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August 07, 2008 - Nextar is a designer and marketer of bold, new consumer electronic products with mass appeal and practical applications. The company is pleased to announce the affordable Nextar I4-BC navigation system, which includes a back-up camera that provides a clear rear view for up to seven feet. This product is priced significantly less than similar after-market and factory-installed systems, making it affordable to your average family.

'Backovers' - vehicles backing up and accidentally hitting unseen children who are in blind zones behind the vehicle - occur on average 50 times a week (roughly one every 3.5 hours) in the United States. From 2002 to 2007, it was, by far, the largest non-traffic vehicular killer of children under the age of 15, being the cause in 44% of such fatalities. Read more

Jun 26, 2008 - Today’s consumers are passionate about staying in touch and want to be connected no matter where they are – home, work, school or vehicle. To focus on the experience and connect customers to the things that matter the most, Chrysler LLC will now bundle innovative consumer technologies under one umbrella name – “uconnect.” The function of the feature is directly in the name – uconnect phone, uconnect tunes, uconnect gps, uconnect studios and uconnect web.

“We set out to connect customers to the things that matter most to them,” said Deborah Meyer, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer – Chrysler LLC. “The role for ‘uconnect’ in the 2009 model year places the focus on the customer experience and how the features will make their life easier.”

Following are the definitions of the uconnect features. Read more

June 23, 2008 – After playing to sold-out crowds in living rooms around the world, the blockbuster video game Guitar Hero is hitting the road with Guitar Hero: On Tour for Nintendo DS, Activision, Inc. today announced. Available now at retail outlets nationwide, Guitar Hero: On Tour brings a new dimension to handheld gaming and gives fans the ability to shred along to their favorite tunes with complete portability.

Packaged with the revolutionary Guitar Hero Guitar Grip peripheral that fits snugly into Nintendo DS, and a unique Guitar Hero pick-stylus, Guitar Hero: On Tour delivers a unique experience by challenging handheld gamers to rock out and prove their shredding skills on one of the most diverse set lists ever offered in a Guitar Hero game, including master track hits from Nirvana, OK Go, No Doubt, blink-182 and Bloc Party. Read more

June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Chrysler announced today that it is pricing its full-size 4x4 sport-utility vehicle (SUV) hybrid electric vehicles nearly $8,000 below the competition.

The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the new 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid is $45,340, including $800 for destination. The MSRP for the new 2009 Chrysler Aspen HEMI Hybrid is $45,570, including $800 for destination. Additionally, customers are expected to receive an estimated tax credit of $1,800. Read more

June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Traffic.com, a NAVTEQ brand and a leading source of traffic solutions for consumers, provides a free all-in-one commute management solution for traveling this Fourth of July weekend. Three million drivers have already processed nearly seven million routing requests to help them make the best decisions about the best time to leave and the fastest route to take.

Traffic.com's launch of the popular "check your drive time" feature earlier this year provides customizable traffic information during this travel weekend and beyond. With "check your drive time," drivers simply type in where they are and where they want to go. The real-time traffic solution processes nearly 1.5 million routes per month and instantly presents the driver with two options: the fastest route based on real-time traffic data and the shortest route based on distance. Included with route details are complete door-to-door driving directions with current conditions, accidents, construction, and delays along each roadway. Read more

June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- As the official start of summer looms and families get set to take to the roads for their annual summer vacations or long weekends, make sure dad is well equipped with a hands-free car kit - especially in those states that now require hands-free devices. Parrot, a leader in cell phone devices, is offering a great hand-free solution for dads this Father's Day: the Parrot MINIKIT.

The Parrot MINIKIT is a portable mobile speakerphone that features Bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition and crystal-clear audio quality that allows Dad to keep his hands on the wheel and his eyes on the road.

Sporting an ultra-portable design and weighing only 3.5 ounces, the Parrot MINIKIT easily clips on and off of the car's sun visor so no matter where dad goes he can carry the car kit with him -- from car to car or inside the beach house or home. Read more

June 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NAVTEQ, a leading global provider of digital map data for location-based solutions and vehicle navigation, reminds drivers to update their GPS navigation systems to prepare for the summer driving season. Many drivers using older systems experience frustration when their GPS navigation system doesn't know about that new interstate exit or one-way street change. Map updates are ideal to address this concern.

NAVTEQ, the most widely used map for navigation*, builds the digital maps that power most in-vehicle navigation systems, as well as leading GPS device brands. The NAVTEQ field analysts make millions of changes and additions to the NAVTEQ map so that drivers who purchase a map update have the freshest, most comprehensive map data available. Read more

May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Honda just announced additional details regarding its new small hybrid scheduled for introduction in early 2009, as part of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. CEO Takeo Fukui's mid-year address. An official name and full product details will be announced later this year.

In addition to weight reduction, a significant cost reduction in Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) components will result in the most affordable hybrid vehicle to date. This dedicated hybrid vehicle will be offered as a 5-door hatchback with seating for five passengers and will employ an exterior design concept that evokes the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle. Along with the Civic Hybrid, the new vehicle will be produced at an expanded IMA production line at Honda's Suzuka factory in Japan. Read more

May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- TomTom, the world's leading navigation solutions provider, today announces an enhanced RIDER 2nd Edition for motorcycles. New available features include TomTom Map Share, Help Me!, Fuel Prices Service, TomTom Traffic with a 30-day free trial and new premium maps.

In addition, bikers now have easy access to dedicated trip statistics. This allows them to see average and maximum speeds per journey, total miles traveled and distance from home. Read more

April 2008 – Alpine Electronics of America, Inc., the industry-leading manufacturer of automotive mobile media solutions, announced its IVA-W505 Mobile Multimedia Station ($1,100 SRI) is now shipping to authorized Alpine dealers in the U.S. and Canada. The IVA-W505 is a full-featured DVD/CD/MP3/AAC/WMA/DivX audio/video head unit that boasts a new, intuitive graphical interface and touch-screen control over virtually any digital media source in the car, as well as Bluetooth connectivity. The 2-DIN unit also serves as the in-dash docking station for Alpine’s PMD-B200 Blackbird portable navigation device, enabling consumers to enjoy the car-to-car convenience of a portable unit while also gaining the myriad benefits of a fixed navigation system.

“The IVA-W505 is the ultimate navigation and entertainment command center for the vehicle,” said Stephen Witt, vice president, marketing and product planning, Alpine Electronics. “It can serve as a base for an audio/video plus navigation system, and it is one of two Alpine in-dash units that offer the new iTunes Tagging feature.” Read more