The may be nearing the end of its line, but over the course of its lifetime it has become the go-to vehicle for any number of off-road applications. They’re used on safaris and expeditions, by military forces and humanitarian organizations. And yes, they’re used by hunters. That’s why German firearms manufacturer Blaser has outfitted this special edition Defender for just such a market.
The Blaser edition Defender includes roof rack, underbody skid plates, trailer hitch, power winch, spotlight, snorkel intake, custom-embroidered leather seats and more. It’s decked out in what’s called Keswich Green, but to us looks more like Panzer green, and packs a 2.2-liter turbodiesel four with 122 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque on tap. But the party piece is the custom armory built into the back that can carry as many as five hunting rifles plus ammunition. Only 60 examples will be made available exclusively in Germany, each carrying a €49,500 ($64,400) price tag.
It isn’t every day that offers an electric vehicle, but the ActiveE is just that. The German luxury car maker is now accepting applications for 700 ActiveE “Electronauts” in the test markets of Boston, Hartford, New York, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco.
The hand-raisers will need to complete a charging station consultation with BMW Partner AeroVironment to make sure the house of the perspective lessee can handle a charger. The meeting will also serve as a teaching session to make sure the user understands the charging and maintenance of an electric vehicle.
Once the perspective lessee meets those criteria, they will be given the opportunity to lease the
4,000-pound, electrified 1 Series Coupe for 24 months at $499 per month, plus $2,250 down. to look over the BMW press release, and head over to if you’re interested in learning more about the ActiveE.
Our friends at Engadget got up close and cozy with the new Ford Sync Applink interface at CES 2012. has put plenty of time ironing out some of the wrinkles in the voice-command system, and the company’s work has paid off. Applink is designed to allow users to access certain applications on their compatible smartphones without ever having to take their hands from the wheel. It sounds nice in theory, but Ford has had its fair share of issues getting the technology to produce desired results. Judging by the quick video, that’s a thing of the past.
Ford demonstrated how the revised system easily pulls up the new NPR app and how users can easily shuffle through the application’s various features. The app even lets users chose any NPR station in the country. How’s that for snazzy?
Just when you thought manufacturers couldn’t cram any more technology into a vehicle, CES rolls through Las Vegas to show off all-new levels of car-bound gadgetry. A company by the name of Rydeen hopes to produce a new range of stereo head units that run the Androidoperating system. The double-DIN units partner up with a touch-screen enabled rear-view mirror serve up all of the relevant applications we’ve come to know and love from our Android devices. Currently, Rydeen says it’s just using the touchscreen rear-view mirrors as research tools, though a production version may hit the market by 2013.
That version will likely boast a more simple interface that should be easier for drivers to use without killing everyone else on the road. We’re big fans of that plan, though we have to wonder about the viability of putting the touch screen in the rear-view mirror to begin with. Here’s hoping Rydeen will turn to a traditional dash-mounted system in the future. to check out a video of the mirror for yourself.
The never fails to deliver when it comes to concept cars. Unveiled alongside the latest production models, concepts represent a way for automakers to showcase where their heads are at and where they want to be going in the future. But it’s not always automakers that present the concepts. Sometimes they come from design houses like Pininfarina.
These independent styling studios and engineering firms have come into some trouble lately as the automakers that used to contract their services for a variety of applications are increasingly relying on in-house departments. But Pininfarina has been resilient. Where others have closed, Pininfarina soldiers on. And this is its latest design.
Called the Cambiano after the town in which the company is based, this design study was released on Facebook. Now a little over a week later, Pininfarina has released two more, showing part of the side in profile and the top from above. We’ll have to wait a little longer to see more, but from what we’ve seen so far, the Cambiano has our interests suitably piqued.
The next big in-car infotainment feature probably won’t come from an automaker; it will be the work of an outside developer with access to the vehicle’s infotainment system. With that fact in mind, OnStar is opening its API to select devs to create new apps utilizing the system’s Advanced Telematics Operating System (ATOM).
To be clear, OnStar’s API is still closed, but telematics service will accept applications from developers and based on what they submit, will then grant them access to OnStar’s 1s and 0s.
So what can we expect to see? Not much until OnStar opens the doors in the first half of this year. But it has announced a partnership with , a peer-to-peer car-sharing service that lets owners of OnStar-equipped vehicles to rent out their rides when they’re not being used. By using the OnStar API, RelayRides will be able to approve a vehicle for use and then using an iPhone or Android app, the renter can unlock the doors to a vehicle that’s been reserved in advance.
It’s one of many products that will be hitting the market this year and you can read about a few more in the release .
Automakers are being pinched to increase safety and improve fuel efficiency, but those two goals often work against each other. That could change thanks to a material that is 99.99-percent air.
Ward’s Automotive reports that the California Institute of Technology, HRL Laboratories and the University of California-Irvine have combined to develop a micro-lattice material that is said to be 100 times lighter than Styrofoam and strong like steel. We’d call this material paper-thin, but the truth is even more impressive: the material is comprised of tiny woven tubes that are 1,000 times thinner than a human hair.
The is obviously interested in this material for top-secret projects like next-generation aircraft, but the micro-lattice is also of great interest to the auto industry. The material could greatly reduce weight and drag, which would in turn significantly increase efficiency. At the same time, the material can reportedly almost completely recover after stress of up to 50 percent and has impressive energy absorbing characteristics. That means the material could also be a safety asset, which is good news for automakers and consumers.
Cal Tech Professor Julia Greer adds that the material could ultimately replace any non heavy-steel component that isn’t already light in weight. A material with less air would reportedly be the next step in the evolution of lightweight metals, and the scientists are working on a nano-lattice that can do just that.
We don’t know much about these micro and nano materials, but we’re guessing it will be a while before the materials are inexpensive enough for automotive applications. But if the U.S. government and airplane manufactures can jump aboard and bring down the manufacturing costs, we could see this type of material helping automakers achieve those 50+ mile per gallon fuel economy standards. For more information and a demonstration of the micro-lattice’s properties, check out the videos after the jump.
There are plenty of “find my car” apps for both Android and iOS, but all of them require you to launch the app, drop a pin and hope the GPS signal is strong enough to be pinpoint accurate.
But a new project listed on the crowd-funded site Kickstarter aims to change that by using the power of the newest version of Bluetooth.
Find My Car Smart incorporates the new Bluetooth 4.0 standard that’s currently used on the iPhone 4S. Bluetooth 4.0 is the new low-energy, low-latency version of the connectivity standard, which will see widespread adoption in the next year. The possible applications range from proximity sensors to health monitors, or in this case, finding your car at the airport.
By installing a small, USB-powered Bluetooth adapter in your vehicle, all you need to do is walk away, and Find My Car Smart tracks where you left your vehicle in the background.
The app has already been approved by Apple and is , but until FMC reaches its $10,000 funding goal on Kickstarter and the Bluetooth dongle is available, it’s not functional. Learn more at the .
Nearly every smartphone on the planet has some kind of mapping or navigation app pre-installed, and for the most part, they get the job done. But mapping and nav functionality in mobile browsers has been a hit-or-miss. However, a new breed of HTML5-powered mobile web-apps stands to change that, and the first company out of the gate is TeleNav.
Why would you want navigation functionality in your browser? Let’s say you look up a restaurant and make a reservation on their website. If the restaurant drops in a single line of TeleNav code into its site, you can click a navigation icon and get voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions right through your HTML5-compatible browser. And here’s the best part: it’s completely free for the user.
The number of possible applications for this technology is endless, and we can’t wait to see what enterprising developers come up with when TeleNav releases the service early next year. for the full details and expect more information at next month’s CES.
This is the start of way too much fun. has just announced that it will offer crate versions of a new naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine ahead of the powerplant’s debut in production engines. Available through Ford Racing, the direct-injection engine makes use of an astronomically-high 12.0:1 combustion ratio to produce somewhere between 160 and 175 horsepower depending on final specification. Torque, meanwhile, sits at between 145 and 155 pound-feet, and Ford says that the dual-overhead cam engine will be available in plug-and-play kits that come with everything you need to drop one into your next project.
This particular engine will be available starting in the spring of 2012, but Ford says that other configurations will follow soon after, including a turbocharged Ecoboost version. We’ll just let you chew on all of the possibilities that little dynamo could offer. At this point, specs like engine weight, block and head construction and whether the engine can be utilized in longitudinal applications remain absent. We’ve pinged Ford for more information. In the meantime, check out the press release .
Unless you happen to own a dyno, accurately keeping track of which modifications benefit your vehicle may be a seat-of-the-pants operation. AEM is hoping to change that for people who are serious about wringing the absolute most out of their vehicle with the unfortunately-named Dyno-Shaft.
While the product may sound like a bizarre fetish film, it has the potential to revolutionize tuning for those of us who don’t have access to high-dollar engine evaluation equipment. The Dyno-Shaft uses grade-strain gauges to measure horsepower and torque at transmission output shaft, so AEM maintains that the system’s readings aren’t impacted by variables that typically skew accelerometer readings.
AEM says that the the data broadcast device for the system is non-contact, doesn’t use slip rings and needs no batteries, all of which are good things. Buyers simply install the supplied slip-yolk as well as a drive-shaft speed sensor and get going. Data is transmitted via a CAN-bus communications network to a data logger or an AEM engine management system. Prices start at $1,160.96 for cast-iron slip yolk applications, and AEM says that each Dyno-Shaft is specifically calibrated for your application. Chrome moly yolks are also available for higher-horsepower applications. We desperately want to play with one of these to see how accurate it is compared to a traditional full dyno setup.
While (and by relation, ) have been pioneering in-car connectivity for the last few years, is still playing catch-up. The Korean automaker’s focus has been squarely set on bringing world-beating products to market, but consumer demand for infotainment systems isn’t abating. So Hyundai is joining BMW and a range of technology companies to work on the next generation of in-car networking solutions.
Broadcom, NXP, Freescale and Harman have banded together to create the OPEN (One-Pair Ether-Net) Alliance special interest group and BMW and Hyundai are the first two automakers to sign on.
The group will be working towards ethernet-based automotive connectivity, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be running a CAT5 cable out your house and into car.
The SIG is backing Broadcom’s BroadR-Reach cable – specifically developed for automotive applications – that’s able to transmit up to 100 Mbps over a single, unshieled wire. This should reduce internal networking costs and also shave a few pounds from production vehicles in the process. If you want to geek out on the details, for the release.
We know that the Fiat Doblo is coming to the brand as a cargo van, but what about a passenger-hauling variant? Automotive News reports that the Ram team is debating just such a move.
The Doblo panel van will compete with the when it hits U.S. streets in early 2013. decided to offer a passenger van version after its small hauler gained a foothold in the States. Ram President Fred Diaz can see that happening to the new Fiat-based van, adding that “it could have passenger car applications.” To do that, would only need to add a second row of seats and some windows for scenery, items that are already available in other markets.
is to upgrade its joint venture plant in Turkey so that the Ram version of the Doblo can pass U.S. regulations.
With alternative powertrains staking a larger claim in the mainstream, it’s simply a matter of time before automakers begin adapting the technology for performance applications. The in-house tuning division of won’t be left behind, and we’ll see the first all-electric AMG product by the end of next year.
Mercedes will begin taking orders for the SLS AMG E-Cell towards the middle of 2012, with test drives and deliveries slated to begin late next year and in early 2013. Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz AMG, says development of the all-wheel-drive, all-electric supercar is moving along at a brisk pace, although official specs, range and curb weight haven’t been firmed up just yet. However, Källenius is confident that despite the additional weight of the lithium-ion battery packs occupying the torque tube tunnel, performance will be exceptional, particularly with AMG’s ability to independently control torque output to each wheel via the four electric motors.
But the SLS AMG E-Cell is only the first step – even though it’s a massive leap forward for the brand. Electric drivetrains and implementing some sort of a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) will be part of AMG products in the future, although Källenius won’t commit to saying which models would benefit from the technology. “We must look at everything,” Källenius told Autoblog, and utilizing alternative powertrains in the pursuit of ultimate performance will be key to AMG’s tire-shredding efforts in the future.
General Motors is working on a new vehicle communications system that could help avert up to 81 percent of crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The system uses small mobile devices, like smart phone applications, to gather information about the vehicle’s surroundings. The system could alert the driver of stalled vehicles on the side of the road, drivers who are abruptly stopping, averse road conditions and even stop signs and stop lights before the hazards come into view. GM is already testing the system in two ways – with a small dash-mounted transponder and a smartphone application that integrates with the vehicle’s in-dash display.
The system uses dedicated short-range communications, or DSRC, to transfer data between similar devices within a quarter-mile radius. In addition, the system can communicate with fixed radios connected to traffic lights or construction zones.
GM says that the tech could arrive in the automaker’s vehicles in as little as a decade. If it works as promised, the technology could not only keep us out of a fender bender, but it could also alleviate traffic congestion and help drivers get where they’re going more efficiently. We like the sound of that. for a video along with the press release.
There is a debate that’s been raging for decades now, and it revolves around the extremely exciting world of . The discussion is centered on the topic of gender, and its relationship to insurance premiums. It seems that men, on average, have higher premiums compared to the ones carried by women. In an odd twist, however, a survey was recently conducted that found women are the ones fibbing a bit more often when applying for those premiums.
According to United Kingdom-based eInsurance Group, 51 percent of declined premiums were ones handed in by females. The top lies found on these premiums revolve around a lack of disclosure with regards to convictions, lying about the length of time being licensed and attempting to get a discount for no claims. Men took the lead on the first lie, but women were the “winners” on the second two counts.
It’s clear that insurance companies shouldn’t allow gender to play a role in initial premium pricing. We’re all lying. See more in the complete press release .
Kia’s UVO has been rolled out to generally appreciative audiences, the head-unit system combining with your smartphone to provide a wide range of voice-command operation. boffins have returned to the lab, though, to develop a second-gen UVO interface that doesn’t require your phone to be fully functional.
Sounding like an extension of Windows Phone 7 (UVO uses Windows software as a base), Ward’s Auto described its preview of UVO’s next-gen as featuring “a screen that, like a tablet computer, lets the user choose from a series of icons and change screens by swiping a fingertip.” The system will be fully voice controlled, and will able to download applications. A Kia rep said that UVO could access the information on a paired phone, but the smartphone connection would be optional.
The next generation is meant to be viable for all of Kia’s international markets, whereas this first generation was developed specifically for the United States. From this initial report it sounds like it will provide a more comprehensive experience, which is good for everyone – but we wonder if it will still force you to choose between UVO and in-dash nav.
is serious about carbon fiber. More than simply using the material, the Italian sportscar manufacturer has developed new types of it. The question is, what to do with it once it’s developed?
Well, they make supercars out of the stuff, for starters. But that’s not the end of the story. Lamborghini also has partnerships with such companies as Boeing and to use its carbon fiber in applications as varied as airplanes and golf clubs. And now Sant’Agata has found another application: handbags.
While plenty of companies are making all sorts of stuff out of finished, hardened and glossy carbon fiber sheets, Lamborghini claims to be the first to use the unfinished weave to produce this line of fashion accessories. The collection includes a soft travel duffel, a messenger bag and an envelope-style satchel. Each is made primarily out of the raw carbon fiber and fitted with hand-stitched leather, galvanized brass hardware and cotton lining, all put together by hand.
The items will be available through Lamborghini dealers worldwide and through its , but don’t expect to have any cash left over to stash inside the bags: prices range from $1,200 up to $2,100. Take a closer look in the high-res image gallery and for the full press release.
Get stranded in the waters off a beach in Portugal, and this is what you’ll hope to see pulling up on the shore: the Volkswagen Amarok.
In one of its first applications as an emergency vehicle, the Portugese National Institute for Search and Rescue has ordered a fleet of 14 of VW’s new pickups for its lifeguards to rescue wayward surfers and swimmers.
The vehicles have been outfitted with emergency lights, surfboard racks and special livery derived from the design of the first Volkswagen SAR concept that previewed the Amarok at the commercial vehicle show in Hanover back in 2008.
You can check out the press release after the jump and the pair of high-resolution images in the gallery for a closer look, just don’t expect any slow-motion running shots of Pamela Anderson or David Hasselhoff in their swimsuits.
As part of the buildup to this weekend’s Pebble Beach Concours weekend, Autoblog senior editor Damon Lavrinc is in Monterey with , where he has been able to confirm that the will receive a diesel model tuned by the automaker’s M performance division.
Interestingly, the much-rumored high-performance model will probably not be badged as an variant. Instead, it will likely adopt a nomenclature similar to that of the . Further, because of the diesel’s expected high torque output, the M-tuned diesel 5 Series is likely to be offered exclusively with all-wheel drive. Following traditional BMW naming guidelines, that means the vehicle is likely to get an ungainly moniker like BMW 550d xDrive M or something similar ( suggests 550dM or 550dXM as other possibilities).
The 3.0-liter tri-turbo’s torque output is likely to be prodigious – perhaps in the neighborhood of 650 pound-feet (the conventional gas M5 makes 500 lb-ft), a figure more commonly associated with heavy duty pickups. Even if you’ve managed to wrap your gray matter around that torque surplus, you’re probably still pondering the idea of a triple-turbo engine. According to TheDetroitBureau.com, the new powerplant will be based on the current 3.0-liter diesel we’ve come to know and love, albeit significantly modified, including a unique cylinder head. The engine will make use of a single, small turbo to help avoid lag at launch, coupled with a pair of larger twin-scroll units to augment power at speed. We hear that peak ponies will be down from the M5’s 560-horsepower output, though it is still likely to stay about 500.
Predictably, the new engine is also into high-performance versions of BMW’s and crossovers, both of which already offer physics-defying M models of their own.
