BMW X5 X-Wave Concept From 3M & Visteon

Visteon Corporation and 3M, the the two Fortune 500 companies showcased a jointly developed project called the X-Wave Concept featuring more than 50 innovative technologies designed to enhance the driving experience of upcoming and future vehicles. They used the BMW X5 as the host vehicle to showcase this new concept.

The vehicle features Visteon’s Integrated Center Panel, which shows how climate, audio and multimedia controls can be stylishly packaged for easy user interaction. This ultra-thin, twisted helix-shaped touch panel uses field-effect switches to enable a clean, “dead-front” look in situations when the center panel buttons do not need to be visible. When a user’s hand nears the panel, the vehiclesenses it and the buttons automatically illuminate to show an extremely user-friendly human-machine interface (HMI). When a user pushes one of the buttons to select a function, the switch is actuated and gives haptic feedback – a tactile vibration like a pulse – to lend a more natural button feel and let the user know his or her command is being processed

Other in-car innovations from Visteon include dual-access console lid, environmental friendly air-conditioning system and dual-access console lid.

Among the highlights presented by 3M are innovations to enhance the visualisation of information using a 3D driver information cluster, 3D virtual imaging and transmissive film.

This tech is still a few years away from production, but it signals a fundamental shift in the basic architecture of car interiors. Switchgear could be collated and then hidden on surfaces where it wouldn’t normally be possible to group controls – killing clutter in the process.

Source: just-auto

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Bose Media System Comes With Navigation, Satellite Radio....

Premium speaker-maker Bose, has introduced its Bose Media System. The stereo incorporates music, satellite navigation, hands-free phone use, satellite radio, and voice commands. The system includes additional features like a 30 GB hard drive that can store up to 200 CDs, as well as controls that have proximity sensors that can tell you're reaching for a knob before you even complete the motion.

At the moment the new Bose Media System is only fitted in the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. But Bose is actively pursuing partnerships with other automakers as well with GM being the frontrunner. Hopefully very soon Bose Media System may appear in perhaps a Cadillac or Corvette.

New Bose Media System Simple Yet Powerful
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Scion To Offer HD Radio

Scion, from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., was developed with a new generation of youthful buyers in mind. Scion's mission is to provide distinctive products, the opportunity to personalize, and an innovative, consumer-driven process at the retail level. Taking this step further, Scion recently announced that it will offer iBiquity Digital's HD Radio technology in select audio systems in the near future.

This partnership marks another incursion of HD Radio into the mass market -- BMW, Ford and Jaguar already offer it, with Volvo opening the HD spigot next year.

Today, there are more than 1,600 digital HD Radio stations in the U.S., more than 750 of which are offering innovative multicast (HD2/HD3) channels. Across the country, hundreds of new radio channels are now available. Available to over 83 percent of Americans, HD Radio technology dramatically increases the sound quality of AM/FM stations. HD Radio stations offer crystal-clear digital audio and scrolling text information across the radio screen. Additionally, FM stations can offer multiple channels in their single, current frequency.
source toyota.com
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Piloti Prototipo Driving Shoes Gets Your Feet On Track

You use everything for your car and on your car that makes you and your auto happy. But you miss one small thing everytime. Your Driving Shoe. Like tires are designed to give you good road grip, similarly driving shoes are specially designed to cushions the back of your foot while in the car, plus a reinforced lateral side of the right shoe for better control during heel-and-toe downshifting. One of the beter known driving shoe maker is Piloti.

When you buy one of Piloti's shoe like Prototipo, you get Piloti’s patented Roll Control heel. On top, the Prototipos feature a combination of premium suede and mesh in a low-cut style that looks great whether you’re driving a Ferrari, a Civic Si, or just bragging about your skills at the car club.

So if you’re serious about your driving -- especially if you own a car with a manual transmission -- you need superior equipment on your busy feet. That means a proper pair of driving shoes. You can get them for anything between $80 to $100.
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