Mini Inspired by Goodwood gets the Rolls-Royce touch for Shanghai auto show

We scratched our head when Aston Martin took the tiny Toyota iQ and turned it into the Cygnet. Now, Mini has called on its business cousin, Rolls-Royce, to create the Mini Inspired by Goodwood. The car will debut next week at the Shanghai motor show.

Audi, Honda, Hyundai, and GM to bring Android to cars

General Motors, Audi, Honda and Hyundai have joined forces with Google and Nvidia to form the Open Automotive Alliance (OAA), their overarching goal being the integration of Google's Android software into automotive infotainment systems. The OAA will use Android's open development model to bring a greater variety of functions to car infotainment systems, which have noticeably lagged behind smartphones when it comes to capability due to long development periods, fast changing technology, and a glut variety of incompatible systems. The alliance's first order of business will be to develop new Android platform features to enable the car to become a connected Android device.

Five tips to keep your tires in top shape

Tire safety isn't exactly the sexiest topic in the car universe, but it's National Tire Safety Week. This is a good reminder to those of us who are generally more concerned with fun stuff like horsepower to spend a moment thinking about where the rubber meets the road. “Ten years ago, NHTSA and AAA helped Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) launch National Tire Safety Week,” said Charles Cannon, RMA president and CEO.