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2014 Ford Fiesta gets MyFord Touch, smarter Sync voice commands
For all of Ford's emphasis on Sync, it's hard to deny that Fiesta drivers usually sit on the bottom rung of the automaker's technology ladder when they're denied MyFord Touch and the related perks of larger vehicles. Pick up the keys to a higher-spec 2014 Fiesta, however, and you'll be in for a treat. The compact will stuff a 6.5-inch touchscreen and MyFord Touch into the center stack, with a few software upgrades over what we've already seen in cars like the Focus and Fusion. The highlight is undoubtedly the more direct voice command system -- the Nuance-driven recognition no longer demands that we specify music categories or radio formats to start playing tunes. Bluetooth smartphone pairing and navigation by address should be streamlined at the same time. Motorists will have to wait until 2013 to reap the rewards, but it could be worth the wait to drive away with Ford's better electronics in an affordable ride.
Electric Mazda2 coming to Japan in 2012, no you can't drive it
Mazda has been toying with an electrified version of its Demio compact (known as the Mazda2 'round these parts) since at least last year, and now it's announcing plans to start some serious production of the 200 kilometer (125mile) range autos, putting them up for lease by spring of 2012. There are a couple of catches, though: these are only for the Japanese market and, if that weren't bad enough, they'll only be available for fleet sales. So, unless you're looking to buy a couple-dozen for Bob's Heavy Industries you're out of luck. For now, at least.
