ford

Experimental brake lights wirelessly communicate with other vehicles

Your car's brake lights are simple, right? You step on the big pedal, the red lights on your vehicle's tail illuminate, and drivers behind you can see that you're slowing down. But what if your next car's brake lights could let drivers who aren't in line of sight know that you're slowing; what if they could let drivers rounding a bend know that you're slowed or stopped on the other side?

That's Ford's vision for its experimental Electronic Brake Light technology -- an odd moniker, as all brake lights are typically … Read more

110 years ago, the Model A got Ford into gear

The road to becoming one of the innovators of American manufacturing wasn't always smooth for Henry Ford.

Ford tried and failed many times before establishing the Ford Motor Company -- which proved to have some longevity -- and producing the Model A, which first came off the assembly line 110 years ago this week. In a coincidence of round numbers, it was also 150 years ago this July that Henry Ford was born.

Fighting a poor public perception of motor-driven carriages in the 1890s, Ford captured the public's attention by racing his cars, setting records, and engaging a … Read more

Automakers embrace online music apps

Just about every new car comes with a USB port and Bluetooth streaming, letting you bring in digital-audio devices and play music through the car's stereo. But many people have already moved from stored media to online music services.

Automakers are just beginning to keep up, integrating existing online music services with new models.

Click through for the full photo gallery and more details.

Not only can a built-in interface for an online music service make a car more attractive to a devotee of that service, but it also provides a safer interface. Where a Pandora fan might hook … Read more

Gawker raises $200K to buy video of Toronto mayor allegedly smoking crack

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has been having a lousy week, and it may have gotten much worse.

Gawker's "Crackstarter" campaign on Indiegogo has reached its goal of raising $200,000 to buy a drug dealer's video allegedly showing Ford smoking crack cocaine and post it online.

The gossip Web site's John Cook and journalists from The Toronto Star say they have seen footage in which Ford is smoking crack with drug dealers. … Read more

LinkedIn pushes news with Channels

CNET Update is big on Mars:

In this edition of Update:

- LinkedIn is pushing personalized business news to users with Channels on LinkedIn Today. The professional social network has been busy lately with the acquisition of Pulse and adding the ability to put images and video in profiles.

- Windows 8 users could see the Start button again someday, according to a Windows executive.

- Ford's Sync system now works with the Amazon Cloud Player iOS app, so iPhone owners can stream music from their Amazon cloud storage.

- If you can't go to Mars, at least … Read more

Ford cars now sync with Amazon Cloud Player on iOS

Amazon's Cloud Player for iOS is now available in Ford Sync AppLink-equipped cars, a few months after the Android version hit the market, the Internet giant said Wednesday.

Ford owners can wirelessly connect the Amazon MP3 app on their iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to the Sync connectivity system to access their entire music library using voice commands or dashboard controls.

Android users have been able to use the app in Ford cars since February.

Carmakers have pushed infotainment as one way to attract new buyers, and it allows app makers to reach consumers in more locations. Ford earlier … Read more

Harrison Ford storms out of 'Kimmel,' confronted by 'Star Wars' characters

It's not often you see a bearded Princess Leia. At least not in the circles I normally run in.

Yet when Harrison Ford appeared on Wednesday's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," he was confronted by the sight of people who had taken their "Star Wars" devotion to places where Captain Kirk would not be so bold to venture.

Ford explained to Jimmy Kimmel that he couldn't, positively wouldn't, answer questions about the new "Star Wars" movie -- yes, the one that George Lucas hinted Ford might appear in.

Still, Kimmel politely wondered … Read more

Five stylish cars for the everyday driver

Cars such as Ferraris and Maseratis look beautiful, but unless you live in Monaco you rarely see them on the road. However, there are everyday cars, much more affordable than the exotics, that still offer striking design. These are the cars you are more likely to see -- and notice -- in your local grocery market parking lot. They also illustrate the fact that nice design does not have to be expensive.… Read more

Detroit Electric launches SP:01: A Tesla rival

Little-known -- but storied-brand -- Detroit Electric has launched its electric alternative to the Tesla.

The SP:01 is a limited-edition, two-seat pure-electric sports car, according to the company's announcement today.

With its Lotus Elise-like design, the SP:01 boasts a top speed of 155 mph and goes from 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds.

Other marquee features of the SP:01:

Electric motor: rear-wheel-drive with a mid-mounted 200 bhp electric motor made in the USA. Body: carbon-fiber body, with a total weight of 1,070 kg (2,359 pounds). Driving range: With a power rating of 37 kWh, the … Read more

Ford puts a $50,000 bounty on fuel efficiency apps

If you've got an idea for a great app that encourages increased fuel economy, Ford might have a check with your name on it. The American automaker has announced that it is sponsoring a $50,000 Personalized Fuel Efficiency App Challenge to mobile and Web-app developers.

Apps that meet the challenge should make use of data from Ford's Android-powered OpenXC platform, which is able to send over a dozen different measurements from the host vehicle to connected third-party hardware and software in real-time, including the steering angle, GPS position, and vehicle speed. Challenge apps will be judged on … Read more