Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

New In-Car Tech for 2010

Nick Mokey
By
Audi-3G-MMI
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Gadgets and gasoline continued to get a little friendlier at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, where a number of manufacturers showed off new in-car technology that promises to make your ride to work every bit as connected as the home. From in-car entertainment systems for listening to Jay-Z on the move, to devices that get you where you need to go (with the least gas), here were some of our favorites.


ford-myford-touchFord MyFord Touch

Ford has been leading the way for in-car computer since it introduced Sync in cooperation with Microsoft back in 2007. This year, the same system gets more screens (two 4.2-inchers in the dash and a middle 8-inch), more features (apps like Twitter and Pandora), and more user-friendly. It will be available on both the 2011 Ford Edge and 2012 Ford Focus.


Recommended Videos

Kia-UvoKia Uvo

You could be excused for seeing more than a passing resemblance to MyFord Touch in Kia’s Uvo system, because they both share Microsoft’s Embedded Auto platform. Much like the aforementioned system, Uvo can sync with phones for both calling and playing media, and has USB access for additional thumb drives on iPods, too. It will first appear in the 2011 Kia Sorrento.


Related

Audi-3G-MMI-googleAudi 3G MMI

Looking above and beyond mere multimedia, Audi has tapped Nvidia’s new Tegra 2 graphics processor to power the next-generation digital dashboards in future Audis. The heavy-duty graphics processor will run Google Earth to show mapping and terrain in full 3D, as few standalone systems even can. A cellular data connection will also provide news, weather and travel information. Audi expects the first units to appear in the 2011 A8.


Pioneer-AVIC-X920BTPioneer AVIC-X920BT

Not ready to ditch the 1992 Accord just to get next-gen computer technologies on your commute? Pioneer has you covered. Like many of its pricy X Series receivers, the X920BT pulls audio and video from thumb drives, plays XM and Sirius radio, offers built-in GPS navigation and Bluetooth, but it does one trick all the others won’t: play Pandora. Using a USB-connected iPhone as a modem, it pulls digital music right over the cell network and even shows artist names, album art and other details on the 6.1-inch LCD screen. It will retail for $1,349 when it debuts later this year.


Garmin-EcoRoute-HDGarmin EcoRoute HD

It’s about time your car and your GPS navigator had a talk. And with Garmin’s EcoRoute HD, they can. The discreet black dongle plugs into the OBD II port under your dash and wirelessly transmits data from your car’s computer to one of several compatible Garmin GPS units. Besides delivering instant diagnostic information like error codes, coolant temperature, and even engine timing, it can help monitor how efficiently you drive by assigning a green driving score based on acceleration, braking and speed. Garmin will begin selling it in March for $150.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Nick Mokey
Nick Mokey
Managing Editor
As Digital Trends’ Managing Editor, Nick Mokey oversees an editorial team delivering definitive reviews, enlightening…
Should you buy a used EV? Maybe, but it’s complicated
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD rear end side profile from driver's side with trees and a metal fence in the back.

Electric cars are slowly but surely getting cheaper. Over the past year or so, Ford and Tesla have been discounting their most popular electric cars while other brands, like Rivian, are laying the groundwork for all-new cheaper models.

But you'd still be hard-pressed to call electric cars cheap, and buying a completely new car in the first place is a hurdle in and of itself for many potential buyers. According to Statista, used car sales represented around 74% of all car sales in 2022, and while this figure is likely to change as electric cars get cheaper, the fact remains that most car buyers would prefer to save cash and buy used rather than buy something new.
Buying a new car ain't what it used to be
Buying a car with an electric powertrain doesn't necessarily need to be all that different from buying an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. But there's a little more to it than that.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Will the R2 be a better buy?
Side of the Rivian R2

The Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it could end up being the go-to EV for drivers who want a decently affordable electric car with a rugged look and feel. But when it finally launches to the public, it won't be the only option in its price range -- the Ford Mustang Mach-E could be one of its main competitors.

The Mustang Mach-E may not be quite as rugged-feeling as the Rivian R2, but it does have a lot going for it -- like an increasingly low price, sleek design, and comfortable interior. Is one of these EVs better than the other? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to note about the two cars is their design, as they’re pretty different. The Rivian R2 is built to be a little more rugged and outdoorsy, while the Mach-E instead has a sleeker and sportier look to it. Both cars look stylish and modern.

Read more
2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan gets new face, bigger battery
2025 Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan front-quarter view.

The Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan arrived during the 2022 model year as the flagship of Mercedes' EV fleet. But now that it's been on sale for a few years, it's time for this flagship to get a refit so that it can stay competitive with other six-figure electric sedans like the BMW i7, Lucid Air, and Tesla Model S. The updated EQS sedan is scheduled to reach dealerships later this year as a 2025 model.

One of the most controversial features of the EQS has been its unorthodox streamlined shape, which makes the EQS one of the most aerodynamic sedans around, but also means it doesn't look much like a traditional Mercedes. For 2025, the EQS takes a step closer to that traditional look with a new grille featuring chrome bars like on the Mercedes S-Class. It also sports the brand's trademark hood ornament.

Read more