Car Tech

CNET Car Tech: 2011 Scion tC

The Scion tC is neither sporty car nor econobox but it is sort of a handsome thing, as Scions go. Brian Cooley takes you for a drive to check the tech. And you can read CNET's full written review here.

CNET Car Tech: 2011 Toyota Camry SE

Well, its my first car video of 2011, and it starts off appropriately, I guess, with the best-selling car in the U.S.: the 2011 Toyota Camry SE. From humble beginnings...let's check the tech.

Car Tech Live 201: How much do we have to pay you to buy an electric car? (podcast)

How much do we have to pay you to buy an electric car? Ferrari does its first AWD hatchback! You might actually get your Nissan Leaf before you die. Plus, we drive the Scion tC.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 201 SHOW NOTES

• Ferrari FF is an AWD hatchback

• Electric car tax credit could become a rebate

• Wireless carriers offer to block your phone while you're driving--for a fee

• XM Sirius want permission to rate subscription rate

• Share your car to make money?

• CNET's LOL cars gallery!… Read more

Top 5 Tech Cars

Sure, smartphones, tablets, and Netbooks are fun, but when you really want to impress the neighbors you bring one of these home: The Top 5 high tech cars CNET has reviewed, ranked by their popularity among users like you.

You can find the full videos of all these and hundreds of other cars I've played with at CNET Car Tech.

Use your own voice on your Garmin Nuvi

Any GPS device worth its salt will come preloaded with a number of prerecorded voices for speaking turn-by-turn directions aloud. But how many words does your GPS device know; what if you don't like any of them; or what if your language isn't available? Traditionally, you'd be stuck searching for and purchasing professionally recorded voice packages, but if you own a Garmin Nuvi, you can use a free application from Garmin called Voice Studio to record your own voice prompts. Here's how it's done.

Before you get started, you'll need a PC running Windows … Read more

Panasonic robot mascot off to Le Mans

Panasonic wants to prove that its AA alkaline Evolta batteries are the best in the world--even though it already has a certificate from Guinness World Records.

The electronics giant plans to send its 12-inch Evolta robot car in France, where it will race around part of the Le Mans endurance circuit for as long as possible.

Evolta batteries have a 10-year shelf life. Panasonic boasts they're the longest-lasting batteries of their kind in the world.

Built of carbon fiber over an aluminum frame, the Evolta robot car (more like a tricycle) travels at a blinding top speed of 0.… Read more

Daily Debrief: Tesla and California commit to green car tech

The fact that both California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom have added their names to the Tesla Roadster waiting list shows a serious Golden State commitment to the green technology behind the $100,000 sports car. On Monday, the company returned some of the love by announcing that it would be building its sedan manufacturing plant somewhere in Northern California. According to CNET Car Tech Senior Editor Wayne Cunningham, whom I spoke with in the Daily Debrief, this move is a win for both the company and the state.

Tesla Motors is currently headquartered in the … Read more

Chrysler takes Wi-Fi on the road

Chrysler is turning cars and trucks into wireless hot spots.

The company announced Thursday a new feature that will let people purchase a "Uconnect" in-car wireless system as part of a dealer upgrade in 20 various 2009 Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep models.

The system offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity within the car to allow people to sync their cell phone address books with the car's 30GB hard drive or control their Apple iPods using the radio and steering wheel controls. And it provides navigation and real-time traffic features that can be controlled by voice recognition or a … Read more

Wanna buy a Prius? It'll cost you

With gas over $4 per gallon, on average, across the country, there is now a carpet bagger economy on the Toyota Prius.

Many dealers will still sell a new one at MSRP, but you are likely to wait 10 to 12 weeks before seeing a car. Yes, if you act quickly you can buy a used Prius, but this is where the real price gouging occurs. Case in point, a basic 2007 Prius with no options and 29,000 miles will cost you around $27,000. If you bought a brand-new car identical to this in 2007, it would have … Read more