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Archive for January, 2011

Mini have released a few strange concept cars in the past but this new one seems to top them all, and take the prize for the maddest Mini concept of all time. Arriving with glowing lights, space age doors and futuristic looks, it is more like a UFO than a car.

From the large, black, intimidating wheels to the oddly placed handle style taillights to the central, light up, stainless steel exhaust, every inch of the Mini concept’s exterior has been designed to look as if it has come from another planet (or from Tron!).

What’s more, it is just as remarkably unusual once you get inside the car. Step in through the gaping, double hinged doors and discover a futuristic world of carbon fibre, launch style buttons and strange curved lines everywhere.

However, what is perhaps most surprising about the Rocketman concept car is that it is actually more like the original Mini than any of the recent cars. Although incredibly modern, the new Rocketman concept is the smallest Mini for many years and is just 40cm longer and 50cm wider than the original Mini, plus it has the Union Jack on its roof once again (although the roof is glass).

If put into production, the Rocketman will, apparently, get 94mpg, mainly due to its super lightweight carbon body. The car will also seat 4 and will be equipped with all the latest technology from the forthcoming Megacity electric car from BMW.

The new Mini concept car is set to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and if the preview photos are anything to go by, it will be stealing the spot light.

General Motors, not wishing to fall behind American rivals Ford in the connectivity battle, are to trial a system that will give their customers the ability to update their Facebook pages, while they are on the road.

Plans are in operation for an advertising campaign later this month outlining their OnStar system. Working alongside Google.inc, they have created a system that by using voice commands over smartphones enables drivers to download maps and directions on the OnStar console.

Through OnStar, they have already introduced a mobile app that allows drivers to unlock and start their car but this is a clear sign that General Motors are trying to understand the needs of a younger niche market. The Facebook and texting service are in the experimental phase at present but it is hoped that soon they will be available to subscribers on an annual fee basis.

The Facebook app will allow fans of the social network to update their status simply by speaking as they drive along and having news updates read out as they appear. Smartphones will also be able to connect to OnStar by Bluetooth and also read out any incoming text messages. It allows customers to reply with one of four preset choices available through buttons on the steering wheel.

General Motor’s OnStar service was initially considered revolutionary when it first came out in 1996 and was conceived as an anti-theft and vehicle safety device. Since then however the company has fallen behind in the race to introduce new mobile technology and entertainment programs.

GM brands Vauxhall and Chevrolet hope to have the new devices as part of their new models soon and bridge the gap between Ford’s Sync consoles. The Sync program came out in 2007 and allows customers to connect their mobiles for phone calls, music players and other plug in devices, making them voice activated.

The latest developments in smart car technology enable the vehicle to actually contact the emergency service if it is involved in an accident.

The new generation of smart cars will be fitted with onboard sensors that are able to inform the emergency services about the severity of the accident and how many people are inside the vehicle. At a recent forum, many predictions were raised that discussed the possible uses of such as device.

Steve Wainwright, a manager with Freescale Semiconductors, pointed out that smart cars of the future are likely to be the most computer literate devices we use on aSafer Driving With Smarter Car Technology daily basis. New cars already have an average of 28 electronic control units inside them, while those at the luxury end of the market can have as many as 80. These miniature computers are the backbone of many new safety features, power saving measures and stability control features that are becoming increasingly popular in many smart cars.

Complimentary technologies such as these are being developed to assist drivers by adapting to their abilities on the road. For example, the inclusion of radar detectors and collision monitors is set to become more commonplace in cars of the future. A widespread misconception among drivers is that they drive better today than they did in previous years, but the likelihood is that they are unaware of the level of help the car itself is providing them with.

This technology will also be put to use in electric cars, where long journeys are unlikely to be an option. Sensors that detect the amount of power remaining, along with a prediction of possible range, are set to become more sophisticated. There is also the possibility of new cars being able to communicate with each other, at least in a roundabout way, informing one another of weather conditions, traffic density and accidents. To prepare for this, the United States and Europe are setting aside radio wavelengths to accommodate inter smart car chatter.