First Installation of the New iPad Mini in a Car

Sure Apple's new iPad Mini might have some shortcomings including its smaller, 7.9-inch non-Retina Display and a steep price tag, but in regards to its footprint, it looks like it could be the perfect fit for automotive applications.

No sooner than it landed on the market, an audio system specialist from Florida named "Soundwaves of Tampa" went ahead to become the first company in the field to install the tablet in a car and specifically, on a 2012 Toyota Corolla sedan.

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Watch BMW's Optional M Performance Steering Wheel with Race Display in Action

Some might say it is a yet another gimmick and a distraction or one more electronic accessory to worry about, but BMW and German motorsports expert and race driver Tim Schrick, beg to differ claiming that the firm's M Performance Steering Wheel with a race display is what the doctor ordered for enthusiasts. Read more »

New EU Tyre Labeling System Comes into Effect, States Consumption, Wet Grip and Noise

It’s true that the current series of letters and numbers on the side walls of the tyres can be confusing to the average buyer, who relies on his tyre provider or a friend’s recommendation when the time comes to change his or her vehicle’s OEM rubber.

That’s why, effective November 1, a new labeling system has been introduced in the European Union. The goal is to inform consumers of the characteristics of each type of tyre and make driving more cost effective, quieter and safer.

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Nissan Builds First €500,000 Juke R with 545HP for Client, Makes Some Minor Changes to the Design

The wildest crossover ever to make the transition from concept to production, the new limited run Nissan Juke R that utilizes a modified version of the GT-R's platform and twin-turbo engine, is ready to be placed into the hands of a select few customers.

Nissan announced today that the first Juke-R road car has been built and tested and is now on its way be delivered to its new owner, adding that production of car No002 is "well underway".

The Japanese carmaker said that the exact price of the Juke R's depend on the precise specification requested by each buyer, but noted that it starts from a whopping €500,000 (about US$652,500) a pop, or more than five times the cost of a GT-R in Europe (6.5 times in the U.S.).

The street-legal, production version of the Juke R is more powerful than the 485bhp concept, as Nissan used the latest GT-R's 545bhp twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter engine that allows for an estimated 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 275km/h (171mph).

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Aussie-Based Carbon Revolution Creates the World’s First One-Piece Carbon Fiber Rim

Companies all over the world seem hell-bent on bringing carbon fiber and its weight and strength advantages into the hands of the everyday motorist.

After Ford’s display of a prototype CFRP bonnet earlier this week, Australian-based company Carbon Revolution launched the CR9, the world’s first one-piece production carbon fiber wheel.

Carbon Revolution says that this is the result of “nearly a decade” of research and development. The benefits in weight and rigidity have been established both by its own testing as well as with premium European OEMs.

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Ford Shows Prototype CFRP Bonnet, Wants to Introduce Carbon Fiber to Mass Production Cars

Carbon fiber is up to five times as strong as steel, twice as stiff, and one-third the weight, which is why it has been widely used in aerospace applications and in the construction of racing cars.

Production models make use of this material as well; that is, if you consider a McLaren MP4-12C, a Pagani Huayra or a Ferrari Enzo a regular “production car". Carbon fiber is very expensive and takes a lot of time to produce, but those companies can afford to price their products accordingly.

The problem is that, so far, no manufacturer or supplier has managed to reduce its cost to a level that would make it suitable for regular, mass production vehicles.

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Experts Warn Security and Privacy Issues Must Be Resolved Before Autonomous Cars Can Hit the Road

On September 26, California Governor Jerry Brown signed law SB 1298, which will allow self-driving cars on the Golden State’s roads. The Governor, as well as Google that has been testing the technology for some time now, announced that, under the new law, “science fiction becomes tomorrow’s reality”, to quote Brown.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, however, whose members account for 77 percent of all passenger car and light-truck sales in the U.S., believes that even though many carmakers like GM, VW and BMW are jumping on the autonomous vehicle bandwagon, there are still many unresolved issues.

“If the state’s intention is to promote autonomous vehicles, all the concerns –like liability- need to be properly addressed in advance, or we can expect a bumpy road ahead”, read a statement released by the Alliance.

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Cadillac Details Refreshed 2013 SRX's Rear Seat Entertainment Package with CUE

One of the key highlights of the 2013 model year Cadillac SRX is the addition of the firm's new CUE infotainment system incorporating touch-screen controls, but it isn’t the only new feature to be offered on the subtly updated crossover. Read more »

New GM App Shows Chevy Volt Owners the Real Cost of Charging Their Hybrid at Home

Plug-in hybrid vehicles claim to be much more fuel efficient, and thus cheaper to run, than regular models powered only by international combustion engines.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch, though; in the case of plug-in hybrids, you have to factor in the energy consumed to charge the battery at your home, which adds to the electricity bill.

General Motors’ OnStar service is currently testing an application that will inform Chevrolet Volt owners about the cost of charging their extended-range plug-in hybrid.

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