Car Tech Podcast

125: New mini rides from BMW and Mazda?

Brian Cooley — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:00:55 PDT

Has the U.S. auto industry finally hit bottom? U.S. will get a new small SUV from BMW -- and perhaps a new mini Miata. Plus, we take you for a ride in a really nice car that could be sooo much better.

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SHOW NOTES

The BMW X1 will come to the U.S., slotted beneath the X3 as a utility stablemate to the 1 Series.

(Credit: BMW of North America, LLC)

• How Toyota's geared CVT works -- see an animation

• Fiat's 500 will come to the U.S., but not stablemates

• See BMW's new fuel, weather and stocks screen

• Diesel cars that have been yanked from production

• BMW 7 Series will come in xDrive and M flavored versions

124: What will you trade in for a big check?

Brian Cooley — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:09:00 PDT

Cash for gas guzzlers becomes law--how many loopholes? The Chevy Volt is taking shape, literally. Is Porsche thinking of something cheaper than a Boxster? Pioneer wants to use WiMax to stream to your car. And we drive the cheapest Land Rover you can buy.

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SHOW NOTES

The Chevy Volt is taking shape--might GM really deliver this thing on time?

(Credit: General Motors)

• Cash for Gas Guzzlers signed into law

• Audi will evangelize diesel all summer

• Chevy Volt prototype seems to be shaping up

• Pioneer sees WiMax streaming your home to your car

• First true GPS nav app for the iPhone?

123: A new U.S. car company--do you buy it?

Brian Cooley — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:42:00 PDT

A new car company in Louisiana, the latest on the Cash for Clunkers law, a car gadget that will prove you're an idiot, and a ride in a little hot rod we don't really like.

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SHOW NOTES

A black box in your car--brilliant, or damning?

(Credit: KCI Communications)

• Cash for Clunkers: What you need to know

• New car company starts up in Louisiana

• 3D maps and more impress us in the Eclipse AVN726e

• Homer Simpson can be the voice of your TomTom

• Put a video "black box" in your car?

122: Why Mercedes' S550 annoys us with tech!

Brian Cooley — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:33:00 PDT

Did Saab just become a high tech supercar? BMW rewrites the rules for voice command, thankfully. Airbags in places you wouldn't believe. And a ride in a big, comfy, annoying Mercedes!

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SHOW NOTES

Mercedes ESF 2009 safety car has airbags in goofy places and people in foil suits loving it.

(Credit: Mercedes-Benz)

• Mercedes ESF 2009 safety car

• iPhone will finally get real turn-by-turn navigation

• BMW to dramatically ease voice command in cars

• GM opens up major new battery plant

• Kenwood DNX6140 nav head unit

121: Hummer & Saturn sold, new mini cars to hit the U.S.

Brian Cooley — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:36:00 PDT

Hummer and Saturn get new parents, new mini cars are coming to the U.S., we learn what consumers really want in car tech, and we roll in a new hybrid sedan we really like.

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Show notes

Hummer goes to the Chinese, Saturn to Roger Penske. It's a whole new day.

(Credit: Hummer, Saturn)

• Fiat 500 coming Chrysler stores

• Hummer sold, Humvee is not!

• Saturn sold to Roger Penske

• Mitsubishi i-MIEV electric car goes on sale soon

• Belkin FM transmitter uses GPS to find open frequencies

120: A ride in Lexus' HS 250h 'economy luxury' car

Brian Cooley — Sat, 30 May 2009 12:12:00 PDT

A ride in Lexus first "luxury economy car," GPS maps that don't look like maps, you won't believe what Audi has in mind for the R8, and GM gets bundled up for a swift reorganization to the tune of $30 billion!

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SHOW NOTES

Lexus HS 250h is heralded (by them) as a "luxury economy" car. How very our times!

(Credit: Lexus)

• Lexus HS 250h first impressions

• TeleAtlas starts offering photorealistic GPS nav imagery

• VW dealers will sell Garmin GPS nav devices

• Audi R8 convertible, EV on the way?

• Tesla does a recall, makes housecalls

119: Hydrogen is back. Can it catch up with Hybrids and EVs?

Brian Cooley — Sat, 23 May 2009 12:15:00 PDT

Obama talks GM, but leaves out the "B" word. Hydrogen is back this week; will it stay? And the new version of Microsoft SYNC is out; we'll tell you what it does and if your Ford can get it. Plus, a ride in a hotted-up Lexus.

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SHOW NOTES

The Lexus IS 350, hotted up with toys from the Lexus F catalog. Meow!

(Credit: CNET.com)

• CNET Video: Cooley drives the Lexus IS350

• Hydrogen Road Tour 2009

• Check here to upgrade SYNC in your FoMoCo vehicle

• Antuan gets a first look at the Lexus IS C ragtop

• HCCI engines explained

118: What will 12 percent of new cars have in 2010?

Brian Cooley — Sat, 16 May 2009 22:16:00 PDT

An electric Ford is coming, but at what price? Two tricks that will make an Audi use less gas. We also tell you what 12 percent of new cars will have next year. Plus, ride in a car with the wrong name on the badge!

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SHOW NOTES

Better Place automatic battery changing station in Yokohama, Japan.

(Credit: Better Place)

• CNET drives the Audi A6 3.0T Sedan

• Ford admits electric Focus will have limited appeal

• Watch automatic battery changing station in action

• OnStar uses Microsoft Virtual Earth to find where you crashed

• Comparison: Gas engine vs. Diesel (from TruckTrend.com)

117: Did the hydrogen car just die?

Brian Cooley — Sat, 09 May 2009 12:41:00 PDT

Did hydrogen cars just blow up? GM's closer to unloading Saturn, but also to keeping part of it. One less GPS nav brand to contend with. And, we get a lot of stares in this week's test car.

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SHOW NOTES

The Nissan Cube. "Mobile Device"? Really?

(Credit: Nissan USA)

• First look at the Nissan Cube

• Yet another EV comes out of the woodwork

• Will the 370Z go hybrid?

• Fisker Karma now has batteries

• Toshiba ruggedized auto grade hard drives

116: Get 80+ mpg from your hybrid!

Brian Cooley — Sat, 02 May 2009 12:40:00 PDT

The big week comes for Chrysler: bankruptcy and a shotgun marriage to Fiat, how you might get 80 mpg out of your current hybrid, and are four-cylinder engines on the way back for Mercedes and BMW?

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SHOW NOTES

The PAL-V flying car. How stupid.

(Credit: PAL-V)

• BMW 650i convertible review and video

• 81 mpg Ford Fusion Hybrid--You can, too!

• Scosche SolChat solar Bluetooth speakerphone

• Cobtra BT-200: Bluetooth for the wet and muddy

• Some heavy duty hybrid trucks