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‘SlashCars’ Stories

Windshield of 2020 packs Augmented Reality [Video]

Chris Davies, May 27th 2011 Discuss [8]

Projecting a head-up display onto your windshield is so passé; Autoglass reckons the future of digital driving is having augmented reality baked into the glass itself. The company has thrown together a video demo of what it believes the windshield of your car will be like in 2020, throwing in intelligent location-based services that can hunt down gas stations, flag up cyclists and pedestrians angling to get run over, and warn you when there's a speed camera nearby. Read The Full Story

Obama’s Beast gets beached: Armor plating is heavy [Video]

Chris Davies, May 23rd 2011 Discuss [1]

When your car has 5-inch thick military grade armor, is biochemically sealed, has its own oxygen supply, and can fire tear gas and infrared smoke grenades, it's easy to assume you're driving the perfect urban tank. Unfortunately, as US president Barack Obama - and his presumably red-faced driver - discovered in Dublin, Ireland today, all of that clever kit makes your car surprisingly heavy, too, and simple speed bumps become a whole lot more treacherous. Read The Full Story

Aston Martin V12 Zagato is hand-built heaven

Chris Davies, May 20th 2011 Discuss [2]

We don't often write about cars here at SlashGear, so they have to be pretty sublime to make it onto the frontpage. The Aston Martin V12 Zagato slots neatly into that category, thanks to a 6.0-litre V12 510bhp engine of Aston Martin's creation, clad in a bespoke suit by exclusive coachbuilder Zagato. Read The Full Story

Ford SYNC hits Europe in 2012 Focus

Chris Davies, Apr 15th 2011 Discuss [2]

A car company might not be what you'd expect to find at IFA 2011, but Ford is here to talk about its "Drive Smart" push to include SYNC in future vehicles. Already in 3m Fords on US roads, Ford is now bringing SYNC to Europe - first with the 2012 Ford Focus - with the expectation that it will be in 2m models by 2015. As in the US system, Ford SYNC supports voice control, text-to-speech for incoming SMS messages, WiFi hotspot functionality and Michelin Guide restaurant suggestions. Read The Full Story

Eco-friendly Superbus gets UAE trial [Video]

Chris Davies, Apr 8th 2011 Discuss [4]

The allure of public transport is so often undermined by the scent of urine and dawdling performance, but the only people soiling themselves in the Dutch-made Superbus are likely to be those over-excited by its eco-friendly turn of electric speed. Capable of accommodating up to 23 passengers and still hitting 155kph (96mph), the lengthy carbon fiber and fiberglass vehicle is headed to Dubai next month. Read The Full Story

Featured

Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet First Drive

Daniel Lim, Mar 13th 2011 Discuss [8]

The was a time when having a convertible meant sacrificing rear seats and trunk space, but more and more vehicles are losing their heads and offering sunlit driving. Nissan, though, claims it has still managed a world’s-first with the Murano CrossCabriolet, so far the only crossover AWD drop-top. On offer is a lofty driving position with room for four, along with a fast-shifting roof and all the safety kit you’d expect; Nissan invited SlashGear down to its Dallas showcase to take the Murano CrossCabriolet for a spin.

Read The Full Story

Google’s Self-Driving Cars get aggressive [Video]

Chris Davies, Mar 4th 2011 Discuss [0]

Google has been letting its self-driving cars off their leash again this week, bringing the driverless vehicles to TED 2011 and allowing attendees of the conference to ride in them. Limiting its demos to a nearby parking lot, Search Engine Land reports, Google had tweaked the cars to show far more aggressive driving than previously seen. Rather than the automated route creation usually relied upon when the driverless cars are on highways - fathomed using road-recognition cameras, GPS, various other sensors and a general destination in mind - in the parking lot the route was pre-determined. As normal, Google uses a safety driver, who can take over in case of issues with the robocar system. Video after the cut Read The Full Story

SAAB IQon in-car media & comms based on Android [Video]

Chris Davies, Mar 2nd 2011 Discuss [0]

SAAB has opted for Android for its IQon in-car communications and infotainment system, using the open-source OS to power an 8-inch touchscreen with access to A/V content, the IQon App Store for approved downloads, online navigation and system diagnostics. However, there's apparently no open Android Market access - perhaps sensible, given IQon is tied into so many car systems - but SAAB will be individually approving third-party apps for release. Read The Full Story

BMW i3 and i8 launch new Earth-Friendly sub-brand

Chris Davies, Feb 21st 2011 Discuss [0]

It's obviously the day for eco-luxury cars; in Rolls Royce's tire tracks comes BMW i, a new sub-brand by the German car manufacturer (which, of course, actually owns the RR marque) with a pair of concept cars and the promise of "sustainable, premium mobility." The BMW i3 and i8 may sound like Intel processors, but they're actually expected to launch in 2013. Read The Full Story

Rolls Royce 102EX goes all-electric [Video]

Chris Davies, Feb 21st 2011 Discuss [1]

Rolls Royce is dipping a wheel into electric vehicles, with the debut of the Rolls Royce 102EX. Described as a "working test-bed" for alternative drive-train technologies, the 102EX is based on the existing Phantom but switches the 6.75-liter engine for an unspecified all-electric powertrain. Read The Full Story

Ferrari FF is a 208mph 4WD four-seater with love-it-or-hate-it style

Chris Davies, Jan 21st 2011 Discuss [8]

Of all the things we expect from Ferrari, a shooting-brake isn't one of them, but the Italian firm has revealed its striking Ferrari FF set to go on display at the Geneva Motor Show. With a name that stands for "Ferrari Four" - a nod to both the four seats and the four-wheel drive - the FF packs a 6.262L V12 engine that can rocket it from 0-62 mph in 3.7 seconds. Read The Full Story

BMW 1-Series gets Nokia C7 remote-control [Video]

Chris Davies, Jan 20th 2011 Discuss [7]

Nokia's C7 proved a respectable business handset when we reviewed it, but then we didn't try remotely-controlling a BMW with the Symbian smartphone. That's just what two engineers from Nokia Asia have apparently managed, taking just twenty days to create the necessary software and remote control hardware to operate a 1-Series' steering, brakes and accelerator, as well as all the regular gadgets inside. Video demo after the cut Read The Full Story