Cars and auto

ScanGauge review: Save gas by adjusting nut behind the wheel

Where is personal responsibility? It’s tossed out the car window at 70 MPH. Gas prices are brain-numbingly, irritatingly high. Yet we putter through traffic in our 250-horsepower cars, drinking gasoline like I drink Tang. I know my limits. I can’t convince America to stop driving big gas-hungry cars and put more automotive research towards fuel […]

Tech coverage of the 2005 North American International Auto Show – Safety

It would be nice if we could all drive around in tanks that max out at 70 MPH, but for many reasons that solution isn’t very practical. Instead we have here a few new and improved technologies that make driving safer, from that long distance highway trip to driving to the store during a blizzard. […]

Tech coverage of the 2005 North American International Auto Show – Miscellaneous

There were certain things at the NAIAS I didn’t expect. And to be honest I’m not very impressed with two of them. I’m of the opinion that economy and smaller-sized vehicles are very important. These make the roads safer, make our environment cleaner, and decrease fuel use. I understand there are certain needs for larger, […]

Play CDs, tapes and iPODs on your car’s radio with the Belkin Tunecast

I was so excited to buy a new (okay, okay, “pre-owned”) car, I forgot to notice something important: There was no cassette deck. Not usually a tragedy, but I love to listen to books on tape. And I do a lot of driving. So, in this case, it’s a tragedy. What’s a commuter to do? […]

Tech coverage of the 2005 North American International Auto Show – Fast and Strong

I’m a techie. I like things that beep and blink. But while looking at cars, there’s something primal that kicks in. It comes from the same place as Tim Allen’s grunting “tool man” act or perhaps from a leftover childhood fascination with speed and power. I couldn’t help stopping to take a look at these. […]

Tech coverage of the 2005 North American International Auto Show – Ease of use

There are many technologies whose primary purpose is to make our lives easier. Think of the differences between a manual transmission and an automatic. They both accomplish the same thing (shifting gears) but one does it in such a way that the driver has much less to worry about. The following techs echo this theme. […]

Tech coverage of the 2005 North American International Auto Show – Design

CVT and the Ecotec engine are arguable significant steps in the evolution of the automobile. They’re not entire redesigns (like an alternative fuel car), but heavy refinement on existing concepts. Continuously Variable Transmission Up and coming (and already available on hybrids or cards like the Saturn VUE) is a Continuously Variable Transmission, or CVT. Get […]

Tech coverage of the 2005 North American International Auto Show – Prototypes

I found two prototype technologies pretty interesting. Hydrogen cars will allow us to get where we’re going with zero emissions, and Michelin’s wheel technology will make sure we get there easy and safe. Hydrogen cars Hydrogen cars are still in their infancy, but that hasn’t stopped anyone from building working prototypes. While they’re not selling […]

Tech coverage of the 2005 North American International Auto Show – Communications

Communication between car, driver and everyone else is very important. One technology that facilitates this is the sudden proliferation of multimedia and digital displays. This doesn’t mean a DVD player (though that’s sometimes an option). I’m talking about a central interface that allows you access to all the car’s functions and information. Things like GPS […]

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