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VW turned the Jetta into a brand for young Chinese car-buyers
Many Chinese citizens who live outside a major city center don't own cars, but the country's growing middle class has its sights set on individual ownership. That's a business opportunity for automakers, who already see China as a huge market, and it's why Volkswagen just announced Jetta, a new brand aimed at China's younger customers.
Most 2016 Volkswagen cars can avoid crashes and talk to your phone
You normally have to spring for higher-end cars to get semi-autonomous features that could save your hide, but Volkswagen is aiming to make them relatively commonplace. The automaker has started shipping its 2016 model line, and most of it will at least make crash avoidance features an option, if not include it as a matter of course. The majority of Golf, Jetta and Touareg models will have the choice of smart cruise control and emergency braking technology that could keep you out of an accident even if you can't react in time; they're standard on Executive trim levels for the CC and Touareg. You'll also find a lane departure system on the CC, Golf, and Touareg, and parking assistance on the Golf.
Volkswagen 2013 Jetta Hybrid sets speed record, gives new meaning to hypermiling
Most hybrid car drivers will tell you that their world is all about being gentle on the throttle, spending as much time as possible in that electric-only speed range even if it makes a family minivan look speedy. Volkswagen has just claimed a record for doing precisely the opposite: the 2013 Jetta Hybrid is reportedly the fastest production hybrid in the world, having come just shy of a verified 185.4MPH after an all-out assault on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The company did have to modify the sedan to reach the breakneck pace, tweaking the powertrain, wheels and interior to run safely on that atypical surface, but it isn't known to have bumped the 150HP output of the gas engine or the 27HP of the electric motor. We have a hunch that VW's title won't last for long, whether or not we see the claim as valid -- there are a few decidedly more performance-oriented hybrids rolling off assembly lines now and in the future. Still, until there's a more direct challenge, one of the world's more ubiquitous commuter cars is the hybrid speed leader.
Pleo RB robosaur now on sale for $469, Christmas now cleared to take place
Worried that your holiday celebrations just wouldn't be able to take place without an autonomous robotic dinosaur roaming the halls and frightening the grandparents? Fret no more. With under a fortnight to go, Innvo Labs has managed to put the revitalized Pleo RB (Pleo Reborn, if you must know) on sale, with a stiff $469 getting you a newborn dinosaur with a Li-Polymer battery, a charging cradle and a training leaf. Yeah, a training leaf. Unfortunately, the MSRP here is a fair bit higher than the $350 that Ugobe charged for the original, but at least the price premium does include a tougher hide, a newfangled RFID sensing system and a stronger, longer-lasting battery. And really, who could say no to a smile like that?
Pleo Reborn detailed by Innvo CEO, one lucky fan finds and buys the tiny dino (video)
Innvo Labs wasn't sharing a single detail about its new Pleo at CES last year, but the company's being a bit more forthcoming now -- not only did CEO Derek Dotson grant the baby dino community a lengthy interview detailing most every improvement last week, but its Hong Kong parent is apparently already selling the robot abroad. It's called the Pleo Reborn (or "RB" for short) and the primary features are these: a lithium-polymer battery good for two hours of continuous use, a much tougher hide, and an RFID "sense of smell" that lets it interact with a variety of optional accessories to "eat," take medicine for virtual injuries and learn new tricks as you go. The little creature's also got four additional touch sensors, a temperature sensor, a gravity sensor and an internal clock to tell the time of day, improved motors, and basic voice recognition -- and the Hong Kong packaging suggests the dinos will even come in two different sexes. User marcimarc444 claims to have paid roughly $500 for the one pictured above at the Hong Kong Electronic Show, and though we don't have US pricing or availability at this point, the CEO did suggest that "very, very limited" quantities would be available later this month. Find the full interview and a testimonial at the links below, and watch the Pleo RB in action right after the break. [Thanks, Michael W.]
Video: Pleo gets new dance moves, alpha dev kit
We've seen the Pleo get shredded, overtaken by a Wii wand, and generally mocked for its status as a perennially endangered species. With no dignity left to protect, its makers have decided they might as well kick out an SDK, or PDK in this case, to let the great unwashed masses have their way with the originally autonomous bot. Still only in the alpha stage and not yet widely available, the dev kit has already borne fruit in the shape of a shockingly awesome dance video. We've got it for you after the break, but a warning first: prepare to fall in love all over again. [Thanks, Eric]
Pleo IP adopted by Pleo's big-hearted manufacturer, Jetta Company Limited
It's the feel bad and then feel good again story of the year: bankrupt Ugobe's intellectual property and assets, including the intensely lovable and yet nearly unloved Pleo, are being snapped up by Jetta Company Limited, which currently manufactures the robotic baby dino. The company plans on re-launching Pleo, and says that all its manufacturing processes for Pleo and related accessories are still intact. Better yet, the company is well established and no stranger to robots: it also builds parts for iRobot's consumer products. Could this be love?
Car modder repurposes Wiimote as accelerometer
Looking to collect a little acceleration / braking data on the cheap? Even if you're just scouting alternative uses for that oh-so-handy Wiimote, a recent project from klee just may suit your fancy. A proud owner of a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta managed to rig up a Wiimote-based tracking system that gathered information on g-forces, acceleration, turning, and overall speed, and thanks to a little Excel computation, the results are neatly graphed once the outing concludes. Of course, you may need a little help in the script writing department, by judging by the looks of things, most everything you need is awaiting you in the read link -- you know, except your own Wiimote and a Vee-Dub.[Thanks, Matt]
Drivers (with Wii remotes) wanted
Inspired by last week's physics project, Volkswagen votary Kevin Lee conducted a Wii remote experiment of his own with his 2000 VW Jetta 2.0. Using the controller's accelerometers and a custom GlovePIE script, he was able to measure his steed's g-forces and 0-60 MPH acceleration time. Kevin also set up a spreadsheet with the remote's data to graph every curve, bump, and braking point from his drive. This actually sounds about a thousand times more fun than using one of those goofy steering wheel peripherals that everyone seems to be selling tnowadays.[Via Hack a Day]
