Car Tech Articles

Editors' note: Portions of this review also appear in our evaluation of the TackForm C-Fit, since that device and the Bracketron Mi-T Grip are almost identical.

They all may look more or less the same, but not all smartphone suction cup mounts are created equally. Some are more flexible, more articulated, or offer a longer reach. Others, like the Bracketron Mi-T Grip place a heavier emphasis on strength and stability -- when it gets its grips on your phone, it'll take more than a casual bump to knock the handset loose.

The Mi-T Grip only has one point of … Read more

The HitCase for iPhone 4/4S boasts of being shockproof and waterproof, but it's not the kind of thing you want to use for your phone from day to day. That is, unless you are an Antarctic explorer.

The black plastic of the HitCase adds considerable bulk to an iPhone 4/4S and somewhat hampers usability. Its angular protuberances make it look lie something that should be hanging from Batman's utility belt.

Industrial metal studs stick out of the sides, letting you push the volume and power buttons.

The HitCase is designed to turn an iPhone into an … Read more

Cadillac once again leads GM's technology efforts, this time with a new drivetrain for its 2014 CTS model. One of this new model's three engine choices will be a direct-injection 3.6-liter V-6, producing 420 horsepower.

The current CTS comes with either a 3-liter or 3.6-liter V-6, both featuring direct injection, outputting 270 horsepower and 318 horsepower respectively. The new CTS comes out with the twin turbo, a revised nonturbo 3.6-liter V-6, and a 2-liter four-cylinder using direct injection and a turbo to produce 272 horsepower.

The danger of using a turbocharger to boost power is … Read more

Scosche's new ControlFreq car stereo, announced today, comes out with a full set of digital audio sources and a Bluetooth hands-free phone system. While competitive stereo offer similar features, the ControlFreq comes up with something new, a smartphone app for remote control.

The ControlFreq is a single DIN stereo, meaning it will fit into just about any car. Its faceplate includes a USB port, aux input, SD card slot, and even a CD slot. It will pair with Bluetooth phones for music streaming and hands-free calls, its built-in microphone supporting the latter feature.

All these features make it quick … Read more

Last year, Land Rover took the wraps off its fully re-engineered, weight-reduced Range Rover. At the upcoming New York International Auto Show the company will unveil the Range Rover Sport edition, traditionally a more powerful, lowered version of Land Rover's big truck.

Land Rover promises a drive through New York as the first public appearance for the new vehicle on Tuesday, March 26.

I picture it something like this: Land Rover, wanting to enter Manhattan in style, sends the driver on a route over the Brooklyn Bridge, surrounded by camera cars. However, due to construction on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, … Read more

After VW squared off the shoulders and flattened the roof of the Volkswagen Beetle coupe in an attempt to inject a bit of masculinity into the model, the fun-loving 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible seems like a bit of a step back toward "cutesiness." That's probably okay, because to be honest, short of moving the engine back to the rear of the vehicle where it belongs, there's not much that VW can do at this point to butch up the Beetle.

So, a chick car it will remain and I suppose that's just fine. Sorry, male … Read more

Everyone knows the dangers of drinking and driving. An unfortunate few choose to ignore them, often with tragic results. A good friend recently lost his nephew to a drunk driver. A member of my temple congregation lost his wife and children to a drunk driver. That same temple later lost its rabbi to a drunk driver. Shall I go on?

Obviously I'd rather not, which is why I fully support any technology that can help prevent such tragedies. Here's a gizmo that might: Indiegogo project Breathometer adds a breathalyzer to your smartphone.

Reminiscent of the Square credit-card reader, … Read more

Hitachi today unveiled a robot vehicle that can pick up and drop off passengers autonomously. Take that, all you old-fashioned driver-dependent personal mobility devices.

The tiny, single-seat Ropits (Robot for Personal Intelligent Transport System) is meant to travel on sidewalks, or even be used indoors for getting in and out of elevators.

It's equipped with GPS to find its way and relies on cameras and 2D and 3D laser distance sensors to avoid obstacles (sometimes also known as pedestrians) and slow down in narrow spaces. Gyro sensors help it stay upright on uneven surfaces. … Read more

What does it actually do? The Automatic Smart Driving Assistant and its companion smartphone app aim to make monitoring your vehicle's performance as simple as monitoring your personal performance with a Fitbit or Nike FuelBand. As you drive, the Automatic sensor monitors your fuel economy, acceleration, deceleration, and speed. At the end of each week, Automatic compiles all of this data via the app and assigns a driving score. At the end of each trip, the app also compares your fuel economy with the EPA estimated values for your particular vehicle and lets you know how much the trip … Read more