gen Archives | Page 2 of 4

Hands-on with Jaguar’s next-gen mobile integration for Blackberry

Filed under: Technology, Jaguar

Jaguar Connect and View

Jaguar shows off next generation Blackberry interface – Click above to watch the video

Jaguar trotted out a modified version of its XJ to Blackberry World 2011, RIM’s international developer’s conference, with a prototype smartphone integration system developed in conduction with Denso, RealVNC and RIM.

The setup works much like Terminal Mode, porting the smartphone’s (in this case, a Blackberry Torch) UI directly into the eight-inch screen mounted on the dash. Rather than displaying a watered-down interface, the “Connect and View” system allows users to interact with the exact UI through the touchscreen, mirroring all the functionality of the Blackberry – from maps to apps to the music interface – along with softkeys to replace the device’s physical buttons. The system also allows Jaguar to block apps and functionality that could be distracting to the driver. The VNC protocol is transferred over USB and keeps the phone constantly charging, while audio is streamed over Bluetooth. Connect and View has been developed specifically for the Blackberry, but Jaguar claims the system is device-agnostic, so Android and Windows Phone 7 versions could be in the cards. But don’t hold your breath for iOS implementation.

Jaguar says the system could come to market as early as next year and our compatriots at Engadget got a hands-on with the system at the show. Check it out after the jump, along with more details on Connect and View and Jaguar’s latest iPhone app – “Driven Intelligence” – that’s available as a free download from the Apple App Store.

[Sources: Jaguar, Engadget]

Continue reading Hands-on with Jaguar’s next-gen mobile integration for Blackberry

Hands-on with Jaguar’s next-gen mobile integration for Blackberry originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Hands-on with Jaguar’s next-gen mobile integration for Blackberry”

VW will happily sell you an armored last-gen Jetta… in Mexico

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Volkswagen, Specialty

Volkswagen Bora Protect

Personal protection is a big deal south of the border, and the people of Mexico reportedly spend upwards of $80 million per year on armored vehicles. When we think of armored cars, we tend to think about Chevy Tahoes and Ford Expeditions, but Volkswagen has for years offered a smaller, slightly more affordable option.

The Bora Protect is little more than a previous-generation Jetta, except it can stop a bullet. The no-doubt heavy little sedan costs about $70,000 in U.S. funds, but if that’s what it takes to stop a high-velocity round from entering the cabin, it’s likely money well spent. And as an added bonus, buyers of the Bora Protect receive the superior interior of the last-generation Jetta, as opposed to the cost-cut cabin of the current model.

And as you might expect, the base 115-horsepower 2.0-liter engine isn’t the mill of choice when you’re hauling several hundreds of pounds worth of Kevlar and other bullet blockers. For 70-large you also get the 200-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter mill mated to a six-speed DSG for (at least close to) proper motivation. Run-flat rubber makes shooting out the tires a less-fruitful endeavor, as well.

Something tells us that the 2.0T isn’t quite as peppy under the hood of the Bora Protect as it is in the GLI, but then again, the Bora Protect is about stopping bullets, not driving like one.

[Source: Volkswagen]

VW will happily sell you an armored last-gen Jetta… in Mexico originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “VW will happily sell you an armored last-gen Jetta… in Mexico”

Report: Ferrari’s next-gen 599 to pack “at least” 700 horsepower

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ferrari

Ferrari 599 GTO

Ferrari 599 GTO – Click above for high-res image gallery

With the new FF already released, the focus at Ferrari is reportedly turning to a successor for the 599 GTB Fiorano, which, according to various sources, will pack “at least” 700 horsepower – the magic number achieved by arch-rival Lamborghini’s new Aventador.

The engine is expected to form the latest stage in the evolution of the V12 that powers the 599 GTB at 612 hp, upped to 661 hp for the 599 GTO and has produced as much as 850 horses in the FXX Evoluzione. With direct injection, a version of the same engine produces 651 hp in the FF – the same output as the Enzo for which the engine was originally designed – and a good 120 more horses than the 612 Scaglietti it replaces.

A lighter aluminum chassis is likely to further improve performance, but don’t expect the all-wheel-drive system from the FF to drive the 599’s successor too. While a future version could foreseeably adopt the system, reports indicate the car will (at least initially) be rear-wheel drive only, but the replacement for the California could incorporate all-wheel drive like its big brother.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 GTO

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Ferrari’s next-gen 599 to pack “at least” 700 horsepower originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Ferrari’s next-gen 599 to pack “at least” 700 horsepower”

Report: Contrary to expectations, next-gen Cadillac CTS will offer coupe model

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Cadillac, Luxury

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Cadillac has apparently changed its plans for the next-generation CTS yet again, confirming the development of a coupe to fill out the rest of the line when it arrives in 2013. This comes after reports that Caddy’s mid-level fighter would only be offered in sedan form.

Fighting it out for the hears and wallets of coupe and convertible buyers was originally going to be left to Cadillac’s upcoming BMW 3 Series competitor, currently codenamed the ATS. The rationale was that a more traditional coupe roofline and folding convertible top would integrate into the ATS’s rump more smoothly than the angular CTS.

For the next generation CTS, Motor Trend says Cadillac is changing the car’s underpinnings from the current Sigma platform to the Alpha rear-drive platform, which will also see duty under the next Chevrolet Camaro.

Rumor has is that Cadillac is working on an even more radical design for the next-generation CTS Coupe, which will likely share its doors with the Camaro. And as we’ve heard so many times before, there may be a low-volume flagship model from Cadillac, nosing its way past the six-figure price point.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

[Source: Motor Trend]

Report: Contrary to expectations, next-gen Cadillac CTS will offer coupe model originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Apr 2011 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Contrary to expectations, next-gen Cadillac CTS will offer coupe model”

Toyota and Microsoft hook up on next-gen telematics

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Toyota

toyota emblem

Toyota has officially announced that it’s teaming up with Microsoft. The two have formed a partnership with a goal of developing the next generation of telecommunication and information technology for automobiles.

Telematics, as readers are no doubt aware, encompasses technology that ranges from navigation systems and multimedia players to energy management. Utilizing the Windows Azure platform, Toyota and Microsoft will create a variety of systems that could begin appearing as early as 2012. The ultimate goal, however, will be to have a cloud platform from which Toyota customers can utilize telematics services around the globe. To reach that target, the companies are investing one billion yen (or nearly $12 million USD) in the joint venture.

We’re not yet sure if this will lead to a Ford Sync-like system for Toyota, but it’s certainly a good start towards creating one. Check past the jump for the full press release and more information on this partnership.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota and Microsoft hook up on next-gen telematics

Toyota and Microsoft hook up on next-gen telematics originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Toyota and Microsoft hook up on next-gen telematics”

Spy Shots: Next-gen Ford Mondeo spotted testing

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Ford, Design/Style

Spy Shots: Next-Generation Ford Mondeo

Next-gen Ford Mondeo spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford is hard at work on the next generation of its Mondeo mid-size sedan. Spy photographers caught a snow and camo-covered version of the new mid-size sedan as it waits to be shuttled to its next testing location. The car shows hints of adhering to Ford’s Kinetic design language, and we expect the front-end to – ahem – focus in on that style.

The next Mondeo will serve as a true global vehicle like its smaller Fiesta and Focus siblings. Lincoln and Ford will use the upcoming Mondeo as the guts beneath both the Fusion and MKZ skin. Rumor has it that this future Mondeo will also be offered as a wagon and four-door fancy-coupe, as well.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Next-Generation Ford Mondeo

Spy Shots: Next-Generation Ford Mondeo

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Next-gen Ford Mondeo spotted testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Spy Shots: Next-gen Ford Mondeo spotted testing”

Ford’s second-gen SYNC system off to a buggy start *UPDATE

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Ford, Lincoln

In 2010, Ford reinvented its SYNC system with the launch of the refreshed Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX. But the new integrated system – MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch or what’s known as “SYNC generation 2” – has been plagued by more than a few bugs. And part of the problem is due to its design.

If one of its various functions trips up – navigation, phone or entertainment, among others – the system can restart. This can leave the driver faced with a blank display and a restart procedure that can take two to three minutes. Double bummer: It usually wipes out your paired phones and indexed music.

After talking with several colleagues who have experienced similar issues (including one where the volume was stuck on max while the A/C continued to blow cold air in 42-degree weather) and experiencing these issues first hand for ourselves, we called up Ford’s Head of Technology Communications, Alan Hall, and got on the phone with one of the Blue Oval’s engineers to see what’s causing the issues and how the automaker is addressing them.

Continue reading Ford’s second-gen SYNC system off to a buggy start…

*UPDATE: Official statement from Ford added after the jump.

Continue reading Ford’s second-gen SYNC system off to a buggy start *UPDATE

Ford’s second-gen SYNC system off to a buggy start *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Ford’s second-gen SYNC system off to a buggy start *UPDATE“

Report: Next-gen Saab 9-3 will get through-the-road hybrid tech

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Saab

Saab 9-3

Saab has big plans for the next generation 9-3, and a hybrid variant is apparently in the mix. The Detroit Bureau reports that the hybrid would be of the “through-the-road” variety, enabling torque-vectoring all-wheel drive while also improving fuel economy.

A through-the-road hybrid utilizes a completely independent electric motor that motivates only the rear axle. The system is less expensive than the parallel hybrid tech you’ll find in a Prius, for example, while still potentially providing a low-speed electric-only mode and regenerative braking.

Saab management reportedly told The Bureau that the turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 currently in use in the 9-5 would motivate the front wheels, while the electric motor and clutch assembly would work its magic out back. The new clutch assembly routes power to either of the rear wheels in a fraction of a second, helping the 9-3 stay on course regardless of the conditions. This setup will reportedly improve performance and agility, while negating the need to run a driveshaft from the engine to the rear axle. The end result is a simpler, lighter drivetrain, and we’re sure the overall gains in fuel economy won’t be to shabby, either.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

Report: Next-gen Saab 9-3 will get through-the-road hybrid tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Next-gen Saab 9-3 will get through-the-road hybrid tech”

Next-gen Chevrolet Colorado teased in Thailand

Filed under: Concept Cars, Truck, Work, Chevrolet

Chevrolet Colorado

Next-generation Chevrolet Colorado teaser – Click above for high-res image

General Motors let a sneak peek at its new global-platform Chevrolet Colorado slip ahead of the truck’s official debut at the Bangkok Motor Show in Thailand. The show starts March 25, so GM is giving us just enough to get the gist of what our next-generation Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon may look like.

The General says it picked Thailand for the truck’s debut because the Southeast Asian market is becoming a huge player for the automaker, and people in Thailand are buying pickups at an alarming rate. In 2010, pickups accounted for 43 percent of vehicles sold in Thailand.

The truck will be built in Thailand for global consumption, but will most likely carry over Stateside as the new Colorado/Canyon, and is being prepped by GM of Brazil for the American market. Follow the jump for The General’s official press blast.

[Source: General Motors, PickupTrucks.com]

Continue reading Next-gen Chevrolet Colorado teased in Thailand

Next-gen Chevrolet Colorado teased in Thailand originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Next-gen Chevrolet Colorado teased in Thailand”

Report: Next-gen Ford Mustang will have global design input

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Ford, Design/Style

2011 Ford Mustang GT

2011 Ford Mustang GT Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Automotive News is reporting that Ford will turn to its global team of designers for the look of the next Mustang. Styling themes will be served up from studios in Australia and Europe as well as other places around the world. Ford says that the practice is now standard operating procedure for most of the automaker’s new products, and that the global design approach was taken on board three years ago. J Mays, the company’s global design chief, and the rest of the vehicle’s design team will then select amongst the proposals for the design that best fits the next-generation Pony Car.

In the past, the company’s U.S. design studio was solely responsible for the vehicle’s image, but Ford has seen plenty of success from soliciting ideas from all over the world. The design of the global Ranger, for example, was submitted by artists in Australia with pointers from the company’s designers in Europe.

Right now, Ford is keeping its lips sealed about when we can expect to see the next-gen Mustang touch down, though Automotive News reports that there’s some indication that the vehicle may be as far off as 2014 or 2015.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford Mustang GT Premium

2011 Ford Mustang GT Premium

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Next-gen Ford Mustang will have global design input originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Next-gen Ford Mustang will have global design input”