Cars - SlashGear

‘Cars’ Stories

Driver distraction rules threaten Tesla-style touchscreens

Chris Davies, Feb 17th 2012 Discuss [0]

Touchscreen, gadget and multimedia rich dashboards like the vast touchscreen in Tesla's new Model X could end up largely non-functional on the move, if the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has its way. New guidelines around digital distractions have been proposed by the NHTSA this week, applicable to "communications, entertainment, information gathering and navigation devices or functions that are not required to safely operate the vehicle", with future phases potentially encompassing smartphone and tablet use. Read The Full Story

Tesla Model S to boost sales in 2nd half of 2012

Rue Liu, Feb 16th 2012 Discuss [0]

Following premium electric vehicle maker Tesla's financial reports yesterday, which included a hefty $81.5 million loss in Q4, the company continues to emphasize a turnaround this year with revenue almost triple that of last year. This boost relies on the upcoming Model S sedan that's expected to be a hit in the second half of 2012. Read The Full Story

Ford ships OpenXC beta kits for in-car apps

Rue Liu, Feb 16th 2012 Discuss [0]

Apps will soon be as prevalent for your car as they are for your smartphones, or at least that's what Ford is aiming for. The car maker's Research and Innovation team has joined forces with Bugs Lab to create a software and hardware platform called OpenXC that will allow third-party developers to create custom apps for cars. Today, they've released the beta dev kits for developers to start tinkering. Read The Full Story

BMW remote iOS app arrives in the US

Rue Liu, Feb 16th 2012 Discuss [0]

The My BMW Remote app has already been available to the company's European customers and now the iOS version has been launched for US customers. This means that you can now remotely control certain features of your BMW directly from your iPhone. But if you're an Android user, you'll have to wait a bit as that's being worked on still. Read The Full Story

Feds want to ban in-car texting, dialing, and internet browsing

Rue Liu, Feb 16th 2012 Discuss [0]

Vehicle manufacturers these days have been ramping up their in-car infotainment systems aimed to create a continuous connected lifestyle. Although most systems are operated hands-free, they do add a new distractions to the driving experience, something the Department of Transportation frowns upon. Read The Full Story

Porsche Macan sports SUV revealed

Chris Davies, Feb 16th 2012 Discuss [0]

Porsche has detailed its upcoming sports SUV, the Porsche Macan, promising both the off-road capabilities of the Cayenne but the sports appeal of Porsche's traditional line. Named after the Indonesian word for "tiger", the Macan is expected to roll off production lines in Germany sometime in 2013, though so far all we have on the aesthetics is this hasty sketch. Read The Full Story

2013 Audi RS4 Avant revealed and detailed

Chris Burns, Feb 15th 2012 Discuss [0]

There's a brand new A4 in town, and this time it's both a wagon and is filled with technologically advanced options we've been dreaming about. This Audi is set to be released at the Geneva auto show this March, complete with a 4.2-liter direct-injected V-8 for a lovely 450 hp at 8250 rpm and 4.7 seconds from 0 to 62 miles per hour. You wont be blasting through to the head of the race pack with this monster though, as its top speed is only either 155 mph or 174 mph depending on what options you've selected. Then come the parts we're really interested in - the advancements in automotive. Read The Full Story

Tesla Model X takes $40m in advanced sales

Chris Davies, Feb 15th 2012 Discuss [0]

Tesla has already clocked up over $40m-worth in sales of its new Model X SUV, breaking a record for the company in only 24 hours and also seeing a significant uptick in reservations of its new electric-powered sedan. Announced on Thursday last week, the Model X - which features distinctive "falcon-wing" rear doors and an all-electric powerplant - went up for pre-order the following day, with paid reservations exceeding $40m the company has confirmed. Read The Full Story

GMC announces IntelliLink for smartphone connectivity

Shane McGlaun, Feb 15th 2012 Discuss [0]

GMC has announced a new system that will first be seen in the 2012 GMC Terrain SUV. The system is called IntelliLink and is designed to connect the drivers smartphone to the vehicle entertainment system and to provide voice-activated control of the audio system. IntelliLink allows voice commands to start a phone call, change the radio station, and to stream Internet radio. Drivers can even use their voice to control an iPod. Read The Full Story

Official photos of 2013 BMW M6 convertible and coupe unveiled

Shane McGlaun, Feb 13th 2012 Discuss [0]

If you're a fan of BMW and its line of M-series high-performance cars, some new official photos of the 2013 BMW M6 have surfaced. BMW is offering up multiple shots of both coupe and convertible versions of the car, and I think for me this is one of those cars that I need to see in person. I'm hoping the car is one of those designs that just doesn't translate well in photos. I don't care for the way it looks in these pictures. The convertible reminds me a bit of a Toyota Solara, which isn't a good thing in my eyes. Read The Full Story

TomTom to provide insurance company with your driving style

Mark Raby, Feb 10th 2012 Discuss [0]

Are you in good hands? Better yet, is your car? GPS manufacturer TomTom is ready to give a judgment on how good of a driver you are. The company has partnered up with insurance broker Motaquote to give drivers individualized quotes based on their specific driving habits. For the insurance industry, it's like an underwriting gold mine. But for the individual driver, it may feel kind of like an invasion of privacy. Read The Full Story

SlashGear Evening Wrap-Up: February 10, 2012

Mark Raby, Feb 10th 2012 Discuss [0]

Another work week has come to a close; happy Friday, all. While you were busy wrapping up this first full work week of February, we were tracking the news of the day. For starters, hacking group Anonymous has decided to take credit for crashing the CIA's official website. There's nothing they won't do, is there? Read on to find out what the other big stories were... Read The Full Story