Dash Navigation GPS Gets Wireless Updates

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

Dash Navigation has announced that it is the first GPS provider to offer wireless updates to its customers. The wireless downloads are completed over-the-air so users don’t have to connect the GPS device to a PC or use a DVD.

The updates are done over Wi-Fi and the update adds other new features to the Dash Express GPS unit. The update provides answers to driver’s questions like finding the closest coffee shop on their route. FasterFind allows the GPS unit to get a faster position fix. Read more

Posted on Tue, 1 Jul 2008 10:10:16 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Sanyo Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Battery Details

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

Sanyo supplies the battery for the Ford Escape Hybrid car and just published a detailed article describing their efforts for Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) batteries.

SANYO Electric started the development of HEV battery systems already back in 1997 and has been suppling it to Ford since 2004. Read more

Posted on Tue, 1 Jul 2008 03:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Tesla announces Electric Sedan Family Car

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

Tesla Motors announces formally an electric Sports Sedan dubbedd Tesla Motors Model S.

Tesla Motors already talked about planning an affordable electric family car in 2007 - back then dubbed WhiteStar.
The big announcement yesterday was made in presence of California Governor Schwarzenegger as Tesla Motors decided to manufacture the Model S in California. The exact location is not decided yet. Read more

Posted on Tue, 1 Jul 2008 00:19:22 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

SpaceX conducts static Test Firing of next Falcon 1 Rocket

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) successfully conducted a full launch dress rehearsal and hold down firing of the Falcon 1 Flight 3 vehicle on June 25, 2008 (Marshall Island Time) on Omelek Island, SpaceX's launch site at the Kwajalein Atoll.
This test is the final step before launch of the Falcon 1 rocket. SpaceX has been founded by PayPal founder Elon Musk.

"We are definitely not tied to the clock for this launch, and we are checking and crosschecking every aspect of the vehicle and ground systems to ensure a successful mission," said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. "Our primary concerns remain the safety and reliability of our vehicle, and the successful delivery of the Defense Department and NASA satellites to orbit." Read more

Posted on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:20:36 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Versace Lamborghini unveiled

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

If you think fashion label branded mobile phones are cool, think again. Check out the new Versace designed Lamborhini Murcielago LP640.

The Versace designers left their mark on the exterior with their Greek symbols and introduced some luxury inside.
For the very first time a Lamborhini Murcielago comes with a transparent engine hood that reveals the powerful V12 engine. Read more

Posted on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:44:22 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Tankgrip Lets Sport Bike Passengers Hold On Better

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

If you have ever ridden on a motorcycle with someone on the back or ridden behind someone you know that it can be uncomfortable and plain awkward to hold on. Your girl can hold on around your waist, but if you need to give one of the guys a ride for some reason, you don’t want him wrapping his arms around you.

A new product called Tankgrip solves this problem. The device is called Tankgrip and it attaches to the gas tank of a sport bike and provides a pair of streamlined handles that the rear passenger can hold onto. This frees you from the inevitable death grip the passenger gets at some point and keeps you from looking weird when your pal on the back is hugging you at highway speeds. Read more

Posted on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Motor Trend Pits Shelby GT 500 and Dodge Challenger SRT8 Against Each Other

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

Motor Trend has put up a fast comparison between the 2008 Ford Shelby GT and the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. To my eyes the Shelby GT500 is a much more attractive car, the Challenger looks good but it’s a much larger car with less power.

Motor Trend points out that the Challenger costs about $4000 less than the Shelby as well. The catch is that almost the entire run for 2008 of the Challenger is already spoken for and it is only offered in an automatic. For 2009 the Challenger will be back with mover models and the pistol grip manual that was in the legendary 1970’s version of the Challenger. Read more

Posted on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

BMW Gina Light Cloth Concept Car

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

BMW unveiled a unique new concept car dubbed BMW Gina Light. The BMW Gina Light has a flexible skin enabling whole new shapes of a car.

The video below shows the impressive views of a car that is skinned by a high-tech cloth.
Of course this is a very futuristic car concept, but today there is for instance no reason from a stability point of view to use metal as a car skin. Read more

Posted on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:24:46 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Ronn Motor Hydrogen Hybrid Supercar

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

Ronn Motor Company announces the Scorpion which makes hydrogen on demand.

Most Hydrogen car prototypes today need a hydrogen fueling station. Ronn Motor uses a hybrid system that produces hydrogen. The hydrogen delivery system with dual computer processor controls the production of hydrogen on demand, and in real time, which will be inducted through the air intake manifold and blended with gasoline at a ratio of 30-40 percent hydrogen, according to Maxwell. Read more

Posted on Thu, 5 Jun 2008 11:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Engage Makes GRID Mustang GT-R Real

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

As part of an in-game advertising campaign for eBay Motors Engage has turned the Mustang GT-R eBay Motors race car from the GRID racing game into a real car. A contest was held that would allow the top 5 racers in a contest the chance to win the real Mustang GT-R car from the game.

At the GRID launch event this Wednesday in San Francisco the top five player’s from the competition will race head-to-head for one final race. The winner of the final race will win the keys to the real Mustang GT-R custom built and valued at $90,000. Read more

Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008 13:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Verified Sustainable Ethanol Introduced by Swedish SEKAB

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

Swedish SEKAB announced today that it is now producing the world’s first verified sustainable ethanol from sugar cane. The ethanol comes specifically from Brazilian sugar cane and is verified for its environmental, social, and climate perspectives.

The criteria that SEKAB follows meet requirements set by the UN, EU, ILO and a number of other organizations. The requirements assure that the ethanol isn’t produced using child labor, slave labor or destruction of the rain forests. Other requirements are directed at wages, working conditions, and labor laws. Read more

Posted on Tue, 27 May 2008 09:42:13 CDT | by Shane McGlaun