CES auto news

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 5.18.09

	First Drive: 2010 Lexus IS250 C and IS350 C prove that going topless isn't always freeing According to Lexus, the new IS 250C and IS350C convertibles represent the automaker's wild side. But does Lexus even have a wild side? We test its new duo of tin-tops to find out.		Obama to announce new CAFE standards tomorrow, require 34 mpg standard Tomorrow, the Obama Administration will announce new CAFE regulations that raise the national fleet mileage to 42 mpg for cars and 26 mpg for light trucks by 2016.
	Ferrari 250TR sells for record breaking $12.2M at RM Auction At the Ferrari Leggende e Passione auction, the star of the event was a 1957 250 TR, one of only 22 "pontoon-fender" Testa Rossas ever built. It sold for $12 million, eclipsing the current record-holder, a 1961 250 GT California Spyder.	Other news of import NISMO renting GT-R engine and transmission computers in Japan Return of the 5.0: Ford Exec confirms 400 hp 'Coyote' V8 coming in 2010 Chrysler reportedly bouncing checks to owners of lemon law vehicles Jeremy Clarkson calls Honda Insight "Biblically terrible" Mercury Sable reaching the end of the line Thursday

Future Ford SYNC upgrade could include Pandora streaming

At the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Ford announced that three new features would be included on the next iteration of the SYNC system: traffic data, GPS-guided directions and the ability to snag information from the web through the user's data/GPS/Bluetooth-enabled smartphone to display or read weather conditions, sports scores and other information through the stereo.

On May 26th, the upgrade will be made available to all current 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury owners (you download the update to your PC, then transfer it to the SYNC system through a thumb drive) and all new 2010 models will be equipped with the upgrade from the factory. But as Ford CEO Alan Mulally promised, there's more on the way.

Ford and Microsoft plan to continually update SYNC, and according to Charlotte Fisher from Ford's Design and Technology team, "every six to eight to twelve months we'll be delivering new services." One of the possible features Ford could include on future iterations of SYNC is streaming internet radio, and Fisher confirmed that Ford is currently "talking with Pandora." Can you say XM-killer? Hit the jump to watch a video of the new system in action.

Continue reading Future Ford SYNC upgrade could include Pandora streaming

CES 2009: Hands on with D-Box and Simcraft racing simulators

They're more than glorified game consoles with force-feedback steering wheels strapped to a lounge chair. Costing as much as $44,000 apiece, they're racing simulators, and we got to play with a couple of them at CES.

Simcraft says its $44K model is meant for training real race car drivers, like Indycar driver Sarah Fisher, who stopped by CES on Wednesday to show off the company's Apex SC830. The U.S. military is also using the high-dollar simulator to train its soldiers to drive in the tricky sands of Iraq. D-Box's top-of-the-line GP Pro 200 is a much more affordable high-end racing simulator. It'll only set you back $14,000.

Both are PC-based and both offer much more realism than your Laz-E-Boy being moved around by your little brother. The SC830 is definitely more hardcore, with the seat and displays mounted on a tubular-steel frame. The GP Pro 200 sits lower, is more compact and looks less complicated than the Simcraft. But how do they drive? Click through to the jump to read our impressions and for more photos.

Gallery: CES 2009: Hands on with D-Box and Simcraft racing simulators

Continue reading CES 2009: Hands on with D-Box and Simcraft racing simulators

CES 2009: The cars of CES Part II

A couple of booths over (which in CES speak means several thousand yards away), Monster skipped the fancy paint and just went for the fancy cars. Their super-blue Bentley GT looked almost stock until closer inspection revealed Monster's logos imprinted on the roof and the Bentley trunk badge replaced with the Monster's corporate red M. Monster's booth was also home to a Lambo Murcielago whose exterior was mercifully left unscathed by such blatant branding.

Other cars of note were Toyota's Ducati Tacoma from SEMA and a really bad-ass, turbocharged, LSX-powered Cadillac wearing some sweet leather seats and a Strut S grille and wheels. Check out the gallery for high-res photos of the second round of the cars of CES. You can also peruse the Round 1 cars by clicking here.

Gallery: CES 2009: The cars of CES Part II

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Chris Tutor / Weblogs, Inc.

CES 2009: Dodge Journey to get OnStar-like features this summer

On our final night in Vegas, Hughes Telematics invited us over to talk about their work in... well... telematics. Among their demo vehicles was a Dodge Journey outfitted with what is essentially Chrysler's version of OnStar. The Journey will be Chrysler's first product with the service and should be available this summer.

We're not certain what name the new service will get, but it essentially offers the same basic services General Motors' vehciles have. Press a button on the rearview mirror and talk with an assistant at Hughes' own call center to unlock doors and provide directions. The system will also alert rescue agencies of an crash.

Pricing and exact date of availability are both unknown. Hughes reps said that their company is in talks with Chrysler to develop much more elaborate systems with many more features, some of which we were able to check out. We'll be able to post more on that later. But until then you can refresh on what Hughes Telematics told us at CES 2008.

CES 2009: Alpine keeps in touch with iPod users

Alpine has had iPod compatibility for years, but the user interface has been decidedly un-Apple. Alpine hopes to rectify matter with its new touch-screen iXA-W404 unit works, which boasts a new interface, new features and all the connected goodies audiophiles on the move require.

iPod and iPhone owners will notice that the Alpine's 4.3-inch, touch-screen face displays album art of the current song, and the names of the next two and most recent songs played. Song selection can be made from an alphabetical list just as on the iPod Touch and iPhone or by flipping through the album art in an animation similar to Apple's Cover Flow. Alpine's newest unit also supports video playback from an iPhone or any 30-pin iPod. W404 owners can choose to display three of five "widgets" included with the unit, which include a clock, calendar and photo viewer. The unit can be upgraded by adding components from Alpine's lineup, ranging from GPS, HD Radio, rear-view camera and Bluetooth connectivity. The W404 head unit can even control video display on rear-seat monitors.

The 2DIN iXA-W404 will be available in April for a suggested retail of $550. Alpine's HD radio tuner is a $230 add-on, the rear-view camera system is $220, the Bluetooth module is $180, navigation capability is $350 and a dual seven-inch headrest monitor package is $750.

Gallery: CES 2009: Alpine keeps in touch with iPod users

Continue reading CES 2009: Alpine keeps in touch with iPod users

CES 2009: Navigon takes routing personal

Navigon and Rand McNally have teamed up to develop some interesting new GPS features that make it easier for users to personalize their trips.

Landmark View 3D is s a $40 upgrade for Navigon's 2200T model and has the ability to display 600 North American landmark buildings in 3D to aid directions... or at least add some novelty to your nav. In keeping with the tourist theme, scenic routes and city guides will be available for $20 each. The scenic routes will feature weekend getaway suggestions, picturesque tours and regional trips. More than 1,400 cites are covered in the guides and routes can be customized to fit your interests. And for another $30 a year, Navigon owners can now be alerted to red light camera locations.

Headed overseas? Add maps of 38 European countries to your Navigon for $130. The update comes pre-loaded on an SD card and covers 4.5 million miles of road and millions of points of interest. The new features will be available for download from the Navigon Fresh software website sometime in the Spring.

CES 2009: Hands on with heat-sensing FLIR-equipped BMW

Just like we thought, FLIR wasn't on board with our plan to drive their night-vision BMW through the Nevada desert, but we did get to check out the car's in-dash display.

Our demo was indoors only, though we still got a good idea of how it works. Showgoers passing in front of the BMW's heat-sensing camera appeared in nice detail despite the relatively small difference in their temperature and their surroundings. FLIR rep Jay James said the camera can detect a .05 degree difference in temperatures, which translates into many more shades of gray on the monitor.

The system is tuned to look several yards down the road and so was thrown off by the number of pedestrians within inches of its bumper. But whenever someone walked through its danger zone, the system's display indicated a pedestrian by outliing that person with a yellow rectangle.

The demo BMW had been retrofitted with the system, but new BMWs with the factory-installed version flash a yellow triangle in the head-up display to alert drivers to take action.

Gallery: CES 2009: FLIR demos BMW Pedestrian Detection

Live Photos Copyright (C)2009 Chris Tutor / Weblogs, Inc.

CES 2009: Visteon shows off dashboard of the future

Visteon, a major supplier of automotive instrument panels, has a vision for future car interiors that will soon give you a different view of your dashboard.

One of the most interesting ideas Visteon has developed is a user-customizable gauge cluster that they say will be available soon from a major manufacturer. Like traditional gauges, Visteon's Reconfigurable Cluster displays speed and RPMs using classic needles and numbers. Untraditionally, though, the new design simulates those gauges with LCD displays that can be modified to present the information in almost any way imaginable. End customers could potentially even upload their own designs, skins, etc. to make their instrument panels their own unique design.

The clear plastic hood surrounding the cluster isn't merely decorative. As you can see in the photo above, when a door is ajar, the hood glows red. When high-beams are on, it turns a subtle blue. Turn signal indicators light up the entire left or right side yellow. It's a simple and elegant feature.

Click through the jump to read more about Visteon's instrument technologies and click here for a high-res gallery from the company's booth at CES.

Gallery: CES 2009: Visteon's reconfigurable gauge cluster

Live Photos Copyright (C)2009 Chris Tutor / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading CES 2009: Visteon shows off dashboard of the future

CES 2008: Hands on with heat-sensing FLIR-equipped BMW

Just like we thought, FLIR wasn't on board with our plan to drive their night-vision BMW through the Nevada dessert, but we did get to check out the car's in-dash display.

Our demo was indoors only, though we still got a good idea of how it works. Showgoers passing in front of the BMW's heat-sensing camera appeared in nice detail despite the relatively small difference in their temperature and their surroundings. FLIR rep Jay James said the camera can detect a .05 degree difference in temperatures, which translates into many more shades of gray on the monitor.

The system is tuned to look several yards down the road and so was thrown off by the number of pedestrians within inches of its bumper. But whenever someone walked through its danger zone, the system's display indicated a pedestrian by outliing that person with a yellow rectangle.

The demo BMW had been retrofitted with the system, but new BMWs with the factory-installed version flash a yellow triangle in the head-up display to alert drivers to take action.

Gallery: CES 2009: FLIR demos BMW Pedestrian Detection

Live Photos Copyright (C)2009 Chris Tutor / Weblogs, Inc.