Collins 622-1233-001 Dme Transceiver Dme-40 on 2040-parts.com

BMW wants to sell 1,000 of its fire-breathing hybrids in the U.S.

It's literally a grand strategy: BMW is aiming to sell 1,000 of its new hybrids based on the 7-series and the X6 in their first year in the United States. The two hybrids will be revealed in production trim at the Frankfurt auto show this month. They use eco-technology to boost fuel economy and performance.

Cadillac CUE: Intuitive driving in 2012

General Motors' Cadillac division is hoping to lead the way in intuitive multimedia systems, with the launch of its ‘Cadillac User Experience' (CUE) system, which is set to make is official debut at the forthcoming LA auto show. The product of nearly four years research and development, the CUE project began in 2008 when Cadillac designers rode with 32 consumers for six months to study driver habits. The result is a ‘comprehensive in-vehicle experience that mergers intuitive design with auto industry-first controls and commands for information and entertainment data'.

Will your next new car stop itself?

Last week in Park City, Utah, a group of us were discussing the chutzpah that some manufacturers have in charging hundreds of dollars for outboard mirrors that dip downward when the vehicle's placed in reverse. The consensus was, “Since the electric motors in the mirrors are already there, and the computers know the car's set to back up, it's only a line of code. A very expensive line of code.” The European Union seems to be thinking along the same lines.