General Motors has announced that it will be offering the industry's first center-mounted airbags in select vehicles starting in 2013. The new airbag deploys from between the front seats and aims to protect drivers from side collisions on the passenger side but also provides additional protection to both the driver and passenger during side impacts or rollovers.
Read The Full Story
- Join in on SlashGear’s WIMM Spring Developers Project!
- The PS Vita Will Be Sony’s Last Portable
- Why I Don’t Want to Imagine A World Without A DVR
- SlashGear 101: Windows 8 on ARM
- SlashGear 101: Android@Home
- Motorola DROID 4 Hands-On and Unboxing
- Nokia Lumia 800 White official: Hands-on
- Switching between Android 4.0 ICS and iPhone 4S
‘SlashCars’ Stories
GM to debut first center-mounted airbags in 2013
OnStar backtracks on GPS tracking
OnStar has bowed to public and governmental pressure, and reversed its controversial decision to track ex-subscribers using its in-car GPS navigation and support system. Having announced - via a change in its terms & conditions - that from December it would be tracking the location of those with OnStar systems installed, even if the individuals were non-subscribers, OnStar has now backtracked and said it would now make any data collection opt-in rather than opt-out.
Read The Full Story
BMW grabs Nuance TTS for in-car email, Facebook, more
BMW drivers will soon be able to have their iDrive ICE systems read out messages, social network updates and RSS feeds, using the same voice control system as is expected to feature in the iPhone 5. A new deal with Nuance will see iDrive gain complex text-to-speech functionality in addition to its existing voice-dialing and music search, able to read SMS and emails - among other content - in a choice of 14 different languages.
Read The Full Story
OnStar to track all drivers by default [Updated]
OnStar has updated its privacy policy so as to permit position and speed tracking of cars with the navigation system installed, even if drivers do not have an active subscription. The change is already being criticized by privacy activists, who also highlight the clauses allowing OnStar to sell GPS tracking data to its choice of partners, albeit in anonymized form. That, OnStar spokesperson Adam Denison, is yet to happen, though the General Motors subsidiary does reserve the right to begin distributing location data in the future.
Updated with OnStar comment after the cut.
Read The Full Story
Mercedes-Benz shows off “iPhone Interface Plus” concept for 2012
During the IAA Motor Show in Frankfurt, Mercedes-Benz showed off a new "iPhone Interface Plus" concept, which it promises to launch by the summer of 2012. The concept builds on the company's Media Interface Plus system that aims to provide users with a continuous experience of being connected through their smartphones or tablets even while they're driving. All this done so with safety measures in place of course.
Read The Full Story
Honda recalling another 962,000 cars worldwide
Just a month following Honda's massive recall of 2.5 million cars due to bearing problems, the Japanese auto-maker has announced today that it will be recalling another 962,000 cars worldwide for two separate concerns. No serious injuries or fatal accidents have been reported in relation to the problems involved in the recall.
Read The Full Story
Ford announces EVOS Concept at IFA 2011 ahead of Frankfurt Motor Show
Ford is announcing its EVOS Concept vehicle at IFA 2011. The announcement comes ahead of the official global debut to take place at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The concept embodies Ford's new global design language and explores future vehicle and powertrain technologies, especially considering the benefits of cloud connectivity.
Read The Full Story
Ford and Toyota announce partnership in new hybrid system
Ford and Toyota have jointly announced a new collaboration effort to develop a hybrid system for rear-wheel-drive light trucks and SUVs. The two companies also intend on establishing next-generation standards for in-car telematics, which is the fusing of telecommunications and information technologies in vehicles.
Read The Full Story
Honda recalls 2.5m cars over auto bearing bust-up
Honda has been forced to recall several of the models in its range, including the 2005-2010 Accord, across US, China and elsewhere after issues with the automatic transmission that could see the engine cut out unexpectedly. Although Honda says neither injuries nor deaths have been caused by the issue, it will nonetheless be forced to bring 2.49m vehicles in and reprogram the transmission control module so as to be more gentle with the gears.
Read The Full Story
Nissan blasts Top Gear for misleading Leaf EV critique
BBC motoring show Top Gear has been accused of purposefully sabotaging the performance of Nissan's Leaf electric car, in an attempt to make the earth-friendly auto look less reliable in a TV segment. While in the road test, outspoken host Jeremy Clarkson was shown running out of power in the Leaf, miles away from a recharging point, Nissan says that subsequent review of the data the car collects indicates that the test was begun with the batteries at just 40-percent and that Top Gear intentionally drove in circles to further reduce that charge.
Read The Full Story
Volkswagen Temporary Auto Pilot demo gives car intelligence
Self-driving cars are still quite a few years off, but Volkswagen hopes that its so-called Temporary Auto Pilot (TAP) could help avoid a few accidents until then. The system, demonstrated for the first time on a new Passat test mule, uses a barrage of sensors to momentarily assist in the control of the car, keeping it positioned in the lane, under the speed limit and automatically slowing when workers are in the road.
Read The Full Story
HomePlug Powerline networks electric cars from Audi, BMW, more
We usually associate HomePlug products with straightforward ways to spread your internet connection around the house using mains cabling rather than WiFi but, if the Powerline Alliance has its way, your future hybrid or all-electric car may also be using the system to talk to your power supply. Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche and Volkswagen have all thrown in with the HomePlug Green PHY (GP) profile for electric vehicle charging, enabling Earth-friendly cars to integrate with the smart grid.
Read The Full Story
REVIEWS
VIDEOS
- POPULAR STORIES THIS WEEK
- Temple Run for Android postponed, still coming this month
- iPad twin-tier pricing tipped to topple Android rivals
- iPad 3's biggest boost will be its massive resolution
- Google "next-gen personal communication device" in testing
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 pricing set for disaster
- Mattel Hover Board prepped for 2012 holiday release
- Facebook post causes man to shoot daughter's computer: video
- Apple picking iPad 3 showcase apps in final launch prep
- RECENT COMMENTS
