GTSOTR REVIEW - Dodge Charger Vehicle App

Dodge Charger vehicle info iPhone application - AppStoreHQ

During last week's podcast we mentioned that Dodge had put its owner's manual into an iPhone app. Right after the show I downloaded the app to my now 16gb ipod touch 3G and "tested" it out over the weekend.

While I don't think that Dodge has done anything revolutionary in putting their owner's manual into an app (see what Hyundai did) it is a nice step in the right direction. You have quick access to the most popular and important features, along with safety tips and directions for most of the stuff that you can take care of on your own without having to call AAA. Having the quick searchable access, vibrant photos and helpful videos all on your phone/tab/device is a great and helpful feature that I expect all automakers to embrace in the next couple of years.

This one is very basic but it still beats getting the owners manual case out of my door, then actually grabbing the manual from the case, watching all of the over stuff that is in the case fall out, checking the table of contents and finding the page with your problem and/or question.

Even if you don't own a Dodge Charger, it may be worth to take a look at this app and see if this is something you want for your vehicle. It would definitely clear up some space on my driver's side door which is currently overflowing with my manual and all of the extra stuff that I will probably never use.

Like iPhones, Flat-Screen TVs and Electric Vehicles, This Podcast Will Be Big, Eventually

All-electric cars and extended-range electric vehicles are going to be as relatively popular as iPhones and flat-screen TVs, according to Fisker's CEO. Seem reasonable to you?

Meanwhile, Tesla is going to expand it's model range to include a SUV.

Ferrari FF

Technology is going to help with improving safe driving as much as propulsion according to NHTSA's chief. Cars that talk to each other are probably the biggest advance coming.

Dodge may be running some terrible ads, but they are getting smartphone savvy.

High-speed trains are getting whipsawed by competing party agendas. David has a problem with car taxes subsidizing bus travel.

Dallas cab drivers are upset about a natural-gas initiative and could make travel a bit more difficult for Super Bowl travelers.

Hot Wheels has added technology to its classic design, building a digital movie camera and screen into some of its cars.

Finally, Ferrari rolled out a new design, the FF. It's a little weird, but it works.

Dallas cab drivers are upset about a natural-gas initiative and could make travel a bit more difficult for Super Bowl travelers.

Hot Wheels has added technology to its classic design, building a digital movie camera and screen into some of its cars.

Finally, Ferrari rolled out a new design, the FF. It's a little weird, but it works.

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Dealers Hold MyFord Touch Classes for Confused Owners

I know that the infotainment systems in cars are getting more features and therefore a bit more complicated but do people really need a class to operate their car stereos?!?!?!? Honestly, sit in the car (while parked obviously) and just play. You'll have fun and discover most of the features that you would ever need and maybe a few more. If that doesn't work, let your kids play, they'll figure it out.

Dealers holding MyFord Touch classes for confused car owners

Hot Wheels Video Racer has a VGA camera under its hood, confirms that kids have it all -- Engadget

Hot Wheels Video Racer has a VGA camera under its hood, confirms that kids have it all -- Engadget

Where were these awesome times when I was growing up? I mean, I know there was no chance that they were around for David, but this seems like something that could have been done in the late 80's.

Gadget This Show on the Road

Are you worried that you'll lose your keys and get your car stolen? You should be. New research found that the key fob systems that broadcast their location to the car and automatically unlock the doors and allow the vehicle to start can be easily fooled.

Volvo doesn't even need a driver for their new caravan technology that allows multiple vehicles to track the leader through computers and sensors.

Designers are looking to maximize space without adding length, the NYTimes writes. That is good because we are spending more time in our cars or commuting.

This was a high-tech automotive gadget

That means we want better audio experiences and systems from JVC, Sony, Harmon and Oxygen Audio aim to integrate gadgets with vehicles.

Rental car companies are giving electric car drivers a break by not charging them money for turning in an uncharged battery. While Washington State is installing high-speed chargers on scenic byways as well as urban areas.

Finally, there are some opportunities at the bargain end of the collector car market as the fall auctions in Arizona kick off this week.

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Delivering Our Own Keynote Podcast for the Detroit Auto Show

Hyundai Veloster at the NAIAS

The Detroit auto show is underway (technically the North American International Auto Show) so we get down to business discussing the coolest concepts and the most interesting new production vehicles.

As always, the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards were given out and no surprise the Chevrolet Volt took the car category. the Ford Explorer nabbed the truck award against weak competition.

The show was more exciting and vibrant than years past, and Chrysler was part of that. After a year under Fiat's stewardship, the auto maker showed a new 300 sedan and announced that the Italian company was taking a larger stake.

Last week, CES was taken over by the car companies. And they are bringing back the heads up display but with lasers.

Traffic is so bad in Beijing that they might start zapping cars with lasers. Until then, the Chinese government has banned car sales in the city while they implement a lottery.

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Watch a Tesla Roadster Get Charged Wirelessly

Watch a Tesla Roadster Get Charged Wirelessly

Now this is wireless car charging, unlike the GM news concerning Powermat.

This Is Every Batmobile Ever

This Is Every Batmobile Ever


I think one of my favorites was from Batman the Animated Series back in the 90's.



Via: CarInsurance.org

GM invests $5 million in Powermat, says wireless charging headed to Volt in 2012 -- Engadget

UPDATE - I should probably read the articles a bit closer. This would just install powermats in the center console for charging phones and stuff. Meh. My idea was better.

I tried powermats before for Xbox 360 controllers and did not have a good experience. I think with something as important as "fuelling" your car, you want to plug it in and ensure that you're actually getting charged.

But if this does work as well as they say, could we see driveways and garages rebuilt with charging mats?



GM invests $5 million in Powermat, says wireless charging headed to Volt in 2012 -- Engadget

Video: Group B Monsters. Rally Car Racing at Its Apex

I'm a sucker for beautifully shot automotive films. This is a short film with great music highlighting the hyper-powerful Group B rally cars of the early 1980s. Much like the turbo-powered Formula One cars of the same time period, these vehicles were far more powerful than most humans -- and the chassis technology -- could handle.

It's the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl of Automotive Podcasts

While maybe not the Super Bowl of auto news, it was a big day for car sales, with the totals for 2010 coming in, plus December's strong monthly report. The big winners last year were GM and Hyundai, but as WSJ points out, the U.S. auto market is changing with feisty competition becoming the norm. The list of most popular car models was full of yawns.

The car market is a changing.

Toyota was the big loser for the year and in December as it lost share amid the recall scandals and failed to excite buyers with significant new models. Still, the company is betting big on the Prius brand becoming its anchor over the next decade.

Toyota is at CES this week and showed a rather uninspired infotainment device it will be rolling out over the next year called Entune.

GM is taking OnStar to Best Buy with a new mirror that can be installed as an aftermarket device on most vehicles but David thinks the hefty subscription fees will limit sales growth.

Finally, we share our PVIs from last week which included the ultimate failure by the luxobarge and a snOMG for the Tuscon.

GetThisShowOnTheRoad, Jan 5, 2011.mp3

Goodbye Mercury

Production of Mercury vehicles ended last week as Ford moved to trim the underperforming brand that had been starved of interesting products for some time.

As a coincidental send-off, a colleague brought in a bunch of antique Mercury and Ford brochures, some from the 1964 World's Fair in New York where the Ford Mustang was unveiled.

As a send-off here is a photo I snapped of these beautiful pamphlets.

Goodbye to Mercury, the brand named for the god of speed.

Mercury brochures from 1964

Volvo Lover Sticker: The Moose Is Loose

Came across this image on a nice Volvo V50 wagon. Clever use of the Lamborghini logo design.

Moose is loose