In November at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, Cadillac will be unveiling the 2013 XTS full-size sedan, but this vehicle may be playing second fiddle to the company’s new Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system.
The CUE will pair entertainment and information data from up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, USBs, SD cards, and MP3 players with a vehicle infotainment system that reduces complexity through customized information, natural voice commands, fewer buttons, and larger icons. It will feature an 8-inch LCD touch screen located front and center on the top of the central instrument panel leading down to a motorized fully capacitive faceplate at the bottom concealing a 1.8L storage area.
"CUE doesn’t replace your smartphone or your iPod," said Micky Bly, Executive Director, Global Electric Systems, Infotainment and Electrification. "Rather it allows consumers to securely store those mobile devices while channeling the information on those devices, along with your navigation tools, weather maps with Doppler radar, AM/FM and XM radio, instant messages and emails, through a central portal in your Cadillac, keeping hands on the wheel and eyes on the road."
The Cue will make its debut in the new XTS sedan, but will then be dropped into the ATS sport sedan and the SRX crossover.
Hit the jump to watch a video of Cadillac’s newest technology, plus check out more of its highlights.
Mercedes has released an informative video explaining the benefits of their latest AMG Performance Media system. In this video, Mercedes takes the SLS AMG on one lap around the famous Hockenheimring in Germany to display the different gauges for monitoring your performance.
The new AMG Performance Media (APM) provides real time data on the Command screen. This data includes metrics on lateral G-forces, brake, throttle, horsepower, and torque. Next to these useful details, the system can also measure lap times and lap segments.
To activate the AMG Performance Media, all one has to do is press the AMG key in the AMG DRIVE UNIT, which is operated with the COMAND Controller. All functions are visible on the high-resolution 17.8-centimeter color display of the standard COMAND APS multimedia system. The upper menu bar offers details on the "Data", "Race" and "Setup," while the lower bar provides information on "Temp", "Power," and "Tires."
Caterham has announced the launch of a new standalone engineering business, Caterham Technology and Innovation Limited (CTI). The new company will develop a completely new line of accessible and affordable sportscars inspired by the lightweight, minimalist philosophy of the Seven. The new models will use technologies and materials from the Group’s Team Lotus Formula One and Caterham Team AirAsia GP2 motorsport operations. Also, CTI will work at advanced projects from both automotive and aerospace sectors.
"The new shareholders are committed to investing in an exciting range of global products over the next 10 years," says Mark Edwards, CTI’s Chief Executive. "Tony Fernandes has been very clear from the start that Caterham needed a sustainable research and development business model in order to meet the plans the management have for the road car business. By establishing unique operating principles for CTI, we have managed to attract a world-class team of niche vehicle engineers eager to build on the ethos of Caterham and the DNA of the Seven."
During the recent Frankfurt Motor Show, Head of Porsche Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen, gave an interview in which he discussed the technology transfer from the track to the road, as well as future developments in the world of racing.
Specifically, he discussed the technology used in the 2011 911 GT3 RSR and how it was transferred to the street-legal model, the 911 GT3 RS 4.0. The GT3 RSR is powered by a 4.0-liter, six-cylinder boxer engine mated to a six-speed gearbox. This combination delivers 455 HP at 7,800 rpm and a peak torque of 331 lbs-ft. The 911 GT3 RS 4.0 uses a 4.0 liter engine producing an incredible 500 HP and 339 lb-ft of torque.
The technology used in both models has helped the GT3 RSR win in its category at the 24-hr of Nürburgring this year, while the GT3 RS 4.0 delivers incredible performance for a car in its class.
Lamborghini’s fashion line is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and they’re rolling out a very special item just for the occasion: a special edition Spyder Supreme Diamond Cell Phone.
Designed to dazzle - literally - and make you burn holes in your pockets, the Spyder Supreme Diamond Cell Phone comes with plenty of bling, bling, and heck, even more bling. It’s made from stainless steel with a vertically tapered body and a casing that has been studded with 7.8 carats worth of diamonds. Yes, folks. Diamonds. The front cover is made from sapphire crystal, which pretty much makes it scratch resistant. The Lamborghini monogram is also decked prominently in yellow gold with the battery cover finished in a crocodile leather print that’s available in either white or black.
As far as technical specs, the phone comes with a 2.75G dual-band capability on both GSM 900 and 1800 networks. It also has an external 4 GB memory support, a 3.0 megapixel camera with auto-focus, an SOS signal button for emergencies, and a 2-inch mini LCD display screen with a 240 x 320 resolution.
So how much is it going to cost? Considering that only 300 will be made in S650 and S660 versions, you’re going to need to shell out more than just your average iPhone. The S650, for one, will come with 2.5 carat diamonds at a price tag of $10,000. The S660 will come with 5.9 carat diamonds and a crocodile leather pack at a cost of $16,419.
You want a phone that will cost you the price of a decent car? This one’s for you - and it comes with diamonds, too.
With so many racing games inundating the market these days, run-of-the-mill racing wheels, let alone the standard controllers, just wouldn’t cut it anymore.
These games feature cutting-edge technology and you’re using a cheap wheel to play them? Not exactly realistic, is it?
What you need is a racing wheel that will make the entire gaming experience all that more realistic. You need a wheel that will make you feel like you’re really driving those virtual cars. You need a wheel like the new Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Italia Racing Wheel.
From the minds that gave birth to the T500RS and the Ferrari Wireless GT Cockpit comes the latest in race gaming accessories. The 11" F458 wheel features a rubberized grip that allows you stay firmly in control of your virtual race car while the built-in metal paddle shifters, a Manettino dial, and progressive resistance allows you to make all the necessary adjustments to ensure that your lap times aren’t ruined by the smallest of mistakes. The F458 racing wheel is exclusive to the Xbox 360, which you can use for all your Forza 4 exploits.
As far as PS3 and PC gamers are concerned, you’re not left out in the dark. Thrustmaster will also be releasing the TH8 RS gear shifter, which you can connect to the aforementioned T500RS, allowing you to configure your gearbox set-up with either H-pattern or sequential configurations.
The accessories are dropping on shelves this October for the price of $180 for the F458 wheel and $90 for the TH8 gear shifter. They won’t come cheap, but for the awesome experience, forking over those amounts will all be worth it in the end.
If you use an electric toothbrush, chances are good that you don’t have to plug it in to recharge it. Instead, you simply place it on a post in the base of the charging stand, and the toothbrush tops itself off via electromagnetic inductive charging. If that works to recharge a toothbrush, or a cell phone, why can’t the same idea be applied to electric cars?
This is the exact question being raised by HaloIPT, a British firm that will demonstrate electromagnetic inductive charging for electric cars at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. The concept is relatively simple: the driver of an electric car equipped with Halo IPT’s system parks his car atop a rubber charging mat, which is plugged into a charging station nearby. The mat and the car communicate via Bluetooth to test the connection and ensure the car is parked properly. Once the hand-off is given, charging begins with no additional action required on the part of the driver.
Audio specialist, Sennheiser, may have lost some ground with the release of the highly popular Monster Beat headphones, but rest assured, when it comes to top flight quality, you can’t do any better than these guys.
And now that they’re collaborating with BMW Group DesignworksUSA, they’ve got something that should pique the interests of auto and audiophiles all over the world. Their latest work is the S1 Digital Pilot headphones, which was recently unveiled at AirVenture 2011 in Oshkosh.
The headphones comes with an inner metal band made of spring steel that makes it suitable for just about any kind of head shape it gets put in. Likewise, it also comes with two thick soft pads that allow it to be pressed firmly without making contact to the sensitive parts of the ear. These ear cups also take the shape of the sweep of a wing, hence the aviation theme of the whole product. The S1 Digital Pilot also has an ergonomic feature that allows people wearing glasses to fit the headphones comfortably without having to adjust their glasses all the time.
More details on the Sennheiser S1 Digital Pilot Headphones by BMW after the jump.
We’ve been running off all these technological products that bear automaker’s trademarks on them – just last week, we introduced the Porsche Lacie P’9220 and P’9230 hard drives – and just in case you already have these items with you, we’d like to introduce you to your next purchase: the Asus WX Lamborghini Wireless Mouse.
This new AAA battery-powered mouse would fit perfectly with the new Asus Automobili Lamborghini VX7 Notebook that was also recently launched back in April. It’s available for only $80, and for that price, you get a mouse that bears the sleek and sporty design cues of Lamborghini supercars, including three choices of a two-tone color scheme – yellow/black, white/black, and all black. There’s also a nano dongle attachment embedded on the mouse that allows it to connect to any USB port with a range of up to 10 meters. This high-frequency response range allows the mouse to work with instant precision without having to resort to any wires or other forms of interference.
According to Asus, the WX Wireless Mouse is a must-have item to include in your computer. “Based on the power and speed so coveted in Lamborghini vehicles, the WX-Lamborghini wireless laser mouse delivers a breathtaking experience in control," the company said.
"This is the ultimate style icon when it comes to mouse input, inspired directly by the powerful, angular shape so known from its motorized namesakes.”
Knowing our love for products that have automotive tie-ups to them, there’s a good chance that we won’t waste time adding a new wireless mouse to our collection.
Not enough space on your computer to store all your photos, movies, and what-nots? Well, why don’t you go the route of buying a hard drive? But instead of hopping over to Best Buy, why not buy a hard drive that will make you the envy of all your friends?
For a ’reasonable’ starting price of just $104.99, you can leave all the Western Digitals on the shelves and score these hard drives courtesy of Porsche Design and LaCie.
The former, as you may know, is the retail and merchandising brand of German automaker, Porsche, whereas the latter is one of the world’s foremost designers of hard drives. Perfect combination, right?
These new hard drives feature a minimalist design with brushed aluminum cases. They are the perfect data storage device to complement your laptops, but better yet, they come in two models with a variety of storage spaces to fit your needs and whims. There’s the P’9220, which comes in 500 GB, 750 GB, and 1TB capacities, and the P’9230, which comes in 1TB and 2TB capacities.
Imagine if you had one of those Acer Ferrari Liquid E mobile phones or even the Asus Lamborghini VX7 laptop, you’d be the poster boy of automotive fandom amongst your buddies. Maybe after you purchase this hard drive, you can score one of those printed mousepads of an Audi R8 to complement your technological homage to high-end European auto brands.
