Steelman Chassisear Electronic Listening Tool on 2040-parts.com

Multi-touch UI reduces touchscreen interaction to simple swipes [w/video]

Touchscreens have become widespread standard features in many cars over the last few years, consolidating the modern car's many functions into one interface. But despite their advantages there's the big downside of driver distraction, something user interface designer Matthaeus Krenn believes he has solved with his UI. Unlike most other touchscreens, Krenn's interface isn't organized into menus and small, hard-to-hit buttons, but instead makes use of multi-touch gestures, reducing the accuracy and attention needed to operate key functions.

The Toyota FT-1 concept would make a damn fine new Supra

The Detroit auto show is just getting started, and Toyota has kicked things off with a nice surprise: The racy FT-1 concept. A product of Toyota's Calty Design Research facility, the FT-1 concept shares some of the swoops and vents with the Lexus RC F. But there's a boatload of high-performance styling cues there, too: Take a quick glance and you might spot the front end of a Ferrari Enzo, the profile of the Nissan GT-R, the double-bubble roof of the SRT Viper/any number of Zagato creations and the oversized retractable rear wing of the McLaren P1.

Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid: The plug-in Cayenne debuts in Paris

The Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid arrives in Paris There will come a point when governments realise that car makers are getting too clever at gaming CO2 levels with impressive and sophisticated hybrids. But until then, there’s a growing number of cars that, on the face of it, offer a ‘cake and eat it’ option for buyers. Like the new Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid.