Trying to Break the Mold for Mercedes Cars - The New S Class Coupe Concept

Black box: The snitch inside your car - Soon the federal government will require ALL vehicles to have them

Vehicle Diagnostics by Delphi - Track your car's location and health

Verizon Wireless 
 

$249.99

The good: The Vehicle Diagnostics system keeps track of your car's location and fuel level, and sends alerts for maintenance issues. Users can access data on the Web or through a smartphone app.

The bad: Without an existing Verizon data plan, it costs $35 per month to run the Vehicle Diagnostics system. It does not track fuel economy.

The bottom line: Delphi's Vehicle Diagnostics system works best as a tool for parents who let their kids drive the family car, as it shows the car location and will trigger an alert if the car leaves a proscribed area.

Read the Full Review

Porsche - Tradition: Future - The 911 50th Anniversary Edition

Aston Martin reveals Batmobile-like anniversary speedster

 

To celebrate 100 years of Aston Martin, the car company has unveiled the CC100 concept car, which looks like something Adam West's Batman might drive in 2013.

It looks strangely like something Adam West's Batman might drive in 2013, but Aston Martin's 100th anniversary CC100 speedster wasn't designed with superheroes in mind, camp or otherwise. Instead, the yellow-and-blue-gray speedster is an homage to the company's heritage as a manufacturer of luxury sports cars.      More

Aston Martin's crazy concept speedster (pictures)

 

  

New BMW 6-series takes dictation, shows virtual gauges

BMW will offer this special edition of the 2014 6-series, called 

the Frozen Brilliant White Convertible.

(Credit: BMW) 

 

 

CNET - BMW announced new features for its 2014 6-series model today, including an advanced voice recognition system that can take dictation from the driver and send out an email or text.
 

The tech arms race between BMW and Audi is yielding some amazing cars, such as the Audi S7 we recently reviewed. BMW fights back with its newly announced 2014 6-series, featuring revised cabin electronics that will not only take dictation and send out emails for the driver, but also debuts a new digital instrument cluster.

 

BMW touted the new voice recognition system for the 6-series in a press release today, noting its simplified voice commands and control over most cabin tech features. The new system will let drivers activate a dictation mode, having the car transcribe emails and text messages. The car reads out the resulting text and includes voice controls for making simple edits. The driver can send the text to anyone in her paired phone's contact list through email or text message. 

 

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2013 BMW 750Li Review

$90,500.00 

 

CNET Editors' Rating

4.0 stars - Excellent  

 

The good: Active suspension technology and four-wheel steering make the 2013 BMW 750Li handle exceptionally well. Data connections allow Google local search and social media interaction. The navigation system includes broad traffic coverage and Bang & Olufsen audio delivers excellent sound.

The bad: Acceleration comes on unevenly, and the idle-stop feature will annoy some drivers. The cabin tech interface needs some refinement so as to make audio sources and music libraries more accessible.

The bottom line: The 2013 BMW 750Li does double-duty as a freeway cruiser and a getaway car, whether you drive it yourself or hire a chauffeur. A wide array of connected features add new capabilities to the already first-rate navigation and stereo systems.

 

Read the Full Review

 

BMW Concept 4 Coupe takes over where 3 Series left off (pictures)

 

DETROIT--At the 2013 North American International Auto Show auto show, BMW's Concept 4 Series Coupe indicates a future design direction for the company, and fills a hole in the lineup. The car serves as a more focused sport vehicle than the current 3 Series, which became watered down when BMW attempted to make it suitable for both performance and luxury seekers. Design cues seen on the front are the light pipes around the headlights and machined, inset pieces on the intake.

View the Photos!

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe Debuts at the Detroit Auto Show

 

2014 Corvette Stingray debuts with rev-matching 7-speed

Lighter, more powerful, and featuring higher tech, Chevrolet's newest 'Vette may just be the best ever.

CNET - DETROIT--Chevrolet has pulled the covers back on what is easily the most hotly anticipated (and worst-kept secret) of the 2013 Detroit auto show: the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

Only three Corvette models have ever borne the name Stingray: the mid-'60s second-generation model, the third-generation car produced through the '70s and into the '80s (arguably the most iconic), and now the seventh-generation (C7) 2014 model. Chevrolet states that it's reviving the name for the 2014 model year because it is the best 'Vette ever. Well, it's not like Chevy would claim anything less of its newest halo car, but the automaker does seem to have the numbers to back it up.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray debuts in Detroit (photos)

 

The new 6.2-liter, direct-injected V-8 will make an estimated 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The automaker is estimating a 0-60 time under 4 seconds and over 1G of cornering grip. 

Making use of cylinder deactivation technology, Chevrolet is also claiming better fuel economy than any generation of Corvette before it.

 

Power flows through a seven-speed manual transmission that uses an Active Rev Matching technology similar to that of the Nissan 370Z's. As the driver moves the shift lever into a gear, the 'Vette's computer blips the throttle to match the wheel speed for a smooth ratio change when the clutch pedal is released.

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2013 Porsche Boxster Review

Buffer Boxster goes from cute car to sports car

CNET Editors' Rating

3.5 stars -Very good

$49,500.00  

The good: The 2013 Porsche Boxster is a fantastically well-balanced vehicle, offering the right amount of power, responsiveness, and grip for a grin-inducing ride. Optional PCM infotainment system checks all of the right tech boxes. The power retractable top is well designed and can be operated at up to 31 mph.

The bad: Fold-away cupholders are among the worst in the business. Expensive options rapidly drive the Boxter's price up.

The bottom line: The 2013 Porsche Boxster delivers fantastically balanced performance and full-featured tech, but avoid expensive luxury items for the best value.

Read the Full Review!

If Batman drove a Kia, it would look like this

Kia Motors, DC Entertainment, and Rides Magazine collaborate on a Kia Optima SX Limited that is inspired by Batman comic books.

 
(Credit: Kia Motors/RIDES Magazine ) 

 

CNET - The Batmobile (in all of its various incarnations) is probably as famous as the Batman who pilots it. However, if you should happen to find yourself in New York this week (perhaps for some sort of comic book convention), you'll be able to get a peak at the car that Kia Motors would like to see be Caped Crusader's next set of wheels: a top of the line Kia Optima SX Limited... well, they at least got the color right.

Personally, I'd like to think that if Batman were to drive a front-wheel drive, Korean sports car, he'd be behind the wheel of the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo in Ultimate Black or Matte Grey. Maybe he'd pilot a blacked-out Hyundai Genesis R-Spec Coupe or Sedan. Mr. Wayne could also probably afford to have a Kia Concept GT built and painted black, billionaire playboy that he is.

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2013 Ford Escape Titanium Review - parks itself, opens its hatch for you

CNET Editors' Rating

3.5 stars Very good

The good: The 2013 Ford Escape Titanium features a variety of convenience features, such as the hands-free liftgate, that make owners' lives easier. Available Active Park Assist steers the car into parallel-parking spots automatically. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine delivers good power and efficiency.

The bad: The MyFord Touch system, while improved dramatically, still feels slow to respond and slightly cluttered.

The bottom line: The 2013 Ford Escape Titanium is a whole new car, both inside and out, offering great tech where the rubber meets the road and unique automation technologies that make it an easy car to live with.

Read the Full Review

2013 BMW M5 Review

CNET Editors' Rating

4.0 stars - Excellent

$89,900.00


The good: The 2013 BMW M5 uses active dampers and an active locking differential to help it corner like a rabbit, while its engine and dual-clutch transmission give the driver excellent power control. A head-up display and collision warning promote safety, while the navigation system provides sure guidance. The audio system delivers outstanding music reproduction.

The bad: The M5's fuel economy earns it a gas-guzzler tax. Taking the car out of M mode is needlessly complex.

The bottom line: With its power and high-tech handling, the 2013 BMW M5's potential feels wasted on public roads, yet its driver-assistance and cabin-tech systems are the best in the business for road trips and daily commutes.

More

2013 Ford Mustang GT Premium Review

 

CNET Editors' Rating

3.5 stars -  Very good

 

$34,300.00

 

The good: The 2013 Ford Mustang GT produces massive power while getting reasonable fuel economy. Sync is, as in other Ford models, an excellent means of integrating phones and music players, and offers very advanced app connectivity.

The bad: The radio interface is clunky for browsing a connected device's music library. Paddles would have made manual shifting easier with the automatic transmission.

The bottom line: The 2013 Ford Mustang GT looks very cool and churns out tons of power, yet its reasonable fuel economy, easy driving manners, and useful cabin tech make it a fun daily driver.

Read the Full Review

Look Out! Driverless Cars Coming To Nevada

Discovery News - Motorists of The Silver State, don’t be alarmed if you soon glance over at the car next to you and see a passenger waving from a driverless car as you zoom across Interstate 15.

Nevada lays claim (mining pun intended) to some fairly brazen “firsts,” morally suspect as they may be: The first U.S. state to legalize casino-style gambling; the first state to sanction the use of the gas chamber for executions; and, to top it off, the first (and only) state to legalize prostitution in the modern era.

DNEWS VIDEO: FUTURE OF CARS, TRAINS AND PLANES

Depending how you feel about sharing the road with driverless vehicles, Nevada’s newest “first” sounds just as reckless as the aforementioned.

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles released a statement Wednesday saying that its Legislative Commission gave thumbs-up for regulations allowing for operation of self-driving cars on the state’s highways and byways.              More

Meh On Wheels: The Auto Industry’s Worst Flops Of ’11

Worst Car Flops of 2011

Forbes - John McElroy, the loquacious host of the Autoline Detroit TV and radio shows, is optimistic about the auto industry.

More than one million new cars sell each month in the United States, he points out. Ford and GM have become more profitable than many analysts had expected; record sales numbers at luxury brands like Audi and BMW don’t hurt, either. And there are some exciting new models in the pipeline for 2012 and beyond.

Just don’t ask McElroy about some of the cars on the market this year. You’re likely to get a different story.

“The Lincoln MKT is an unmitigated disaster,” McElroy says. “It’s actually a vehicle I like, but nobody agrees with me. No matter how you slice it, the MKT is just a dud.”

Lincoln’s $44,000 crossover suffers from stiff handling and cumbersome cornering ability, with compromised visibility for the driver and passengers . Its reliability is well below average, and costs over five years of ownership are projected to be considerably higher than average, according to Consumer Reports data.

The MKT joins eight other vehicles that have performed significantly less than expected this year in the United States. Along with the Acura ZDX, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and Chevrolet Aveo, these are the worst automotive flops of 2011.

Behind The Story

To develop this list of cars, we consulted three expert analysts: Jake Fisher, senior automotive engineer for Consumer Reports; Tim Healey, the senior writer at Web2Carz, an automotive website; and McElroy. Each discussed what they think are the worst vehicles on the market, all things considered. Nominations were allowed for any 2011 model-year vehicles and any 2012 model-year vehicles available for sale this year.              More
November 9, 2011

Ford's Evos - Internet, Cloud Enabled Car of the Future

The new Ford Evos is a cloud-connected vehicle run on smart phone apps. Click to enlarge this image. Ford Motor Company

THE GIST

• Ford is unveiling its newest concept car, the Evos, at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
• Internet-enabled, the car would communicate with smart phone apps to improve driving and safety.

Ford’s newest concept car, which it’s introducing this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany, will be more than a driving machine: it will be a cloud-computing device as well.

The Evos is one of the first from a major manufacturer that will store data on and retrieve it from the Internet. So-called “cloud computing” capabilities are already employed by Flickr, Facebook and Google to store photos, messages and documents on the Internet. But lately the trend has been spreading to less data-driven business — and car companies are not to be excluded.

An Internet-connected vehicle could provide benefits to its driver by accessing the Web to scan weather and traffic reports in real-time in order to suggest routes, warn of accidents ahead or even alter the suspension and handling to fit the road conditions. A rainy, wet road might require more responsive steering, for example.

NEWS: Hackers Threaten Autos

Such a car could also keep drivers safe. “We’re working with some German engineers,” said Mark Schirmer, Ford’s global product communications manager. “The car could monitor a driver’s heartbeat and see if he is stressed, and whether it’s a heart attack.” The car could then call for help. Then there are more mundane tasks like accessing an iTunes music library or Pandora Radio account.

While some of these functions can be done by a self-contained computer under the dashboard, building an Internet car can reduce the cost of design, says Jim Buczkowski, the company’s director of electrical and electronics systems research and innovation. The company can rely on industry standards, such as those for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, already present for Internet-enabled devices instead of spending money on research and development for specialized systems that are manufacturer-specific.

That also allows for driving-centered smart phone apps that interact with the car. “The signs continue to say that your phone is going to be the center of your connectivity,” Buczkowski said.
And as more cars come online, they’ll be able to speak to each other, even if they aren’t from the same manufacturer.         More