Autoblog

REPORT: Revised Sync from Ford coming to CES

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:58:00 EST

Ford's victory with Sync isn't contestable - the connectivity system has a 70-percent uptake rate, and 32 percent of people list it as one of the reasons they bought a Ford. Over one million Sync-equipped vehicles have been sold in three years. The Blue Oval's exclusive deal with Microsoft ended last year and other Microsoft-powered in-car competitors will be arriving soon, so Ford has been busy working on new elements that it hopes will keep Sync in front of the challengers.

Ford has updated Sync a couple of times this year with things like traffic and directions, and a contacts download app. According to The Detroit News, the next big update is scheduled to be announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month. Ford isn't giving away details, but it's called "mobile apps," and it will enable Sync functionality with any app on a cellphone or personal music player. That would likely mean Pandora on-the-go and Twitter out loud.

It could also mean a price: rumors suggest that Ford will be charging for the upgrade, and that it will come on 2010 vehicles and be available to any previous Sync-fitted vehicle. Stay tuned for coverage from CES for more.

[Source: The Detroit News]

REPORT: Revised Sync from Ford coming to CES originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unintended Consequence of Technology: New LED traffic lights can't melt snow

Michael Harley — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Technology

Traffic lights using state-of-the-art LED illumination use 90 percent less electricity, offer a much longer service life and are more durable than their incandescent counterparts. Taking advantage of the countless benefits, cities around the country have been replacing traditional filament-based traffic signal bulbs with LEDs for years. Unfortunately, the low-watt LED units burn much cooler than its white-hot counterpart making it unable to melt snow off weather exposed traffic fixtures.

"I've never had to put up with this in the past," said Duane Kassens, a driver from Indiana who was involved in an accident attributed to a snow-clogged traffic light. "The police officer told me the new lights weren't melting the snow. How is that safe?" It obviously isn't.

Municipalities around the country are taking different steps to keep their signals shining brightly in the face of Mother Nature. Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, use compressed air to keep their lights clean. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, city workers brush the snow off by hand in a labor-intensive process. Until a fix arrives, it is best to take the advice of Dave Hansen, a traffic engineer with the Green Bay Department of Public Works. Treat a blocked signal as if the power is out. "If there's any question, you err on the side of caution," says Hansen.

[Source: AOL Autos | Image: Oswego Police]

Unintended Consequence of Technology: New LED traffic lights can't melt snow originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Audi A8: The first production vehicle equipped with Google Earth

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Technology, Audi, Luxury

2011 Audi A8 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Among the myriad of technological features coming to the 2011 Audi A8, its revised Multi Media Interface system, complete with the new "MMI touch" feature, will also include the first application of Google Earth in a production car.

In addition to the traditional hard-disk navigation system, an optional GPRS/EDGE modem is integrated into the MMI nav-plus system allowing a constant stream of information to be downloaded and accessed from Google. Along with GPS-based searches for local services, users can plan out their trips on Google Maps, Google Earth or through Audi's online portal, and navigation data is analyzed and relayed to all the A8's systems, including the automatic cruise control with "Start & Go" functionality, the adaptive lights and the eight-speed automatic gearbox.

With a SIM card inserted into the A8's MMI setup (or data-enabled phone paired via Bluetooth) Google Earth can provide drivers with a three-dimensional view of their surroundings displayed on the A8's eight-inch LCD display, showing satellite imagery and terrain modeling, along with all the traditional navigation system's functionality both online and off. The integration of Google Earth is set to go live on the A8 sometime in the middle of 2010, soon after Audi's new flagship goes on sale in the spring. Check out all the details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Audi A8

Continue reading 2011 Audi A8: The first production vehicle equipped with Google Earth

2011 Audi A8: The first production vehicle equipped with Google Earth originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 to replace Mercedes-Benz' 6.2-liter V8

Chris Shunk — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:26:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Mercedes-Benz

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG - Click above for high-res image gallery

While Audi and BMW have embraced turbocharging, Mercedes has -- by and large -- stuck with large displacement, naturally aspirated engines. However, If a recent report is to be believed, that's set to change late next year.

Insideline quotes Daimler AG Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development board member Dr. Thomas Weber as saying the big 6.2-liter V8 powering Mercedes' AMG lineup will be replaced by the end of next year by a twin turbocharged 5.5-liter V8. And that's not all. Under Mercedes' reported plan to downsize its powertrains, all V8s will shrink in size for 2011, with turbocharging making up for the power deficit. If true the move to smaller displacement engines would help increase efficiency while also reducing CO2 emissions.

While the report only mentions V8 engines, we're guessing there's a good chance Mercedes could use more turbos in its V6 product lineup as well. The move will help the German automaker meet more strict emissions laws in both Europe and the U.S., while giving the torque-craving masses what they need.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Insideline]

REPORT: Twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 to replace Mercedes-Benz' 6.2-liter V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RoboVault protects your car from hurricanes, floods, Apocalypse

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology

RoboVault says its mission is "To protect your most valuable possessions from... Everything!" Run more like an automated shipping port than your typical storage unit, the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida-based company seems to have the kit to live up to its motto. First you pull your car onto the receiving pallet, then go through a host of security measures including retinal scans and a heartbeat detector. Once you've been approved by the system, a robotic arm comes for your car and removes it to your assigned steel mesh container in the bowels of the building.

Those 465 units are surrounded by a concrete-and-steel-reinforced building that can withstand bullets, fires, Category 5 hurricanes, and 200-mph winds. When the inevitable hurricane does come in for a landing, power outages are countered by RoboVault's back-up generator, which maintains 100 percent of the building's systems including the HVAC, motion and infrared detectors.

There are safe deposit boxes for smaller items, storage for 4,000 bottles of your finest hooch and a wine tasting operation if you have some time to kill after parking your exotic. And with all that, your Ferrari might be better prepared -- and more comfortable -- than you are the next time Mother Nature decides to bring the nasty.

[Source: MotoBullet]

RoboVault protects your car from hurricanes, floods, Apocalypse originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Ex-execs from Chrysler join startup green company

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Technology

Ex-Chrysler CEO and co-president Tom LaSorda (above) and ex-VP of North American sales Steven Landry have joined a small Detroit startup called ALTe. Focused on the fleet industry, ALTe aims to retrofit light trucks and vans, limos and taxis, and police cars with its flexible and proprietary plug-in hybrid drivetrains.

ALTe is headed by other former car industry alumna from Ford and Tesla. They formed the seed of technical know-how, and speculation is that they are looking to Lasorda and Landry to help them lure three groups: institutional investors, fleet operators and dealers.

At the moment ALTe is focused on acquiring the funds it needs in order to be approved for a DoE loan (it has to get money to make money). Eventually, based on global industry regulations alone the company stands to make a fortune... if it can just stay in business long enough to make that fortune.

[Source: Forbes | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

REPORT: Ex-execs from Chrysler join startup green company originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caption Contest: Giving the gift of green against our better judgement

Chris Shunk — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Hatchback, Toys/Games, Electric

The move to electric-powered vehicles is still in its fledgling stages, but there are plenty of signs that the next few years will finally start ushering in battery-powered transportation for the masses. But there's one class of vehicle that has almost always been powered by batteries: R/C cars. Slap in a couple of 9-volt batteries and a slew of AA cells, and kids of all ages get to pretend they're Ken Block in the backyard until mom says it's time to clean up for supper.

Now that full-sized rides are finally "catching up" to their scaled-down counterparts, it appears that at least one toymaker, New Bright, has decided to take the next step: an R/C car that needs no batteries. It's called the Ecomobile, and it looks like a solar-powered freehand interpretation of a Smart ForTwo mated with a Toyota Prius. As you can see by its packaging, the Ecomobile takes great pride in the fact that it's ecopowered, economical and ecofriendly. It's even packaged in recyclable materials. It's $29.95. Al Gore can't stop smiling.

But how does it run? Well, you have to leave it out in the sun for one hour for every five minutes of play time. It's reportedly slow, too, and much like the EVs we've experienced in the real world, reviewers have said that the solar-powered toy doesn't quite run as long as its OEM-promised times state. Sound like fun? We don't think so either. So, in the spirit of the holidays, we've decided to come up with some of our favorite captions and/or headlines for this eco-tastic (or is that eco-tragic?) new toy. Here are some of our not-so-hilarious efforts:

You traded in your sports car for a Prius? Now you can limit your children's fun too!
The Ecomobile: Because your kids aren't teased enough already
The perfect toy for the kid who likes to wait to have fun
Now mom can't bitch about leaving toys in the backyard
Sweet! A toy that kids north of the Mason-Dixon line can't play with until May

As you can plainly see, we need your help. Head for the comments section and give us your best headlines for this not-so-fun-looking toy. You won't win anything for trying, but your efforts could help a misguided parent choose a different (and cooler) toy for their kid.

Caption Contest: Giving the gift of green against our better judgement originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford offers desktop app to download phone address books to SYNC

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:52:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Ford

SYNC, Ford's voice-operated in-vehicle phone and media player interface, has become hugely popular feature. Since its introduction a couple years back, Ford has added new features and functionality to the system, including the ability to call up turn-by-turn directions, even on cars without navigation.

If you have a newer, more advanced phone that can download its address book, you can make calls by simply telling the car to call a given contact's name. If, on the other hand, you're stuck with a more prosaic communications device, you're limited to dialing by number.

To address this limitation, Ford's has introduced SYNCmyPhone. This is a desktop application (available for Windows and Mac) that allows users to create and manage their address book. Once the address book is ready, it can then be saved to a USB drive and loaded to a SYNC-equipped car, giving it the dial-by-name functionality previously available only to users of newer phones. If you drive a Ford vehicle with SYNC, you can download the app at SYNCMyRide.com .

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford offers desktop app to download phone address books to SYNC

Ford offers desktop app to download phone address books to SYNC originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Vauxhall team creates mathematical formula for perfect parking

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:03:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Technology, Vauxhall, UK

Parallel parking isn't difficult, but we have generally found ways to make it so. Between cars that almost kinda park for you to those with video game displays that turn parking into a Microsoft Flight Simulator landing attempt to the automated cars that park themselves (a frickin' robot! To park!), getting a car into a space couldn't be more complex.

It is a university scientist and engineers at Vauxhall, though, that have proposed the most difficult parking solution we've encountered so far: a not-exactly-short equation. To make it work you'll need to know your car's turning radius, wheelbase, the distance from the center of your car's front wheel to the car's front bumper, and the width of the parked car you're trying to fit behind or in front of.

Drop those numbers into their proper places, let the slide rule dance, use the result to take a few pulls at the wheel, and voila! All you need to do now is leave your insurance information on the cars you just plowed into. If anyone can get this to work, successfully, please let us know. But we though everybody knew the answer to parking is "42." It's the question that's the hard part... Cap tip to Eralp

[Source: Daily Telegraph | Image credit: AtomicNebula via CC2.0]

REPORT: Vauxhall team creates mathematical formula for perfect parking originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen iPhone app lets you follow Dakar progress

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:41:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Technology, Diesel

There are thousands of iPhone apps for all "that" and too much more, but few that we think have the potential to be this cool. VW will contest the Dakar Rally from January 2-17 -- Race Touareg 2 drivers Giniel de Villiers and ~~Dirk von Zitzewitz~~ Mark Miller finished 1-2 last year -- and you can follow the VW team with its Rally Mobile app.

The information will start flowing before the race and continue throughout and afterward. Look for daily reports and video recaps, photographs, background information on the the Race Touareg 2, and detailed stage information. Also, It's free, which is always cool. All the pertinent info and the download link are in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen iPhone app lets you follow Dakar progress

Volkswagen iPhone app lets you follow Dakar progress originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eyes on the Road: Recon Instruments show off heads-up goggles

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Motorcycle

Keeping your eyes on the road is of the utmost importance no matter what kind of vehicle you are piloting. To that end, automakers all over the world have experimented with heads-up displays that show such vital information as your speed and navigation directions right on the windshield in front of the driver.

Now, a company called Recon Instruments is extending similar system to the two-wheeled world with a new technology that flashes the same kind of information right on a pair of goggles. The goggles were originally designed for ski, snowboard and snowmobile applications, but Recon envisions its technology being used in all kinds of sports, from mountain biking and motorcycle touring to kite surfing and scuba diving.

Recon expects to begin shipping its goggles in the Fall of 2010 for between $350 and $450 and is now accepting preorders.

[Source: Recon Instruments via Motorbiker.org]

Eyes on the Road: Recon Instruments show off heads-up goggles originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lotus: Omnivore engine is 10% more efficient with more to come

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Lotus

Last March at the Geneva Motor Show, Lotus announced its new Omnivore research engine. The Omnivore is a two-stroke direct-injected engine designed to take advantage of the latest in electronic engine management and run on just about any liquid fuel (hence the name). In the time since the initial announcement, the boffins at Lotus Engineering have been exercising their creation on the dyno stand to evaluate its performance.

The single-cylinder engine uses an air-assisted direct injection system. A movable "puck" in the top of the cylinder head allows the compression ratio to be varied.

The engine has so far been run on gasoline in both spark ignition and homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) modes. The HCCI mode is of particular interest because it is capable of providing diesel engine-like efficiency without the particulate and NOx emissions that require expensive after-treatment systems in a standard diesel engine. Lotus is claiming the Omnivore can operate in HCCI mode in a wide variety of operating conditions and even from a cold start, something that has been problematic for previous HCCI engines.

According to the initial test results, the Omnivore is achieving up to a 10 percent improvement in efficiency (as measured by Indicated Specific Fuel Consumption) compared to existing spark ignition direct-injected engines.

There is clearly a lot of work yet to do, but the concept behind Omnivore shows significant promise.

Gallery: Lotus Omnivore engine

[Source: Lotus]

Continue reading Lotus: Omnivore engine is 10% more efficient with more to come

Lotus: Omnivore engine is 10% more efficient with more to come originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer and Ferrari edge closer to the netbook game

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Ferrari

Lying somewhere in the thin-and-light category between the well-defined netbook and the traditional full-featured notebook is the new Acer Ferrari One. The latest installation of the successful partnership between the famous Italian supercar manufacturer and Acer America, there isn't really anything exceptional about the computer other than the bright red color and matching Prancing Horse badge on the lid.

Still, it's a well-equipped 3.31-pound laptop with (take a deep breath) an AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor, ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics, 4GB of DDR2 667MHz system memory, a 250 GB hard disk, an 11.6-inch HD widescreen display and Windows 7 Home Premium.

If the lure of the latest Ferrari-badged Acer is too much for you to handle, the Ferrari One notebook is available now with a starting price one cent shy of $600. Feel free to peruse the official press release after the break.

[Source: Acer via Engadget]

Continue reading Acer and Ferrari edge closer to the netbook game

Acer and Ferrari edge closer to the netbook game originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ruf creates Porsche Cayenne based eRuf Stormster

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Europe, Technology, Porsche, Electric

eRuf Stormster grün - click above for high-res image gallery

A little more than a year ago, the Porsche tuning specialist at Ruf unveiled their first electric car, the 911-based eRuf. That first iteration was definitely not ready for production, but the crew at Ruf are not known for taking half measures. A few months after the eRuf was shown to the world, the second iteration with more power and lighter batteries appeared as the Greenster at the Geneva Motor Show. Ruf has said it plans to build that car in limited numbers.

The 911 is pretty small, and as a result, packaging enough batteries to get a useful range is not a trivial matter. The latest eRuf variant is the Stormster, a plug-in electric Cayenne, so finding room for the cells doesn't figure to be as problematic. The Stormster is uses the same 270 kW Siemens motor that was in the Greenster along with Li-Tec lithium ion batteries. We don't yet know how many examples they hope to build, where they hope to sell it, or how much it will cost. Critically, we also don't know how far it will go on a charge. The note we got from Ruf does say it will be available in the standard Cayenne body or the special wide-body that Ruf produces, the "Stormster grün." Either way, you can check it out in our high-res gallery below and analyze the press release after the jump.

Update: Ruf spokesman Marc Pfeifer let us know that the Stormster will start production late in 2010 and that the range is aproximately 120 miles per charge. Ruf has not set a price for it yet, but don't count on this to compete with the Nissan Leaf at the low end.

Gallery: eRuf Stormster

[Source: Ruf]

Continue reading Ruf creates Porsche Cayenne based eRuf Stormster

Ruf creates Porsche Cayenne based eRuf Stormster originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ward's announces 10 Best Engines for 2010

Chris Shunk — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Technology

Ward's Ten Best Engines of 2010 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Just about every publication has an award to give away this time of year, and Wards Automotive is no different. But instead of picking the best car, truck or SUV, the industry wiz kids at Wards go right for the power supply to rank the Ten Best Engines for 2010. Over the years the list has contained a nice mix of engines from the U.S., Europe and Asia, but never before has the Ten Best been this fuel efficient. The list comprises of two hybrids, two diesels, one supercharger and three turbocharged gasoline mills.

To be eligible for Wards' 10 Best Engines competition the vehicle must cost less than $54,000 and the engine must be available as a standard production option by Q1 2010. Among the ten winning engines are the new 1.8-liter hybrid powerplant from the Toyota Prius, the 2.5-liter hybrid powering the Ford Fusion, and the diesels from the BMW 335d and the 2.0-liter Jetta TDI. Audi joins the ranks with its excellent 2.0T and 3.0T (well, supercharged) mills, while Ford scored a hit with its Ecoboost 3.5-liter engine. The most powerful engine to make the 10 Best Engines list is Hyundai's 4.6L Tau V8, which gains ten hp for 2010.

The 10 Best Engines awards will be presented at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 13. Hit the jump to read Wards' press release and check the gallery below for a tour of this year's winners.

Gallery: Ward's 10 Best Engines of 2010

[Source: Wards Automotive]

Continue reading Ward's announces 10 Best Engines for 2010

Ward's announces 10 Best Engines for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Thermahelm motorcycle helmet is swell. Err... not swell

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Motorcycle

Thermahelm helmet animation - Click above to watch the video after the break

We're sure this comes as a shock to nobody, but here we go anyway: brain swelling is bad. Very bad. That thick, hard skull surrounding your brain is great at providing a good deal of protection, but when things go awry in a big way, there isn't much room in there to let your brain expand.

Cooling the brain in some manner is apparently a good way to reduce swelling, and a company from the U.K. called Thermahelm has worked up a new motorcycle helmet that incorporates a layer ammonium nitrate and water that instantly mixes in the event of a crash. The chemical reaction will maintain a 37-degree brain temperature, which is said to stave off oxygen loss to the brain.

According to Thermahelm, its technology will add roughly $250 to the cost of a helmet, and the company is currently working on a retrofit kit that will allow riders to install the system in their own helmets. Click past the break to watch a nifty video animating the technology.

[Source: Thermahelm]

Continue reading VIDEO: Thermahelm motorcycle helmet is swell. Err... not swell

VIDEO: Thermahelm motorcycle helmet is swell. Err... not swell originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New features from Ford: Remote start and heated steering wheel

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Technology, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury

Good news, Ford fans: The Blue Oval will be adding remote start and heated steering wheels to its line of cars and trucks. The remote start option will make its first appearance on the 2011 F-Series Super Duty pickup truck while the heated tiller will initially be fitted to the 2011 Lincoln MKX.

Following those two launches, the automaker promises that both items will infiltrate the rest of its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineups in a jiffy. While it's been possible to have an aftermarket remote start system installed on any new car or truck for quite some time (including a dealer-installed option from Ford), JD Power reports that 90 percent of all purchasers would prefer a factory option, which makes perfect sense to us, particularly since Ford's system will be integrated with the heating and cooling systems to bring the cabin to a comfortable temperature regardless of the weather outside.

Ford predicts that the remote start system will help the vehicle's exhaust catalyst heat up more quickly, thereby reducing hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 75 percent. Further, the automaker suggests that a heated steering wheel will increase dexterity in the fingers and hands and reduce the need to wear gloves while driving in the winter. Want to know more? Use those nice and toasty digits to hit the jump for the press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading New features from Ford: Remote start and heated steering wheel

New features from Ford: Remote start and heated steering wheel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gran Turismo 5 demo coming to PSN on Dec 17, GT Academy returns [w/VIDEO]

Chris Shunk — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Technology, Videos, Nissan, Toys/Games

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Just when we thought we were going to wait until the end of March to get our hands on Gran Turismo 5, our friends at Joystiq tell us that Polyphony Digital will release a demo version of hotly anticipated racing game on December 17. The demo will be available on the Playstation Network for download both in Europe and North America, giving long-patient fans a taste of what the full game will be like when it finally arrives in stores.

And as cool as it is that the demo arrives within two weeks time, even cooler is the fact that gamers will be given the opportunity to compete for some nifty prizes. All you have to do is post your best time trial by January 24, 2010. The best time from the U.S. and Canada wins a trip to the Indianapolis 500. A sweet prize, no doubt, but it doesn't come close to the top Euro prize. The best driver from select European countries gets to enter the GT Academy. After completing training the ~~lucky~~ skilled gamer will race in the European GT4 Cup in a non-virtual race-spec Nissan 370Z. How amazing is that?

It would be even better if GT5 actually shipped on December 17, but it looks like we won't be racing one of the world's best driving simulators until March at the earliest. Hit the jump to view a slick video that contains more information about the GT Academy.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 screen shots

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

[Source: Joystiq]

Continue reading Gran Turismo 5 demo coming to PSN on Dec 17, GT Academy returns [w/VIDEO]

Gran Turismo 5 demo coming to PSN on Dec 17, GT Academy returns [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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J.D. Power releases sat-nav study findings, crowns Ford tops

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Ford

Not only does Ford rank number one on J.D. Power and Associate's 2009 navigation system survey, it ranks number two as well. The top ranking system, according to Power's study, is the one found in the Lincoln MKS, followed by a nearly identical system (if not 100% identical) in the Ford Flex. And get this, Ford took down five of the top ten spots with the F-150 coming in fourth and the Escape and Edge taking seventh and eighth place, respectively.

To anyone that's driven a modern Sync-equipped Ford with navigation, these survey results probably won't come as any sort of shock, as FoMoCo has been making some of the best systems in the business ever since they released Sync with Sirius Travel Link. Here's what Ford user interface design engineer Jason Johnson had to tell us about why Ford got ranked tops:

"I think what really makes our system stand out is the fact it's designed with the user in mind. Yes, it has all the features you'd expect from a high-level navigation system -- the 3-D maps, the digital jukebox, the customizable home screens, and of course we pride ourselves on SYNC and SIRIUS Travel Link -- but it's more than that. This system is easy to use. It's intuitive. The buttons are where you'd expect them to be, the grouping is logical and the graphics are bright and easy to read. Everything is integrated, so it all works together, simply and easily."

Non-Ford top ten nav-system finishers include the Acura TL (third), Porsche 911 (fifth), Cadillac CTS (sixth), Hyundai Genesis (ninth) and Infiniti FX-series (tenth). Interestingly, Ford is the only non-luxury/premium brand to make it into the top ten. If you were wondering, seven of the bottom ten nav-systems were made by Toyota, with the Avalon finishing dead last. Complete results list and official press release available after the jump.
[Source: J.D. Power]

Continue reading J.D. Power releases sat-nav study findings, crowns Ford tops

J.D. Power releases sat-nav study findings, crowns Ford tops originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NewScientist investigates emerging road-heating technologies

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology

Those not blessed with endless sun have to put up with road salt each and every winter, and it does a number on cars and roadways alike. There must be a better option, right?

Enter Christiana Chang and her colleagues at the University of Houston in Texas. The researchers are developing self-heating roads that would melt off the snow and ice without resorting to a powdery mess of road salt. There are a number of ways to go about heating the road, including coating it in fly ash or steel shavings and sending electricity through it or pumping heated water through the concrete, but the system favored by Chang is predictably a bit more high-tech.

Sheets of cone-shaped carbon nanofibers are embedded in paper and placed under the roadway. Electricity heats these sheets, thereby melting the sloppy wintery mix. According to Chang, this system consumes less power than other options and the carbon nanotube-embedded paper sheets are cheap and plentiful. Will it ever see the light of day? We hope so, for the sake of our salt-covered buddies out east, of course.

[Source: NewScientist | Image: J.D. Pooley/Getty Images]

NewScientist investigates emerging road-heating technologies originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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