Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Automotive Addicts

Automotive Addicts

Apple to Make Cars Siri-fied with new ‘Eyes Free’ Integration & Activation Button

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 01:29 PM PDT


Today Apple unleashed a few new and interesting things to come during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote. Of course as a car guy I could really care less about the latest Macbook Pro with a Retina display. One thing I did take notice to is Scott Forstall mentioning something new will be added to your car in the form of a Siri activation button called Eyes Free.

Eyes Free, or the steering wheel button, will basically allow you activate Siri so you may verbally speak your desire to launch a rocket missile into the rear of the slow car in the fast lane in front of you. Actually it won't do that, but instead, the Siri button (Eyes Free) will provide access to a slew of functions on your iPhone or iPad (Siri is coming to the new iPad). This means you can use Apple's newly announced iOS6 turn-by-turn navigation in addition to other infotainment/connectivity options via Siri voice control.

Apple has announced dealings with a variety of car manufacturers to offer the new Siri button within the next 12 months. These manufacturers include, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, General Motors, Honda, Land Rover, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota. As a side note, I noticed Siri already works through many Bluetooth connections utilizing the vehicles speakers and built-in mic on new vehicles such as BMWs.

The idea of integrating Siri is surly something that may help address the current epidemic of distracted driving. With texting and cell phone usage at an all-time high while driving, Siri could potentially be at the forefront of offering a solution and save lives in the process.

It remains to be seen if future Siri integration could be a take-away from subscription and telematics services such as GM's OnStar. You always wanted that "iCar", now you may get the chance to have one.

SRT Shakes Down The 2013 Viper GTS-R: Video

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 12:30 PM PDT


As soon as the new SRT Viper was introduced at this year's New York Auto Show, SRT head Ralph Gilles announced the car was going racing, too, and would debut before the end of the 2012 season. Calling that ambitious is an understatement, since it generally takes months of sorting, testing and development to go from production car to production-based race car.

As this video shows, SRT hasn't been wasting a second of time since the New York Auto Show. In the words of Beth Paretta, director of marketing and operations for the SRT brand and motorsports, "The first on-track test of the new SRT Viper GTS-R went extremely well. Even after all the hard work by the team, it's still incredible how fast everything has come together in the development process."

Riley Technologies has been doing the development work on the racing Viper, and even in initial testing the car has exceeded expectations. That's not to say the program is ready for prime time just yet, as several more track development sessions are planned prior to the Viper GTS-R's racing debut. The first test proved that all systems worked as intended, but now comes the difficult steps of adding speed and ensuring the durability needed for racing.

BMW’s Front-Wheel Drive 1 Series to Debut at Paris Auto Show

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 08:45 AM PDT


It was only a matter of time till the current economic conditions and upcoming fuel consumption standards start to have a major influence on what type of vehicles manufacturers will introduce into the market in the interim. BMW is one of many auto makers to make drastic changes when it comes to more efficient vehicles by primarily using forced induction. Now they will introduce their very first front-wheel-drive vehicle at the upcoming Paris Auto Show.

Reportedly, BMW will debut its new front-wheel-drive 1 Series late September of this year at the Paris Auto Show. What is said to be under the development code UKL, an acronym for the Garman word "unter klasse" meaning "entry level" in English, is a BMW 1 Series GT. The 1 Series GT will feature a front-wheel-drive platform powered by a choice of a three or four cylinder turbo engine. Plans to offer a Hybrid and xDrive version is said to be in the works as well. The new powerplants will be used in future MINI vehicles also.

The new BMW 1 Series Gran Turismo will be one of many new front-wheel-drive BMW vehicles to come down the pipeline. We expect the new BWM front-wheel-drive vehicles to be among the most efficient in the vehicle lineup with a potential of reaching US shores to compete with similar offerings from other auto brands.

[sources: Autocar, BMWBlog]

Alfa Romeo 4C Coming To Market Earlier Than Thought: Report

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 06:30 AM PDT


Alfa Romeo's 4C concept. Image: Alfa Romeo

For fan of the Alfa Romeo brand, its return to the United States can't happen fast enough. The same holds true for parent company Fiat, where Alfa Romeo's aging product line isn't contributing as expected to the bottom line. New cars, destined for the U.S. market, will help to change that, and none is more eagerly awaited than the 4C mid-engine, rear drive sport coupe.

As Left Lane News reminds us, the 4C debuted in concept form at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The concept was a stunner, and the idea of an affordable (or semi-affordable, depending upon your perspective) Italian sports car spread like wildfire. The 4C will likely be priced in Corvette territory, and will feature a carbon fiber monocoque wrapped in carbon composite materials. Power will come from a 1.75-liter turbocharged four, said to be good for 296 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of around 4.5 seconds.

Alfa Romeo's 4C concept. Image: Alfa Romeo

Britain's Autocar is reporting that the production version of the Alfa Romeo 4C could debut next summer, not at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show as originally projected. If that's the case, production cars could hit dealer inventory by the end of 2013, or in early 2014.

We say it's still a roll of the dice, since Fiat head Sergio Marchionne is known to be a perfectionist when it comes to new models. The 4C will be a flagship car meant to resurrect an historically significant brand, so it's even more critical that Alfa gets the car right the first time. Color us cautiously optimistic, if not convinced.
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