Car Tech
Japan Orders Toyota to Investigate Prius Brake Complaints
Posted: Feb. 03, 2010 10:02:40 a.m.
Toyota dealers may have been forced to stop selling eight of their most popular models, but at least they’ve got one hot seller left that no one has questioned, right? The iconic Prius was left out of the recent recall over possibly defective gas pedals. The Prius, however, may have other safety problems -- and once again, a government has had to force Toyota to take them seriously.
The New York Times reports, “The Japanese government said Wednesday that it ...
New Gov't Probe: What if Toyota's Problem is Not Pedals?
Posted: Feb. 03, 2010 09:02:53 a.m.
Toyota has begun the process of modifying more than four million accelerator pedals worldwide due to reports that the pedals could stick in the down position, causing cars to accelerate out of their drivers’ control. But federal safety regulators say they have opened a new investigation of the problem. They’re not sure the problem is the pedals.
The Washington Post reports, “Federal regulators have launched an inquiry into whether engine electronics caused vehicles to accelerate unexpectedly as legislators and ...
Ford Wows CES With MyFord Touch Communications System
Posted: Jan. 07, 2010 11:01:27 a.m.
A car that can tweet. A car that can play Pandora streaming music stations. A car that lets you tag songs you hear so that you can download them later. A car that is its own mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. Sounds like a concept you’d see at an auto show, right?
Actually, the technologies will first appear in some Ford products late this year.
For the last few years, most auto critics will tell you, Ford’s SYNC system has ...
Pentagon Seeks Flying Cars
Posted: Jan. 04, 2010 11:01:00 a.m.
The Pentagon wants a flying car. It’s willing to pay, with money set aside to fund research, in a project called “Transformer.” We’re not making that up.
Edmunds Inside Line reports, “The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) research group will host a workshop on January 14 to familiarize companies with and start brainstorming ideas for the program.” DARPA says “he objective of the Transformer (TX) program is to demonstrate a one-to-four-person transportation vehicle that can ...
Ford's SYNC System to Offer iTunes Tagging
Posted: Dec. 30, 2009 10:12:59 a.m.
Ford announced last week that its SYNC-equipped vehicles would become rolling WiFi hotspots beginning in 2010. Now comes another revelation about the automaker’s popular multimedia system. Ford will become the first to offer iTunes tagging through iPods on SYNC-equipped vehicles.
Autoblog explains how it works: “[I]f you you have SYNC with HD radio, when you hear a song you like on an HD station you can press the 'Tag' button, and the system will note the track. When ...
Rumor Mill: Mazda to Resurrect RX-7, Kill RX-8
Posted: Dec. 28, 2009 10:12:53 a.m.
Edmunds Inside Line reports that Mazda could bring back the rotary-powered RX-7 sports coupe as early as 2011 or 2012. The original RX-7 was sold in the U.S. from 1979 through 1985 and came with a compact, lightweight rotary engine.
According to Edmunds, the new RX-7’s rotary engine was expected “to be capable of up to 350 horsepower and 215 pound-feet of torque versus the RX8's paltry 232 hp and 159 lb-ft.” However, Edmunds adds that “sources ...
New Audi A8 to Feature Google Earth
Posted: Dec. 17, 2009 10:12:36 a.m.
So you think you’re top-of-the-line nav system is pretty cool, huh? I bet it doesn’t have Google Earth.
Audi just announced that the 2011 Audi A8 will. In addition to a much-need revision of its Multi Media Interface (MMI) system -- designed to feature a touch pad -- drivers will now be able to render 3D images of their routes and destination.
Autoblog explains: “With a SIM card inserted into the A8's MMI setup (or data-enabled phone paired via ...
Benz E-Class Convertible Features Hairdo-Safe Technology
Posted: Dec. 15, 2009 10:12:32 a.m.
Finally, a convertible that won’t have you looking like Don King after five minutes of topless motoring…
Mercedes-Benz just unveiled the all-new 2011 E-Class convertible, which features standard drop-top technology that’s so unique its has industry critics buzzing.
Introducing Aircap, a tiny spoiler that sits atop the vehicle’s windshield frame and automatically deploys when its convertible top is lowered so that wind is deflected over the cabin instead of directly inside. The Aircap system also includes a ...
Toyota to Sell Plug-In Hybrid in 2011
Posted: Dec. 14, 2009 10:12:58 a.m.
Toyota, the auto world’s leader in hybrid sales, just announced that it will start selling a plug-in version of its award-winning Prius in 2011.
This news breaks just one week after Chevrolet declared that its much-hyped Volt will go on sale in late 2010 -- but in only California. Meanwhile, mass production on the long-awaited plug-in Nissan LEAF is slated for 2012.
The Prius Plug-In Hybrid (PHV), reports say, can travel up to 14.5 miles on its electric motor ...
Ford to Introduce Airbags in Seatbelts
Posted: Nov. 06, 2009 10:11:16 a.m.
In today’s new cars, front seat occupants are usually well-protected by a number of airbags. Some models protect front seat occupants with as many as four airbags each. They pop out of the dashboard and steering wheel, out of the seats to the side, out of the ceiling across the windows, and in some cases, below the dashboard to cushion the driver’s knees in a crash.
In the rear, most cars have just a head-curtain airbag to protect ...
