Ford Motor Company is nearing the rollout of its next-generation SYNC infotainment system. Dubbed SYNC4, the update is cloud-connected and focused on providing users a great experience on any screen size. SYNC4 has nearly twice the computing capacity as today's SYNC3. The new-generation version is also constantly connected to the cloud, enabling the system to have frequently-updated navigation mapping and… Read More...
Technology
In-car connectivity is a prerequisite for vehicles today, something automakers like General Motors know all too well. Eyeing a seamless customer experience, GM is showing off its next-generation infotainment system, which will be based on Google Android. The company has confirmed its next-generation system will be Android-based and feature many Google services, including Google Assistant. GM says the new infotainment… Read More...
One of the main hindrances of battery-electric vehicles is the fact they have to be plugged in on a semi-regular basis. Well, BMW is hoping to remove this nuisance by way of a wireless battery charging system the company will trail in the U.S. BMW's wireless charging mat is not new. The company began customer trails last year in Germany,… Read More...
There's nothing worse than scraping the front spoiler for your brand new supercar on a speed bump. It can cause damage and--worse yet--be a huge embarrassment. Well, Chevrolet has a high-tech fix for this problem on the all-new 2020 Corvette Stingray. The first-ever mid-engine Corvette is equipped with a hydraulic nose-life mechanism that allows the car to raise its nose… Read More...
Rivian appears to be the new darling, startup electric automaker. The company has already confirmed plans to rollout a battery-electric truck and SUV, marketing them as adventure-ready vehicles that can go where no other current batter-electric vehicle can go. Of course, going where no other EV can go means there's likely no charging infrastructure at your destination. In a recent… Read More...
Nissan has announced a new iteration of its ProPilot suite of driver assistance features that will enable hands-free driving while on the highway. Like similar systems from other automakers, Nissan ProPilot 2.0 will handle the acceleration, braking and steering when the vehicle is on certain stretches of highway, but there are some caveats. The driver must have a destination in… Read More...
BMW and Microsoft have announced plans to launch a new open source platform for in-vehicle virtual assistants. The new platform will make BMW's current virtual assistant more personalized and sound more natural in the future. BMW's existing Intelligent Personal Assistant is already powered by the Microsoft Azure platform. The Azure platform has artificial intelligence built in, allowing BMW's assistant to… Read More...
The use of biometrics is nothing new when it comes to physical security, but the technology has largely be void in automotive. Hyundai is hoping to change that with an announcement that it will allow owners to use their fingerprint to unlock and start their vehicle in China. At last week's Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition Hyundai displayed a 2019 Santa Fe… Read More...
This week Lincoln rolled out the all-new 2020 Aviator SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show. While the new Aviator is packed with a ton of technology, there's one new feature on this luxury SUV that is worthy of a stronger mention. The feature? The ability of owners to not carry a key fob at all. Aptly named "Phone As… Read More...
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration have become hot features when it comes to in-car infotainment systems. That said, both systems have their territorial limits, including Apple blocking third party map apps from the CarPlay user interface. However, that is about to change. This week is Apple's annual World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC). The tech giant is expected to announce… Read More...