Gadgets

Back in 2006 Alpine showcased a new dashboard display system that allows viewers to watch two different images from a single screen depending on the angle they’re sitting at. This meant that the front passenger and driver would see two separate images when looking at the single display, a...

The UK is home to some of the best audio companies in the world but when it came to outfitting Aston Martin’s latest model, arguably one of the UK’s finest brands, developers turned to a Danish company. The carmaker has picked Denmark’s Bang & Olufsen to develop the audio system...

In the GPS world, few makers have a reputation as strong as Garmin. However, the company isn't known for making phones. In fact, although it has supplied GPS chips to several mobile phone makers, it has never actually made one itself - until now. And at first blush, it looks like they've done it...

Looking forward to the days of no longer having to visit a fuel station but tired of waiting for mainstream carmakers to launch a vehicle that can run without the need to fill up? One solution is a range of new plug-in hybrid conversion kits designed for conventional hybrid models such as the...

As carmakers look for innovative and low cost technologies to improve fuel economy of their cars, one such method quickly garnering acclaim is a feature known as engine stop-start tech. The system essentially shuts down the engine to save fuel when the car is sitting idly in traffic and then almost...

Like something straight out of a James Bond flick, Aston Martin is offering a limited edition Jaeger LeCoultre wristwatch for its new DBS that can be used to unlock the car and fire it up. Available only to buyers of the 510hp flagship, the new watch carries a price tag of €25,000. Remember...

In a bid to compete with BMW and its own Google Maps-based ConnectedDrive navigation package, rival Mercedes-Benz today announced that it has teamed up with both Yahoo and Google Maps to deliver an easy to use in-car navigation system. The system will be available on The C, CL and S-class models...

British audio company Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), reputed for their high end loudspeakers, has designed its first premium car sound system to debut on Jaguar’s new XF. This system, which was developed alongside the XF concept, makes up of 14 specially designed speakers, and makes use of advanced...

Nissan has announced its plans to install fuel-consumption meters to all of its cars, something Euro makes have been doing for years. Nissan says it’s doing it to promote awareness of more economical driving habits and that it's part of its new ‘Nissan Green Program 2010’...

Audi’s A5 is now available with Bang & Olufsen’s (B&O) latest stereo systems, an international award winner that’ set to take on the superb Mark Levinson systems found in other luxury makes. The new B&O set-up includes no less than14 speakers, 7.1 surround sound, 10-channel...

BMW was the first carmaker to integrate the Apple iPod music player with its car stereo systems, and now it’s first again to offer full support for the new iPhone mobile phone. Motorists will be able to play music stored on the iPhone or talk hands-free with the inbuilt Bluetooth, but...

A new infrared laser safety system that’s said to be more effective and cheaper than current radar-based systems has been developed, but major suppliers are sticking with the radar technology. These safety systems can be used to monitor whether vehicles up ahead are getting too close and can...

Back in 2005 Audi released the A6L exclusively for the Chinese market, a long-wheelbase version designed to improve on the A6 as a chauffeur-driven saloon. Now, Audi is unveiling a new rear-seat entertainment that beats anything we’ve seen short of a Maybach. The A6L gets two 10.2-inch...

Most of us mere mortals will never get the chance to feel the acceleration of a Formula One car or experience the thrill of hitting a chicane at more than 200km/h. Some things were never meant to be, but companies like Australia’s Hyper Stimulator offer some solace with its lifelike...

Japanese researches have come up with a car seat that car detect when its occupant is about to fall asleep. The life-saving technology, which is still in prototype form, may eventually appear as mandatory equipment in vehicles, putting an end to accidents involving a driver that has fallen asleep...

Last month, Japanese automotive supplier Denso Corporation received a patent for an innovative GPS navigation system that projects the map onto the car’s windshield via a heads-up-display. Alpine Electronics also received a patent for the development of a similar system, which means we're...

Motorola has just released the limited edition Motorazr maxx V6 Ferrari Challenge mobile phone, complete with an engraved logo of Ferrari’s prancing horse, 30 images of the F430 supercar and a soft, hand-made Ferrari carry case in Ferrari-red leather. Also, when you switch off the phone, the...

Harmon Kardon has released the second generation of its popular Drive + Play music controller for the car. The device integrates a portable MP3 music player with the car’s stereo and allows drivers to manage multiple portable devices with a single screen and controller, giving them full...

Now that everything is going wireless, it seems the only real holdup is the cable you use to actually charge the devices you want to use. A number of companies have been working on developing induction technology that allows you to charge any compatible device by simply placing it on a charging...

Here’s a video demonstration of Ford and Microsoft’s Sync system, which integrates your car’s communications and entertainment systems with a host of external devices such as music players, PDAs and mobile phones. See our previous report for more details.