Porsche will be introducing a new sports exhaust for use on the 911 Carrera and the Targa 4 models. The new system will be available as an option on new vehicle purchases beginning in February.

The new exhaust is stainless-steel, with a unique quad-pipe outlet at the back. Exhaust flaps on the back are fully adjustable, the sport exhaust lets the 911 customer tweak everything, including the car’s sound. Working by push button, the throaty sounding exhaust can be manipulated by the driver at any time. Located within the center console, the button is conveniently placed for the driver.
- Read the Press Release after the break -

[Source: Porsche]

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Audi is going big in the US with an exclusive sponsorship of the inauguration of the next President of the United States. There are a couple reasons why the German car manufacturer has decided to do this. Firstly, Audi had its best sales year to date in 2008, delivering over one million units worldwide in 2008. Second, it is Audi’s 100th Anniversary of automobile production. And third, which is perhaps the most important reason, apparently the marketing folks at Audi saw quite a bit of synergy between Obama’s call for change and their own focus on progress. After all, their tagline is Vorsprung Durch Technik, or advancement/progress through technology.

Audi is making possible limited advertising on ABC, CBS, and NBC evening newscasts during Obama’s inauguration next Tuesday. They’re also doing an 8-page (!) “Progress is Beautiful” newspaper insert in the USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Boston Globe. They’re doing Web promotions such as bringing the inauguration speech live online as the exclusive sponsor of streaming broadcasts on ABCNews.com, CBSNews.com, Msnbc.com, and WashingtonPost.com. Finally, they will be buying full-day sponsorships of Slate.com and sole sponsorship of TheAtlantic.com on January 20th. All told, their web efforts should bring inaugural coverage to over 30 million individuals in real time.

[Source: TheCarConnection]

Panasonic is announcing their HD-PLC system, first revealed at CES in 2004, will have new features. Next to allowing you to talk to each other over a house’s electrical lines, the PLC system will now be able to communicate with the electric car charging in your garage. This would supposedly have a security function, as Panasonic claims owners can view video from an in-car camera to make sure their EV is charging safe and sound.

The HD-PLC magazine also says that by connecting the in-vehicle camera to the indoor intercom system you could prevent someone from breaking into or vandalizing your car. We have our questions about how that could work, but it will all be shown at the HD-PLC Alliance exhibit booth during the 2009 Consumer Electronic Show (CES). 

In addition, though unofficially, The Earth Times suggests the networking system would allow you to transfer music and other data from your home computer to the in-car system while charging.

[Source: HD-PLC magazine]

 It has now been admitted that nearly half of all speed cameras are switched off. Many cameras installed in the UK during the 1990s failed to meet the new guidelines of 2001 and were switched off. However, the empty boxes were left along the roads to deter motorists from speeding.

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that 323 Gatsos - named after their inventor Maurice Gatsonides - were inactive but remained in place. A spokesman for the Met said: “In 2007-08, 323 speed safety camera housings were not subject to enforcement deployment. They are there but there is no camera inside, or they are turned off. However inactive sites continue to play a role in deterring speeding.”

Motorist groups demand to have the inactive devices removed, citing them as a dangerous roadside distraction. The Government’s transport advisers, however, come with an even more drastic report, which says that cars should be fitted with speed-limiting devices.

[Source: Daily Mail]

BMW likes to be a leader in technology. BMW has developed a prototype of the multiuse/multifunctional key that will change the way we interact and use our car’s key. Beside its normal use, the super key can be used as a credit card, or store electronic ticket information for bus, train or airplane travel. Shopping, paying for gas, toll roads etc has just become easier. The card can also provide the driver with in-car access to a host of personalized services through BMW’s ConnectedDrive. - Read Press Release after the break -

[Source: BMW]

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