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Ducati is producing a motorcycle with built-in radar
The Multistrada V4, which is in production, has rider assistance features.
Cadillac will add automated lane changing to its Super Cruise system
Cadillac is beefing up the Super Cruise driver assistance system with several features, including automated lane changing. As such, your car will be able to change lanes on some highways under certain circumstances when you tap or fully latch the turn signal. The driver attention system will make sure you're focused on the car's surroundings while it's moving into a different lane.
BMW launches a performance 7 Series PHEV
BMW has launched its 2020 7 Series sedans, and controversy about the ginormous grill aside, they're some of the company's highest-tech models yet. The 745e xDrive has a plug-in hybrid 389 HP inline six-cylinder with a 12.0 kWh battery that should allow for some grocery-getting purely on electrons (BMW hasn't released range figures yet). That combo will accelerate you to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, but if that's not fast enough, there's also a 523 HP V8 on the 750i xDrive or a 600-horsepower twin-turbo V12 on the 760i.
Porsche's latest 911 knows when it's on a wet road
Porsche may pitch the 911 as a pure driver's car, but that doesn't mean it will turn down technological assistants that could get you out of a jam. The company has unveiled the eighth-generation 911 as a 2020 model, and one of its most conspicuous upgrades is a "world first" Wet mode that detects water on the road, prepares control systems and alerts the driver to the slippery conditions. You don't have to tone the car down (say, if you're on a track and expect to slide around), but you only need to push a button to configure the car for safety. The feature will come standard, Porsche said.
BMW developed a self-driving motorcycle to further its safety efforts
This week, BMW Motorrad showed off a self-driving version of its R1200GS, a motorcycle that it spent more than two years developing. You can see in the video below that the motorcycle, sans rider, can start, accelerate, lean into turns and stop all on its own. But don't expect to see this bike on the roads anytime soon. The company explained that it created the self-driving motorcycle not for consumers but to learn more about how it can implement new safety features.
Ford's new Focus pulls in Co-Pilot360 driver assists
Ford is taking the wraps off of its new 'global' Focus, and besides the new styling, we're interested because as usual, the car will help introduce a hefty suite of driver-assist technology. Last month Ford pledged to put assists in more cars with its Co-Pilot360 package, and there should be plenty to choose from in the Focus. Its Adaptive Cruise Control can manage stop and go traffic, recognize speed limit signs and keep the car centered in the lane. In what Ford says is an industry first, the adaptive front lighting system not only uses the cameras for auto high beams and curve prediction, it can also read road signs to help adjust patterns. Also, the Focus is the first car in its segment with evasive steering assist to help avoid collisions. Most of the details unveiled apply to the European and Chinese versions of the vehicle due to go on sale this year before the car comes to North America in 2019, and which tech is available where may vary. Still, it should be easy to figure out which one might be a good fit, because Ford says it has cut the number of available configurations from 360 to as few as 26.
Subaru’s Crosstrek is a small but value-packed SUV
Subaru sells emotion. Their entire marketing strategy is about "love," which is actually a pretty accurate take on how we buy cars. There's very little logic in a lot of our buying decisions. Consider how much time some of us spend in our vehicles -- there's nothing wrong with picking an automobile that gives you some sense of happiness. That's led to a rise in SUV sales, because big cars make Americans happy. Seeing the market for SUV grow while not having one its own to sell, Subaru introduced the Crosstrek, a crossover that will appeal to buyers looking for an all-wheel drive in a big (but not too big) package.
How VW's Arteon keeps you alive if you pass out while driving
The Volkswagen Arteon is not a fully fledged self-driving car, but it definitely has some fancy autonomous features. The sedan, which is due to land in the United States this summer, features a program that will recognize if a driver has blacked out at the wheel and then gently steer the car to the side of the road.
2016 Civic is the second Honda with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay
In July Honda announced the 2016 Accord as its first car to support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while now it's revealed the next one up is its redesigned 2016 Civic. Our friends at Autoblog have some in person impressions of the new 10th generation model, but we're mostly focused on the compact car's new features. It has a 7-inch touchscreen display in the console (on EX models and above) that's Android-based just like the Pilot, but is of course ready to let your phone take over for apps, navigation and more. Besides a markedly better interior to match a wider and lower frame, features it can have include the ability to brake itself or steer itself back onto the road when it senses danger, and it's the first Honda to have Adaptive Cruise Control with low-speed follow. This year is also the first time we'll be able to get a Civic Type-R in the US, and choices for power include a 2.0-liter 4 cylinder engine, or a 1.5-liter turbocharged version. There's no word on pricing, but the new cars will be at dealerships this fall.
Mini Cooper hardtop gets parking assistance and collision warning systems
It feels like the last time we thought about the Mini Cooper, it was pulling bank jobs with Mark Wahlberg. Since then, the diminutive coupe has apparently outgrown its rebellious phase and is now thinking about more mature notions, like safety. At next month's LA Auto Show, the 2014 hardtop will debut a new collision warning system that employs cameras -- instead of the feature's typical sonar tech -- for accident sensing, a video-based adaptive cruise control system and even auto-dimming headlamps. Nothing exactly new for automobiles, but definitely shiny features for the Mini line. For full details on these as well as the new assisted parking system, HUD and more, make sure to hit the PR after the break. Now if you'll excuse us, we're going to shut down the real Napster.
NVIDIA opens Ann Arbor Technology Center focused on car systems
NVIDIA's no stranger to in-car technology, and the company is increasing its commitment to four-wheeled transportation by opening a dedicated automotive office in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The just-opened NVIDIA Technology Center will design driver aids and infotainment systems with the help of car makers that are just a stone's throw away -- the company mentions Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and others as potential clients. We'll likely have to wait a few years to see the new facility bear fruit, but it's already clear that NVIDIA wants to become an integral part of the motoring landscape.
Fujitsu development enables real-time wraparound vehicle view
Fujitsu and automotive safety advancements go hand-in-hand, so it's no shock whatsoever to hear that the outfit is fixing to showcase a new technology that enables wraparound view of vehicles in real-time. The new video-processing technology "adapts to different driving situations, enabling the driver to peripherally view the entire surroundings of a vehicle, from the point of view and field of view that is most appropriate for each driving situation." Obviously, such an inclusion would come in handy when parking downtown, passing on a narrow street and / or watching your back should real life ever mimic something straight out of GTA IV. Unfortunately, there's no word as to when an automaker will begin infusing its automobiles with this here invention, but our insurance premiums are begging for it to be sooner rather than later.[Via AkihabaraNews]
