Hasta La Gadget!

Add this to the ever-growing list of things we’re glad we didn’t have back when we were teenagers. GM this week announced the release of Family Link, the latest addition to its OnStar service. The new feature lets subscribers track the exact location of vehicles at any time via an online map. Subscribers can also set up a text message alert to keep on top of the car’s location. There’s certainly potential for the feature as a safety tool, but it’s also no doubt a long awaited addition for overbearing parents everywhere. The service is beginning life as an invitation-only pilot program that includes around 10,000 OnStar subscribers.

Continue reading OnStar Family Link brings loved ones closer together through vehicle tracking

OnStar Family Link brings loved ones closer together through vehicle tracking originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You know we’re headed safely into the future when Ford starts trotting out ‘talking car‘ technology. It’s highly unlikely that your next-gen Taurus will start criticizing your outfit selection anytime soon, but it will alert you to potential unseen collisions. The V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) communication powering this auto evolution differs slightly from existing peer-to-peer tech — wedding GPS with a dedicated WiFi network, these autobots are only five years away from giving K.I.T.T. all sorts of company. Toss in a bit of FCC-channel security, add a dashboard of flashing-red LEDs, and you’re looking at a car that’ll aggressively bleep and bloop you out of harm’s way. Rest easy Big Brother types, Ford says the cars won’t be automagically controlling themselves — you still have to rely on those well-honed ninja reflexes for that.

[Image courtesy CNET]

Ford’s V2V tech talks to other cars, may or may not temper road rage (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You’re looking at an unlikely picture: two Tesla EVs on the same street. The Silicon Valley carmaker is hoping to become more mainstream, however, when it releases its Model S sedan next year to complement the exuberantly expensive Roadster 2.5. Tesla has just released photos of the latest, nearly production-ready build of the Model S to whet our appetites. The shots reveal a couple of sleek cosmetic changes to the front bumper and body panels, but mainly we’re just happy to see the S rolling on schedule. Oh yes, and there’s another glimpse of the 17-inch infotainment console, which Auto Evolution now reports will be accompanied by built-in 3G. Sounds dandy, but that $57,400 starting price had better include a data plan. Man, who are we kidding?

[Thanks, Lucian]

Tesla Model S is almost production-ready, does photo shoot to prove it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looks like “Team 250” is primed to add a few new members now that the EPA has revealed its official MPGe ratings for Smart’s Fortwo EDs. Rated at 94 miles-per-gallon in the city and 79 on the highway, the car takes motorists 63 miles per charge — making it slightly less able than Nissan’s Leaf with its 73 mile range, 106 MPG in town, and 92 MPG on the open road. Now that the Fortwo ED has its governmental blessing, interested parties can lease one from selected dealers — sorry folks, buying’s not an option — for a hefty $599 per-month, which seems staggeringly high compared to the $349 monthly lease rate for the larger, more capable Leaf. Perhaps the Smart squad won’t be getting many new teammates after all.

Smart Fortwo ED gets official EPA ratings: 94 MPG city, 79 MPG on the highway originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM claims its new Terrain has other SUVs beat when it comes to fuel efficiency, and they’re citing active noise cancellation — a concept near and dear to audiophiles everywhere — as one of the driving factors that puts it 4MPG above the competition. Basically, the Terrain’s enlisted a new one-touch “Eco mode” that allows its four-cylinder engine to run at a lower torque, decreasing engine speeds, and thus saving gas. The thing is, this increased fuel efficiency comes with a “low-end frequency boom,” which is where the noise cancellation sets in: two microphones built in to the car’s headliner detect the boom, prompting a frequency generator to pump counteracting sound waves through Terrain’s speakers. Simply put, GM’s just getting rid of an unpleasant hum. So a quieter car isn’t necessarily a greener car, but we’ll take a more fuel efficient SUV any day. If you’re picking up what GM’s laying down, check out the full PR after the jump.

Continue reading GM shows off Terrain SUV with noise cancellation, says silence equals fuel efficiency

GM shows off Terrain SUV with noise cancellation, says silence equals fuel efficiency originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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