Hasta La Gadget!

Talk about your cross promotions. The Rinderknecht-built Rinspeed BamBoo concept electric car looks to be the stuff of a gadget nerd’s dreams. Unfortunately, that dream resembles a dystopian nightmare envisioned by a Neal Stephenson novel whereby everything we own is sponsored, trivial, and slathered in corporate logos. But hey, it’s just a concept, and production vehicles never look like the original idea so anything goes… and we mean anything. To start with, the breadbox-inspired dash features a Siemens VDO display with a docking station in the glovebox for the new HTC Flyer tablet. The BamBoo dash is flanked by flowery JBL GreenEdge speakers and the starter key is styled after a Swiss army knife. And if we’re not mistaken, there’s a webcam extended off a stalk from the center of the dash. An interesting piece of work right on down to the cluster of old school throw switches for the wipers, lights, hazards, etc. But that’s just the cockpit.

The radiator grill has been replaced by an internet-connected “identiface,” developed by Daimler subsidiary MBtech, whereby the occupant can display any number of messages to onlookers from Facebook or Twitter, for example, or even the radio station preset you’re currently jamming. The inflatable rear seats are removable as is the inflatable waterproof roof developed by Tecnotex that doubles as a beach blanket. The whole kit is powered by a 54 kW electric motor capable of a 120km/h top speed and battery capable of pushing the sporty golf cart some 105 kilometers before requiring a recharge from an RWE intelligent charging station. Look for it to make its big reveal at the Geneva Motor Show. Until then, head over to Autoblog to feast on their gallery of images with a few choice shots added below.

[Thanks, Tim]

Continue reading Rinspeed BamBoo electric concept is world’s largest HTC Flyer dock

Rinspeed BamBoo electric concept is world’s largest HTC Flyer dock originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 06:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perhaps you weren’t sold on the concept of urban mobility in your car of tomorrow when Audi started researching the subject, but maybe BMW’s new documentary film series will persuade you. Chapter one of Wherever You Want to Go made its debut today and features interviews with visionaries from both in and outside the automotive community — from astronaut Buzz Aldrin to co-founder of ZipCar Robin Chase — speaking about how cars can and will adapt to meet the needs of future metropolitan denizens. This first movie is pretty much an extended trailer, so we’ll be interested to see the full conversations in the coming installments — and we can only hope these chats with forward-thinkers convince BMW to re-evaluate its ridiculous car of tomorrow concepts. Chapter two drops on February 8th, so stay tuned. Vid’s after the break.

Continue reading BMW’s Wherever You Want To Go explores the future of mobility

BMW’s Wherever You Want To Go explores the future of mobility originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Considering how far we’ve come with in-flight connectivity, internet for the automobile hasn’t gained an awful lot of traction. With the introduction of the 3G-connected Comodo console, Israeli start-up Iway Mobile and cellphone provider Cellcom are hoping to change that. The Comodo — for all intents and purposes — looks like an iPhone on a stick, and sports a 4.3-inch touchscreen, rear camera for easy reversing, GPS antenna and a cellular modem for consistent connections. Predictably, there’s also 3D navigation, an MP3 player, and functionality in 30 different languages. Drivers can access 80 total apps and receive, but not send e-mail — video functions are accessible only when the car is stationary. Comodo’s website features the device mysteriously shrouded in black satin, and provides no evidence of a spec sheet. According to Cellcom, the console costs 109 shekels (or $23.50) a month for 36 months and hits Israel in February. No word on when Comodo will make its US debut, but honestly, we’d be content to just strap our smart phone in and go to town.

Comodo console brings internet to Israeli autos, dares you to keep your eyes on the road originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 05:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here’s a shocker in more ways than one. Earlier this month, Enterprise Rent-A-Car announced that it would soon be offering Chevrolet’s Volt at the company’s Mark Christopher Auto Center in Ontario, California, and we reasonably assumed that renters best watch out for any unforeseen charges that may arise from returning it with a dead (or near-dead) stash of batteries. For anyone who has rented a gasoline-powered automobile in the past score, you’ll know that returning a whip with a fuel tank that’s just 90 percent full won’t quite cut it, and you’ll be stuck ponying up for your oversight. Thankfully — at least at Enterprise — a similar surcharge setup will not be applied to electric vehicles. Lisa Martini, a spokesperson for Enterprise, got in touch with us to clarify the outfit’s plans, and they’re shockingly consumer-friendly:

“[Enterprise] does not plan to charge customers for bringing back EVs without a full charge. Enterprise is installing charging stations at locations that will offer EVs, and plans to charge the vehicles once they’re returned.”

That pretty much sums it up for at least one major rental company, and we can only hope that everyone else publishes similar intentions before their accountants publish something to the contrary. Power to the people, eh?

Will rental car companies ding you for returning half-charged electric vehicles? Enterprise won’t. originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been seeing demo units of in-car Blu-ray players at CES for years, but Audiovox is apparently finally ready to offer one for sale with its AVDBR1, seen here skulking about the halls of CES. Due in the spring with an MSRP of $349.99, it can be installed under the seat or in a storage compartment and is even BD-Live compatible with optional WiFi upgrade, available after a firmware update arrives later this year. Of course, even if you like video in the car — usually for the kids in the backseat — there’s plenty of other ways to get it including digital copies that can be activated on your phone, tablet or laptop, or DVDs included in the combo packs most major releases have. Add to this the fact that mobile screens are generally too small to make a big difference with HD and there’s plenty of reasons to be skeptical, but if you are on a long road trip with only the Blu-ray copy of Black Dynamite to keep you company, you’ll be glad you opted for the AVDBR1. Want more details? Check the press release after the break.

Continue reading Audiovox shows off the industry’s first in-car Blu-ray player, the AVDBR1

Audiovox shows off the industry’s first in-car Blu-ray player, the AVDBR1 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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