Global Crisis

Home » Posts filed under Car Tech Tools

Showing posts with label Car Tech Tools. Show all posts

Audi launches innovative mobility program: Audi on demand

Sunday, May 3, 2015 0 comments

On April 27th, Audi introduced Audi on demand, an innovative mobility program that gives customers a new way to experience the Audi brand and its range of vehicles at the touch of a button. With Audi on demand, customers can reserve an Audi by the day for up to 28 days. The premium service is currently available in San Francisco as part of a beta program and will be rolled out across additional U.S. cities in the coming years.

Audi on demand gives customers access to a wide range of the Audi vehicle lineup, from the Audi A4 sedan to Audi R8 supercar. Via the Audi on demand app – currently available for download in the Apple App store – customers select their preferred Audi model. It is then personally delivered to them at the location of their choice by an Audi on demand concierge, who will help the customer get acquainted with the vehicle, from setting music preferences to tailoring the navigation system. Customers are able to lock and unlock their vehicle, as well as enable driving via the Audi on demand app or via a personal key card. No membership fee is required. Additionally, the vehicle the customer sees and requests in the Audi on demand app will be the same vehicle delivered to them – down to the exact color and trim.

“Audi on demand embodies the brand’s core values of technological progress and a love for discovery,” said Mark Del Rosso, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Audi of America. “The service is rooted in customization, personalization and having the right car for the right moment. While competing services point their customers to vehicles parked on the street, Audi on demand delivers a truly premium experience, with concierges personally delivering and returning vehicles for customers where and when they need them.”

Audi on demand allows fans to match specific vehicles to their driving needs. For example, customers planning a trip to the mountains might request an Audi Q5, while those looking to arrive in style in wine country might request a sporty S7 or RS 5. All Audi on demand vehicles come equipped with Premium Plus trim and complimentary additional features, such as SiriusXM® satellite radio and MMI Navigation plus, as well as quattro® all-wheel drive.

Audi on demand also allows customers to customize their vehicles with several complimentary accessories. Child safety seats are available for all models, and ski racks and bicycle racks are available for the Audi allroad and Q5. Customers have the option of picking up their vehicle or having it delivered to a location of their choosing within the city of San Francisco. These locations could be curbside, outside of a business or residence, or in private off-street parking of any kind, such as a driveway or private parking lot. Since the Audi on demand app features a digital key, repeat customers with private parking have the option of having their vehicle dropped off and picked up at specific delivery times without needing to meet a concierge as they are able to instantly access the vehicle from their smartphone.

Please visit the Apple App Store to download the Audi on demand app and sign up for the waitlist to be one of the first to experience Audi on demand.
For more information on Audi on demand, please visit: www.audiondemand.com. More information about the complete lineup of on demand vehicles can be found at www.audiusa.com.

Audi on demand is just one mobility service offered by Audi that challenges traditional concepts of vehicle ownership and usage. Soon to launch is Audi at home, a premium, collaborative car initiative that refashions mobility as a personalized micro-sharing experience. Located in select premium condominium complexes, residents can utilize their smartphones to access a car share service with an exclusive fleet of Audi vehicles. These include RS models, cabriolets and SUVs, with plans to also feature the all-new Audi A3 Sportback e-tron®, the first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle Audi is making available in the US market. The service allows customers to enjoy the benefits of driving an Audi at their convenience. Rates are hourly and prices vary by model.

First Impression: Lincoln Navigator

Saturday, February 21, 2015 0 comments

I had the opportunity to ride around town in the Lincoln Navigator while I was in LA attending the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Event. I was very impressed with this vehicle because its smooth and powerful and comes equipped with a Twin-Turbocharged 3.5L V6 EcoBoost Engine.

Second-Row Seating

Comes standard without console for easier access to third row
Or get bucket seats with center console
Or get a bench and seating for eight
Bucket seats are heated with two settings

Best-In-Class Third Row Leg Room

Rear seat passengers enjoy first-class comfort.

Best-in-class third-row leg room
Standard PowerFold^® third-row seat with true fold-flat design

Vehicle Highlights:

16 city/22 hwy/18 combined mpg (Navigator 4x2) 15 city/20 hwy/17 combined mpg (Navigator L 4x2) 15 city/20 hwy/17 combined mpg (Navigator 4x4) 15 city/19 hwy/16 combined mpg (Navigator L 4x4)

Maximum Seating Capacity: 8

Wheels Available 20-inch polished aluminum
20-inch dark finish aluminum
22-inch polished aluminum

Transmissions 6-Speed Automatic Transmission with SelectShift

61,920 Starting MSRP

I have to thank Lincoln Motor Company for a great experience in LA!

Three new NissanConnect Mobile Apps available in equipped Nissans now

Tuesday, January 20, 2015 0 comments

Nissan drivers will be more connected than ever in 2015 with NissanConnect℠ Mobile Apps – Nissan's global connected services platform – offering Twitter® and TripAdvisor® along with the launch of iOS support for Pandora®. These latest additions to NissanConnect Mobile Apps join an already-established list including Facebook, Google and iHeartRadio.

These important additions further strengthen NissanConnect Mobile Apps, which was named the Telematics Detroit 2014 Industry Newcomer Award Winner in June.

NissanConnect Mobile Apps is an innovative infotainment system that uses driver's smartphones to help drivers stay in touch with the outside world and personalize their driving experience. NissanConnect Mobile Apps is currently featured in many Nissan vehicles, including the Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Frontier, JUKE, Versa Note and Versa Sedan.

Infiniti commemorates 25 years of first-ever technologies at 2014 L.A. Auto Show

Wednesday, November 19, 2014 0 comments

Infiniti Motor Company, Ltd. is commemorating its 25th year anniversary with a look forward to the future with the Q80 Inspiration Concept. Making its North American debut at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Q80 Inspiration Concept foreshadows the next generation of leading Infiniti technologies.

In its brief 25 year history, Infiniti was the first automaker to offer many technologies which are now common, including RearView Monitor, Around View® Monitor, Lane Departure Warning and more. Many of these technologies are now offered on every Infiniti model. A comprehensive list can be found at http://www.infinitiusa.com/now/technology/.

Meet the 2015 Buick Regal With OnStar 4G LTE Technology

Friday, July 25, 2014 0 comments

On Thursday July 24th I got an up-close look at the all-new Buick Regal With OnStar 4G LTE Technology. Yes. It’s a Buick. And its has a Wi-Fi Hotspot inside of it — a powerful available Wi-Fi connection that travels with you at 4G LTE speeds. Keep everyone connected with up-to-the-second news, weather, traffic and travel info. Keep everyone happy with streamed movies, music and games.

This feature, provided by OnStar, allows for greater information and entertainment to be streamed to the vehicles, and at faster speeds than previously possible. It also enables a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot capable of connecting up to seven devices in and around the vehicle.

Here’s what you can expect:

Easily connected. Amazingly simple.

Any time your vehicle is on, your hotspot is available and ready to connect to your devices, so it's easy to use. With Buick's stronger signal you have a fast and reliable connection. And because the built-in Wi-Fi hotspot is powered by your vehicle, you don't have to worry about your mobile device battery.

The new features build on the vehicle-wide enhancements introduced in 2014,
making the European-bred midsize sedan a smarter choice for customers seeking
technology-infused performance matched with the brand’s signature luxury and
refinement.

Every 2015 model offered with OnStar 4G LTE will also come with Buick AppShop, a feature of IntelliLink. Through Buick AppShop, owners can use their 4G LTE connection to download apps and stream data – such as Internet radio playlists – through the in-vehicle interface.

In collaboration with AT&T, the data connection in the car will be fast – and flexible. Current AT&T customers can add their vehicle to a shareable bucket of data through AT&T Mobile Share plans.

Pricing for Buick 4G LTE service from OnStar starts at $5/Mo.

For more information about Buick Vehicles: Visit www.buick.com/

Use Technology to Track Your Maintenance

Monday, July 21, 2014 0 comments

Manually keeping up with your car maintenance can be very tedious. Here are a few apps you can try to make that process a little easier.

Road Trip (iOS) is probably one of the most robust mileage and maintenance tracking apps for iOS available. Tracking fill-ups and mileage is super-fast, as is adding maintenance history, expenses, and reminders for future work. The app has a tire log to track summer and winter wear on your tires, and supports other vehicles like boats and motorcycles. You can track as many vehicles as you like, too. The lite version gives you a taste, but the full version will set you back $5 for the iPhone or the iPad (it's not a universal app, so you'll have to buy it twice for both platforms.)

Car Maintenance Reminder (Android) is a free app that will keep track of your fuel efficiency, cost, and mileage, but also gives you a place to track all of the maintenance and repairs you have done to your vehicle. You can add notes, costs, and of course, get notifications and reminders when you should get some work done. The free version tracks one vehicle. If you have more than one, the $3 pro version is for you.

AutoCare (iOS/Android): AutoCare has been around for a while, and does a pretty good job of tracking your vehicle's maintenance history, mileage, repair history, service expensives, and more. You can even use it to remind you when it's time to get something specific done so you won't forget. Plus, it supports multiple vehicles. It'll set you back $4 for iOS users, and $2 for Android users.

Car Minder Plus (iOS) is another good, simple app for tracking your mileage and your vehicle maintenance. You get presets for things like oil filters, air filters, belt inspections, and oil changes, and you can enter in your own maintenance work and expenses to the log to keep track of what you've had done. From there, enter in your service intervals, and the app uses simple red/yellow/green indicators to tell you when it's time to get that work done. The app will cost you $3.

aCar (Android) is free, and one of the most popular Android apps for tracking vehicle maintenance and mileage. Tracking fill-ups and mileage is quick, entering in your maintenance history and expenses is easy, and you can even enter specific notes or information about parts you prefer or that your vehicle requires. The app notifies you based on time and/or mileage when you should have work done, and supports custom notifications. aCar Pro adds in multiple languages, home screen widgets for quick access to data and logging, and connections to other popular car apps and websites, all for $6.

Article Source: LifeHacker

Nissan creates "world's cleanest car" – a zero emissions Nissan LEAF with self-cleaning nano-paint technology

Wednesday, July 9, 2014 0 comments

What do you get when you combine the world's best-selling zero emission vehicle with innovative paint technology that repels mud, rain and everyday dirt? Answer: a very special Nissan LEAF electric vehicle that might just be the "world's cleanest car."

Created to demonstrate its potential use in future production vehicles, this Nissan LEAF's exterior was treated with a specially engineered superhydrophobic and oleophobic paint that is designed to repel water and oils.

The "self-cleaning" paint, called Ultra-Ever Dry®, creates a protective layer of air between the paint and environment, effectively stopping standing water and road spray from creating dirty marks on the LEAF's surface. Nissan is one of the first carmakers to apply this technology to a vehicle.

The coating, which is being marketed and sold by UltraTech International Inc., has been undergoing testing by engineers at Nissan Technical Center Europe. So far it has responded well to common-use cases including rain, spray, frost, sleet and standing water.

While there are currently no plans for the technology to be applied to Nissan vehicles as standard equipment, Nissan will continue to consider the coating technology as a future aftermarket option. For the North American demonstration, the paint is featured on a white Nissan LEAF.

Read the complete release on NissanNews.com

2015 Infiniti QX80 Limited offers unique styling, highest level of premium comfort and technology ever

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 0 comments

The new 2015 Infiniti QX80 Limited is destined to be unlike any Infiniti SUV ever when it launches in late 2014 in the United States. With restricted production, the Limited lives up to its name with an extensive menu of exclusive features, including an upgraded level of craftsmanship surpassing even the high standards of "ordinary" QX80s.

The new Infiniti QX80 Limited starts with a fully equipped 2015 QX80 – which receives a major redesign for the model year itself – then adds subtle exterior upgrades and an interior that wouldn't be out of place in an ultra-executive boardroom or private jet.

"The new QX80 Limited occupies a unique place in the luxury SUV market, offering an ultra-luxury interior in a 3-row/7-passenger contemporary platform," said Infiniti Americas President Michael Bartsch. "Our new Limited answers the demand from QX80 owners for a vehicle that is more sophisticated but not over-the-top – and one that remains at its core pure Infiniti. It's a combination that should also attract many new ultra-luxury buyers to the Infiniti brand."

Read the complete release on InfinitiNews.com

HOW TO: Plug A Tire

Sunday, March 30, 2014 0 comments

So on Friday I made an early run to Ikea came home and hours later I had a flat tire. Thankfully my dad was planning to come over to my house and he noticed it. We went to Auto Zone and purchased the Slime/Tire Plug Kit $5.79 [ I highly recommend purchasing this and having it in your Emergency Kit]

Pictured below is the culprit the screw that caused my flat tire

My dad removed the screw and started the repair process.

Slime Tire Plug Kit x Instructions x Video

Video courtesy of:

Apple Introduces CarPlay

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 0 comments

Apple introduced their latest innovation at the Geneva International Motor Show: CarPlay. Described as "the smarter, safer and more fun way to use iPhone® in the car," it will allow iPhone users to make calls, use Maps, listen to music and access messages with a word or a touch.

Once your iPhone is connected to a vehicle with CarPlay integration, Siri helps you easily access your contacts, make calls, return missed calls or listen to voicemails. When incoming messages or notifications arrive, Siri provides an eyes-free experience by responding to requests through voice commands, by reading drivers' messages and letting them dictate responses or simply make a call. CarPlaySet to premiere in vehicles from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo this week, and will continue with the release in additional auto manufacturers in the coming months. The CarPlay app will be available as an update to iOS 7, and in select cars shipping in 2014.