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  • Garmin EcoRoute ESP Puts Virtual Gauges On Your Nuvi

    Garmin EcoRoute ESP Puts Virtual Gauges On Your Nuvi November 5th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, November 5th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 4 Comments

    Garmin EcoRoute ESP Puts Virtual Gauges On Your Nuvi

    Convergence. It was once a hot-button word in electronics. It has since fallen out of vogue, but the concept is still valid: the consolidation of multiple technologies into a single device as well as the adaptation of analog tech into digital form, lightening the gadget load while duplicating or expanding functionality. The Garmin EcoRoute ESP for the Nuvi navigation unit is a perfect example.

    The basic premise behind the EcoRoute ESP is that it taps into any modern car's OBD II port to grab important information and then pipe it to the Nuvi navigation unit in an easy-to-read gauge display format.

    As the EcoRoute name indicates, the...

    Convergence. It was once a hot-button word in electronics. It has since fallen out of vogue, but the concept is still valid: the consolidation of multiple technologies into a single device as well as the adaptation of analog tech into digital form, lightening the gadget load while duplicating or expanding functionality. The Garmin EcoRoute ESP for the Nuvi navigation unit is a perfect example. The basic premise behind the EcoRoute ESP is that it taps into any modern car's OBD II port to grab important information and then pipe it to the Nuvi navigation unit in an easy-to-read gauge display format. As the EcoRoute name indicates, the information can be used to help maximize fuel efficiency, but it can also be handily adopted by enthusiasts to display information such as turbocharger boost pressure, throttle input, intake air temperature and more. It works by tucking the ESP unit up under the dashboard and connection to the Nuvi unit via Bluetooth to relay the data. It's capable of logging data on any measurable OBD II parameter, making its potential uses almost limitless. The system is on demo now at SEMA, and will have more information and details released at the 2010 CES show in January. Hit the link to CNet below for the full details. [CNet via Kicking Tires] Read More

  • Bentley Design Team Creates Art For Charity Auction

    Bentley Design Team Creates Art For Charity Auction November 5th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran's avatar Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, November 5th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 0 Comments

    Bentley Design Team Creates Art For Charity Auction

    Bentley is staging an art auction together with Bonhams in order to raise money for The Christie, a cancer hospital in Manchester, England. The pieces to be sold have been created by the men and women of the Bentley styling and design team, which have pooled their creative talents to making art.

    The art will be auctioned at an invitation-only evening event on Tuesday December 1 at Bonhams, the auction house in London.

    The collection includes a vast array of sculptures, painting, digital art and photography. Created in many different media, from sculptures in bronze and set in wood, to metal and leather, to plastic, to palette knife and...

    Bentley is staging an art auction together with Bonhams in order to raise money for The Christie, a cancer hospital in Manchester, England. The pieces to be sold have been created by the men and women of the Bentley styling and design team, which have pooled their creative talents to making art. The art will be auctioned at an invitation-only evening event on Tuesday December 1 at Bonhams, the auction house in London. The collection includes a vast array of sculptures, painting, digital art and photography. Created in many different media, from sculptures in bronze and set in wood, to metal and leather, to plastic, to palette knife and brush paintings on canvas, the works showcase the imagination of the men and women who design Bentley cars. A total of 22 designers have been involved in the project, including digital designers and clay modellers. Entrance to the auction is strictly by invitation only, but from Wednesday November 4 all of the artworks will be viewable via the Bentley website www.bentleydesignpassion.com. [Bentley] Read More

  • Toyota Pulls Out Of Formula One

    Toyota Pulls Out Of Formula One November 5th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, November 5th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 1 Comment

    Toyota Pulls Out Of Formula One

    Toyota Motor Corporation confirmed officially on Wednesday its decision to pull out of Formula One with immediate effect. Given that the team was told it had "two more years" for success in December 2007--a deadline that has come and gone without a race win, despite a generally strong showing this season--the decision perhaps ought to be unsurprising.

    "Based on the current economic environment, we realize we have no choice but to withdraw," said the Japanese carmaker's president Akio Toyoda at a news conference in Tokyo. The economic situation actually put even this season's run in doubt, with the team boss commenting on the...

    Toyota Motor Corporation confirmed officially on Wednesday its decision to pull out of Formula One with immediate effect. Given that the team was told it had "two more years" for success in December 2007--a deadline that has come and gone without a race win, despite a generally strong showing this season--the decision perhaps ought to be unsurprising. "Based on the current economic environment, we realize we have no choice but to withdraw," said the Japanese carmaker's president Akio Toyoda at a news conference in Tokyo. The economic situation actually put even this season's run in doubt, with the team boss commenting on the near-cancellation this March. The decision to pull out of F1 could mean that up to 550 Toyota F1 employees will be out of a job, however. A Toyota staff member told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport magazine that, following the announcement of the carmaker's withdrawal from F1, he heard rumours that only 150 employees will remain at Cologne for the next racing project. About 700 staff currently work on the team's F1 engine and chassis programs in Junkersdorf, in the west of Cologne. One option for the withdrawing owners of F1 teams is to sell the operation as a going concern, but team president John Howett said on Wednesday that he believes Toyota Motorsport GmbH will instead be scaled down in order to participate in "grassroots motor sport." Le Mans has been mentioned as a likely alternative. About a year ago, Toyota denied rumors that it was looking at leaving F1 to race Le Mans. There's also a storm brewing over Toyota's role in recent decisions made in the Concorde Agreement for the 2010 season, and what impact the team's withdrawal might now have. The current Concorde Agreement is purportedly binding on the teams and the commercial rights holders with the FIA until 2012. "Urgent clarification is now being sought from the Toyota F1 team as to its legal position in relation to the championship," read a statement issued by the FIA, whose newly-elected president is Jean Todt. "This will have a direct bearing on the admission of any future 13th entry," the FIA added. Up to thirteen teams could be on the grid for next year's F1 season, but the latest round of withdrawals has cast the final tally into doubt. Toyota team president John Howett told the Times that he did not know if the FIA would pursue legal action, and Bernie Ecclestone commented: "We're looking into it." The F1 chief executive told the Daily Express: "The problem is that their team manager John Howett fought against drastic cost-cutting all the way and was against new teams coming in." The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) reacted to the Toyota news by acknowledging the "financial pressures" on carmakers at present but also mentioning the recent "period of uncertainty and unnecessary confrontation in F1". Ferrari went one step further, boldly hitting out at the "war waged against the major car manufacturers by those who managed formula one over the past few years". [GMMF1] Read More

  • Preview: 2010 BMW M3 GTS - Now With High-Res Pics And Video

    Preview: 2010 BMW M3 GTS - Now With High-Res Pics And Video November 5th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, November 5th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 0 Comments

    Preview: 2010 BMW M3 GTS - Now With High-Res Pics And Video

    We've seen the rumors, speculation and spy shots on BMW's M3 GT4-type car for months now. We were even one of the first sites to confirm the car for production with our interview of M Division head Kay Segler. But today BMW has gone official, unveiling the M3 GTS, as the new car will be called. Unfortunately, it's not currently planned for the North American market. Today, BMW released higher-resolution photos and more detailed info about its new track-special M3.

    The car is a focused, no-compromises M3 in a way that recent M vehicles haven't been. Putting the track first and creature comforts--and possibly even aesthetics--second, the M3...

    We've seen the rumors, speculation and spy shots on BMW's M3 GT4-type car for months now. We were even one of the first sites to confirm the car for production with our interview of M Division head Kay Segler. But today BMW has gone official, unveiling the M3 GTS, as the new car will be called. Unfortunately, it's not currently planned for the North American market. Today, BMW released higher-resolution photos and more detailed info about its new track-special M3. The car is a focused, no-compromises M3 in a way that recent M vehicles haven't been. Putting the track first and creature comforts--and possibly even aesthetics--second, the M3 GTS goes the extra mile for performance. Power is delivered by a special 4.4-liter version of the V-8 that powers the current M3, rated at 450 horsepower in this application. They also add race-derived technology including a crankcase made of a special aluminum-silicon alloy and constructed in bedplate design, individual throttle butterflies, anti-knock sensors with "ion flow technology" and a wet sump oil supply. That power is piped to the rear wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The transmission was specially engineered to withstand the power output of the beefed-up V-8, and the DKG Drivelogic shift points programmed to precisely extract the maximum from the engine. Extensive use of honeycomb grillework, a prominent adjustable rear wing, adjustable front splitter and reworked front-end aero pieces all reflect the car's speedy genes. Unique black alloy 19-inch wheels wrapped in 225/35 front and 285/30 rear tires ensure track-friendly understeer-bias with a high level of grip. Lightweight carbon fiber is used for the roof to help reduce weight and lower the center of gravity, much like previous M3 CSL versions. The result of the weight savings strategy sees over 400 pounds culled from the standard car's 3,700-pound curb weigh, with the GTS version weighing in at a scant 3,289 pounds. A fully adjustable set of race dampers sits at the corners of the car, allowing owners to tune to the track and conditions with both bump and rebound adjustments. The brakes for the car are also custom-built pieces, with six-piston calipers up front and four-piston units out back. Inside, race seats and five-point harnesses complement abundant matte-black surfaces and Alcantara for a decidedly sporty look. Like the Porsche GT3, the rear seat is sacrificed for a roll cage and a fire bottle, all in the interests of on-track safety. Despite all of this, the M3 GTS is still completely road-legal. So far, there are no plans to bring the car to the U.S., however. This appears to be a track-day special for the European enthusiast. Expect it to cost about €115,000, or around $171,000--roughly three times the price of a "normal" M3. Ouch. [BMW M Division] Read More

  • Audi And MIT Partner For AIDA, A Friendly In-Car Robot

    Audi And MIT Partner For AIDA, A Friendly In-Car Robot November 5th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, November 5th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 5 Comments

    Audi And MIT Partner For AIDA, A Friendly In-Car Robot

    The idea of conveying information to humans in a compact, effective way in a short time has long been a challenge for the computer industry. As computers play more and more central roles in our cars, that problem becomes one central to daily driving as well.

    It's compounded by the fact that most of the time we're in our cars, we're actively participating in an activity that requires most of our focus: driving. So finding a way to get information to the driver without creating unnecessary distraction or loss of meaning is all the more important, especially if that information is driving directions, safety or weather details, or even...

    The idea of conveying information to humans in a compact, effective way in a short time has long been a challenge for the computer industry. As computers play more and more central roles in our cars, that problem becomes one central to daily driving as well. It's compounded by the fact that most of the time we're in our cars, we're actively participating in an activity that requires most of our focus: driving. So finding a way to get information to the driver without creating unnecessary distraction or loss of meaning is all the more important, especially if that information is driving directions, safety or weather details, or even information about the car or its entertainment systems. Enter AIDA, a collaborative project between MIT and Audi. The AIDA acronym explains the system well: Affective, Intelligent Driving Agent. It's intended to play the role of an involved, knowledgeable companion that helps the driver whenever possible. The most important aspect of the communication system AIDA uses may be the facial simulation. Humans innately understand facial expressions and though AIDA's face isn't human in nature, it's easily interpreted according to the same basic rules. It's also a very quick way to express emergent information, particularly with accompanying voice information. Speculative fiction authors like Neal Stephenson have explored this concept as a form of human-machine interface for decades now, but it's finally entering the realm of reality, and it's pretty exciting to watch. To make itself useful, AIDA learns your habits behind the wheel, including recognizing when you go to the grocery store, when you need fuel, and where you're going once all your errands are done. It constantly monitors the environment around it, suggesting reroutes as necessary to avoid traffic or accidents. The AIDA system is a lot like Nissan's Pivo robot-car concept shown off at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, with a similarly cute and quirky robotic assistant inside. The AIDA system is understandably more advanced, however, due to the innovations made in the past two years. For more details on the AIDA system, including footage of it in action, watch the video below. [Via Engadget] Read More

  • NHTSA: Toyota Floor Mat Statement 'Inaccurate And Misleading'

    NHTSA: Toyota Floor Mat Statement 'Inaccurate And Misleading' November 5th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, November 5th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 7 Comments

    NHTSA: Toyota Floor Mat Statement 'Inaccurate And Misleading'


    This past Monday Toyota released a statement denying any finding of fault on Toyota's part or any defect in its cars in relation to the deadly floor mat safety advisory issued in late September. Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is saying that Toyota's information is "inaccurate and misleading" and that there is in fact a defect in the 3.8 million cars affected.

    The Toyota statement included reference to a letter being sent out to customers which Toyota stated, "confirms that no defect exists in vehicles in which the driver’s floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured."

    The NHTSA minces no...

    This past Monday Toyota released a statement denying any finding of fault on Toyota's part or any defect in its cars in relation to the deadly floor mat safety advisory issued in late September. Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is saying that Toyota's information is "inaccurate and misleading" and that there is in fact a defect in the 3.8 million cars affected. The Toyota statement included reference to a letter being sent out to customers which Toyota stated, "confirms that no defect exists in vehicles in which the driver’s floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured." The NHTSA minces no words in contradicting Toyota's claims, calling the removal of the offending floor mats an interim measure only, and saying that "This remedy does not correct the underlying defect in the vehicles involving the potential for entrapment of the accelerator by floor mats, which is related to accelerator and floor pan design." That leaves no doubt that the NHTSA considers the design of the vehicles and the accelerator pedal both to be defective in this regard. Between the tragedy of a California Highway Patrol officer and his family losing their lives in a borrowed dealership Lexus ES 350 and the farcical zip tie solution issued shortly thereafter, the Toyota/Lexus floor mat recall is quickly becoming one of the most unique events in recent automotive safety history. The problem, according to Toyota, lies with installation and mat selection. The dealer loaner car that was driven to a fiery end in Southern California earlier this year was just such a case, says the company: the wrong mat was installed improperly. So the fix? To install the proper floor mats and do it properly. The letter mailed earlier this week explains that the notice is of a future voluntary safety recall campaign which will see the mats replaced with the right model and installed according to procedure for no charge. Owners had previously been warned to pull driver's side floor mats from affected vehicles and not replace them with any other mats. Affected models include: • 2007 – 2010 Camry • 2005 – 2010 Avalon • 2004 – 2009 Prius • 2005 – 2010 Tacoma • 2007 – 2010 Tundra • 2007 – 2010 ES350 • 2006 – 2010 IS250 and IS350 If you own one of these models, look for the letter in your mailbox over the next couple of days. But be forewarned that the NHTSA isn't buying Toyota's story. [NHTSA, Toyota] Read More

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