Top Gadgets for Your Car in 2010
Posted by bryan | 0 Comments
Cool Car Gadgets For Men
Got a GPS or TomTom? That's so 2007, and now they're so common that they've almost gone from "gadget" to "necessity." Got a Bluetooth? It's out of date now too, if all it does is interact with your phone. And forget about all that cheesy "Type R" junk they've got at Pep Boys. Might be perfect if you've got a '94 Dodge Caravan, but you want some sexier gadgetry than that for your ride. Try some of these on for size:
• Lane Departure Warning System. This is a system consisting of a camera and speed sensors to let you know if you're wandering out of your lane. A seat vibrator or buzzer will give you the heads-up and turn signals shut the system off.
• Real-time traffic information. The Europeans have had this for a few years. Now Acuras and some BMW's can come equipped to give you the lowdown on traffic jams, construction and accidents, directly to your nav screen. Only in select cities, that is. The next step might be a system that gives you the best way home and calculates an alternative route for you.
• In-car media storage device. Jeep Wranglers and Mercedes S-Class are available with a hard drive built into the car's dash, used for storing music and pictures. Get rid of that bulky CD wallet — you'll be able to connect directly to the hard drive with a USB and keep those files on board.
• Bluetooth. Newer Chryslers are available with the UConnect system, which allows you to make phone calls without ever even touching a phone. The technology includes a phone book voice recognizer that allows you to add numbers and information without taking your eyes off the road. BMW, Toyota and Nissan are all working on similar systems.
• Self-parking. The Lexus LS460 allows the driver to put in some parking parameters on a touch screen, and then the car maneuvers itself either into a parallel spot or backs up into a traditional parking space.
• Heated and/or cooled cup-holders. Hot coffee? Cold drink? Keep 'em that way in the Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum Edition or the much-less-pricey Dodge Caliber. You can also get a tiny cooler that plugs into your cigarette lighter or power outlet.
• Remote start. Seems kind of mundane, maybe, but the Malibu and Dodge minivans have a button on the key that allows you to start the vehicle and let it warm up or cool down. It simultaneously locks the doors and steering wheel so nobody drives off with it while it's sitting there.
• Rear parking camera. Rear parking sensors that beep have been around for awhile. The next step in this safety evolution is a rear-view camera that sends you a live video image to your nav screen and eliminates blind spots. Available on the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Chevrolet Tahoe and others. Just the thing to keep from running over Junior's Big Wheel.