Report: ‘Smart Fabric’ could control climate, audio functions in future BMWs

Filed under: Technology , BMW , Infotainment Touchscreens are becoming common and touch pads – like those in the Audi A7 , A8 and next A3 – are gaining traction, but the next input revolution might not be gesture controls , it’s likely to be “smart fabrics” and BMW is already toying with the technology. Researchers at the Polytechnic School of Montreal, Canada have developed a new flexible, polymer-based fiber that can be woven into existing fabrics. Essentially, it’s a capacitive pad that can register touches and swipes when alternating current is plumbed through the fibers.

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Report: ‘Smart Fabric’ could control climate, audio functions in future BMWs

Volkswagen Up! GT reportedly approved for production

The three-cylinder power unit in the Volkswagen Up! GT will be treated to a turbocharger which will boost output to more than 73kW (100 PS / 98 hp).

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Volkswagen Up! GT reportedly approved for production

Official: Nissan taking orders for new GT3-spec Nismo GT-R

Filed under: Coupe , Nissan , Racing What would a Nissan GT-R be without the racing pedigree that’s helped make it what it is today? The truth is that we don’t even want to know. But we don’t have to, because the car known as Godzilla is as devastating on the race track as it is on the street. Very different racing versions have been made to challenge the FIA GT1 World Championship and for Japan’s own Super GT series, the latter powered by a naturally aspirated V8 to satisfy regulations instead of the twin-turbo V6 in the production model.

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Official: Nissan taking orders for new GT3-spec Nismo GT-R

Land Rover Defender Blaser Edition revealed for Germany

The Land Rover Defender has been the vehicle of choice for hunters and nature lovers alike for many decades. So it comes as no surprise that Land Rover Germany has teamed up with Blaser hunting rifles to offer a special edition Defender.

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Land Rover Defender Blaser Edition revealed for Germany

Video: Mugen Ariel Atom… will it drift?

Filed under: Etc. , Videos Flip through the pages of CAR , EVO or Top Gear , and it’s obvious the British motoring press has an unhealthy obsession with getting sideways. Not that we can blame them. We enjoy a healthy dab of oppo as much as the next guy, but when the Pistonheads hive-mind starts crying foul about opposite lock shenanigans, you know it’s getting out of hand

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Video: Mugen Ariel Atom… will it drift?

Video: Chevrolet takes the Guinness record for the world’s largest claw game

Filed under: Budget , Marketing/Advertising , Videos , Hatchback , Chevrolet The Chevrolet Sonic marketing shenanigans continue under the rubric of “Let’s Do This,” this time with a five-story 3D projection of a claw game on the side of The Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. In fact, that a couple of Sunset Boulevard’s lanes had to be shut down to accommodate the controls, which were a waist-high gearshift and an acclerator pedal. So big was the PR stunt that it earned Chevrolet a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the mightiest claw game on Earth.

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Video: Chevrolet takes the Guinness record for the world’s largest claw game