Kurt Ernst, Contributor

Articles

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  NASCAR Jumps On The Facebook Game Bandwagon Kurt Ernst June 13, 2011

  If you’re tired of getting requests from Facebook friends to tend crops in Farmville, or save baby pandas in Zooville, or slam down mixed drinks until your liver slaps you with a restraining...

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  2011 BMW M3 Frozen Black Coupe: Like Frozen Gray, Only Darker

  If you liked BMW’s limited production run of Frozen Gray M3 Coupes, chances are you’ll love its new special edition 2011 M3 Coupe, done up in what BMW calls “Frozen Black.” As with the Frozen Gray coupes, BMW is only building a limited quantity, but this time it's reduced...

  Kurt Ernst June 11, 2011
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  Chrysler Moves Gilles To Head New SRT Brand

  There’s good news from Chrysler for performance car fans: the automaker has announced that the Street and Racing Technology (SRT) group has been spun off to form its own brand. Better news? At the helm is none other than Ralph Gilles, who was formerly the CEO of the Dodge brand. Gilles is an...

  Kurt Ernst June 7, 2011
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  Ford Announces 1.0-Liter EcoBoost Engine

  Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 proved one point to truck and sedan buyers; thanks to technology like gasoline direct injection and twin-turbocharging, it was indeed possible to squeeze V-8 power and drivability out of a V-6. Their 2.0-liter EcoBoost four looks to prove that V-6 power is...

  Kurt Ernst June 2, 2011
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  Laser-Wielding Robots Build Better Fords

  Laser-beam-emitting-robots were once the stuff of 1950s science-fiction nightmares, but today they’re on our side and helping Ford Motor Company to build a better product. Ford has invested some $100 million to install robotic plant laser inspection technology in their Chicago, Michigan and...

  Kurt Ernst June 2, 2011
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  Mitsubishi's i-MiEV: A Battery Backup For Your House?

  If you own a computer, chances are good that you’ve got it tied into a battery backup just in case the power goes down while you’re hard at work, ignoring the adage to “save early, save often”. If you work in IT, you may even have massive uninterruptable power supply (UPS)...

  Kurt Ernst June 1, 2011
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  BMW 5-Series, 7-Series Could Get LCD Gauges Kurt Ernst May 27, 2011

  LCD instrument panels are nothing new. The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid used a partial LCD display, as does the current Ford Explorer. Jaguar’s latest XJ has replaced the analog instruments with a...

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  New UPS Trucks Are Lighter, Cheaper, Greener (No, Really)

  A body made of lightweight composite panels, LED lighting, a high-efficiency four-cylinder diesel engine and easily-repaired molded fenders may sound like the ideal basis for a fuel-efficient commuter car, but in this case it’s the latest prototype delivery truck being evaluated by UPS. The...

  Kurt Ernst May 27, 2011
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  The Latest Airbag Innovation? Roof-Mounted Airbags

  Airbags were once the scourge of the automotive industry; manufacturers claimed their expense would torpedo new car sales and decimate the automotive industry, while consumers weren’t thrilled about having an explosive charge (indirectly) pointed at their face. In the twenty or so years since...

  Kurt Ernst May 23, 2011
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  Should Your Car Monitor Your Health?

  Ford researchers have been working with healthcare experts to develop an addition to their SYNC telematics system, and consumers are likely to find this either encouraging or terrifying, likely to to privacy concerns. The application is aimed at drivers with a chronic illness or medical condition...

  Kurt Ernst May 18, 2011
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  Road Ahead App May Be The Road Tripper's Best Friend

  If you’re like us, you have a passion for road trips and a serious preference for certain brands of food, gasoline and coffee. If you own an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, a new application may be just the thing to turn road trip frustration into road trip bliss. Called RoadAhead, the app will...

  Kurt Ernst May 17, 2011
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  Toyota's "Ideas For Good" Finalists Announced

  Much of the technology used in modern automobiles, or in the development of modern automobiles, can be repurposed for the betterment of society. That was the concept behind Toyota’s “Ideas For Good” challenge, which gave entrants the ability to use five Toyota-developed...

  Kurt Ernst April 20, 2011
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  Driver Hits Tree While Reporting Erratic Driver Kurt Ernst April 18, 2011

  A 46-year-old New Jersey woman was injured last Saturday when she drove her car into a tree--while dialing 911 to report an erratic driver.

  The accident occurred in Toms River, during daylight...

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  Chrysler Wants Your Service Business

  Do you drive a Honda, a Ford or a Volkswagen? How about a Chevy or a Lexus? By the end of the year, your local Chrysler Group dealer (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Fiat) will probably be able to service (but not necessarily repair) your car. Thanks to the recently announced partnership between Mopar and...

  Kurt Ernst April 14, 2011
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  Lojack Lists The Ten Most Stolen Cars Of 2010

  If you’ve ever had a car broken into or stolen, you know the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. Maybe you even blame yourself for parking in a remote corner of the lot (to avoid door dings), or maybe you start to second guess your choice of cars. If only you’d bought something...

  Kurt Ernst April 14, 2011
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  Infiniti Roadside Assistance? There's An App For That

  If you have engine problems, get a flat tire or run out of gas, a new iPhone app from Infiniti can help you with that, as long as you own a new or certified pre-owned Infiniti vehicle. Infiniti, in cooperation with Cross Country Automotive Services, is announcing their free roadside assistance app...

  Kurt Ernst April 11, 2011