Hasta La Gadget!

In a move that everyone in the automobile universe is going to understand instantly as groundbreaking in the simple way in which it breaks from the history of the art, the Cadillac‘s new XTS allows drivers to re-arrange their gauges. It makes perfect sense here in our modern mobile world that we’re able to re-arrange any display we’re using – why not the environment in our vehicles? Thus is the idea here with the XTS, bringing on several different displays now that we’ve gone digital – effectively – in the luxury segment.

What you’re seeing here is a set of different dials and clusters of information on a fabulous 12.3-inch LCD screen that replaces the entirety of your traditional analog dials near your steering wheel. You’ll be looking at your speed and fuel information just as you always have, but here you’re able to switch them left to right, arranging the information you want to where you want it to appear.

The folks at Cadillac are showing this week a collection of layouts you might use, including Simple, Enhanced, Balanced, and Performance. Have a peek above and below to see each of them and let us know which one you’re planning on using! With the Balanced view you’ve got a traditional look at the layout with the ability to change the size and graphic quality of the display – three zones exist with a speedometer, tachometer, fuel level, outside temperature, and radio station information.

Next is the Performance layout with “enthusiast” drivers with information about the cars innards you might otherwise never see – unless you head under the hood, that is. Performance is a layout you’ll be using to see the tachometer, speedometer, and a few normal bits, but with awesome additions such as fuel consumption and tire pressure to back you up as well.

With the Enhanced cluster display you’ll be more connected than you’ve ever been before. Enhanced is a layout for the web-loving user with a “web-inspired design” that includes a navigation map on the left, digital speed and fuel readings on the right. This layout allows you to pull up and scroll through information pages with a button tap – imagine the connectivity – but don’t do it while you’re diving 88MPH of course.

The Simple cluster layout is made for the minimalist – here coming correct with speed, fuel, and audio information. You’re also able to pull up additional information in this layout, but it’s hidden unless you absolutely need it. Each of these modes – all of them – also have a “screen-within-a-screen” feature that allows a smaller display to sit inside the center of the speedometer and tachometer allowing users to see navigation routes and grab radio control – just for starters.

Scott Martin, senior creative designer in charge of building the digital cluster layouts, spoke up on the project this week.

“Drivers can also further customize each layout to their own personal liking. They can flip through all the information pages to permanently display their favorite preset radio stations, check tire pressure, navigation, fuel range, and temperature among other features. … Most drivers fall into one of four different categories in terms of the amount of information they want to see at any given time, so we built the XTS gauge cluster layouts to appeal to any one of those drivers.” – Martin

[via GM]

Cadillac XTS breaks the mold with user-configurable gauges is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Enter the BMW i3 Coupe – an eco-friendly little tech-friendly amalgamation of excellence inside and out, and one that’s essentially just been revealed this week. As we spoke about just yesterday, this machine brings on an inter-car communications system, smartphone connectivity, and of course, a 170HP electric motor slice with lithium-ion batteries inside. It’s all topped off by a hardcore lighter yet stronger than steel CFRP (carbon reinforced plastic) passenger cell.

The CFRP brings on enough strength of its own that no B-pillar is required to keep its structure strong, this allowing two rear seats to be much more accessible than in the vast amount of such back-sitting environments in vehicles today. Also inside you’ll find wood, wool, leather, and an extended collection of renewable materials to remind you that yes, you are rolling forth in a green-minded machine.

Entering and exiting the vehicle in the front from and to either side is also easier than ever as the area below the dash is empty. With no transmission tunnel-bound protrusions in your way, you can easily slide from side to side. Up top of the dash you’ll find two displays, the first being a 6.5-inch screen with information on your speed, power, and the like. The larger display is 8.8 inches and ready to bring on the BMW i ConnectDrive suite, with navigation, infotainment, messages, schedules, and one whole heck of a lot more.

This vehicle does not currently have a release schedule, but as the i8 Spyder was recently revealed to be coming up as soon as 2013, we must assume that this EV isn’t that far behind. Have a peek at our BMW tag portal as well as our Car portal to keep track of everything BMW and the larger vehicle world into the future – big things are going down!

BMW i3 Concept Coupe eyes-on at LA Auto Show is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

This week at the Los Angeles Auto Show the folks at Krell Industries have announced that they’re bringing on their high-end performance audio system knowhow to the auto industry for the very first time. They’ll be doing with first with the fabulous 2014 Acura RLX, and will indeed be replicating the home theater system power they’re known for in this vehicle by the time it rolls out inside 2013. With 30 years of knowhow under their belt, we’re pumped up to hear just how great this system aims to be.

With Krell, you know you’ve got super-accurate three-dimensional dynamic sound from top to bottom, in and out, no matter where you’re sitting. Inside a room with Krell across the board, you’ve got a beast of a system without a doubt. Here in the 2014 Acura RLX, you’ll have a completely original system tuned precisely for this vehicle alone.

“We’ve been in business for more than 30 years; we’re well known for making the highest-performance audio products for the home and we are excited to bring our sound quality to the automotive environment. Every aspect of the system’s design was dissected and optimized to achieve a system that is sonically breathtaking.” – Krell Industries President Bill McKiegan

The setup will include many of the same high-powered technologies here in the vehicle that Krell implements in their home audio packages. Starting this party is a set of high quality bipolar power transistors, this implementation resulting in an amplifier 1/3 less distorted than what Krell notes is “a leading competitor’s flagship luxury car amplifier.” This setup also works with both headroom as well as power enough to work with the road and any sort of environment – you’ll hear that album no matter what.

You’ll be working with Zylon mid bass drivers – six of them – made with the world’s strongest super fiber made specifically for speaker manufacturing. This material is made to hold still when the audio is off (instantly) and make all the right moves when the sound makes it so. Less vibration once the sound stops means a cleaner sound in the end – it’s just that simple.

The tweeters you’ve got in this system are made of lightweight magnesium cones created to enhance musical detail and extend high frequencies without making your eardrums bleed from harshness. To keep vibration at a minimum and strength at its maximum, all metal grilles are employed over each speaker.

To top it all off, there’s a carbon fiber composite subwoofer to provide many fine beats. With this beast you’ll have 100 Watts of low frequency sound with “substantial impact” and an extremely clear delivery. Jeff Conrad, Vice President and General Manager of Acura Sales has made it clear that they intend this system to “set the bar for performance audio in the automotive world.”

Krell teams with 2014 Acura RLX as home audio hits the automobile is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Chrysler plans to show off its upcoming 2013 Town & Country S minivan at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. The vehicle has a sleek design and offers a variety of features, including a Blu-ray player, a ParkView rear camera, Blindspot Monitoring, and rain-sensitive windshield wipers. This is rounded out with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, and a decent fuel economy of 17mpg in the city and 25mpg on the highway.

The Town & Country S comes in Brilliant Black, Stone White, Billet Silver, and Deep Cherry Red, and features “revised trim that adds contrast” to the minivan’s exterior. There’s a black chrome grille, blacked out bezels around the headlights, and 17-inch polished aluminum wheels with pockets painted black. According to the press release, the headlight bezels have delayed availability.

Keeping in line with the “black” theme, the interior is monotone black, with Black Torino leather seats featuring grey stitching. The appliques are glossy Piano Black, as are the center and upper consoles and the headliner. You’ll find the “S” logo embroidered on the seats and featured in the instrument panel as well as on the exterior of the vehicle.

Chrysler’s CEO and President Saad Chehab offered this statement. “We tailored the new Town & Country S for the active and style minded consumers. It’s the downtown style for the Town & Country’s uptown looks. It’s more than fitting that we unveil this vehicle in Los Angeles given Town & Country S represents yet another modern take of ’313′ in the ’310.’”

[via Chrysler]

Chrysler Town & Country S minivan slated for the LA Auto Show is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Back in April, Chevrolet announced the upcoming 2014 Impala, a four-door sedan from General Motors that builds on the healthily popular line of vehicles. Now the company has announced its price tag: $27,535, which includes delivery charges. This is an $850 rise in prices over the current model. The Impala was one of the best-selling cars in 2011.

The 2014 model will be available with a 3.6-liter V6 engine at first, but those who wait a bit will also have a 2.4-liter option. The 2.4-liter version includes an eAssist hybrid system, which improves gas mileage, giving the Impala a cool 35 miles per gallon. If hybrids aren’t your thing, there will also be a non-eAssist version.

The upcoming model will include Chevrolet’s MyLink, an entertainment system that is controlled with an 8-inch display panel. As far as safety goes, the Impala will offer a side blind spot alert feature, rear cross traffic alert function, and 10 air bags scattered throughout the car. There’s also adaptive cruise control.

Chevrolet’s Vice President Chris Perry offered a statement. “We’ll build on the success the Impala nameplate has generated over its history. We’ve added sophisticated design features, more technology and safety equipment.” The 2014 Impala is slated for availability in early 2013, and is the tenth generation of the model.

[via USA Today]

GM announces pricing for the 2014 Chevrolet Impala is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.