Apple Carplay vs Android: the smartphone hits the road

By Damion Smy Motor Industry 11 June 2014 07:18 The days of frustrating in-car interfaces and clunky touchscreens are ending, as computing giants Apple and Google start unleashing the full power of smartphone technology in your car.  Apple has fired the opening salvo in the war on wheels with its ‘CarPlay’ system launched at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show and offered by Ferrari, Mercedes and Volvo, and at least 15 other car brands. If you own an iPhone, you’ll find CarPlay natural and intuitive – it’s this type of familiarity that car companies and Apple are banking on to win you over. Cars have been able to play your iTunes library and read texts for a while, but CarPlay takes this functionality to a whole new level.

Mercedes-Benz unveils AMG Vision Gran Turismo concept

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its AMG Vision Gran Turismo concept that will be featured in the upcoming Gran Turismo racing game. The concept features bulbous wheelarches and a long hood stretching back to the pushed-back cabin, designed to emphasize its aerodynamics, while the grille is a reinterpretation of the wide Mercedes-Benz sports car grille with the central star. It also features gullwing doors and side-view cameras, together with racing-inspired elements such as the release catches on the hood and fuel caps positioned on the roof.

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 2014 preview

The driving directions to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance tell you that this is an event held in a very special place. Whether you’re arriving from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz or Monterey, Pebble Beach is one of the world’s premier automotive events. In the words of the organisers, “only the most beautiful and rare cars are invited to appear on the famed 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links”, with “connoisseurs of art and style” gathering to admire the masterpieces.