Auto news and reviews from Car Buyer's Notebook.com: Car Audio Archives

June 9, 2008

XM Radio, NavTraffic Available on 2009 Porsche 911

WASHINGTON -- XM, the nation's leading provider of satellite radio, today announced that XM radio and its award-winning XM NavTraffic service will be available as a factory- installed feature on all 2009 Porsche 911 models.

This will be the first time that XM is available in a Porsche sports car. XM is the exclusive satellite radio provider to Porsche.

Continue reading"XM Radio, NavTraffic Available on 2009 Porsche 911"

May 29, 2008

Garmin Announces New StreetPilot for Mercedes

SOUTHAMPTON, England -- Garmin, global leaders in portable satellite navigation, today announced Mercedes-Benz Accessories will continue its relationship with Garmin by selecting the nüvi 760 as their latest portable after market navigation solution.

The nüvi 760 named the 'StreetPilot III' by Mercedes-Benz, is customised with a specially designed mount for the new generation A-Class, B-Class and C-Class cars will be available at dealers across Europe May 2008.

Continue reading"Garmin Announces New StreetPilot for Mercedes"

May 21, 2008

Honda Expanding FCX Clarity Leasing Program

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Honda plans to deliver about 200 FCX Clarity hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles to customers in the first three years of production, with leases beginning in July, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

The lease program marks the world's first large-scale retail initiative for fuel cell vehicle technology, and Honda has begun the process of identifying customers from a group of over 50,000 individuals who have expressed interest in the FCX Clarity on the company's website.

Continue reading"Honda Expanding FCX Clarity Leasing Program"

May 19, 2008

Survey: Drive as I say, not as I drive

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Nationwide Insurance today released its second annual DWD (Driving While Distracted) study, which found that, while 98 percent of Americans claim to be safe drivers, a vast majority also admit to DWD.

More than four out of five cell-phone owners are guilty of talking on their phones while driving, and nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of all drivers admit to partaking in some form of distracting behavior while driving, from cell phone use to eating.

Continue reading"Survey: Drive as I say, not as I drive"

May 15, 2008

Ford's SYNC leading auto industry in connectivity

Industry-exclusive Ford SYNC is a fully integrated, voice-activated in-car communications and entertainment system that works with most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players.

Beginning later this year, SYNC will also provide accident assistance through ‘911 Assist,’ and will be able to send customers Vehicle Health Reports on key systems to help them plan routine service appointments and alert them to critical systems issues.

Continue reading"Ford's SYNC leading auto industry in connectivity"

Ford uses Sirius Travel Link for in-car data delivery

SIRIUS Travel Link technology provides customers with a valuable tool that can be used daily to get just-in-time details about traffic, current weather conditions, gasoline prices, movie theater details and sports updates. The system will be available on several 2009 models including Ford Flex, F-150, and Lincoln MKS.

Specifically, Travel Link delivers:

Continue reading"Ford uses Sirius Travel Link for in-car data delivery"

May 14, 2008

Ford engineeering Flex for minimal road noise

DEARBORN, Mich. -- When customers take their new Ford Flex for its first spin this summer, they may be surprised by what's missing: the noise.

Flex delivers a quieter ride than competitors including the Acura MDX, Toyota Highlander and GMC Acadia, according to Ford tests. That's good news for customers, who tend to directly relate a vehicle's quietness with its quality, says Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global Product Development. "Quietness is a very good proxy for quality in a vehicle."

Continue reading"Ford engineeering Flex for minimal road noise"

May 10, 2008

Volvo Sponsors Ecological Adventure for Students

15 national teams of young environmentalists from all over the world will congregate in Gothenburg, Sweden next week for the seventh Volvo Adventure World Final with US$20,000 of prize money on the line for environmental excellence.

From hundreds of projects in more than 50 countries around the world submitted on-line by the 31st January 2008 deadline the Volvo Adventure judges have selected a shortlist of 15 finalists, each of whom will be chasing the US$10,000 first prize to invest in their project.

Continue reading"Volvo Sponsors Ecological Adventure for Students"

GM's Provides Web-Based Training for Drivers of Large Vans

DETROIT -- General Motors continues to make training available for its large van consumers. For several years, Coaching Systems LLC, which designed a unique course for GM large van consumers, has teamed up with GM to offer training at a 40 percent discount to GM’s large van consumers. This training is designed to reinforce information that may be helpful for drivers of large vans.

Coaching Systems developed this course for GM’s large van consumers, building on van driver training that started in 1991 in conjunction with the National Safety Council.

Continue reading"GM's Provides Web-Based Training for Drivers of Large Vans"

May 9, 2008

Tenacious D Goes Backstage for GM at Music Fests

DETROIT -- GMnext is going backstage at some of the world's biggest rock festivals this summer - providing music fans exclusive access through a series of video, photo and blog updates.

GMnext Plug In is a celebration of the 100+ year relationship between cars and music. From AM to FM, 8-track to cassette, compact disc to mp3, music is almost always a part of the driving experience.

Continue reading"Tenacious D Goes Backstage for GM at Music Fests"

May 6, 2008

Microsoft and Hyundai-Kia Developing In-Car Infotainment

SEOUL, South Korea -- Today, Microsoft Corp. and Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group (HKAG) entered into a long-term agreement to co-develop the next generation of in-car infotainment systems.

Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, and Mongku Chung, chairman of HKAG, were present as Martin Thall, general manager of Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit, and Hyun Soon Lee, president and chief technology officer of HKAG, signed the agreement in Seoul.

Continue reading"Microsoft and Hyundai-Kia Developing In-Car Infotainment"

Chevrolet to unveil new midget racing engine

On Wednesday, May 7th, GM racing representatives and United States Auto Club (USAC) team owner Tony Stewart will be at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to unveil the all-new Chevy engine for the USAC National Midget Car Series.

Continue reading"Chevrolet to unveil new midget racing engine"

May 1, 2008

2008 Navigator Owners Can Now SYNC Their Rides

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Lincoln Navigator owners wishing they had Ford's industry-exclusive SYNC in-vehicle communications system, need wish no more.

Ford has introduced an affordable, dealer-installed SYNC accessory kit that allows select 2008 Navigator and Navigator L customers to enjoy the award-winning voice-activated communications system that works with most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players.

Continue reading"2008 Navigator Owners Can Now SYNC Their Rides"

General Motors To Announce Second Advanced Biofuels Relationship

On May 1, at 10:30 a.m., GM President Fritz Henderson will announce General Motors’ Corp’s second partnership with a cellulosic ethanol manufacturer. Non-grain based sustainable biofuels are critical to meet rising energy needs and decrease dependence on foreign oil.

GM leads the auto industry in offering vehicles that can run on either ordinary gasoline or E85 – a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline – or any combination of the two. There are more than 7 million flex-fuel vehicles on U.S. roads, 3 million of which are GM cars and trucks.

April 30, 2008

Top Five Finalists Announced in 'Lincoln Spotlight' Music Competition

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Lincoln, the fastest-growing luxury brand in America last year, and Grammy Award winner Common today announced the five (5) finalists in the Lincoln Spotlight online music contest.

The contest, which debuted in February of this year, was a nationwide search for the best and brightest aspiring lyricists.

Continue reading"Top Five Finalists Announced in 'Lincoln Spotlight' Music Competition"

Car Buyer's Notebook