Tag: automotive | OhGizmo!

Is Google’s Self-Driving Car the Future of Motoring?

Image Source: Steve Jurvetson/Wikimedia Commons

The following article is brought to you courtesy of Carsales.com.au. -Ed.

Google’s been experimenting with driverless technology for the past several years, converting a Toyota Prius and Lexus Rx into autonomous models. The tech company’s latest breakthrough has just been unveiled, taking their former work and elevating it to a higher level. This self-driving prototype from Google has been built from the ground up as a fully electric two-seater with no steering wheel, pedals, or gear shifter. Small, efficient, and free from human error; could this be the future of car production?

The Google Model
You can learn more about the new Google car here, which is capable of hitting a top speed of 25 miles per hour. With no steering wheel or pedals, passengers have no option that allows them to drive. You simply put on your seatbelt and push the start button, leaving the rest in the car’s hands. The vehicle is composed of flexible plastic and compressible foam, with a dual-motor driving system that can keep the car in motion even if the engine fails.

Would A Transparent Hood Be A Feature You Want?

By David Ponce on 04/10/14 • Leave a comment!

Say you’re off-roading and it’s critical to know exactly where your wheels are landing; common sense says that experience is paramount and that if you don’t know exactly where your wheels fall, maybe you shouldn’t be going into treacherous terrain. But a little bit of visual encouragement never hurt anyone, and Land Rover seems to think a grille-mounted camera system coupled with a Heads Up Display should do the trick for those of us with more guts than skills. With this system you’ll be able to virtually see right through your hood, straight to the road below, along with a visualization of where your wheels are and are pointing. That big rock you shouldn’t roll over? It’s right there.

It’s an ingenious solution, though it’s one that’s only at the prototype stage at the moment. It’ll be shown off at the New York International Motor Show next week, but there’s no word on when or if it might actually make its way onto new models.

VIA [ Engadget ]

RightPSI Tire Cap Lets You Check Pressure At A Glance

By David Ponce on 02/19/14 • 1 Comment

If your car is not equipped with a fancy Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), then you have to do manual checks now and then. Having the right air pressure in your tires is essential for safety and mileage, but checking manually is a pain in the posterior, especially if it’s really cold outside. The RightPSI tire caps change colour depending on whether you’re right on target, or have fallen off. A simple glance at your wheel can tell you if it needs attention. Heck, even if you have TPMS, RightPSI can be useful since it’ll tell you which of your tires is going flat, without you having to test them one by one. The way it works is you purchase a PSI specific set, which you cannot change if ever you change cars or tires. At $25 for a set of 4 though, you won’t be breaking the bank.

[ Project Page ]

Winter Tires With Retractable Studs Possibly On The Horizon

By David Ponce on 02/18/14 • Leave a comment!

With the snowy Apocalypse having fallen hard on much of the south over the last few weeks, there’s no doubt some people’s minds have been on the topic of winter tires. They are, after all, made to perform drastically better in icy and snowy conditions, though there is one step above that: winter tires with studs. That’s the ultimate in grip in ice, but it’s also a noisy, abrasive pain between snowfalls so few people opt for them. Now, Nokian Tyres has announced the development of a winter tire with retractable studs. You notice it’s really slippery? Press a button on your dashboard and the studs extend, only to retract again once you’ve made it out of the ice and snow. It’s really the best of both worlds, and it’s not available for purchase. Unfortunately. There aren’t even concrete plans to bring these to market, but the fact that the technology now exists mean that’s missing is enough demand. A few more of the store we’ve seen lately and the market just might change…

[ Press Release ] VIA [ Gizmodo ]

Tactical Seat Covers Will Breathe Some New Military-Flavored Life Into Your Old Beater

By David Ponce on 01/22/14 • Leave a comment!

Just look at those seats you drive around in all day, man. It’s a crying shame, and you ought to do something about it. Can we interest you in the above Smittybilt 5661024 GEAR Tan Front Seat Cover? We like to just call it a tactical seat cover because, well, it just rolls off the tongue a little better. Aside from looking snazzy as heck, it’s functional too!

It is designed with five different pouches that are fastened using a Molle and Pals Restraint System. It is made from 600 denier polyester with a PVC liner and is highly durable. This seat cover allows to add, remove or place modular pouches anywhere and ensures easy installation.

Better looking seats, extra storage space? We’d say that just about justifies the $100 asking price.

[ Product Page ] VIA [ ThisIsWhyImBroke ]

Is This What The BMW i8’s Keyfob Will Look Like?

By David Ponce on 12/24/13 • Leave a comment!

You may be looking at BMW’s key fob for their upcoming i8 plug-in hybrid car. It kind of looks like a mini smartphone and allegedly features a high resolution LCD that informs you of a few essential metrics on your vehicle, like its current range and charge time. There are rumours that it’ll be programmable to display other info, but we don’t have details on that. Matter of fact, this could be someone’s photoshop project for all we know, although it looks somewhat legit. The BMW i8 will hit the road in 2014 and is expected to sell out quickly. It does the 0-60 in 4.4 seconds, and will reportedly do 113 miles to the gallon. It’ll also dent your bank account to the tune of $135,000.

VIA [ AutoBlog ]

McLaren: ‘No More Wipers For Us, We’re Going For Fighter Jet Technology’

By Hazel Chua on 12/17/13 • Leave a comment!

Driving a car without windshield wipers in the rain is an accident just waiting to happen. However, that won’t be the case with McLaren’s future vehicles because even though they won’t come with wipers, they’ll come installed with technology used in fighter jets that’ll keep windshields clear, even in the strongest of rains.

While the car manufacturer hasn’t unveiled too many details on the exact technology they’ll be using, experts suggest that the system will use high-frequency system that will course sound waves through the windshield. This movement will create a forcefield of sorts that will deflect rain, mud, and insects.

McLaren’s Frank Stephenson said: “I was told that it’s not a coating on the surface but a high-frequency electronic system that never fails and is constantly active. Nothing will attach to the windscreen.”

No more wiper blades. Now isn’t that something?

VIA [ Gizmodo ]

Why The 2014 Kia Optima Might Be The Right Choice For A 33 Year Old Who’s Only Ever Driven Sporty Cars

By David Ponce on 11/15/13 • Leave a comment!

The following post is sponsored by Kia -Ed.

There’s something strange about being a typical 33-year-old guy. It’s an age where you’re kind of stuck between two worlds. On the one hand, the memories of your 20’s are still fresh. I, for one, spent them driving cars that could have been described as sporty; I liked it when my vehicle at least looked like it might be able to go fast. These cars were two-door, sometimes two-seater affairs, and practicality never entered the equation. But on the other hand, you notice your life might be changing somewhat. You’re in a steady relationship and have been for a few years. You may or may not be married, but you’re starting to think about having kids. And you’ve already bought or are about to buy your first home. In short, you are now a full-fledged ‘grown up’, and the reality is pretty clear: it’s time for a new, more appropriate car.

Here’s the thing though: you’re not quite ready. You want a compromise, something that harkens back to your youth while accepting the realities of adulthood. And I think the 2014 Kia Optima fits that bill perfectly. Let me tell you why.

Obscene Just Got A New Name: Lamborghini Veneno Roadster

By David Ponce on 10/23/13 • 2 Comments

You know you’re looking at a special car when the company that makes it is able to charge an extra $600,000 for a version that has bits chopped off. Yes, we’re talking about the roof-less Lamborghini Veneno, dubbed Roadster because that’s what you call those kinds of cars. Don’t call it a convertible though, since there’s no roof at all; if it rains you’ll hopefully have the good sense to keep it inside. Aside from the open air bonanza, you get the same 750hp V12 sitting behind your behind, vibrating your lady parts all the way to a top speed of 221 mph. And you do get almost the same acceleration, although the extra weight (needed to strengthen the car after its surgery) does add a smidge to its 0-60 time, now at 2.9s, up from 2.8s from its lighter cousin. A slower car with bits chopped off, for an extra $600k? Yeah, that sounds about right for Lambo.

Like it’s non-roadster sibling, this car comes in extremely limited edition, with just 9 models planned for 2014. A Veneno Roadster will set you back 3.3 million euros (about $4.5 million), or roughly a Gallardo more than a simple Veneno.

Hit the jump for the full press release.

Tag Archives: automotive