Ford's voice-controlled car goes on show

Next year Ford will introduce an in-car computer system that will allow drivers to use voice commands to make calls, navigate and choose music.

The Ford Sync system, which is built on Microsoft's Windows Embedded Automotive platform, will be available in Ford cars sold in Europe from 2012, starting with the Ford Focus, as seen here.

The computer system can be controlled using one of 10,000 voice commands in 19 different languages, through the touchscreen console on the car dashboard or buttons on the steering wheel.

The steering wheel has a five-button panel on each side that can be used to browse through the Ford Sync menus without the need for drivers to take their hands off the wheel.

A shot of the Ford Sync's in-car phone system, which will allow drivers to use voice commands to access their contacts and make or answer calls.

When the driver is on a call, Sync automatically reduces the volume of in-car music, then returns it to its previous volume once the call has finished.

Sync will also read out text messages and enables the driver to reply to text messages by choosing from a list of potted phrases such as, "I'm on my way".

The system will also automatically call the local emergency services number and announce there has been a crash, communicating the car's location, in the event of an accident where the car's airbag is deployed.

Drivers will be able to connect their smartphones wirelessly to the Ford Sync system via USB or Bluetooth.

Sync's navigation system provides turn-by-turn directions to a destination, both reading them out and displaying them on a map on the touchscreen.

Destinations can be set via voice commands or by using the touchscreen.

Voice commands can also be used to find the nearest relevant business or place of interest. For example, saying "I'm hungry" will prompt the car to read out and display information on nearby restaurants, using information from The Michelin Guide. Once the driver selects a restaurant, the Sync will provide contact details for the outlet and directions.

Sync's other navigation abilities include being able to select the shortest or fastest route to a destination, or the route that it estimates will use the least fuel.

Sync can access music stored on MP3 players, smartphones, USB sticks and memory cards, alongside the car's built-in radio.

Drivers will be able to select the music or radio station they want to listen to via voice commands or buttons on the steering wheel, with Sync capable of recognising spoken album, band and track names.

Voice commands or touchscreen controls can also be used to set the temperature inside the car and adjust various fans and heaters, as well as the air con.

The Ford Sync can also function as a wi-fi hotspot, allowing passengers in the car to use the internet.

The system creates a wi-fi hotspot using a USB modem plugged into Sync, or through the phone connection of a mobile linked to Sync via Bluetooth.

Drivers will be able to customise the Ford Sync system by setting the homescreen wallpaper, for example, as seen here.

When it launches in Europe, Ford Sync is also expected to include AppLink, a feature that will allow smartphone apps to be developed that can be controlled via Sync.

Specially developed apps for Apple iOS, BlackBerry and Google Android handsets are expected to be supported

Sync can also provide a selection of general information such as nearby traffic, weather and local film showing times.

article and pictures sources: Nick Heath/silicon.com

PORSCHE PANAMERA S HYBRID

A couple of weeks ago, we made the case that the 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid is the best value in the performance/luxury hybrid game, despite its $95,900 starting price.

We stand by that analysis, as the new Panamera S Hybrid even manages to look good--as good as any Panamera, anyway--in the unfortunate silver-green so many hybrids are burdened with.

Of course, you're not likely to care about the humpback or exterior hue once you're slapping down 380 combined horsepower at more than 30 mpg, all the while cocooned in the tech-laden luxury that is the Panamera. And that, if you ask us, is the point.

Article sources: salon-auto.ch

PROTON Motorsports Kicks Off 2011 Campaign With The Rally Of Monte Carlo

SUBANG JAYA, 04 January 2011 - PROTON will kick off its 2011 international rallying campaign with the Rally of Monte Carlo from 18-22 January which will be the opening round of this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).
The PROTON Motorsports team today received the Jalur Gemilang from Youth and Sports Minister Yang Berhormat Dato’ Ahmad Shabery Bin Cheek. Also present were PROTON Advisor, Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and PROTON Holdings Berhad Group Managing Director Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.


PROTON will compete in the full season of the IRC and Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) with the Satria Neo Super 2000 rally car.

The national car manufacturer’s IRC campaign on the European front will be led by Chris Atkinson and newly-signed Per-Gunnar Andersson, while Alister McRae will lead the team’s charge in the APRC which will get underway with the Rally of Malaysia from 1-3 April.

Atkinson was formerly with the Subaru World Rally Team and is also two-time winner of the Asia Pacific Super 1600 Championship in 2003 and 2004. Newly-signed Andersson is a double FIA Junior World Rally Champion having driven for the Suzuki and Ford World Rally Teams. McRae, whose family name has been synonymous with rallying for over three decades and a former Mitsubishi World Rally Team driver, has played an instrumental role in the testing and development of the Satria Neo S2000 since 2009 which culminated with a 1-2 victory recently in the APRC category of the China Rally in November.

“Motorsports is one of several key strategies being pursued to enhance the PROTON brand especially in markets that we are actively exporting to, and PROTON’s objective of participating in both the IRC and APRC will significantly support our aspiration of becoming a respected and competitive global car manufacturer,” said PROTON Group Managing Director Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin.

“Rallying not only serves as a proving ground for PROTON, but the viewership for both the IRC and APRC range in the millions, hence this brings invaluable brand exposure to PROTON and its partners on a global level. In addition, it also enables us to promote the brand and increase awareness in new and potential markets.”

In conjunction with the launch of its 2011 IRC and APRC campaign, PROTON Motorsports also welcomed on board the Yasmin Group and Sime Kansai Paints as team partners. The contribution of both companies amounted to RM1 million in sponsorship for the team.

The Satria NEO S2000 made its competition debut in the IRC 2009, and despite being a vehicle that was still undergoing development, consistently posted top 10 finishes. The team’s best finish in 2009 was a second placing at the Rally of Scotland and a fourth placing in the Rally of Russia. In 2010, PROTON went on to secure second place in the APRC Manufacturer’s Championship with its best finish being a 1-2 victory in the APRC category at the recent Rally of China and a 2nd place finish in the APRC category of Rally New Zealand.

PROTON last competed as a factory-backed team at the 2004 Rally of Canberra. Throughout its years of international rallying, PROTON has won the APRC title three times in 2001, 2002 and 2004. In 2002 PROTON also won the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship on its debut.

Article sources : Proton.com

TEAM LOTUS’ HEIKKI KOVALAINEN WANTS KERS SOON - FORMULA 1 NEWS

Team Lotus’ Heikki Kovalainen wants KERS soon - Formula 1 News

Heikki Kovalainen, the Team Lotus driver stated that although it is fine to begin the 2011 Formula 1 season without ‘KERS’, he believes that the team must develop it soon.

KERS, the Kinetic Energy Recovery System, was first introduced at the Formula 1 tracks in 2009, but due to its high cost, it was banned at the start of the 2010 season. However, now as the caravan of cars gets ready to enter another exciting new season, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has once again allowed the teams to use it. Many of the teams, especially all the leading teams are expected to use the system for the upcoming campaign.

Tony Fernandes’ Team Lotus announced earlier this year that it will not install the system in its car.

While talking to the media on Monday, the team driver, Kovalainen highlighted his concern over the team’s decision. The Fin stated, "The decision was made to put more resources in the aerodynamics of the car, rather than on KERS. Of course, as a driver I favour KERS, I'd rather have it because in a racing situation it's very important, and it's probably about 0.3 seconds in pure lap-time as well. But the team decided it was more important to get the aerodynamics right, and add the KERS later on."

The team, as it takes its engine from Renault, could have also asked for the kinetic energy recovery system, but it refrained. The management decided to focus its resources on other areas of the car, explaining KERS requires a complex packaging that the team does not want to get into, at the moment.

Although, Kovalainen agrees that currently this decision might serve the team well but believes that in little time, this can start costing a lot many points.  He insisted that as the season will unfold, the team must change it plans and prepare against its KERS-equipped rivals.

However, Lotus' chief operating officer, Keith Saunt explained the team position, "If KERS was going to get us from eighth to sixth then we'd have it. But when you look at the weight of it and some of the engineering challenges, I think it's a good decision not to start with it. We might end up with it, who knows? But if we did we've got a lot of experienced people who could turn their hands to it."

Furthermore, when the 29-year-old, Kovalainen was asked about his future plans, he stated that he is optimistic to see a lot of progress in the upcoming season. He explained that this was the first season when Lotus was planning to develop the car all the way through the year.

He said that the upgradations to improve the car’s speed will continue all through the year and the team’s aim is to finish as many races in top ten as they can.

Article sources :http://blogs.bettor.com Category: 

Auto Racing News

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN ENSTONE?

It’s been a while since I gave you a factory update, so I thought I would talk you through what’s happening in Enstone at the moment.

As always the factory has been a busy place. Just last Friday we had the drivers here to meet all our partners and present the brand new car. There were various presentations, Q&A’s with the drivers, and then a delicious three-course lunch. It was a really fun day and a nice chance for everybody to get to know each other before the season begins. You can see some of the photos from the day below.

As for the R31, it’s just got back from the paint shop where all those scratches and chips from testing have been patched up. It has just been handed back to the mechanics who are busy servicing the parts and rebuilding the chassis ready for next week’s Barcelona test. All being well the car will be on its way to Spain by Saturday evening, due to arrive at the track 24 hours later.

While the mechanics prep the cars, the drivers will be busy on the media circuit. This week it’s the Geneva Motorshow for Nick, Vitaly and Bruno. They will all be star guests on the Lotus stand on Tuesday where they will be interviewed on stage and meet some fans. Look out for updates on twitter during the day and a blog later in the week.

Article sources : lotusrenaultgp.com