| 57 Automobiles - Automotive - Consumer Information Resources |
| 5 ways your smartphone can bring your music into the car |
| Leaving the house doesn't have to mean leaving your apps -- or your tunes -- behind |
| December 23, 2011 |
| 15 Fun Cars Under $20,000 |
| When they start their engines, corporate executives are treated to unbridled power, luxurious ambiance, and such high-tech gadgetry as voice systems that respond to their every whim. But you know what? The rest of us can live large, too. |
| April 18, 2011 |
| 2011 Michelin Challenge Bibendum Berlin |
| The Berlin Tempelhof airport: for tens of thousands fleeing Soviet communism during The Cold War, departing from this location marked the critical first step into a bold, new future of freedom. |
| July 1, 2011 |
| A |
| Acura's Future Product Plans |
| Security has traditionally been tight in Vegas casinos, but not this tight. We’re among a small group of journalists allowed past burly bodyguards into a conference room in the lower level of the Aria Resort’s conference center. |
| December 12, 2011 |
| Affluent Consumers Select the Top Luxury Brands |
| The Luxury Institute released its 2011 Luxury Brand Status Index survey of wealthy U.S. consumers. Watches, jewelry and automobiles (selling for at least $100,000) were rated on a one-to-ten scale by consumers who earn at least $200,000 a year. Guess who came out on top? |
| May 11, 2011 |
| Auto Ratings: Nissan, Mercury, Oldsmobile, Smart Car & More. |
| Car and Automotive Research.com has free consumer reviews on Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Chevy, Honda, VW, Mazda, Subaru, Audi, BMW, etc. Topics include auto parts, repair manuals, car insurance, van rentals, dealers,sales & more. |
| Provides a Service |
| Automakers dreaming up ways to meet new mileage standards |
| Carmakers are turning to use of new fuels, new engines and battery-based technologies |
| August 3, 2011 |
| B |
| BMW Crash-Severity Algorithm Tells Emergency Room Where it Hurts |
| BMW has raised automatic crash notification to a new level. The on-board BMW Assist telematics system already calls 911 after a crash, just as many other brands do. But BMWs can also report to the 911 call center the likely severity of occupant injuries, and now BMW says it can transmit the injury information to a nearby hospital trauma center. BMW's enhanced automatic collision notification (enhanced ACN or EACN) uses a sophisticated set of algorithms to instantly read the car's crash sensor data and make an informed estimate of how to respond to the accident — police car? ambulance? helicopter? — and what injuries to look for when the victims get to the hospital or trauma center. That quick response has the potential to save thousands of lives. |
| June 20, 2011 |
| BMW intros revamped Mini as sporty MG-alike |
| Has BMW lost the plot? We have to wonder, given what it's been doing to the Mini of late. It's newsest attempt to extend the acme of small cars: a coupé model, introduced today. |
| June 21, 2011 |
| C |
| Cadillac's sensor array is designed to save lives one vibration at a time |
| Cadillac's next-generation midsize car, the 2013 Cadillac XTS, will offer just about every driver aid invented. The Control and Alert system, as Cadillac calls it, puts short- and long-range sensors front, back, and side. Some will act on your behalf, such as automatic braking, but there's also a vibrating seat to warn of hazards. |
| November 16, 2011 |
| Chrysler recalls 11,000 vehicles for steering issue |
| Chrysler Group LLC has recalled 11,351 vehicles for a possible missing or incorrectly installed part that could result in loss of steering capability and increase the risk of a crash. |
| June 16, 2011 |
| CMU develops self-driving cars that are impossible to crash |
| At long last, and many decades after the quasiprophetic words of our sci-fi forefathers, we seem to be gravitating towards a world full of autonomous, crash-proof vehicles. Some element of self-driving vehicles was always to be expected, of course. With ubiquitous, cheap computers and high-quality digital cameras and sensors, it was inevitable — but crash-proof cars? Cars that can drive themselves and prove, with 100% certainty, that they will avoid other vehicles? Believe it or not, that's what a team at Carnegie Mellon University is developing. |
| July 1, 2011 |
| Consumer Guide's 2011 Fuel-Economy Champions |
| It's that time again. That unpredictable but seemingly inevitable period when gas prices shoot through the roof, throwing personal (and potentially national) finances a curve. |
| June 1, 2011 |
| Conventional fossil fuels sometimes 'greener' than biofuels: study |
| In an effort to combat soaring fuel prices and cut greenhouse gas emissions, the aviation industry is racing toward the use of biofuels. In 2008, Virgin Atlantic became the first commercial airline to fly a plane on a blend of biofuel and petroleum. Since then, Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways and Continental Airlines, among others, have flown biofuel test flights, and Lufthansa is racing to be the first carrier to run daily flights on a biofuel blend. |
| May 11, 2011 |
| D |
| Does High Tech Mean Low Scores On J.D. Power Car Quality Survey? |
| Ford's tumble on the J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey (IQS) may be further proof that adding technology to cars is a double-edged sword. Buyers love iPod adapters and Bluetooth, but some owners have trouble getting up to speed on touchscreen displays and on-board navigation. Rather than read the manual or ask the dealer for help, buyers take it out on the automaker when they're surveyed. In the current IQS the most tech-savvy U.S. automaker, Ford, fell from No. 5 to No. 23 out of 32 automakers. BMW and Audi, arguably the techiest automakers, are below average. On the other hand, Lexus is the top scorer. |
| June 24, 2011 |
| F |
| Fast charging station for electric vehicles |
| Siemens has launched a new electric-vehicle charging station on the market that can fully recharge a battery within one hour. By doubling the output to 22 kilowatts, the charging station cuts charging times in half. The station is also protected against vandalism, thanks to a doubly secured charging cable and the option of connecting the device to a remote surveillance system so that it can be used as part of a smart grid. |
| April 5, 2011 |
| Five myths about diesel engines |
| Diesel engines, long confined to trucks and ships, are garnering more interest for their fuel efficiency and reduced carbon dioxide emissions, relative to gasoline engines. Argonne mechanical engineer Steve Ciatti takes a crack at some of the more persistent myths surrounding the technology. |
| June 14, 2011 |
| Ford Adds Sync AppLink Smartphone App Access to More Models |
| Ford is adding Sync AppLink to ten 2012 models, extending the usefulness of smartphones in Fords. AppLink lets drivers control smartphone functions and applications through the Sync infotainment module, either by voice command or a touchscreen panel. Critics say Sync adds complexity to cars, and the current Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, says anything trickier than a cassette player and cigarette lighter should be banned from cars. And yes, he appears to be serious about that. |
| June 23, 2011 |
| Ford talks up connected cars at CES |
| Today's automakers are embracing the Internet cloud by building connected cars, and Ford is no exeception. |
| January 11, 2012 |
| Ford recalls 450,426 minivans and SUVs for power loss and fire risk |
| Ford says it's recalling nearly half a million minivans and SUVs because of a pair of mechanical issues. |
| January 12, 2012 |
| Ford working on car-to-car wireless mesh network for real-time telemetry, government use |
| By now you have almost certainly heard of Fords and Hyundais and BMWs that use on-board telematics to communicate with the mothership via GSM and CDMA networks to call for help or receive turn-by-turn directions. These systems, such as Sync and OnStar and Blue Link, are useful, but rather one-dimensional: they all revolve around sending a query to a central server or call center, and awaiting a response. There's no inherent intelligence, and except for automated collision notification (calling 911 when you crash) these gadgets don't really do anything that you or a passenger can't do with a smartphone. |
| August 11, 2011 |
| Ford's new Focus Electric to have companion iOS app |
| When released, Ford's first all-electric passenger vehicle, the Focus Electric, will feature a smartphone app that can help drivers keep track of when the car is being charged remotely. Other features in the MyFord Mobile app allow a driver to remotely turn on the air conditioning on a hot day (with power from the car's lithium ion battery) just minutes before getting inside. |
| January 13, 2012 |
| Free iPhone Apps to Help Lower Your Car's Fuel Costs |
| That iPhone in your pocket is good for more than making calls and social networking — it can also be used to help motorists save money at the gas pump, thanks to a growing assortment of apps that can help track and boost your car's fuel economy and help find the lowest gas prices no matter where you live or travel. Here's a quick look at a few of the best of them; all are available as free downloads via the iTunes App Store: |
| August 11, 2011 |
| G |
| General Motors announces first center mounted airbags |
| General Motors, in a move to make driving automobiles safer, has announced it will be installing center-mounted airbags in three of its 2013 crossover vehicles. The center mounted airbags will be positioned next to the driver to protect occupants against far (passenger) side impacts. |
| October 03, 2011 |
| General Motors Recalling 47,000 Cadillac SRXs in U.S. |
| The recall announced on Friday, which impacts 47,401 cars in the U.S. and rest in Canada and Mexico, deals only with the 2011 models. |
| June 10, 2011 |
| GM recalls 16,000 Chevy, Buick cars in U.S. and Canada |
| General Motors Co is recalling 16,198 Chevrolet Impala and Buick LaCrosse cars in the United States and Canada to address sensor and power steering problems, the automaker said on Friday. |
| August 12, 2011 |
| H |
| Honda natural gas car wins LA green prize |
| The 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas was named Green Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show on Thursday, beating finalists including European, US and other Asian carmakers. |
| November 17, 2011 |
| Honda's new CR-V misses the mark |
| Cleverness. Value. Above all else: simplicity. These are the enduring virtues that have endeared Honda cars to drivers since the 1970s. |
| December 19, 2011 |
| Hyundai Accent review: 40 mpg with gasoline, but falls short on tech |
| To hit 40 mpg, conventional wisdom says you need an exotic powerplant: a hybrid, a diesel engine, or a tiny engine bulked up with a turbocharger. The 2012 Hyundai Accent pulls off 40 mpg with a highly refined gasoline engine. The combination of improved fuel economy and greatly improved looks propels the $15,000 Accent from also-ran status to the front of the pack in desirability and sales among subcompacts. The only flaw is limited availability of Bluetooth and USB. |
| August 22, 2011 |
| Hyundai Blue Link halves the cost of GM's OnStar telematics |
| Hyundai is the world's hottest automaker for style, fuel economy, and affordable technology. Its new Blue Link integrated cellular data-and-voice phone telematics system provides up to 32 services at a starting price roughly half of what it costs for OnStar, the offering from General Motors. The cheapest Blue Link service provides automatic crash notification and roadside service at $79 per year. A step-up version at $179 provides spoken text messages, location sharing, remote door unlock, and geo-fencing of teen drivers. A third package at $279 per year adds navigation lookup for those unwilling to do it themselves. Hyundai kicks off its Blue Link offerings shortly on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata, one of the 10 best selling cars in the US, and on a new sports coupe, the Hyundai Veloster. |
| July 8, 2011 |
| I |
| Information on all things jeep |
| Giving you jeep related information to help you make better decisions concerning you and your jeep. |
| An Article |
| IBM and EKZ make electric vehicle charging more convenient with new smartphone application |
| IBM Research today announced that it has teamed with EKZ, the electricity utility provider of the Canton of Zurich in Switzerland, on a new pilot project that will allow consumers to conveniently charge electric vehicles and monitor their energy costs, using mobile devices. This near real-time information will also help utility providers better manage power grid loads during peak charging times — a challenge that is set to grow as more electric vehicles are on the road. |
| October 13, 2011 |
| L |
| Leaf, Volt earn top safety ratings in crash tests |
| Though classified as small cars, vehicles are helped by extra weight from battery packs |
| April 26, 2011 |
| M |
| Mercedes-Benz's telematics tech, naturally, is @yourCommand |
| Telematics. It's one of the hottest terms in the auto industry these days, and just about every carmaker is rushing to offer its own version of the connected car. |
| January 10, 2012 |
| MyCarPage.com |
| offers a free personalized webpage for your vehicle. Provides service and recall information for you car. |
| An Article |
| N |
| Need to find a charge for your electric vehicle? Google's got directions |
| I figure it was only a matter of time before Google decided that its massive geo-information database could be put to use as a means of helping drivers find charging stations for their electric vehicles. |
| April 25, 2011 |
| New California rules require cleaner cars |
| California, long a national leader in cutting auto pollution, pushed the envelope further Friday as state regulators approved rules to cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars and put significantly more pollution-free vehicles on the road in coming years. |
| January 30, 2012 |
| New Eco-Driving Index: Environmental impact of new vehicles improving |
| A new national index by the University of Michigan shows that emissions of greenhouse gases per driver of newly purchased vehicles are down 14 percent since late 2007. |
| July 6, 2011 |
| New Federal Rules To Require Black Boxes to Record Driver Activity in Every Car |
| Someday your car will give you recommendations on where to eat, suggest more efficient routes between home and work, and even monitor your health. But for now it's just keeping tabs on your driving habits, recording your behavior in case it needs to be reconstructed after an accident. |
| May 23, 2011 |
| Nissan recalls 271,000 SUVs on steering risk |
| Nissan Motor Co Ltd recalled nearly 271,000 older-model Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4 SUVs in North America due to the chance that road salt and water could collect to cause a loss of steering, U.S. safety regulators said. |
| April 25, 2011 |
| O |
| OnStar changes over privacy concerns |
| The OnStar automobile communication service used by 6 million Americans is changing its policies after privacy issues were raised over keeping former customers connected and collecting data on driving habits. |
| September 27, 2011 |
| P |
| Police need warrant for GPS tracking, high court rules |
| The U.S. government's argument that it can use GPS to track a suspect's vehicle without a warrant has been struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. |
| January 23, 2012 |
| S |
| Shock absorber generates electricity when it hits a bump |
| Researchers from Stony Brook University on Long Island have found that shock absorbers can help power your car by converting the up-and-down motion to electricity rather than heat. They'd generate 100-400 watts at highway speeds, up to 1,600 watts on bumpy roads, and have the potential to increase fuel economy by 1-4% in regular cars and up to 8% in hybrids. As a bonus, the shocks might provide a smoother ride if and when they become commercially available. |
| July 15, 2011 |
| Students design cars the get 1000 MPG+ |
| When you think about the design team for an ultra-fuel efficient vehicle, on that can get more than one thousand miles per gallon of gas; you probably picture a professional design lab outfitted with the most modern technology available and the best minds in the industry, not a group of school children. |
| June 27, 2011 |
| T |
| The almost-self-driving Lincoln won’t let you drive hands-off |
| A pair of 2013 Lincolns have the tech smarts to drive unaided for miles at a time on the interstate. The Lincoln MKS sedan and Lincoln MKT SUV combine electric power steering, adaptive cruise control, and lane keep assist to prevent you from running into the rear of cars ahead and to steer you back into your own lane if you veer across the lane markings. |
| November 29, 2011 |
| The Best MPG Vehicles |
| Saving on gas doesn't require going small anymore. |
| March 23, 2011 |
| The Consumer Guide to 2011 Electric Cars |
| Electric-car buyers used to have two choices: Buy a little golf-cart thing that can go no faster than 25 mph, or buy an upgraded golf-cart thing that can go about 45 mph. What about highway-speed electric cars, or ones that will go more than 50 miles on a charge? Well, that time has finally arrived. |
| March 8, 2011 |
| Toshiba develops 7.0-inch LTPS TFT LCD panel |
| Toshiba Mobile Display has developed a 7.0-inch low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) thin-film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) for vehicle-mounted and industrial uses that enables multi-touch input on the display screen without the need for additional installation of a touch panel as a demonstration of its new touch panel technology. |
| April 26, 2011 |
| Toyota's New Infotainment System Mirrors Your Smartphone's Display |
| Some level of smartphone connectivity is standard on nearly every new car, but Toyota appears to be the first to implement the Car Connectivity Consortium's MirrorLink protocol in their iQ later this year. Besides playing music and making calls through the vehicle's infotainment system, the display on the connected smartphone will be mirrored on the iQ's larger seven inch touchscreen, making it easier to navigate the UI while driving. |
| October 26, 2011 |
| Trojan-Horse MP3s Could Let Hackers Break Into Your Car Remotely, Researchers Find |
| Last year we told you how hackers could someday infiltrate your car's control systems and install malware to take things over, as long as they had some computer skills and a laptop. Now car-hacking researchers have done it remotely, using innocent tech like Bluetooth devices and even a CD. |
| March 14, 2011 |
| U |
| US purposely delayed news of Volt fires, lawmakers say |
| Republicans accused the Obama administration on Wednesday of purposely delaying disclosure of Chevy Volt battery fires to avoid criticism of its General Motors Co bailout and to protect its interests in electric car development. |
| January 25, 2012 |
| W |
| Will a Hybrid Save Me Money in the Long Run? |
| At an average of $3.50/gallon, you would break even after 114,000 miles. |
| April 18, 2011 |
| V |
| Verizon turns focus to 4G LTE Telematics for connected vehicles |
| Verizon Wireless is making a point that its 4G LTE network is more for just smartphones and MiFi hotspots. The carrier is showcasing several new products focused on making automobiles more connected. |
| June 6, 2011 |
| Viper announces SmartStart 3.0: the Cloud-connected Car |
| The automotive sector at CES is always interesting and as the years have gone on we've seen more integration happening between people's smartphones and their vehicles. One group who has been around for a while now is Viper and their SmartStart system and just in time for CES they've now let us know what to expect from the upcoming SmartStart 3.0 release: |
| January 10, 2012 |
| Volkswagen recalls 71,000 Jettas |
| Automaker to reconfigure wiring related to alarm system and horn |
| March 28, 2011 |
| Y |
| Your Complete Guide to In-Car Technology |
| THESE DAYS, your car is more than just a machine that takes you from home to work to school and everywhere in between. Today's vehicles also are mobile communication stations, information hubs, and entertainment centers, making your time on the road more informative and enjoyable. Here's everything you need to know about the latest and best in-car technology, whether you're shopping for a new car or upgrading your current vehicle by visiting an aftermarket retailer. |
| September 17, 2011 |
| Z |
| Zero-emission fuel cell back-up power now available for RVs |
| Fuel-cell cars have been a tomorrow technology as long as I've been reporting on them, but it looks like 2015 will be the year they finally go commercial, with hundreds of thousands (you read that right) planned for production as early as 2015. |
| May 25, 2011 |