Audi

More carmakers play CarPlay including Audi, Dodge & Chrysler

morecarsApple CarPlay will be supported by more carmakers that will offer CarPlay in future model cars. The system will only work with lightning connectors for iPhone 5/c/s.

Audi has announced that it will offer Apple’s CarPlay by next year with 2015 models. CarPlay will integrate with Audi’s built-in controls, the Audi MMI touch system, as well as dial controls and voice controls to  activate Siri. Other carmakers that have been added to the CarPlay list are Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep Mazda and RAM.

Audi A7 Self Driving Autonmous Cars Don’t Have Ugly Can on Top LiDAR on Grille

audiconnecctAt CES Audi announced that it has developed its own, much smaller LIDAR that is mounted on the Audi grille, eliminating the ugly “can” at the top look. The company showed just how intelligent and beautiful self-driving cars can be.

In a demonstration Audi used an app to “call” the car from a parking spot to the front of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Las Vegas.

New Ways Audi Future Cars Connect with Autonmous Driverless, Self Parking & Cities Award

audiconnecctThe Audi Urban Future Award 2014 finalists include four teams in four cities developing four projects to connect cars and cities for more efficient transportation, automatic parking and autonomous robotic driverless Audi-piloted Audi cars.

The Audi Urban Future Award connects architects and urban planners, natural scientists and humanists, data specialists and product designers, who will work together to reinvent the future of urban mobility.

BlackBerry QNX Powers CarPlay, Mood Music and More

Bentley QNX DashBlackBerry QNX is a software platform that is being used in many luxury high-end vehicles with advanced features as well the ability to have music based played according to your mood…

QNX software is being used for or mapping, communication and entertainment systems in Ford, Chrysler, Hyundai, Jaguar, Porsche, Audi (see video below) and BMW vehicles.

Audi A3 LTE, Features, Pricing and Phone Cell Signal Boosting

Audi connectThe Audi A3 will have some new technology innovations that include AT&T LTE, picture mapping, special software and cell phone signal boost.

We finally have pricing for the AT&T LTE service in Audi A3 cars, owners can pay $99.99 for 5GB for a six month period or pay $499 for 30GB over a period thirty months. All new Audi A3 autos with Audi connect will receive a free six month trial of LTE service.

The fee works out to be $16.50 a month for the six month plan and $16.63 a month for the thirty month plan. (Obviously the place that called the $499 plan the best value was incorrect).

Siri Move Over James 2025 is Our 2025 VW Driver

James2025In Hannover, germany at CeBIt, Volkswagen CEO Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn showed James 2025 as the car cockpit of the future.

The comfy virtual cockpit allows drivers to relax and lets the car drive itself through a few buttons on the dash. When the car is in automatic driving mode, the head unit screen system shows the car’s planned driving maneuvers while a second screen gives access to infotainment functions. The steering wheel moves away. At any time like when an airplane is using auto-pilot the driver can take over driving the car.(see video below)

Audi Knows When Traffic Light will Change

auditrafficlighdashAudi’s new Smart City Traffic Light Assistance tell you when the traffic light will turn green.

Traffic Light Assist or TLA uses the car’s network connection, GPS and municipal traffic control information. It displays a countdown timer in the dash to show how many seconds there are before the light changes.

Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai and NVIDIA OAA (Open Automotive Alliance)

oaaAudi, GM, Google, Honda, Hyundai and NVIDIA have joined together to form the Open Automotive Alliance (OAA),to deploy the Android platform to cars starting in 2014.

Before the launch of the Android operating system, Google formed a similar alliance with smartphone makers throughout the world.