autoinsane

All-new Bose Ride Seat is music to over-the-road truckers’ ride and drive

“Truckin” may recall memorable moments from the 1970 Grateful Dead song, CB radios or perhaps the infamous 1968 Robert Crumb smiling cartoon character that leans back with his foot outstretched and a thumb up in the air.

To the folks behind the wheel, it’s said to be a job that lives deep in their soul. For many, the travails of trucking reverberate – literally – in the vertebrae of the driver in the cab, often taking the bumps in the road wherever they go, suffering from what’s known as “whole body vibration”.

Ford pumps up Sync with AppLink

Ford and Microsoft’s Sync system has already received praise from press and consumer a like, and now they are adding more features. The Sync Applink system will be available on the Ford Fiesta and be compatible with Android and Blackberry Phones – Sorry iPhone users, you have to wait till next year.

The Sync Applink system will allow drivers to safely interact through voice controls with their smart phones to control applications. Initially the system with launch with compatibility for Pandora, Sticher, and OpenBeak for Twitter.

Ford has also launched a Sync developer community and the “Mobile Application Developers Network” to give partners access to the Sync API. Developers can go to www.syncmyride.com/developer to submit ideas and sign up for information and get the Sync SDK.

Ford expects mobile computing to be big. The Sync System uses the Ford Service Delivery Network, a cloud based content delivery network that handles turn-by-turn directions.

Mind-blowing animated CGI Corvette ZR1 LS9 supercharged engine “build” video

Ever wondered how the supercharged LS9 engine from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 looks while running and assembling itself- from the inside out? Here’s your chance to get a pretty damn cool view of just that.

Volt Owners to Get iPhone, Droid, and Blackberry Apps

Techies get another reason to love the Volt. Chevrolet and OnStar have developed apps for the Apple iPhone, Motorola Droid and Blackberry Storm. Presumably there will be apps for other phones running Android or Blackberry OS but for now only those three phones are supported.

The app will do a range of things including allowing users to monitor their driving stats, remotely start the car and schedule charging intervals. The car maintains contact with the phone via OnStar’s real-time data connection.

Silver, black, and white are most popular global car colors according to Dupont survey

There may be nothing like a shiny black car to turn heads, and white is often the most popular in sun belts and shows less dirt. However silver is the top car color in Dupont’s most recent and first-ever global color popularity survey.

Trapster app alerts drivers to speed traps, red light cameras

It’s inevitable. You’re driving along all of a sudden the familiar outline of a Crown Vic is sitting at the side of the road. All of a sudden the hyper-sensitivity to anything you could possibly be doing wrong kicks in and your brain starts listing off every minor traffic violation you’ve committed in the last fifty miles. If you happen to be going slightly faster than speed limit because you weren’t being judicious enough in monitoring your speed, or you were trying to pass or maybe you just had the Motorhead up too loud you might panic and pump the brakes, slowing down to below the speed limit “just to be safe.”

Porsche develops lightweight battery for 911 GT3, 911 GT3 RS and Boxster Spyder with first lithium-ion automotive starter battery

Porsche released news that it is the first car maker in the world to offer a starter battery with lithium-ion technology. Weighing less than 13 lb or 6 kg, the new battery is more than 22 lb or 10 kg lighter than a conventional 60 Ah lead battery.

OnStar will offer Turn-by-Turn navigation to all subscribers on Black Friday- for free

Black Friday 2009 is just a few days away and OnStar is offering its subscribers a real bargain. All day Friday, folks who have an active OnStar subscription will be able to use the service’s Turn-By-Turn Navigation service- for free. While the service will be able to tell you the best way to get to your favorite store, they won’t be able to tell you where the best deals are.

Ford adds rear air seat belts to next-generation Explorer

Raising the bar in passenger safety, Ford Motor Company announced it produced the first-ever air-inflated seat belts to enhance rear-seat protection for passengers, most often found to be children and older passengers susceptible to head, chest and neck injuries, when it debuts on the next-gen Ford Explorer.

Staples delivers with its first all-electric truck at AltWheels

The Staples fleet had experimented with a diesel hybrid delivery truck, but this year, they unveiled an all electric delivery vehicle. Built by Smith Electric Vehicles, this delivery truck will have no emissions and lower cost of fueling: $.12/mile vs. $.40+/mile.