Gadgets

A company based in California is claiming to have developed an emissions-reducing product for conventional motor vehicles that it boasts could help the auto industry meet upcoming emissions regulations. The company is HydroLectricPower and the technology will be on show at this week's Los Angeles...

The concept of an active suspension system isn't new - prototypes and testbeds have been in existence for decades. But now the technology is finally becoming compact and inexpensive enough to justify its use in mass-produced vehicles, or nearly so. To help arrive at a final concept, the University...

The S-Class has long been known as a Mercedes' platform for innovation of all kinds, especially technology and safety features. That's never been more true, and for 2009, the E-Class will join it with some of the most advanced systems yet. Those systems were demonstrated today at a safety...

Automotive parts supplier Delphi Corporation and wireless internet company Autonet Mobile announced an agreement this week to market and develop Internet-connectivity technology products for a number of automobile manufacturers. The two companies are field testing new telematics and in-car...

Hyundai will soon be joining the likes of Ford and Fiat by offering a new music and information interface developed jointly with software giant Microsoft. To enable that collaboration, the two companies have announced the founding of a dedicated Automotive IT Innovation Centre (AIIC) with the aid...

In addition to all the outrageous show car concepts, aftermarket body kits and power-adding upgrades, the SEMA show is also about in-car electronics and equipment, which is where Nextar steps in. Its new Q4-MD GPS navigation unit features MSN Direct support for traffic info, fuel prices and weather...

GM announced late last year that its OnStar system would be getting a new feature that could remotely bring a car to a rolling stop in emergency situations. Now that technology has begun to arrive, with the launch of the Stolen Vehicle Slowdown feature across its 2009 model lineup in the U.S. and...

Michelin’s Active Wheel technology has been around for the past couple of years but actual applications of the electronic powertrain and handling management system are still hard to come by. Over the years the technology has been showcased in a number of concepts, and at this week’s...

A trio of Japanese companies have come together to create the world's first mobile phone that also acts as an electronic key for certain vehicles, allowing its owner to automatically unlock their car door and start the engine without having to fish around in their pockets for a traditional key...

Swiss watch company Parmigiani Fleurier has released an updated version of its Bugatti Type 370 wristwatch for 2008, after enjoying two years of success including winning an ‘International Watch of the Year’ award back in 2006. The watch was originally released to celebrate the launch...

Late in 2007 Aston Martin announced its partnership with Bang & Olufsen, and then early this year the first joint project - the Rapide sedan - between the two companies was revealed. Now a new BeoSound DBS audio system, designed specifically for Aston Martin, has been revealed as the result of...

Ford previewed its next generation Sync platform at a recent press event at its Irvine headquarters in California, revealing a number of new features that are set to appear this November. The new Sync V2.0 platform is coupled with Sirius Travel Link and offers greater support for the existing...

Dutch navigation company TomTom has unveiled a new satnav system that can update its maps in real-time for a number of different traffic conditions in order to help minimize time spent behind the wheel. The company unveiled the new device at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin this week...

Audi has teamed up with an expert in computer graphics, California’s Futuremark, to develop new technology for its future dashboard display systems. The two companies have developed an electronic dash concept, which will be on display for the first time at this week’s NVISION software...

Microsoft has teamed with the Universities of Massachusetts and Washington to develop a new wireless internet system designed exclusively for cars. The technology, which is currently being tagged as Vi-Fi (short for Vehicle Wi-Fi), aims to provide motorists and their passengers with cheaper and...

Coming to the International Radio Show in Berlin, August 28, two new Blaupunkt navigation systems offer real-time video navigation and traffic sign recognition. The two units, called the TravelPilot 500 and 700, also feature interactive voice controls, Bluetooth and in the case of the 700, internet...

Nokia has introduced a new version of its premium 8800 mobile phone constructed from carbon fiber, titanium, polished glass and stainless steel – materials that can make an auto enthusiast weak at the knees. Called the Nokia 8800 ‘Carbon Arte,’ the new handset features woven...

To celebrate the launch of its DBS supercar last year, Aston Martin together with Swiss watch company Jaeger LeCoultre released a chronograph watch with a built in transponder that could unlock the car and fire up its engine. The two luxury marques have now released a new version of the watch...

Nissan's force-feedback ECO Pedal accelerator pedal, touted as a 'green' driving aid that pushes back against the driver's foot when accelerating too briskly, is actually a derivative of a new pedal system developed by Continental. Called the Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal, or AFFP, by its...

Update: After nearly six months of teasing out the details of its upcoming mobile wireless in-car Internet system, Chrysler has finally revealed pricing for the base unit and the monthly access charges. With an initial buy-in of $499 and ongoing fees of $29 per month, plus sundry other one-time...