about the 2012 Toyota Prius c is that it is the most fuel-efficient vehicle you can buy in Canada, that does not plug into the electrical grid.
|
|
MyFord Touch 2.0: An anticipated evolution
Friday, March 23, 2012
On March 5th, 2012, Ford Canada launched a cross-country tour to promote its newly upgraded MyFord Touch system, to be featured on several new 2013 models including the Ford Taurus and Flex. The company wanted to give journalists a detailed look at the various improvements to MyFord Touch, with a product expert on hand to review and answer questions about its advanced characteristics.
|
|
Ford kicks off Track Apps
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Now Mustang owners can get all the track data they crave without spending an arm and a leg on a drift box.
|
|
|
The great nanny state
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
I was thinking of giving this blog the following titles: "Technology will be the death of us" or "Useless technology we pay for." I thought about it, then was reminded of a comment I got in one of my reviews. The commenter was in the market for a new car and when he found out that the stability control system in the car he was interested in could not be shut off manually, he got very upset.
|
|
Carmakers tell Feds to crack down on all gadgets
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Stop targeting only vehicles and crack down on all electronic gizmos, automakers told federal regulators Monday. In the first of three hearings in advance of its finalizing voluntary guidelines to deter automakers from distracting drivers with vehicle electronics, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) heard that any electronic device, such as smartphones, brought into cars should bear focus.
|
|
MyFord Touch 2.0 pre-fail
Monday, March 12, 2012
Yours truly is no fan of Ford's MyFord Touch interface system. My latest patience contest resulted in my having to reboot my 2012 Edge tester because the entire system froze on me. As well, I could not interact with the controls as I was wearing gloves in Februay; I can deal with this issue with my iPhone but not in a car...
|
|
MyFord Touch drives sales at the Blue Oval
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Ford says its SYNC and MyFord Touch connectivity system is driving more than half of new Ford owners to the brand. The system launched in 2010 on the Explorer and Edge models, and Ford says order rates have increased 5% going into the 2012 model year, up from 79 per cent of Explorer buyers and 72 per cent of Edge buyers who already order the system.
|
|
Test: TomTom GO LIVE 1535 M
Friday, March 09, 2012
Available since last October, the GO LIVE 1535 M is the first GPS from Dutch company TomTom to offer HD Traffic and LIVE services in Canada. LIVE allows you to browse through applications like Yelp, Expedia and TripAdvisor as well as Twitter and Google, while HD Traffic provides real-time traffic updates.
|
|
|
Favorite Stereos
Monday, March 05, 2012
Every week, your trusty writer spends 10 or 12 hours trekking the open highway in a new ride for review. The drive from the Greater Toronto Area to Sudbury, Ontario, is a beautiful one. I love driving. I love this drive. But, some weeks, it's as boring as all hell.
|
|
Devium Dash: turn your iPhone into a stereo
Monday, February 20, 2012
These days, you can control just about anything with your iPhone/Android. Companies are marketing one gadget after another for the smart phone, and there are lots more on the way. In fact, with your help via the Kickstarter website, the Devium Dash could see the light of day (I'll give you the details in a minute).
|
|
Cadillac CUE overview
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Cadillac's new interface is called CUE, for Cadillac User Experience, and will debut on the 2013 Cadillac XTS sedan this spring. Also look for it in the all-new 2013 Cadillac ATS sedan, and in the revised 2013 Cadillac SRX crossover.
|
|
SYNC will become standard on all 2013 Ford Flex and Fusion
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Drivers of more than 4 million vehicles already take advantage of mobile device connectivity provided by Ford SYNC®, which is available as either optional or standard equipment on every new Ford sold in NorthAmerica. That population is set to grow even more for 2013 as the all-new Ford Fusion and Flex get SYNC as standard equipment.
|
|
Griffin iTrip Review
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
These days, a lot of people travel with their entire music library in their pocket, lovingly downloaded onto their iPhone or iPod. Whether you're on the street, at the office or at home, when you want to listen to your favourite song of the moment or just need a break, all you have to do is fish out your earbuds and voilà! - instant audio therapy. But in your car? Well, that's another story. Auxiliary inputs, USB ports, iPod plugs and even adapters, most automotive audio playback solutions require a cable.
|
|
Volkswagen announces their new Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB)
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
This year, Volkswagen Group will be introducing the Modular Transverse Matrix - the German acronym is MQB - for the Volkswagen, Audi, SKODA and SEAT brands. The MQB strategy represents a turning point in the design and production of future automobiles with transverse-mounted engines. The Modular Transverse Matrix standardises many vehicle component parameters - across brands and vehicle classes. At the same time, it offers access to new technologies. The MQB extends from the A0 to the B segment. At the Volkswagen brand, for example, it covers the following models: Polo, Beetle, Golf, Scirocco, Jetta, Tiguan, Touran, Sharan, Passat and Volkswagen CC. In the future, all of these models could theoretically be produced on the same assembly line - despite their different wheelbases and track widths. It will be possible to produce MQB models of different brands together. The first new vehicles to be produced based on the MQB will be the successor to the Audi A3 and the next generation Golf.
|
|
Ford, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi at 2012 CES
Monday, January 30, 2012
The 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) recently took place in Las Vegas. As the biggest event of the year for the technology industry, it brings together 2,700 exhibitors and more than 20,000 products.
|
|
Tom Tom The Simpsons GPS Voices Expands With Mr. Burns and Marge
Monday, January 30, 2012
Springfield's Mr. Burns and Marge Simpson are the next to tell you where to go when TomTom releases these all-new character voices for their range of GPS navigation systems today. Each of the character voices have been developed in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products, The Gracie Films Worldwide Brand Division and Locutio Voice Technologies. Mr. Burns and Marge Simpson join the voice of Homer Simpson, which has become the most downloaded character voice of all time, for TomTom GPS apps and personal navigation devices.
|
|
Protect your iPhone with Nissan's Scratch Shield
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Nissan's Scratch Shield paint, developed in 2005 and already used on various Nissan and Infiniti vehicles, might just revolutionize the world of mobile phones as well. Prototypes are currently under testing and promise surprising protection for your newest iPhone.
|
|
Facebook comes to Mercedes
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Mercedes will be integrating Facebook into the interface of the 2013 SL-Class and plans to make it standard equipment on all other 2013 models that will be introduced during the year. The question begs to be asked, though: Is it really necessary?
|
|
World premiere of MyFord Mobile at CES
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Ford will unveil the beta version and new social networking components of the MyFord Mobile application at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (January 10-13) in Las Vegas.
|
|
SuperTooth HD Handsfree Speakerphone: Review
Monday, January 02, 2012
Safety behind the wheel has taken on a whole new dimension with the introduction of the smartphone. Many an accident now results in the use of this new breed of device. Whether you're sending or receiving a text message, keeping up with your friends' lives on Facebook, writing a note on Twitter or just making a simple phone call (remember those?), one second of distraction is all it takes.
|
|
Auto123.com Buyer's Guide - Trendy gadgets
Monday, December 19, 2011
id America Gasket case for iPhone
Why: id America allows fans to combine two passions - cars and technology - with the new Gasket case for iPhone. Modelled after an engine head gasket, the case is made with real brushed aluminum with suede inner lining. Six colours are available including gold, silver, bronze, black, grey, and blue. The package also comes with a pair of clear protective films, a plastic squeegee for film application, and a microfiber cleaning cloth.
|
|
Test: id America Gasket iPhone case
Monday, January 09, 2012
There's a vast selection of iPhone cases out there, but when it comes to choosing one that highlights your passion for all things automotive, the selection is rather limited. Does id America's Gasket case deserve the attention of the discerning car buff? You're darn tootin' right it does!
|
|
Auto123.com Buyer's Guide - Video games
Monday, December 12, 2011
Forza Motorsport 4 (Xbox 360)
Why: Forza Motorsport 4 for Xbox 360 is the No. 1 racing game of 2011. This fourth instalment of the Forza Motorsport series features more than 500 cars from 80 different manufacturers. Engine sounds and exhaust notes are specific to each and every model. Forza 4 also comes with three major additions, including Kinect compatibility, the Autovista function, and a partnership with Top Gear. The game went on sale on October 11th.
|
|
Auto123.com Buyer's Guide - Car gadgets
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
TomTom GO LIVE 1535 M
Why: Launched in October, the GO LIVE 1535 M is TomTom's first GPS to offer the HD Traffic and LIVE services in Canada. The latter gives you access to useful apps such as Yelp, Expedia, and TripAdvisor as well as Twitter and Google. Meanwhile, HD Traffic details traffic conditions in real time. The information is refreshed every two minutes, helping you avoid traffic jams. The 5'' touchscreen and integrated foldaway mount make the GO LIVE 1535 M even more user-friendly.
Price: $269
Available at: Future Shop and Best Buy
|
|
Games, gadgets & other cool stuff
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Starting today, Auto123.com brings you a series of articles on the increasingly widespread and sophisticated new gadgets and accessories developed by automakers for today's tech-savvy drivers.
|
|
CXC Simulations Motion Pro II, the ultimate racing simulator
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Sure, video games can be a fun hobby for some, but they can also turn regular enthusiasts into serious addicts. If that's your case, prepare to drool all over the new Motion Pro II by CXC Simulations, one of the most realistic racing simulators in the world.
|
|
Livio introduces Grooveshark Car Kit
Monday, November 28, 2011
Grooveshark, the popular on-demand music service that lets you stream your favourite tunes without downloading them, will soon be available in our cars thanks to Livio and its internet radio package.
|
|
Save big money with Mazda's i-ELOOP
Friday, November 25, 2011
Mazda has taken the next vital step in improving the overal fuel-efficiency of their vehicles with the introduction of i-ELOOP, the world's first regenerative braking system for passenger vehicles that uses a capacitor.
|
|
Top 10 navigation systems by model
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
J.D. Power and Associates just published the results of its 13th annual Navigation Usage and Satisfaction Study dealing with automakers' factory-installed systems.
|
|
|
Must-have winter features
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Fellow Canadian wintertime driving enthusiasts, rejoice! Winter is almost here. Mother Nature will soon dump frigid nastiness all over our roadways. That makes driving delightful for those who'd rather hit the road with a cup of hot chocolate in a snowstorm than stay in and think about shoveling.
|
|
|
Hyundai's powertrain lead
Friday, November 11, 2011
You've got to wonder, like seriously, if Hyundai's got anyone at BMW worried. The German automaker virtually pioneered the now-mandatory mentality of efficient performance, launching one powertrain technology after the other to create machines that were both gutsy and efficient. The Korean automaker, in many regards, is right on their tail.
|
|
MyFord Touch gets better for 2012 (video)
Monday, November 07, 2011
Many consumers complained about the complicated interface of the MyFord Touch (or MyLincoln Touch) in the past. Well, that's about to become ancient history in early 2012 thanks to a major update announced by Ford today.
|
|
Top 10 Chevrolet innovations
Thursday, October 27, 2011
In light of Chevrolet's latest small-car release, the Sonic, I thought it would be a good time to take a look at the company itself. While Chevy is not stand-alone and obviously under the umbrella of GM, it's important to note that over the decades, Chevy has been responsible for some pretty cool and innovative things in the American auto industry. Betcha didn't know that, did you?
|
|
Ford to the rescue of texting drivers
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Beginning this week, owners of 2010 to 2012 Ford vehicles equipped with SYNC can manage text messages using the Bluetooth connection between their car and cell phone.
|
|
Have We Reached Infotainment Saturation?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Yesterday, I drove the family, including in-laws, to Thanksgiving dinner. The vehicle of choice was this week's tester, the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid equipped with an optional Premium Technology Package, which interfaced through a 7-inch touch-screen in addition to voice-activated navigation. But this was not the only LCD screen onboard.
|
|
Cadillac takes infotainment to the next level with CUE
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs passed away barely a week ago, leaving us with a rich technological heritage. An excellent example of which is the all-new infotainment system introduced by Cadillac today.
|
|
Steve Jobs changed the auto world too
Thursday, October 06, 2011
The man behind the MacBook, iPod, iPhone and iPad passed away this week at the age 56, losing his battle against cancer. Steve Jobs left his mark not only on the computer, music and cell phone industries, but on the auto world as well.
|
|
Biometrics to prevent drunk driving
Monday, October 03, 2011
TruTouch Technologies claims it has developed the first touch-based alcohol detection device using infrared light that could be installed in vehicles.
|
|
News & Events Multimedia
|
|
Gone is the dash-mounted flower vase in the latest version of Volkswagen's Bug. Gone too is much of its cutesiness, replaced by a notable degree of sportiness intended to broaden the Beetle's target market by attracting male attention.
|
Auto123.com LIVE!
1 hour ago:
[Justin P] #Jeep grand cherokee #srt8 final mileage update 18 liters per 100 kilometers overall test avg. Thirsty as expected! But what a blast
1 hour ago:
[Justin P] #Porsche Panamera GTS mileage update, 12.4 liters per 100 kilometers mostly highway some lead footed city. Good and as expected
1 hour ago:
[Auto123] @pfaff_porsche It's a pleasure, as always! Have a great day :-)
1 hour ago:
[Auto123] Thanks for the RT's and mentions! @noellephx @montway @mrkatiecompton @ride_time @ceriux @magnofloonline @quanzautocare @pjkennedy4 @abarish
1 hour ago:
[Auto123] Thanks for the RT's and mentions! @dilawriauto @servicemandan @choongyewpau @brawnyladdc @subaru4me @mrdisco3 @rafasolanas @rpmonline
1 hour ago:
[Auto123] Thanks for the RT's and mentions @bmfordltd @gt500kr90 @alternativroute @garageplanshop @mdufort @oregansgroup @manothiagarajan @tranzportz1
1 hour ago:
[Auto123] Thanks for the RT's and mentions! @bamatoyota @germancarscene @gatewayfordlm @williams_chevy @justinmgrove @bisdakdudefrla @eugenioolverap
Car Reviews
Consumer Car Ratings
|
