Car Tech

Chrysler has revealed a new version of its Uconnect touch-screen interface at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show, which the automaker claims is the first in the industry to enable dealers to upgrade the system with navigation, weeks, months or even years after the car is bought. This means that...

Hyundai is heading to the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show next week to showcase the next generation of its Blue Link telematics and infotainment system. The new system is designed to incorporate the best of Apple and Google technology along with features from several other industry giants...

The Consumer Electronics Show has, over the past several years, become more and more about automotive technology. This year, Lexus will be flaunting its latest, including its take on autonomous driving tech. While the company is touting the system as if it were about to reach production, one look...

It’s been 10 years since Mercedes-Benz first introduced its PRE-SAFE technology, with the anticipatory occupant protection system initially debuting on the W220-series S Class back in 2002. PRE-SAFE is now available on 40 models from Mercedes-Benz, from the base A Class to the S Class...

Get into any new car—okay, well maybe not a Smart Fortwo—and you’ll find power steering. Power steering systems have, for the most part, become so good, so transparent in a way, that we tend to forget that they exist. Yet we should keep in mind that for the typical driver, to...

Hyundai is previewing its vision for the future of car connectivity with a new technology demonstrator based on its i30 hatchback sold overseas. Aptly named the Connectivity Concept, the new i30-based technology demonstrator showcases the future of mobile phone and car integration from the Korean...

In the race to develop the world’s first self-driving car, Japanese firms have been lagging their European and North American counterparts. Google has already developed a fully autonomous vehicle and has even gained a license to test it on public roads in the state of Nevada. Mercedes-Benz...

Leaks and rumors being what they are, we've been cautious about talk of the LS7 V-8 engine from the Corvette Z06 appearing in the Chevrolet Camaro. We've also been looking forward to--but not counting on--a twin-turbo V-6 engine from GM for at least two years. Today, both of those may be just a bit...

Just when you think you have every automotive acronym figured out, General Motors goes and invents a new one. In this case it’s “PAL,” which stands for “Performance Algorithm Liftfoot,” and we think you’re going to like what PAL can do for you. If you’ve...

Automotive supplier Continental is one of the driving forces behind the development of systems necessary for autonomous vehicles, and it’s become the first industry supplier granted a license to test autonomous vehicles on Nevada’s roads. Google was the first company granted a license...

Volvo is looking to join the ranks of cloud-connected automakers, and it knows it has some catching up to do. To quickly close the gap on automakers like Audi, Ford, Nissan, BMW, Toyota and Honda, Volvo will partner will cellular giant Ericsson in developing cloud-connected cars. Volvo will debut...

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class due out next year will be the first car in history to offer customers a fully autonomous system, whereby the car will be able to drive itself--in certain situations--without any driver involvement. This is made possible due to an extensive array of sensors on the new...

Mercedes-Benz already sells a pair of compact cars outside the U.S. in the form of the A Class hatch and B Class MPV, both of which come standard with front-wheel drive. However, when the automaker launches its first compact model in the U.S., the 2014 CLA Class sedan, the car will come with a new...

When it comes to seating position, some drivers are more fanatical than others about precise adjustments. While the average driver pays little attention to seat back angle or position once a semi-comfortable setting is found, some of us spend days dialing in the optimum amount of rake and the...

The White House Office of Management has approved a request from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to mandate event data recorders, commonly referred to as “black boxes,” in 100-percent of new vehicles sold. In the very near future, then, the car you drive may...

When the 2014 Acura RLX hits showrooms next spring, it will come with the next generation of Acura’s connectivity system, AcuraLink. Thanks to new embedded technology and the ability to link to web-enabled devices such as a smartphone, AcuraLink will be able to bring a much broader range of...

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette will be making its world debut in January, but the first test drives of the car won’t be available until the sales launch later in 2013. If, like us, you just can’t wait, dust off your PlayStation 3 or visit a friend that owns one and get ready to test drive...

Coinciding with the launch of the 2014 Chevrolet Impala next spring, Chevy will introduce its next-generation MyLink infotainment system, which the automaker says has been made easier to use, more customizable and now able to link up to 10 different mobile devices. MyLink is Chevy’s vehicle...

When it comes to increasing fuel economy, the obvious steps are decreasing engine size (and, often, performance), shaving pounds, refining aerodynamics and possibly implementing hybrid technology. Significant gains, however, can also be found in other areas. Tire design can contribute up to...

With the unintended acceleration debacle now in its rearview mirror, automaker Toyota is employing technology to ensure that this won’t happen on future models. Intelligent Clearance Sonar and Drive-Start Control will (hopefully) eliminate accidents caused by pedal confusion or improper gear...