Autoblog

Sirius and XM have buried the hatchet and merged their content, to the likely displeasure of many. XM closes 15 stations while simultaneously adding 22 new selections to the lineup, and Sirius pretty much broke even, trading 11 stations for 10 new ones. As has always been the case, the sports fans fare the best. Reception is reportedly better, too, though we're sure the lossy-codec lack of fidelity still makes it all virtually unlistenable to anyone that pays attention. If you don't care that cymbal crashes on SatRad sound like a pair of metal trash cans being hurled down a fire escape, you'll likely be pleased with the shuffling; though we hope they've left our beloved Soulsville alone.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

What are the best innovations that the global automotive industry debuted in 2008? Popular Science has just picked its favorites and revealed the Best of What's New awards for the year that just was; um, is. The grand prize goes to the Nissan GT-R for its technical brilliance, astonishing performance and relatively attractive pricing. No real complaints there, though we'd be remiss if we didn't at least mention that the new Corvette ZR1 in the same breathe, which PopSci fails to do.

Green technology holds down three of the 11 positions, with two coming from Ford for its capless fuel fillers and EcoBoost engine tech, though the latter won't arrive until 2009 and Ford can't be credited with pioneering the combination of turbocharging and direct-injection on small displacement engines. Honda takes up a slot with its largely unobtainable hydrogen fuel cell-powered FCX Clarity. Also winning awards from the techy Mag are BMW's Google Maps-infused MyInfo service and the speed recognition system from the Euro-spec 7 Series, the DARPA-winning Tartan Racing Boss, Audi's Dynamic Steering, the Wide-View cameras from Lexus, Infiniti's self-healing clearcoat and the Speedshift transmission from Merdedes-Benz. Click the source link to read about each honoree, and let us know in the comments if you think PopSci missed an automotive tech marvel from 2008.

[Source: Popular Science]

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Amosu Luxury diamond Bentley key

As if losing the car keys weren't already enough of a nightmare scenario – the keys to your Bentley that much more so – along come the innovative jewelers at Amosu Luxury to make the key itself that much more precious. The company has staked its reputation among the nouveau riche for taking things like cell phones and icing them out in diamonds. Now Amosu has turned its attention to another item commonly found in the hands of the luxo-bling crowd – a Bentley key – and decorated it with 101 little diamonds (no more, no less) for a total of 1.09 carats, focused on detailing the Flying B logo.

Icing out your Bentley keychain will set you back nearly $8,000, so you may want to get a special leather case for it or keep it in your Bentley safe. But if "the world's fastest lorries" aren't your bag, Amosu can do the same for Lamborghini, Ferrari and Mercedes keys as well, which'll go nicely with that platinum Mercedes-Benz keychain. Thanks for the tip, Christian!

[Source: Motor Authority via 4WheelNews]

Click above for high-res gallery of K.I.T.T. and the Mio GPS

There were a lot of movie and TV-themed vehicles at SEMA this year, but one of our favorite entertainment tie-ins had to be the Mio Knight Rider GPS system. We told you about this way back in June, played with it when the new K.I.T.T. visited the Autoblog Garage, and messed with it some more in Vegas. It sounds exactly like you'd hope it would. "Michael, you're going the wrong way, you ninny," isn't in the regular playlist, but it did have some attitude. Even better than laying hands on the Mio, however, was the fact that K.I.T.T. ( no, not the Mustang) was actually in the Mio booth selling the product. It was almost too much to handle. As we told you in June, the Mio Knight Rider GPS unit uses the voice the one-and-only William Daniels, the original voice of K.I.T.T., and asks cordially "Hello Michael, where do you want to go today?" when powered up. The 4.3-inch LCD display is also flanked by a series of red LEDs reminiscent of K.I.T.T.'s nose-mounted lights. It's available for sale now at about $270.


Photos copyright ©2008 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.

Those who have difficulty walking may not be bound to a Segway for like thanks to Honda. The Japanese automaker is developing a new technology called the experimental walking assist device. These accessory legs have been designed as a means to offer a helping, um... leg to those who have difficult supporting themselves in day-to-day life but are capable of walking without assistance. Ongoing research for Honda's humanoid Asimo project spurred the robotic leg development, which began in earnest way back in 1999. Honda is now testing the legs at one of its Japanese factories in Sayama, Saitama.

To use the legs, the wearer slips on the special (and extremely stylish) shoes and adjusts the seat so that it supports their weight. Two motors move the frame and seat position while lithium-ion batteries keep the system powered for about two hours on a full charge. Are we the only ones who think Honda's new toy looks like the lower half of a Star Wars droid? OK, just checking.


[Source: Honda]

The GoPro Hero digital videocamera is like creating SpeedTV for the masses... without the non-stop NASCAR coverage. The three-megapixel Hero is the world's smallest on-board camera, and it sticks to anything without fuss. It has 16 MB of internal storage, but you can blow that out to 2 GB, good for about 56 minutes. It's got a self-timer, a USB and RCA cable included, works on PC and Mac, and because of its nifty plastic case, you can use it in the rain. And unlike a SpeedTV production, the Hero will only cost you $180. Can we get an "amen!"? Check out the many faces of the Hero in the gallery of high-res photos below.

There are lots of watchmakers that cultivate relationships with automakers and Formula One teams, but few have managed to establish themselves quite like TAG Heuer, whose sponsorship of F1, among other motorsport disciplines, has made their products synonymous with racing. Now TAG is hoping to carry its status into the optics industry, and this is their latest effort: the TAG Heuer C-Flex.

If you were wondering why more eyeglass companies haven't made frames out of carbon fiber, this is the answer. The C-Flex is made of the lightweight, high-strength (and high-cost) wonder-material, with fixtures from titanium in a flexible design said to be inspired by the suspension on an F1 car that, along with the patented nose pads, instantly adjusts to your face. The TAG Heuer C-Flex was unveiled at the recent Silmo optical show in Paris, where it won the Golden Award for its innovative design, and will become available (for an assuredly princely sum) in Spring 2009.

[Source: TAG Heuer via acquire]

Click above for more images of the Vertu Ferrari Ascent Ti

Want fries with that? Place your order at any fast-food hamburger chain and you can expect to get that question. But for a more sizable purchase – say, a Ferrari – deep-fried potatoes aren't going to cut it. That's where Vertu comes along. The premium mobile phone maker owned by Nokia has already established itself among premium sportscar buyers with a number of special editions of their automotive-inspired Ascent range, including their Racetrack Legends series, and with Ferrari enthusiasts specifically with the special Ferrari Challenge edition. That was followed by the Vertu Ascent Ferrari 60, celebrating the company's 60th anniversary, an additional Ferrari 1947 edition, and has now been supplanted by the new Ferrari Ascent Ti.

While the previous versions were based on the aging Ascent, the new Ferrari model starts life as the newly updated Ascent Ti, which features both quad-band GSM and WCDMA radios for use around the world, Bluetooth, Micro-USB, 3MP auto-focus flash camera and four gigs of storage, all encased in a titanium chassis with a sapphire crystal display and stainless-steel keys. The Ferrari edition further upgrades the package with PVD coating and a battery cover styled after a Ferrari's hood, complete with three-dimensional Prancing Horse logo. Each of the three editions – in Nero (black), Rosso (red) and Giallo (yellow) – will only be produced in limited numbers, so don't be surprised to see some dealers charging a considerable premium for the ultimate side-order to serve alongside a tasty Ferrari road car. Thanks for the tip, JW!

[Source: Sybarites.org]

We may or may not have already passed peak oil. All we know is that the post-apocalyptic vision wrought in Mad Max films may someday become reality, and then we're all gonna wish we had Interceptors. AutoArt Models recently came out with a 1:18 die cast Interceptor model recently, but it doesn't come filthy enough for some fans. Detail-man extrodinaire Paul Miller decided to do something about it and built his own insanely detailed diorama complete with lots of dirt and dust (and some fuel drips!), Max himself, and other well chosen accessories for the scene. We're way behind building our own Edsel model for the Autoblog Garage, but Paul's work is at a level we'll never achieve. We're inspired to try, though, after seeing his work! Paul will also build you a custom model or diorama with this insane level of detail, provided you're willing to part with some money. He charges between $400 and $700 for his dioramas and his contact info can be found at Hemmings via source link below. You'll also find more pics of his Mad Max masterpiece there, and you can check out what a squeaky clean Interceptor model looks like right out of the box in our gallery below.


[Source: Hemmings]

You drive like crap and you know it. Stop the burnouts, late braking and 100-mph freeway sprint and you just might make a tank of gas last longer than a day. Sure, automakers like Ford could spend a few million on lectures to teach car buyers a thing or two about better driving. But if you didn't get it in Driver's Ed, you're not likely to get it now. Instead, Ford's new Smart Gauge will teach better driving through rewards. Do a better job controlling your right foot, and Smart Guage adds a green leaf to a display next to the speedo. The better you do, the more leaves you get. Nancy Gioia, Ford's director of hybrid-vehicle programs, tells The Wall Street Journal, "You don't have to count the leaves. But if you're in a forest of leaves, you'll know you're doing well."

You can also grow your Virtual Dash Tree™ for a chance to defeat the boss monster on the final level and, if successful, Smart Gauge will reward drivers with Fordelicious Fruit™, which you can trade for Microsoft Points that can be used to pay for your Sync subscription. No. Not really.

Ford is expected to announce the Smart Gauge today and it will initially be available on the hybrid versions of 2010 Mercury Milans and Ford Fusions. There is a video from Ford after the jump.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]