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Feb. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Acura and XM announced today that the 2009 Acura RL will offer XM NavWeather featuring Threat Matrix technology as a part of its AcuraLink service. The new Acura RL was unveiled today at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show and will be on display in the Acura booth. Acura is XM's first automotive partner to debut the XM NavWeather service.

2009 Acura RL drivers will be able to experience real-time, personalized weather tracking service directly through the in-dash navigation system. XM NavWeather utilizes exclusive "Threat Matrix" technology to track and provide drivers immediate alerts on developing weather threats, such as hail, floods, tornado and storm warnings. To help inform RL drivers of weather conditions at a glance, the easily understood icons are integrated into the luxury sedan's large map display. Read more

Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Toyota 1/X concept vehicle made its North American debut today at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show. Developed by Toyota Motor Corporation, the Toyota 1/X compact hybrid offers a glimpse into the next era of automotive technological design. The Toyota 1/X redefines from its very roots the idea of what it means to be environmentally considerate. Pronounced 1/Xth, the name is derived from its vehicle mass, fuel consumption and emissions output, each totaling a fraction of that of other vehicles in its class.

The 1/X features an aerodynamic ultra-lightweight design that maintains the interior space of the Toyota Prius hybrid and is approximately one-third the weight of the Prius. Its low 926-pound curb weight is partially achieved through the use of a light but very strong carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) throughout the body frame. Read more

Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nissan North America, Inc. today announced pricing on the all-new, totally redesigned 2009 Nissan Murano crossover with a starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) $1,500 lower on all models versus the previous generation. The 2009 Murano goes on sale this week at Nissan dealers nationwide.

The original Nissan Murano set new standards for style and sportiness when it was first introduced, becoming, in essence, a "class of one." The all-new, second generation 2009 Murano elevates that unique position with new exterior and interior designs, enhanced technology and a premium driving feel resulting from a new, advanced platform and continued refinement of Murano's standard 265-horsepower V6 engine (an increase of 25 horsepower over the previous generation) and advanced, second-generation Xtronic CVT. Read more

January 8, 2008--Magellan, the world’s fastest-growing GPS brand, just introduced nine new vehicle navigation units at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show (booth no. 31247) featuring innovations in connectivity, design, ease of use, and accessibility, including the first GPS model that includes Google Local Search.

Maestro Elite 5340+GRPS Introduce Google Local Search to Auto Navigation for the First Time
Magellan’s new Maestro Elite 5340 connected navigation device features Google Local Search and lets users search the Web for businesses in a specific neighborhood and then route to the location. Google’s search feature also enables Maestro Elite 5340 users to search for local events from major concerts to family story time at local libraries, the first vehicle navigation device to offer this feature from Google. Read more

January 7, 2008 – Kensington Computer Products Group today introduced LiquidAUX, a line of car audio kits that use the auxiliary or AUX port, now standard on most new cars, to deliver pure sound from an iPhone, iPod or music phone through the car stereo. Also released was a new car charger for the iPhone and iPod along with a Bluetooth stereo headset for people to enjoy the wireless freedom of Bluetooth technology for their music and phone conversations.

In 2007, over 170 car models in the US from 34 domestic and foreign brands offered auxiliary ports (source: Telematics Research Group – 2007). In 2008, nearly all top 10 selling car models in the US will offer auxiliary ports as a standard feature and nearly half of all cars on the road will feature an auxiliary port before the end of 2010.This prevalent feature allows drivers to connect external music players directly to the car stereo to get static-free, high-fidelity sound. Kensington's new LiquidAUX line of car accessories let drivers take full advantage of this audio connection and seamlessly integrate their iPhone, iPod or music-enabled cell phone into their car environment. Read more

Jan. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Traffic.com, a NAVTEQ company, and a leading provider of traffic solutions to consumers and businesses, unveiled today a beta version of a "fastest drive now" feature available at www.traffic.com. Traffic.com now provides commuters the ability to easily obtain simultaneous results for address-to-address drives and traffic optimized drives. Drivers across the U.S. can now obtain the point A-to-B travel information they need to make the best decisions about when to leave and the fastest drive to take. Traffic.com solutions are completely free to consumers.

Traffic.com users begin checking their drive times by entering a point A origin and point B destination address. Site visitors instantly obtain their basic directions-based drive information as well as an alternate traffic optimized "fastest drive now" that takes into account the current traffic and traffic trending conditions along the way. An accompanying interactive traffic map provides color-coded highlighted drives, pinpointed accident, construction and event icons as well as surrounding red, yellow and green real-time traffic flow on area roadways. Read more

Jan. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NAVTEQ today announced that NavStar Technologies, Inc., a technology development company, will power its new Voice Navigator product with NAVTEQ map data for the United States. Each quarter, NavStar will integrate freshly updated NAVTEQ map data for the United States to its server, providing users optimal routing information.

The Voice Navigator, NavStar's first commercially available product, is a connected navigation product that interfaces with a wireless phone to create a hands-eyes-free turn-by-turn navigation system through a voice recognition and response system. NavStar has combined the safety of hands-free driving with the convenience of voice navigation. Input for a route or hands-free calling is via the user's natural voice. Turn-by-turn directions are delivered back to the user aurally without diverting the driver's attention from the road. Read more

Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nissan North America, Inc. announced that the midsize pickup truck it will produce for Suzuki Motor Corp. will be based on the Frontier midsize pickup and built at Nissan's manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tenn.

Production of the pickup truck will begin in 2008. The vehicle will be solely marketed by Suzuki in North America. Preparations currently are under way to ready the Smyrna facility. Read more

November 27, 2007--After countless class wins, a silver Porsche Type 718 RS 60 Spyder piloted by Hans Herrmann and Olivier Gendebien took on and defeated the much larger and more powerful competition, scoring its first overall victory in the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring. This led many to begin to refer to Porsche race cars as “Giant Killers”. In color, design, features and philosophy, the new limited edition Boxster RS 60 Spyder, announced today by the Stuttgart based sports car maker, is inspired by such victories that helped build Porsche’s legacy in motorsport from the 1960s to this day.

The new Boxster RS 60 Spyder evokes the stance and style of this historic mid-engine two-seater race car. Its front end is taken from Porsche’s SportDesign Package and distinguishes the RS 60 Spyder significantly from the current Boxster S. Its posture is made even more dynamic with the addition of spacer plates that move the 19-inch Porsche SportDesign wheels into an even more prominent position in the wheel arches. Likewise, the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is standard on this limited edition model and ensures both sporting and comfortable driving characteristics in all conditions. Modifications to the exhaust flow coupled with a dual tailpipe sports exhaust system increase engine output to 303 hp. Read more

November 2007 – For consumers seeking convergence of their must-have everyday technologies and their vehicle’s factory system, Alpine Electronics of America, Inc., the industry-leading manufacturer of automotive mobile media solutions, today introduced the eX-10 Advanced iPod Controller with Bluetooth. The eX-10 is a new dash-top solution for iPod playback and Bluetooth connectivity that works with the vehicle’s factory system. The eX-10 consists of a no-installation display unit that sits on top of the dash, a remote control and a power module that plugs into the vehicle’s cigarette lighter. The eX-10 was recently announced as a winner of a CES Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering Award, for the In-Vehicle Control/OEM Integration category.

“The demand for iPod and Bluetooth in the car is skyrocketing, and consumers previously have not been able to integrate these technologies into their existing sound systems through one product. With Alpine’s new eX-10, consumers can easily add both iPod music playback and Bluetooth hands-free operation for cell phones into their vehicles with one simple, add-on solution,” said Stephen Witt, vice president, Marketing, Alpine Electronics. Read more