Interiors

Mazda CX-5 gets Skyactiv treatment The CX-5, replacing the CX-7 in the U.S., has window sticker EPA numbers as high as 26/35 mpg. Although 5.6 in (143 mm) shorter, it has a larger interior package than the CX-7. The AWD unit is redesigned to save 86 lb (39 kg), and the vehicle is at least 220 lb (100 kg) lighter, up to 575 (261 kg) lighter for heaviest models. Read full story

2013 Mustang features virtual test track on instrument cluster The car's driver information center displays a “Christmas tree” and provides readouts of acceleration and braking times and distances. All data are derived from existing vehicle sensors and sophisticated algorithms developed by Ford engineers. Read full story

App challenges: driver distraction and software viruses As smart phones become a mainstay in the strategies throughout the infotainment industry, suppliers are racing to create techniques that let drivers use apps safely. This effort works on two levels: minimizing distraction and ensuring that apps don’t carry viruses that impact the vehicle. Read full story

Developing an app for distribution The intertwining of the automotive and consumer industries is fostering new ways to get the latest technologies into vehicles. Application software developers and automotive companies are currently employing a range of distribution models to bring the benefits of apps to the auto industry. Read full story

Smartphones transform vehicle navigation market Personal navigation device makers are being forced to alter their strategies as the PND market plummets. The growing use of consumer products in cars is also changing automakers’ strategies for in-vehicle navigation and rechargers for portables. Read full story

New York City 'Taxi of Tomorrow' to debut at NY International Auto Show Based on Nissan NV200 compact van, the new taxi could boost fuel economy 37% over the Ford Crown Victoria, the widely-used choice today. The 10-year contract with NYC includes provision for an all-electric version to be introduced by 2017. Read full story

Infotainment system stretches technology with optics, multi-disc DVD Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America is supplying a rear-seat entertainment (RSE) system and new radio system to Mercedes-Benz for its 2012 M-Class and GL-Class vehicles. The system pushes technology, using optical networking, 2.4-GHz wireless headphones, and a compact six-disc DVD player. Read full story

STMicroelectronics chip saves door space, cost Taking aim at upscale vehicles, which have many features squeezed into their doors, the chip eliminates the electromechanical relays now used for window control. Read full story

Software defined radio broadens reach to gain support The number of communication channels coming into vehicles is growing as digital radio expands and automakers show more interest in vehicle-to-vehicle communications. That’s sparking more interest in software defined radio (SDR), which uses a single chipset to handle all these inputs. Read full story