Category Archives: Flex

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

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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

Report: PSA: Some states now using school bus-mounted traffic cameras

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Filed under: Government/Legal , Safety , Technology City councils and state legislatures across the country are debating and passing initiatives to put traffic cameras on school buses . Rick Gresham, transportation director for the Cobb County school district in Georgia, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that 1,100 motorists pass his school buses when the stop sign paddle is out every single day. The state of Maryland reported 7,200 such incidents in one day last year. For all the folks who want to see that bus-riding children get to class and home safely, that’s a problem

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Report: PSA: Some states now using school bus-mounted traffic cameras

Report: Ferrari FF converted to run on bio-ethanol packs 875 hp

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Filed under: Aftermarket , Performance , Hatchback , Ferrari There are drawbacks to every kind of alternative to burning fossil fuels in our cars. Electric cars don’t have enough range.Hybrids are burdened with what essentially boils down to two parallel powertrains. Hydrogen is limited to where it is available.

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Report: Ferrari FF converted to run on bio-ethanol packs 875 hp

Report: Audi confirms plans for North American plant, likely in Mexico

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Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing , Audi , Luxury Audi will begin construction of a new manufacturing facility in North America, according to Ward’s Auto . While the German luxury manufacturer hasn’t chosen a specific location as of yet, early whispers hint to a location in Mexico . Previously, Audi parent company Volkswagen had investigated the possibility of producing Audi models alongside its Passat sedan at the automaker’s new facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but that options now appears to be off the table. Instead, Audi could be headed south of the border thanks to Mexico’s labor flexibility and lower wages.

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Report: Audi confirms plans for North American plant, likely in Mexico

Official: Ford says SYNC base is now 4M, will reach 13M by 2015

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Filed under: Technology , Ford Ford SYNC is a success. The connectivity software has found its way into four million cars since its introduction in 2007. With European and Asian buyers getting SYNC for the first time this year, and North American offerings like the Fusion and Flex getting it as standard equipment, Ford expects to add nine million more users by 2015. The prediction isn’t solely based car buyers’ increased access to SYNC; even in the U.S.

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Official: Ford says SYNC base is now 4M, will reach 13M by 2015