Now that it's willing to talk, Pioneer claims that the radio and audio system is "the first in-vehicle product designed to utilize the processing power, storage capacity, network connectivity and apps of the iPhone and iPod Touch as the primary source for its information and entertainment capabilities."
That does sound a lot like what Mini Connected and, in a more platform-agnostic sense, Ford Sync are doing. Pioneer said it couldn't speak to the similarity of those systems, but Ted Cardenas, director of marketing for Pioneer's car-electronics division, briefed us on installation of the device and what Pioneer is doing to minimize driver distraction.
It’s amazing to think the Ford Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car have remained essentially unchanged since the introduction of the Panther platform over three decades ago. Ford has tried to stop production for several years but disappointed police, taxi and limo drivers have persuaded Ford to keep the ancient line in production. Finally, though, Ford is abandoning the traditional front engine, rear drive, body-on-frame car to the annals of history in September.
BMW released details about the changes to the X6 crossover. The 2013 model gets light-emitting diodes front and rear, an optional third-row bench seat and choices in engine power, leather and wheel size.
The 2013 BMW 6-series Gran Coupe, pictured here in production guise for the first time, arrives just 20 months after it was previewed as a concept car at the 2010 Beijing motor show. It joins the existing coupe and convertible in an expanded range of 6-series models aiming to attract buyers who place greater emphasis on outright style than sheer practicality. It will make its public debut at the 2012 Geneva motor show.
Audi will launch a rival to the BMW X6 and may add a challenger to the Bavarian automaker's X4, a top Volkswagen executive told Automotive News Europe.
Audi will air an ad during the Super Bowl for the fifth consecutive year. The company will use the big game to display the LED headlights on the juiced-up 2013 Audi S7 sedan.
Audi is poised to take the supercompact class by storm with a wild 252-hp, all-wheel-drive version of the A1.