carscoop: gadgets

Showing posts with label gadgets. Show all posts

Nissan GT-R Transformed Into a Robot for New Japanese Gaming and Film Franchise

Autobots and Decepticons move over because there's a new Japanese franchise about cars transforming into robots and it's named Chō Soku Henkei Gyrozetter.

Well, actually, to be frank, it’s far too early to tell if the new franchise will have the success of the Transformers series but the fact that it has licensed several cool cars like the Nissan GT-R, Mazda RX-8, Toyota 86 (Scion FR-S in North America) and Mitsubishi Lancer EVO has certainly captured our attention.

After searching into the unknown depths of the Japanese gaming world (not knowing the language doesn't really help…) we found some basic information about Chō Soku Henkei Gyrozetter.

The new franchise is the work of Japanese video game developer, publisher and distribution company Square Enix, which is mostly known for its Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series.

BMW DesignworksUSA's Gaming Mouse Goes on Sale Priced at $99 [w/Video]

While the BMW Group's DesignworksUSA division and Thermaltake had originally planned to launch its new Level 10 M gaming mouse onto the market this spring, the high-end computer mouse has just arrived in retail and online stores in the US, in Europe and Asia.

The stylish gaming mouse, which the design studio says resembles a tiny racecar in looks, is available in four colors, including Diamond Black, Iron White, Military Green and Blazing Red, with the sales price to be "around 99 US Dollars".

Toyota gets Nonsensical with 2013 Auris Hatchback "Spanking Orchestra"

At first, we had the "Not in trend, not casual, not for everyone" TV commercial staring 19-year old androgynous model Stav Strashko, and now, Toyota's Japanese arm has employed the help of Nobumichi Tosa, founder of Maywa Denki, a company known for its "Nonsense Machines" such as remote-controlled tap shoes and musical backpacks, to promote the new Auris hatchback. Read more »

Consumer Reports Concludes that the MyFord Touch System Still "Stinks"

The saga with Consumer Reports’ ongoing hatred with the MyFord touch control system present in most new Fords continues.

Beginning back in 2011 with the Ford Edge, Consumer Reports (CR) decided against their “recommended buy” status claiming responsibility to the then all-new MyFord Touch system.

Now, in a latest article entitled “Why the MyFord touch control system stinks,” CR author Eric Evarts describes the less than simple to use touch screen control systems now present in most 2013 Ford and Lincoln models.

Stanford University’s Driverless Audi TTS Hits 120MPH

Stanford University in California is home to some of the most brilliant young minds in the country. But with all this “young” comes the mostly testosterone and alcohol driven thoughts of any 20 year old genius. Why? Because of an autonomous racecar.

Shelley, Stanford’s autonomous Audi TTS, which we saw climb Pikes Peak back in 2009, is back on the track for some high speed testing.

Pagani Automobile's Fashionably Fast Man Bag

We don't know if Miami Hit's LeBron James and his LA Laker's rival Kobe Bryant will manage to bring the chic man bag to the masses, as suggested by a recent story on ESPN, but something tells us that Pagani Automobile won't have much of a problem convincing its clientele to match their ride with an equally impressive man bag. Read more »

Codemasters Unveils New Trailer for Second Installment in GRID Racing Game Series

In the growing world of automotive gaming, notable titles such as Gran Turismo, Need for Speed and Forza Motorsports have reigned supreme among racing enthusiasts for years.

In 2008 however, relative newcomer to the market GRID received overall high praise for its first installment and impressive sales numbers after its release. It even took home numerous awards including IGN's Editors Choice Awards 2008 and Best Racing Game of 2008.

Audi to Debut Digital Rearview Mirror on Production R8 e-tron

In contrast to the regular R8 Coupe, the upcoming production version of the all-electric R8 e-tron has no rear window and therefore no conventional rear-view mirror. To solve this problem, Audi engineers had to put on their thinking caps and come up with a useable alternative.

The solution came in the form of a digital rear-view mirror that works together with a camera and was based on a tried and tested system employed on the brand's current Le Mans racing cars.

Audi gets Video Interactive with Service Customers in the UK

A new service named "Audi Cam", which is being rolled out by the German automaker in the UK this week, will enable customers to not only see and hear about the repair work on their cars but also to authorise it through a mobile phone or a computer.

The Audi Cam is an evolution of the Direct Reception technology introduced across the Audi Centre network last year and which gives customers audiovisual access to their cars from the dealer's reception area as technicians equipped with head-mounted cameras and two-way audio links worked on them.

Cool Dad Mods Five-Year Old's Sons Lightning McQueen Powerwheel

Can you think of a better way to forge a solid bond between a father and a son than to take on a building project together?

Even if said son is just 5 years old, from the looks of this video made by Sean of aftermarket tuning company FFTEC Motorsports, the youngster named Evan seemed to have enjoyed the process as much as the end result.

It all started when Evan's Lightning McQueen Powerwheel toy ride was in need of new plastic wheels as three years of heavy use had worn them out.

As a true gearhead, Evan's father Sean then decided it was time to initiate the young boy to the art of tuning and ended up making a series of modifications to the toy car including the installation of a new 500 Watt electric motor producing 0.66 horsepower.

Google Maps Gone Wrong? Street View Car Found Wrecked in India

It's not every day that you stumble upon an abandoned Google StreetView Camera Car in the middle of nowhere. And since you are bound to ask, by 'nowhere' we mean down a rocky hill in the Leh district of northern India.

An unidentified man who sounds like he has an American or a Canadian accent captured a film of the aftermath. The video shows the high standing camera-equipped Opel Astra hatchback (previous generation) facing down the hill with its front smashed up on the rocks.

Man Builds Real-Life Working Version of WALL-E for Kids with Cancer

You no doubt remember WALL-E, the love-stricken robot from the successful Pixar movie that bears his name.

Now, some four years after the film hit theaters, WALL-E has come to life, no thanks to the efforts of California robotics enthusiast Mike Senna, who some of you may remember for building a life-sized, working R2-D2 from the Star Wars saga.

Holy Cow! Toy Builder Creates Massive 1/6th Scale 1966 Batmobile

If you weren't bowled over by Hot Wheel's 1/18th scale Elite and Super Elite lines of the 1966 Batmobile from the classic TV series starring Adam West and are looking for something even bigger and crazier, then you may want to check out a new scale model released by Hot Toys at last week's San Diego Comic Con.

The Hong Kong-based manufacturer of highly detailed and collectible merchandise is one of the latest companies to secure the rights to the George Barris-designed Batmobile.

Make Your Car go…'Psssshhht' with HKS Approved iBoost App

At first, we had the XLR8 app that uses the accelerometers of Apple and Android devices to match the sounds of exotic Italian supercars, muscle cars or racing models to your vehicle's acceleration and braking forces.

In much the same way, a newly announced app from Bonobo reproduces the ‘psssshhhht’ sounds of a turbocharger, and mind you, not any turbochargers but the ones from Japanese tuning firm HKS.

The app is fittingly called iBoost and it was developed in partnership with HKS.

BMW i Pedelec is a Foldable Electric Bicycle for the i3

There were plenty of things to see at the grand opening of the first dealership dedicated to the BMW i sub-brand on London’s Park Lane today including a new foldable electric bicycle named the i Pedelec (from the words Pedal Electric Cycle).

The compact bicycle with the lightweight frame made from aluminium and carbon fibre was designed to complement the upcoming i3 hatchback with BMW claiming that once folded, two of them can fit in the boot of the electric supermini.

Nissan Develops Tire-Pressure Warning System for "Dummies", will be Available on all 2013 Models

Whilst automakers and suppliers alike are trying their best to improve fuel efficiency on every model they produce, a great number of drivers often neglect one of the leading causes of poor fuel economy.

And no, we're not talking about being heavy footed or leaving your windows open on the highway, but tire pressure.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drivers can improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent simply by keeping their vehicle's tires inflated to the proper pressure. Another recent federal study says that under-inflated tires triples the risk of an accidents.

Watch the 2013 Cadillac XTS's Reconfigurable Instrument Cluster in Action

Someone alert the hipsters; there is a new fad going around the auto industry and it's called reconfigurable instrument clusters.

Just last month, BMW announced that it will offer a customizable digital instrument display on the 2013 model year 5-Series and facelifted 7-Series, while recent spy photos prove that the next Mercedes-Benz S-Class will also have this future.

For once, Cadillac is not trailing behind its rivals in features introducing an available Reconfigurable Gauge Cluster on its new top sedan model, the 2013 XTS that just went on sale in the States.

Max Speed Watch Brings Your Dashboard to Your Wrist

We've seen plenty of timepieces inspired by cars and/or their dashboards, but if the kind of, sort of, not-really-but, loosely reminds me of a vehicle's instruments type of watch doesn't wow you, here's an alternative proposal that may or may not suite your need for speed.

It's called the Max Speed Speedometer Car Watch (the timepiece name equivalent of Wheelsandmore...) from Gadgets and Gear and it's designed to encompass all the usual dials found on your instrument panel.

Toyota U.S.A. Hits a Million Fans on FaceBook

While Facebook's paid ads may not be up to par or effective as those from Google, automakers benefit in many other ways from the world's most popular social network.

On Monday, Toyota U.S.A. reached the one million fan mark on its dedicated Facebook page and to celebrate, the company is highlighting loyal fans in various ways.

Toyota iQ Collects Imagery for Street View in Belgium

[Updated] The diminutive Toyota iQ (sold under the Scion nameplate in North America) has been chosen to complete the filming of streets in Belgium that were too small for Google's traditional camera cars

The "iQ Street View" project is a collaborative effort of Toyota Belgium and local marketing agency "Happiness Brussels".

Toyota said that the campaign will run until the end of the year when all new street imagery and data developed by the project will be presented to Google to complete and optimize Belgium’s Street View service.

The Japanese automaker has published a special promotional website and even released a video of Google's Street View iQ on the job, which you can check out for yourself right after the break.

VIDEO

GOOGLE STREET VIEW BELGIUM