When many people think of future transportation advancements, self-driving cars immediately come to mind. Although those vehicles will almost certainly become prominent as technology improved, there are other cool car-related concepts in the works that are fascinating in their own right. Take a look at these four: 1. Hybrid Air Technology Most individuals have at least a basic...
Imagine a future where cars are self-aware and can virtually detect other cars or even pedestrians around corners all in the name of safety. That’s exactly what the brilliant minds at Qualcomm hope to deliver in cars in the next few years. Surely today’s automobiles are already smarter than the ones driven on roads a decade ago. Cars today are enabled with navigation, Bluetooth and...
Imagine what driverless cars could do for society. Distracted and drunk driving accidents could be a thing of the past. The elderly would have built-in chauffeurs to shuttle them to doctors appointments. And no one would ever have to slap or blast chill themselves late at night to stay awake behind the wheel. It may sound like something straight out of science fiction, but tech and car...
Automatic’s new Smart Driving Assistant solution is forehead-slappingly brilliant. Not only can this combination mobile app–and–hardware unit turn your trusty device into an incredibly smart piece of automotive technology, but it could turn anyone with a vehicle and an iPhone into a bona fide car geek. The company has managed to fill a big gap in the consumer automotive experience....
What madness is this? I’ve seen insultingly lower-spec’ed smartphones in soft colors being marketed to the ladies, but this female-oriented car takes the cake. You’d think the Honda Fit She’s comes pre-loaded with Pamprin in the glove box, a lipstick holder where the cigarette lighter would be, and spoken alerts voiced by Robert Pattinson. It doesn’t, but it’s not that far off: Aside...
In a world of advancing innovations, one of the biggest obstacles are lawmakers who just don't get technology. Well, any company that has been stymied by this scenario ought to take Google's lead, particularly when it comes to its self-driving cars: The company has demonstrated quite some finesse in the way it explained its project to officials. Take Nevada state assemblywoman Marilyn...
With almost 38 million people residing in California, traffic can get a little hectic. Anyone who has had the misfortune of experiencing rush hour traffic on the 405 knows that driving isn’t exactly the privilege the DMV would have you think. But a new bill signed by California Governor Jerry Brown could lead to less congested highways — and hopefully by extension less road rage. By...
You’ve noticed the trend of compact, boxy small truck/wagons on the freeways. And you’ve seen the ads with the party animal hamsters. But what’s a Kia Soul really like to drive? I started finding out earlier this week when two Kias drove up to my house and only one drove away, leaving me with a shiny new Alien Green 2012 Kia Soul ! to play with for a while. Yes, that last sentence...
The Ford Taurus of today no longer qualifies as a viable candidate for your Grandma's garage. Ford has abolished the embarrassing Taurus designs of yore in favor of a sporty, respectable compact that competes with the likes of the Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Camry and Chevy Malibu. Ford says the 2013 Taurus is aesthetically refined and athletically toned. We say touchdown. As for power...
Granted, I’m not the car guru — that would be one Mr. Mike Perlman, who’s Geneva Auto Show–bound this week with our own Jon Rettinger — but I just couldn’t skip over this one. When Ford announced the MyFord Touch interface, v2, last year, it also did the unthinkable: It promised current users that they’d be able to update to the latest version. That update, reports WebProNews, will be...