Car Tech Live 187: Distracted driving: What's the real story?

Distracted driving what's the real story. Jaguar looks into a hybrid -- exotic want to BMWs slaps an iPad behind your head. A couple new apps -- you slap lousy drivers upside the head. We'll drive the 2010 sign on XP. That's right we'll do that and more and we'll do it solo. The -- -- books but. -- here. That's about -- not to minimize -- -- at the controls but he's got his hands full of that stuff and I'm here with no there and planes -- he's on his way to the Paris motor show will be covering acts will be sending -- there's them. And -- -- marketable the of these out. So they got the obesity and having all the last two weeks of thanks to win and -- recovering from me and thank you Mitchell for being there. No matter who's here so let's get into -- -- who's going on -- car -- this week first of all interesting story right distracted driving and others as big summit that the feds were holding this week. About distracted motoring and one of the first things he came out was the -- had to admit. The new department of transportation statistics indicate -- most recent year 2009. -- distracted driving deaths went down. 6%. That kind of cuts against the grain of all this awareness we have the people are using more. Phones while driving more complicated phones while driving but Ray LaHood -- the DOT's secretary said yeah -- admit the numbers are a downward trend on distracted driving but maladies. Now that said. They're still 16%. Of all on the road fatalities are caused by distracted driving. There's a lot of concern that perhaps from the police reports -- -- they don't properly document distraction so. This number could be a little fuzzy to be admitted to be the -- In -- -- that I found in this. Drivers in their twenties are most likely to be involved in a fatal crash tied to distractions in general by the way distractions could be calls texts. Eating with fixing your hair whatever that's how they define it in this survey. But for people who had the greatest but -- -- because they were on the phone when the accident happened that's the thirty to 39 year old it's. Not the -- to 29 not the you know eighteen to 25 or whatever you might think sort of stereo typically so interesting -- -- out of that of course this may all soon keep building toward the first. Federal law. Against distracted driving behaviors. Texting calling right now those are all regional or state or municipal -- should say or state. So keep an eye on that one but that I guess none -- this is surprising. To lead to our next story which is that AAA just -- a big survey about -- see we feel while driving are 2010 traffic safety culture index. And -- found that 52% of drivers say I feel less safe on the roads now -- five years ago. You know -- have to agree with that. I'm way more. Concerned about to -- router and that all the time by someone who's on their phone texting or calling. You know behind me. You'll say why I mean it's accept such an awareness we all have especially those of us that are here in the in the more technically. Leaning forward milieu that is seen it shows and CNET users like us and in -- you start to realize well up. I'm got a phone -- look at that if you want a wild about the guy behind me does and the one behind him reminded him and bang it -- me are cross over the liners and -- -- Anyway interesting interesting week for distracted driving news that that was -- counter intuitive. Let's take a look at what's going on with some of the hardware in the automotive text based you know -- not known for hybrids -- they don't have one. But they're about to close that gap pretty quickly there -- XF sedan. Which is you know nice looking car it's it's been sort of their entry level it's -- like the XJ with the -- at the top. It's a four door -- looking thing if you're watching a video version you see it right there they're getting -- to try out a demo version that -- -- prototype I should say with and what -- flywheel hybrid system. So this is not just your simple engine electric motor and batteries to pick up. Either -- generated power or generated power but -- goes beyond that. Into a flywheel technology so what this does is you'll flywheel victims been extremely quickly. They captures and holds that energy it's been used -- -- race card as a matter of fact but I don't think it's ever been the approached. For -- production road car but as we the first one that actually looks to go that way. And for -- will be a good headline for them to say okay we have our first hybrid on by the way. It's an exotic technology it's only been on the on the -- 9/11 GT three hybrid for example so this hybrid flight orders -- that they put in these cars. It spins at something like and like 30000 rpm or something. And he can give an eighty horsepower boost to the standard. Gasoline engine. And policy of 20% improvement in fuel economy that's they're projecting right now so we'll see how that pans out. But we'll keep and I -- -- that. Lots of other electric car news this week -- cruise which as you know is getting. He hammered with a huge advertising right now as -- probably have not been able to miss it it's targeted right at the Honda Civic. In case you didn't notice that in there. Very obvious TV commercials and it's going civic -- -- but they are now hearing to show off and electric concept that all EV concepts that we're talking about. A Nissan leaf fighter and you know G it was gonna need this because the volt may not go against belief in the public's mind it's more complicated story. It's a somewhat more expensive car by several thousand dollars to -- 8000 dollars depending how the credits and things work out. But this -- -- could potentially be. A very straightforward and an electric car price point TVD. But this is what they're working on now -- test fleet of electric cruises. And some GM die woo partnership what they call -- that he premieres. In South Korea that's where they're doing the partnership engineering on that there's apparently has a -- A battery that is good for let's -- sixty -- point two seconds battery in motor. And in a few hundred miles an hour this is not a card it's crippled in some kind of -- city car sort of mode. And a 100 mile range those numbers all look you know pretty good and pretty sort of comparable. To the Nissan -- if not a little better on all of those specs if they can deliver that and those -- just sort of your mileage war very. Optimistic hopes. Speaking -- Chevy Volt. If GM is successful sells a lot of those. So that's gonna happen shortly after that. They're gonna have a lot of their batteries that need to go somewhere as they wear out as they get a memory -- they get just hired. And it has a new project General Motors is talking that we got a piece on on of the car tech blog this week where they're working with a company called ABB group. And ADB is a firm that works on power -- they develop power grid technology and they're saying. What if these batteries come -- -- city volts after they have lost their. Let's say their their best 20% of their performance. And we start to use them while they're still good but not as good as you need them to be for a car. And put them into grids to give the grid the resiliency. So this power is available and -- -- can be stored in the grid network and then -- out of those batteries later so this might be a nice sort of second life. For what a lot of folks are worried about and that is the battery packs an electric cars or range Extenders like this. There enormous batteries are very expensive. And -- an automobile application once -- scrubs off that -- that kind of top 20% of its capacity or its performance ability to charge and discharge at the appropriate rate it kind of becomes a consumer satisfaction issue. And the motors is gonna say okay this is -- working out from -- arranges down too loud or it's not charging and discharging the way I wanted -- I wanna go get service on -- to get a warranty replacement and they'll get that and then what it'll those batteries so getting a place to put those that is. Second life meaningful is way better than the expensive and frankly not even yet fully figured out recycling path. You can do it but right now I don't think it. It's cost effective to try and -- -- automotive batteries at that level it becomes a real serious cost built into the car and then you -- -- of the cars. And GE and better place are working on charging network this week -- electric news better place for the folks that are working on charging infrastructure for plug -- Under electric cars or plug in hybrids and they've announced partnership a partnership the General Electric this week which is and that's that's big headline stuff. What they'll do here is this will improve. The charging stations that better place is developing by adding charger that GE makes called the General Electric watt station. We get a picture right here it's kind of a nice looking thing that goes into an urban environments that -- pole right there. It's a charger that ties -- to infrastructure electricity. And has the correct charging and current and the intelligence -- it to know when it's connected to be safe and all that and deliver the right kind of power. They're gonna work with -- better place on this to to make this part of their whole infrastructure. And the watt station is the level two -- -- with the 220 to forty volt the -- really the charge you want. It's not the 440. They would -- -- the super fast charge is still pretty exotic. Neither is -- the 1101218. That will take all damn day. The future Karr charge that even from half dissipated so it's a nice it's and I sort of technology deployment streets. And because GD you peninsula but it helped in getting those relationships. Within this -- government that they're working on here. This could help get those out there where you'll actually find them. They're gonna apparently start pilot -- in Israel and Denmark which I believe our markets that are very. So we -- friendly. We're -- the infrastructure tweaks that are needed. -- was -- that you're driving. And to not put too fine a point on it. There was some Dick cholera and you just wanted to and you know the PC your mind but then the smarter party of mines and now in road -- 2010. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- So here are some technology solutions that might -- -- -- your rage and the same time save your life we were across to these this week there's one called. -- and -- you get into this -- network. It's just an acronym for a speed bump. But which you can do is you can message a driver. Based on their license plates. And they put together a network here that allows you to message them either if you're pissed off what temperature -- -- they are encouraged YouTube's or if you've. Find someone who let -- have their headlights when their car alarm won't shut up right that's the one more -- wanna reach somebody. Or the -- there. -- locked in a car on a warm day you really wanna reach -- on that one right away. At that that -- thing is there was gonna be registered -- they need to get everyone here into the bull network like that's gonna happen but it's interesting idea of a social network layer on top of an automotive community and for some pretty good purposes. But he kind of cool -- every one of us had to register with some kind of -- communications network where we could be alerted. By our license plate is our identity now of course opens of -- lots of spam and stuff but I don't know. I think I'd do it is the most lot of my lights on or something and it was sort of an anonymous way to message community couldn't figure and why was my license plates already public you can only see it. And the fact that it would come to me -- of the could be getting that much. Spain -- they had some decent technology. The block that out I don't have a photo all the way through but this is one thing that they're doing this company called -- gimmick got to get everybody -- signed up. That's probably the biggest -- ever climb the other one that we saw. Gotta post on this one is this is an Apple and a website called failed driver. And so what happens here is you get out there and you reduced on this website you put -- iPhone happening it's just iPhone right now and it creates a forum. Where you can bitch about people who were outrageous in their driving Iberia cutting you off -- park. In the apartment it took of two spaces or three I've seen that -- And you do it all with a license plates and documenting photos so when you spot bad behave you put your iPhone -- take a picture. With the -- Key -- the license plate is I don't know why can't optically recognize a license like a mine no one iPhone that could do that. And and the -- -- this thing an epic goes on failed driver dot com and then it's basically one of those court of public opinion things. Okay that's about I mean it's gonna be set -- the traffic court -- think it basically feel good measure exposed everyone -- everybody else. This already happens out there. On just web sites but they're tying in the -- your to. Make it a little more organized and of course to tie into the enormous community of iPhone users which is the keeping the factories and critical mass. I was General Motors doing about improved infotainment technologies in their cars they put out. Kind of kind of -- think on this this week and Mickey -- who's there executive director of electrical architectures and infotainment. Put out a blog post actually that says they are soon going to integrate online streaming applications like pandora. Or stature with a sound like the sounds like Ford sync mobile -- And also streaming XM radio which is very interest and we need those satellites really. Anymore. So people have access to all that kind of interactive content -- they don't see when they're gonna do this and X nine to eighteen months General Motors will quote aggressively. Introduced a whole bunch of these connected -- -- infotainment systems. And I'm -- simulator lab where they're doing a lot of the work ups on this to trying to figure how to do it without it being distracting and -- also working up a voice recognition system. -- very much also sounds like -- sync so I'm gonna be really original but looks a General Motors has a lot of the -- playbook in their sites right now in case you're wondering who else is gonna do a sync like system. And when. We tell -- about these cards -- you start stop. Where you come to a stop and it turns the engine often to you lift off the break and that it restarts the engine the whole idea is to save gas it's pretty simple. It's coming in on a more and more cars not a lot yet but it's becoming fairly common I've been. Read -- five years it will be quite comment. But what they that I hadn't thought of is what happens with a car shuts down does the and in entertainment system keep running and -- I was that -- in the battery. And should that be the launch should the electrical system for the accessories also go down when the -- to a stop now I don't think it should democracy -- that long but apparently it's an issue. This week esteem -- electronics has apparently introduced the first. Integrated circuits. For manufacturers of this technology to use that will keep entertainment systems running even when the car goes into the stop mode of start stop. I haven't noticed a car that we've had in the start stop that turned off the entertainment system when -- dots though. Not a problem that I know but always fun to see -- when building a new chip December. Let's take a look what's going on we -- the iPad. And in car integration -- a lot you ask us about that say Erica. Who's gonna have a really cool way to mount my iPad in the dash use that as the world's coolest. Largest GPS nav and streaming media player and yacht -- yacht. And we find from the crave blog over at CNET UK that we have I believe the first time. Then they auto maker is gonna offer an iPad immigration and -- use high integration with a very low -- -- -- It's the BM WX -- That we are gonna see this in. And -- Rory over at CNET UK Rory Reid. That's a piece here we're BMWs going to offer a factory made -- install brackets. To take the place of a rear seat entertainment systems very small photo we have here you're watching -- video version but. It clips in very nicely with a good BMW look at the back -- the headrest I don't know or believe it has a whole lot of connectivity here. I think it's primarily. Just amount so you're iPad gonna -- its own power you have twelve volt outlets back -- you can always cable and -- I don't and this actually has the power in it though I don't think it does. A pretty short description here. And of course if you have a three G iPad bingo you're connected while you drive if you don't you get a -- problem my fire in overdrive or something. But the first obviously to manufacture actually acknowledge -- -- as at least a rear seat entertainment and infotainment system. Of course this thing there is remarkable is -- that's cutting into what they would like to sell you which is a rear seat entertainment system. But the dual screens in the dual dvds -- the connectivity to the front head unit all that which I think is a pretty profitable deal those are usually. Thirteen hundred at the very least. To pushing 2000 dollars and usually closer to that on average for most auto makers they charge a lot for those RSC systems and this would just cut the legs right out from under the pricing on this I don't know it's -- be -- this is BMW you can't and it's coming to the US cards immediately but I wouldn't think it would take long. So I'll hold low for a carmakers say yeah we're gonna let you basically do a short circuit around -- high profit option that we would just decisions -- I love this one the latest global cars and apparently so does Porsche. There is now available a navigation option for portions. -- -- that looks like a retro original backer radio that's cool. Cool so here it is -- looking at our video version it's a classic. Looking but -- else -- he screen and navigation built in. Head unit at the single din -- there it's it's a portion apart. I can rattle the part number for you about a one Ottawa born you know on 9/11 owners but there it is it's got a modern GPS system upgraded modern audio little color display there it's like a JVC -- one of the small GBC kameleon so. It's like something we've seen in the yet Tesla Roadster is not a lot of real estate -- the original Tesla Roadster. Before they revved up the head unit so if it's a little cramped 776. Dollars as the price US for this official -- option. And you can go down and probably or Richard Porsche dealers have you got -- event is 9/11 or 914 or something cool maybe you wanna have -- but you want to rubbery. Knobs with the Chrome ring in the middle you know the -- looking to do that governments -- Okay folks let's get is -- voice of all of voicemail or voice mail we can do that -- -- the new feature of ours. You call us at 866. 401 scene at 8664012638. Got three good voice -- this week. We were talking about blind spot technology to talk about a lot because more more cars we get in have once bought tech we have an email voice -- here. About trying to get Ahold of that technology in which -- -- look at the Nicholas. Bianca Detroit I loved the show recently with my mom -- I realize she did not turned her head and she changes -- -- -- achieve the card low mileage used car mid size or bigger. That can't they blind spot warning I don't blog that -- it on the recent sequenced all of what other what -- the car qualifies for that it's thank flat black. Interest okay so let's have a start off -- you mentioned Mazda. Mazda Ford Lincoln Mercury -- -- a lot of technology they just recently divorced from from -- for the most part. Policy if a Ford Fusion would have blind -- tech from a couple years ago. I don't all -- my head what year that was available on the fusion on. That might be too low in their line we have a edge in right now. Which has the -- by technology as you know fusion would have once by technology available. I think the hybrid has its dock so look at data fusion one or two years old I don't know what you mean by used and how far you wanna go back to get -- -- price. That's one thing look at. Although they were kind of the first of this stuff with -- the blind spot information system again that was because they were. Part of -- back at the time that was a big Ford thing. -- -- Cadillac Buick once bought an air Mercedes. A lot of vehicles these days are showing the -- -- information system or technology but it's often. On either -- higher -- car or a higher model entirely. I have not seen -- trickle down to the really inexpensive cards yet not super cheap but the ones that are -- everyday affordable like Honda Civic. Not seen it on those cards yet not because of the expense often it's because of differentiation in the model line in the manufactured as -- be able to make it clear well. An accord offers this acidic offers fewer possibilities that's a big synthetic way that they keep cars separated but -- give -- those five off the top for cars that are real world price GM Ford Mazda. The Cadillac Apache if I hold you buy and Buick. From the start with another voice no comes in note we have a story we talked about where. -- last week I think it'll be for where you have. That -- organization. -- -- Canada as our call is putting on the road that is the 3-D kind of a prospective geek -- if you're driving up to it. From your -- it looks as though it's a little girl running across the street to encourage you to go to -- -- the -- a slowdown realize what that was close I should slow -- and neighborhood like this that think it's gonna work on your psychology and -- -- drive a little more calmly in residential neighborhoods but we got a call here and students -- it might backfire let's listen to this. And this is due. Welcome meters the edges there are podcast with the little girl -- on the road that supposed to slow you down I can I can think of is that there Cuba and then running over that little paint it girl you become numb to it and then all of a sudden -- the real world go out there that mayor made outlook about the -- continue to go ahead and two there are quite well as well not -- Interesting at the other side of the psychology right if you get so used to driving up on some -- And you realize it's a sticker of like whatever in your mind that situated to the idea that you're not gonna panic when you see a child -- -- -- I don't know my work that way in a few points duplicate. It was that simple when they thought of -- a long time ago. Another voice -- her last one today about this idea that we talked about several weeks ago that when you. Go in for a transmission or an engine it's -- really in bad shape on a relatively modern car. They don't take it -- They don't get in there and work on it don't expect to -- Your mechanic at the auto dealers some craftsmen who knows exactly had to rebuild an engine beautifully for the most part. They don't do that they know how to swap out parts that are gonna get -- -- transmission from the factory has been rebuilt at some several facility and it's wop that thing in but. As we hear this voice mail not always. He shows and you mentioned army's actions they're not wanting to rebuilt engine trade missions well and drag and 2007. Ford -- If you want. That -- trade mission conflict and then -- it and -- -- or three weeks. And rebuild the entire transmission. Or pick that the bill. -- you guys work rebuilding of drop them and I'll be able to get the tech to show me the bill that page charge for over -- -- -- partnered hours. And I believe are like each mission XP. Yeah so. The system doesn't always work afford good them satellite cheaper than a -- dealer when he 500 dollars or more to rebuild nutrient -- -- rebuilt it. These days I'm surprised at a dealership has anyone who knows how to rebuild transmission because they do it -- sell them. It's a swapped out so that's a little bit -- they must've been some issue where there is not -- rebuild available for that carbon -- many common card going. I'm surprised that they wouldn't have a rebuilt box available from of the motor craft -- -- that one but anyway I'm so glad you you have a hand built transmission. They can take it down to the local you know high style bargaining crafted cocktail and then it when your story. I've folks keep those voicemail and emails coming voicemail numbers 866401. CNET 866 for a 12638. And your emails -- -- car tech. At cnet.com. -- got a bunch of those two you'll get those next week when we got the whole crowd on hand let's have a little fun before we get into our on the road segment is only take a a little break in the show to sit back. Take stock of lives and laugh -- you. Through our -- all cars segments and we've got the link up in our show notes at car tech dot cnet.com. That's where the show lives. These are pictures you take and send us a car as you see -- you got the Internet cards you've -- you've taken pictures yourself. That are unbelievably stupid let's start off with as well what is that the Dodge Ram. We have I don't even know what that paint job is man that is some kind of pastiche of stuff very patriotic there are those -- lots of -- -- -- -- -- 1234. Out in front of a Beatles outlet I'm -- be yields would be fast West Coast. Not confederate. -- -- kind of like a confederate thing -- realize those are regular old stars and stripes is a couple fought lights plugs right through the sheet metal of a hooded. He's got himself a 12345. Theater seating in the back. It's good -- -- the roll over Hawaii when of these perfect and open -- vehicle right -- -- you take who this could. Yeah wo fat drive that -- this in the 50 crowd dies laughing. It and have taken over the island. Kill some appeals of laughter all right that's one there let's take a look at our next one here and on the old law -- we're -- all burn in hell for this one bombers -- of people's -- okay oh good lord there's our there's a Miata. -- is this is a car art category people stick many many things. -- -- their little disgusting scary garden gnomes or the heads off of dolls or in this case what are those like three inch -- traffic cones. IE all over their car it's like who does this and how do you wash your car. And and why did -- do that. Scary. Let's go to and -- one here is gonna bring us the beautiful delights. A oh yeah I've seen these this is a we'll talk to the -- -- one through this one it's made by international the folks who make. All right but it's gold Navistar now is that any truckers out there -- there that the former. The internationals Navistar to recover the struck so I'm not supposed to know but this is they've basically a commercial truck pickup truck went a long haul truck. Guts cap and frame. With a pickup bed I think is a Ford pickup bed on the back of this thing this has to be the world's most egregious. Gas guzzling what -- -- -- 101000 pound. Pick -- truck and the cab and the engine compartment are -- in the whole engine the whole bad. And it's changed enough that actually is not is the -- of the weirdest partly it's one of the most beacon did it I defeated. And I think I would get that but I concede that around more than elected party are -- yeah. Let's hope. It's the least laughable we've seen for a while okay our next one here is it I don't -- taste -- the Hyundai Tiburon the original -- -- had nice lines for cheap little car. And then they can accurately the second generation Super Bowl we'll give -- -- the first one or. But -- guys put a wing on but I think he made by going down to Home Depot. And buying some plywood and cutting it cleverly well now just cutting it. And the best part is he has stacked wings so Tiburon has a little a little wing on the back already you know -- -- about two inches high and he goes and puts a big goal. I can't I am going on the back of this thing Formula One I don't it was -- Diana but that's all -- you know that Tiburon government power it needs -- like that. -- -- Our artists do a couple more often now this is awful predicted with it's have limits -- -- -- so this dude has taken -- -- aero. They chopped it. And right about at the at the at the back -- the door opening -- cut it to from -- forward it's like the front of what I think is a Honda motorcycle. -- -- -- -- But the back is -- of being just handmade strike on frame is -- for is the butt off of the arrow. Wow and -- right I mean -- sitting. In the front single feed me sitting in a car seat he's not -- -- motorcycle style so it has aghast at as a regular motorcycle gas tank. But he's got some kind of little heart or look at -- it is a really long handle -- -- that big long Chrome handlebar there it is it is that we'll front wheel with center you enemies in the middle Leo. So we -- -- strike but the but that the -- and the fronts on to something I can nobody alloy wheel. Wow that's tasteless. All right one more. One more and it is oh we got have a -- in every show can't go don't let's. Here's a Camaro with -- email came in -- -- -- twenty force. These are wheels that make. The make -- SUV get -- okay you put these on a big car. A big SUV and it looks ridiculously tall this is a modern Camaro. With these wheels and the thing I really -- is it has that the current style it current engineering where the -- sticks -- -- far beyond the rubber you're begging for -- -- You're saying I just spent 800 bucks a corner on these wheels I want to look like -- by hope tomorrow. I have a question when you put you -- wheels on the you have to actually. Open up that we -- little further I think you do it's called it's cold rolling defender lip as we used to -- we used to do you put the bootable wheels this being on a little while of them body work but we never did this out. It looks is though this is the factory opening which is remarkably -- But it looks as though it's been slightly open certainly in the bottom part where kind of players awaited meeting. -- in which case the standard -- wheels would look pretty small scar. But -- you go through you can roll defender live under and you can pick up about an inch all the way around you can kind of make some clearance that way but -- this guy either -- some serious body were done by you know I don't think so. That's -- you know GM knows what their owners are gonna do it was a welcome so if they -- you know what let's cut those we'll openings at the factory. We have a big -- constable wagon wheels up there -- what's wrong with you people -- you people mean these people. Arts folks is -- on the road now in and into one aren't here but you know what we're gonna go on the road with this week -- that's the magic of -- podcast and we can do that. This week we take a ride in a car that is one of you that has do you really honestly -- -- its own brand. It's sign on. -- has had a major drop off in sales in the last couple years. It's not just an economic thing it's like they were off. 49%. On sales in 2009. General 22%. Further in 2010 if I have the numbers right so big drop off -- -- -- -- have -- heard someone buzz about a -- It that the -- -- -- but so let's see now. If the sign on XD. Can bring back some most of the brand as we go -- the rule would win and Antuan in this 2010. Sign XT -- -- Manhunt is -- little wheels been -- the start there and other -- yet not a lot to do with the -- equipment on this car. I can got to get that but it's stuck -- -- that is really of the same -- -- one point eight liter. -- zone are doing -- 120 horsepower. Small little car. All the -- have really Twitter is in development equipment is a set of wheels. Suspension upgrade. And the exhaust. Gives a little better sound more active sound of the engine than you normally again. Gonna makes a sound fast. -- -- cabin tech in this -- Science I was pretty good about incorporating aftermarket cabin tech and that's basically what we have by the -- -- -- -- that -- -- unit. It's not an ad unit of strictly a CD player and against I've also always done iPod him -- it says that iPod Jack. USB Jack down -- -- instrument cluster here and. And there's also. Bluetooth and three on this but if you look at the steering -- you wouldn't know it. Most cars he had a hand priests accidentally press the button somewhere you can actually reads at about taking your hands up -- real. The point of entry in its -- we have -- button down here at the you know them. Bottom -- -- that. And it's a little phone in volume up and down it's the mean that religion and three system down there. Daddy this Alpine unit it's that doubled the ends of got a big display which is nice for the but obviously it's a little you know unnecessarily big bird radio display and all -- It's a -- to act on -- you saw that had you for watching the video overvotes gravity you're one of our listeners it's basically an after market. Alpine unit. This sun branded -- -- contract for these to be up to their spec but. It looks like what it is you took an Alpine unit is stuck in the -- it's not a great look especially for a press that a great unity there it's it's fine in the screens kind of small the graphics are -- -- -- I don't respond well to touch screen works quickly but it's small screen before -- so. So. Our advice on this car is by it. Plain blank nothing extra. And -- get in -- and do your own aftermarket audio nab had you know whatever you want the Bluetooth system as -- pointed out in there as they pointed out in there is it's really super simplistic it works fine but it's incredibly simple no phone book transfer none of that -- display. It's done entirely by beats or what's on your phone but it has no display on the dash export so this is a -- use a blank canvas so it's kind of -- problem we're saying. In terms of -- don't. Other things about this vehicle is the price is very good this guy's gonna come and what we got here 1560. Your -- on a -- next day. And it -- good mileage to 2733. It's not a performance car at all. With a 128 horsepower of one point eight liter for it just isn't as -- says it sounds but passed because that's cut that TRD -- on which sounds pretty good. But not big just gonna sporty and a small way -- they about -- -- Connell limited that in that way that's okay. It's not meant to be a fast car it's perky all right if -- given a Honda Fit you driven assign the next day. Kind of similar proportions. Not quite as -- but it's kinda like that and similar performance dynamics light nimble. Very city able. But not a car -- you're gonna tearing around the in in a performance manner transmission choices are in twisting on this car. By speeding -- to we -- or a four speed automatic. Who the hell could afford it automatic anymore it's 2010. I driven 1988 -- and it's -- force be automatic but that's that the 98 Ford. Four speed automatic seriously Toyota. Are -- also the sway bar on which is from TRD Toyota racing development the eighteen inch wheels -- mentioned there here's -- I love carbon fiber applicator. Don't waste carbon fiber on decoration it's a serious piece of engineering use it to do something for real they'll make a sticker out of it which they do. I think it's real carbon fiber -- can also get a real navigation head unit from. Silent again -- -- for about. After market approved sign on unit and it's seven -- at least -- and -- -- it's a full -- screen takes -- the -- pulled it. But it's on constantly pricey -- 2000 dollars. And still I don't believe integrates the Bluetooth into itself this is unfortunately a car where I would walk from all the tech options you can get the dealer. Tonight's little car especially if you -- high style. Very every functional sort of a vehicle like it is it that did that carries a lot for a little vehicle. Lot of space gonna -- and big that way. But I would skip the tech at the dealership and don't -- they're thinking you're gonna go but -- buying a sports car even if you get this 42 yard he wheels in the sway bar that improves the the handling as opposed to the performance you know the difference right. And -- one that's more about control and predictability performance is pushing beyond that in his -- doesn't really go there. So this finex. 24. We'll have that review up and our video which -- -- but in the final touches on right now special caught nothing wrong when it. Just. Yeah very aspiration which is why we need some nice decent you know well price cars out there as well as all that. Really cool ones that we get gobbled up without a modest good of the -- -- a garage and see what's lurking down their right now. The latest reviews we have to. Subaru Outback. Three point six. Home run -- -- next company languished for a long time recently in the US markets all the sudden. They were one of just two companies that had a break out sales year last year in the -- Of the recession and the outback was a big part of it also the you Ford Edge should be haven't seen that -- the Ford Edge sport all wheel drive review and video. -- have been up for a little while I'm sure you've already seen that one heard about it last week's show it our garage right now we have. Menacing looking Cadillac we have a CTF -- not a V. It is a storied history has -- TS -- but that's good enough. Great looking car although -- -- some folks some people. Think it's -- extremely -- -- for those big. Big wing -- launches on a big heavy romp even though looks at a bat mobile some kind. And coming up we've got we were really be getting in a another Ford Shelby mustang GT 500 which. It we never seen note to accept lead just had wanted so we just swap that up and what do you know we're gonna be getting in a -- I believe. And that would be able to verify that's our first Cayman that we have had -- we don't get the courses and that often partly because that'll make allotment on lot of models there I think we've got the Cayman. Became and we have have yeah. We for the coming in the for the nine -- Convertible. I don't think we've had a -- it so this'll be the -- -- our first time in their car. Unless I'm mistaken it for getting us having that -- but that's gonna give us a a really cool sort of a taste of course we haven't had yet. Now sorry kind yen. And -- check that one but the kind NS a 2011 -- -- that's the new kind hand. With the new face heavily revised. After hopes that then I got my hopes up all right no -- sorry guys -- -- coming in but it's the new Connie and which is that he major major Regis that's a very worthy -- take a look at we're always impressed. In spite of ourselves by how well that and even so it would it would really companies corporations face and everything it was also the -- is now that they're using on the new. -- and hybrid which were not getting regain the ass but that was that's what's in and coming at the scenic Arctic right -- -- new on our reviews go check them out and that's it for the show this week we'll be back with you next week -- tech live every Thursday 12 noon Pacific right here for the -- -- over and get it right now the show notes live -- -- tech. Dot cnet.com our -- -- all -- -- all all the reviews and our blog entries are is that cars dot cnet.com. And the united. Cnet.com. -- to call us. Follow along here 866. Or no one's seen it just had one website that -- -- -- -- good -- 866401. CNET as the phone number. That's toll free by the way to get to our voicemail leave us your thoughts and comments and questions about the show. Thanks for joining us we'll see you next week.