Main page | July 18, 2007 »

Will iPhone Influence Car Design?

Apple's new iPhone, which went on sale just last month amid a blaze of hype worthy of a blockbuster movie, is very likely to have a major impact on the design of automobile interiors over the next few years, according to thecarconnection.com

Frank Homann, vice president of interior electronics solutions for Siemens/VDO inAuburn Hills, Mich., said carmakers are eager to make the car interiors more appealing to consumers. The demands of younger customers, who demand the latest in communications and entertainment technologies are driving automakers to adopt solutions very different from only a decade ago, he suggested. The so-called "Digital Natives," basically anyone born after 1987, want and demand "perpetual connectivity," he noted.

Hence, the iPhone, which its emphasis on ease of operation and ability to handle multiple operations, is very likely to serve as the standard for the engineering of the next generation of interiors, he said.

Posted by   at 9:41 AM to Design | Permalink | Comments 0

Electric Motorcycle On Sale in 2008

The world's first rechargeable plug-in motorcycle, called the Enertia, will be available next year, according to a press release last week from its Oregon-based maker, according to thecarconnection.com

The Enertia is the first in a new series of electric commuter, commercial, and recreational vehicles from Brammo Motorsports, a privately held company based in Ashland , Ore. It's the same company that makes the minimalist Ariel Atom sports car, which has found a niche following among the enthusiast crowd; but the Enertia looks to be a no-brainer for the environmentalist set, especially those who can't quite stomach the $100,000 price tag for Tesla Motors' Roadster.

To that end, the Enertia has more than eight times the wheel-to-well efficiency of a CAFE-average car and more than four times that of a typical motorcycle, according to Brammo.

Posted by   at 9:39 AM to Alternative fuels , Design , Environment , Motorcycling , Technology | Permalink | Comments 0

Fla. Governor Joins Arnold on CO2

Automakers are facing yet another indication of a sea change in vehicle emissions regulation, with Florida poised to adopt California 's 2009 emissions regulations, according to thecarconnection.com.

The adoption would make Florida the first state in the Southeast - and the thirteenth overall - to join the more stringent California regulations, aiming to bring a 25-percent cut in vehicle greenhouse gas emissions versus the current federal standard.

Florida , the nation's fourth most populous state, has more cars per capita than any other. What's more, the Sunshine State is also ahead of the national average, per capita, in new-car purchases. So the matter is expected to meet some heavy resistance from automakers.

Posted by   at 9:37 AM to Alternative fuels , Environment | Permalink | Comments 0