2013 Nissan Pathfinder 4wd Sv 3rd Row on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Car technology I'm thankful and unthankful for

The past few years have seen a surge of tech features in new vehicles — everything from cloud-based content to semi-autonomous driving. While some of it makes the driving experience better, not all tech is useful or well thought out. Automakers who are adept at drivetrains, ride quality and in-cabin comforts often fail at infotainment interfaces and connectivity. From testing dozens of vehicles each year and in the spirit of gratitude, here are three car tech features I'm thankful — and a trio I could live without. Thanks Connected search: This seems like a no-brainer since everyone already has it on their smartphones, but not all automakers include it in the dashboard and as part of their nav systems. The best ones, such as Toyota Entune, leverage a driver's connected device to search for a range of services and don't charge a subscription or require a separate data plan for the car. I also like how systems like Chrysler Uconnect use Yelp or other apps to find everything from coffee to gas stations and allow searching via voice recognition. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: It took two of the largest tech companies to get in-dash infotainment right. While they have their disadvantages (you're forced to use Apple Maps with CarPlay, for example), the two smartphone-integration platforms make it easier and safer to use their respective native apps for phoning, messaging, music and more behind the wheel by transferring a familiar UI to the dashboard — with no subscription required. Heated seats and steering wheels: I really appreciate these simple but pleasant features come wintertime. It's easy to get spoiled by bun-warmers on frosty mornings and using a heated steering wheel to warm the cold hands. I recently tested a 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 Coupe that also had heated armrest that added to a cozy luxury experience. Bonus points for brands like Buick that allow setting seat heaters to turn on when the engine is remotely started. No thanks Automaker infotainment systems: Automakers have probably poured millions into creating their own infotainment systems, with the result largely being frustration on the part of most car owners. And Apple CarPlay and Android Auto coming along to make them obsolete. While some automaker systems, such as Toyota Entune and FCA's Uconnect, are easy and intuitive to use, it seems that high-end systems (I'm looking at you BMW iDrive and Mercedes-Benz COMAND) are the most difficult.

Nissan touts e-NV200 as electric VIP transport

While the big auto show may be in Paris next month, right now in Hannover, Germany, commercial vehicle manufacturers are peddling their wares to fleet operators. Among them is Nissan, which is not only upgrading its NV400 full-size van with new engines and technology, but also showcasing a rather unusual show car in the form of the e-NV200 VIP Concept. Nissan has outfitted this electric NV200 demonstrator to chauffeur passengers around town in comfort and under electric propulsion. It's decked out in a two-tone metallic blue paint job and an interior upholstered in white leather contrasting with black trim and carpets, although for some reason the Japanese automaker hasn't seen fit to release any interior images. In the back you'll find a 21.5-inch DSP monitor, LED lighting and a pair of "club class" seats (again, no pictures), moved aft-wards to maximize leg room to 26 inches with an extendable footrest, while still allowing for luggage space behind. The driver can even make use of Nissan's new Smart Rear-View mirror to help get passengers as close to the red carpet as possible. NISSAN SHOWCASES EV FOR VIPs Zero emission e-NV200 is transformed for ultimate comfort city transport -introducing the e-NV200 concept for VIPs. - Luxuriously appointed 100% electric for downtown VIP passenger shuttle - Two-tone metallic blue exterior and white leather seats - Limousine-like space and 21.5-inch monitor with digital device connectivity - Smart Rear-View mirror providing clear rearward visibility in all conditions Hannover, Germany (23rd September, 2014) Fresh from launching the game-changing 100% electric Nissan e-NV200 compact van, the world's leading electric vehicle manufacturer has created a new zero emission concept for VIP transportation - the Nissan e-NV200 VIP Concept. Designers have upgraded the all-electric e-NV200 Evalia people carrier into a zero emission van perfect as shuttle transport for VIPs. The benefit of being zero emission means that the van can access all current and future clean air zones, as well as drive inside buildings, for the ultimate in discreet convenience. Behind the spectacular two-tone exterior lies a sophisticated and luxurious interior. The seats are covered in premium quality white leather with blue accents, which contrast with the predominantly black lower portion of the cabin - the trim and carpets are black with a piano black finish on the control surfaces.

U.S. auto sales fall in July, as Detroit dials back on inventory, rental sales

DETROIT — U.S. carmakers said on Tuesday they continued to slash low-margin sales to daily rental fleets in July as General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles struggled to curb a slide in retail sales. July is on track to be the fifth straight month in which the annual pace of car and light truck sales declined from the same month a year ago, in part because of fewer fleet sales, analysts and industry executives said. July 2016 sales hit a strong 17.9-million-vehicle pace. GM said the seasonally adjusted annual sales rate fell to an estimated 16.9 million vehicles in July. At midmorning on Tuesday, GM shares were down 3.4 percent at $34.77, Ford was down 2.8 percent at $10.91, and Fiat Chrysler shares were down 0.3 percent at $12.05 in New York. GM sales dropped 15 percent from a year ago to 226,107 vehicles, as the company cut rental fleet sales more than 80 percent. The automaker said inventories of unsold vehicles at month's end were 104 days, down from 105 days at the end of June. GM has promised investors to reduce inventories to 70 days by year-end. Ford said its July sales dipped 7.5 percent to 200,212 vehicles, as it cut fleet sales more than 26 percent. Inventories fell to 77 days from 79 the previous month. Fiat Chrysler said sales dropped 10 percent to 161,477, as it also cut back sales to daily rental fleets. Among the top Japanese companies, only Toyota reported a year-to-year gain, with sales up 4 percent to 222,057 — just 4,000 units behind GM. Honda sales were down 1 percent to 150,980 — its first-quarter sales continuing to decline in North America but seeing a big increase in China. And Nissan sales fell 3 percent to 128,295. GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler have cautioned that second-half financial results likely will be lower than first-half results, in part reflecting production cuts in North America and pricing pressures. The automakers this year have been deliberately dialing back sales to rental-car companies, which often generate little to no profit, while struggling to keep retail sales from sagging further, according to industry analysts. Industry consultant LMC cut its full-year forecast for new vehicle sales to 17 million vehicles. Automakers sold a record 17.55 million vehicles in the United States in 2016.