10 Mobile Apps for Drivers to Get the Most Out of Their Vehicles Read more: http://wallstcheatsheet.com/automobiles/10-must-have-car-apps-for-connected-drivers.html/?a=viewall#ixzz3KknBE7x6

Whether or not the Taxi and Limousine Commission, local police departments, and overpriced mechanics love them, mobile car apps are already a fixture of our lives. The usefulness of a mapping app is where the conversation begins, but there is no telling what the future will bring when it comes to new apps for drivers or passengers.
What’s certain is that consumers are winning with the car apps that have hit the market. From the ability to receive bids on repair services to the cross-referencing and price checks you can manage when standing on a car dealer’s lot, many of the the murky aspects of car transactions have been brought out into the light. A consumer’s chances of being hoodwinked plummet accordingly. It’s also a lot easier to get around, avoid traffic, and find gas at the cheapest rates in town.
Here are 10 mobile car apps that qualify as must-haves for drivers and in most cases passengers along for the ride.

Dash

Not everyone sports gas-saving habits behind the wheel. Some of us sprint and stop, idle for extended periods to keep the AC going, or sprint toward (or past) the high end of the speed limit. These habits cut down on fuel economy and cost drivers considerable amounts of cash over the course of a year. The Dash app (or “Fitbit for Cars”) aims to reel in those gas-guzzling habits while offering tips on the “check engine” light
 and other issues that arise on the road.
Of course, you could just kick back with the owner’s manual to figure out why a check engine light has appeared. Everyone loves that process. The same goes for reading up on instructions for saving fuel. Dash closed both circles with a simple mobile solution.

 Cars.com

There are so many vehicles available for purchase, and almost as many places to buy them. Apps like the one made by Cars.com allow you to harness the endless amounts of buying and selling information by searching within a price range, seller zip code, condition, make, and model year. Many websites offer this service, but the Cars.com mobile app allows you to get it done while you are standing in the vicinity of a car dealer, or on the lot itself. It works on iOS or Android phones, though the Android version has garnered better reviews over the years.

Openbay

Maybe you didn’t like the last mechanic who fixed your car, or maybe the price sounded a little high. The Openbay app (iOS only) allows you to type in the problem and get quotes from garages in the area. An obvious advantage comes from the ability to compare prices without shops telling you the repair is impossible on your budget or time frame; another quality feature is the fact that you can authorize only a certain amount on your card so that a garage cannot jack up the price unexpectedly. Android users can access this service through the mobile site; an option that runs on both operating systems is Repairpal, though that only provides estimates for repairs and is exclusively a directory service and therefore does not accept payments.

GasBuddy

Nothing could be more straightforward or useful. You are in a strange part of town and have no idea where to get gas. The pump you just passed seems high by any estimate; just off the main drag is the cheapest gas in town. Clicking on your GasBuddy app (Android, iOS, Windows) delivers a rundown of the local prices and gets you the best deal. It’s the type of service mobile Internet was meant to deliver. Frequent contributors who report and post gas prices earn rewards using the app, but everyone saves money with GasBuddy.

Waze

Waze is one of the best multitasking car apps available. Windows, Android, and iOS systems can work with Waze, which has the ability to report on cheap gas prices, help you navigate to your destination, and even work in social functions via connections to your Facebook friends. A unique feature of Waze are the real-time reports users post on traffic, accidents, and other disturbances along the route to your destination. If you had to have one app to get you to an unknown destination, Waze might be the call to make.

Fuelly

Though there is a mobile app available, Fuelly is a web app that allows drivers to track their fuel consumption using algorithms that can calculate a rough average fuel economy based on inputs like price per gallon, number of gallons, and number of miles since the driver’s last fill-up. Taking into account the size of the gasoline tank (the user plugs in the make and model of vehicle before getting started, the app will allow drivers to track how much money they’ve put in their tank, how many total miles they’ve driven, and how many fill-ups the driver has logged. The app is handy and all, but the real magic happens on the website to which the app directly interacts with.

Trapster

Somewhere between five and 10 million downloads for the Android app alone tell the story of Trapster’s must-have status. Using this app, you can receive alerts that help you avoid traffic and tickets created by speed traps. Of course, speed traps may double as DUI checkpoints on any given night. This feature has drawn criticism as being an enabler for drinkers who want a warning as they approach a costly ticket and jail time. Advocates of the app say it helps remind people of law enforcement’s presence, reminding drivers of the need to proceed with caution.

PlugShare

How does an electric vehicle driver find a place for a charge during a long day of running the Tesla or Leaf? PlugShare has the nearest charging station listed, whether a Supercharger or CHAdeMO station is on your radar. This app comes in handy if you are going out to eat with a low battery or are parking on an appointment. The extra charge could eliminate the inconvenience and any range anxiety you happened to have on the day in question. PlugShare works for iPhones or Android devices and gets some of the highest user ratings you can find for an app in either operating system.

Zipcar

You need a four-wheel-drive SUV for the weekend but you drive a Ford Focus. You live downtown, where daily parking is expensive at best and impossible at worst. Enter Zipcar, the car-sharing service that allows you to rent vehicles by the hour or by the day. There are a la carte options or fixed-price memberships available if your driving habits are fairly regular, but drivers and people who don’t own a car should keep this app in the dock.
This company (and the app that mobile users access) will see more competition in the future. Rental agencies like Hertz and Enterprise already have versions of car sharing, but Zipcar is the easiest to use on the scene to date from a user standpoint. The one drawback to Zipcar is that you have to return the vehicle to the same location. Rental car companies still have the edge on that front with their much larger infrastructure.

Google Maps

The all-encompassing Google Maps mobile app is about as good as it gets in multitasking car service. Door-to-door navigation is always simple, even with estimates for walking from the parking lot around the corner included. While on the road, you get clear directions with two-mile warnings, followed by half-mile warnings and immediate alerts.
What is exceptional about Google Maps is its ability to harness the information from various apps in one. You will find reports from Waze users warning of issues along your route, tips on how to find cheaper gas in the vicinity, recommendations on restaurants, and any other use the search engine can deliver. The map can get busy to look at on the road, but eye contact with a phone on the road is a bad idea, anyway.

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Lexus Reportedly Gives up on Drop-Top, Focuses on 3-Row SUV

Apparently Lexus needs a three-row SUV more than it needs a convertible version of the RC. The latter was originally intended to go into production and look a lot like the LF-C2 concept, but now it seems they’ve had an internal revolt and are using the next LS platform to underpin a Mercedes GL rival.

This means it will be very far removed from the Toyota Land Cruiser-based GX (pictured), though it could take its name if that model is discontinued by 2018 – that’s when this new SUV is expected to hit the market. Being based on a rwd platform will make it much more similar to its German rivals, and therefor draw in prospective owners from the same buyer base.

MotorTrend reports that the move was not supported by the entire staff, stating that “some inside Lexus are furious over the decision.”

That’s supposedly partly due to the fact that the RC was originally conceived to be topless as well – one of the reasons it’s heavier than its direct rival, the BMW 4-Series. It uses the strengthened center section from the IS convertible and should retain rigidity without its roof.

Ferrari Boss Wants Three Formula 1 Races in the United States

In the week preceding last Sunday’s US Grand Prix at Austin, Texas, there was a lot of speculation going on. In particular, that three teams, namely Lotus, Sauber and Force India, were pulling out of the race as a means of protesting over the high costs involved and the way revenues are spread between Formula 1 teams.

Eventually they participated in the race, which was won by current points’ leader Lewis Hamilton. The issue of the big teams getting most of the income generated by the F1 circus compared to the smaller ones still stands, though, especially after Marussia and Caterham went into administration prior to the US GP.

In spite of that, ESPN reports that Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci wants an extra race in the States. If this gets the green light by the FIA and the rest of the teams, this would make for three events held in the US since, apart from Austin, New Jersey will be added to the calendar from 2016.

“I want an extra race. I want three races in the United States”, said Mattiacci. “That’s my proposal, because the American market is fundamental to generate revenues, to attract sponsors. When you have more revenues definitely you can talk about having more teams on board.”

The Ferrari F1 team boss believes that Formula 1’s penetration in the US market is very low, considering the amount of money that could be generated, so that’s why he’s pushing for a third race. While it is true that American motorsports fans are more interested in NASCAR and Indycars, following Mattiacci’s proposal would significantly increase costs for the, already struggling, smaller teams.

There is also a precedent: in 1982 the US was the first country to ever host three GPs in one season in Detroit, Las Vegas and Long Beach. With the current calendar being stretched to 20 races per year and a lot of countries vying to get a race, it remains to be seen whether Mattiacci and Ferrari will get their way or not.

By Andrew Tsaousis

Ford Details 725HP Gold-Obsessed Galpin Auto Sports Mustang

Ford has released additional details about the customized Mustang built by Galpin Auto Sports for SEMA to celebrate Ford Mustang’s 50th birthday.

The golden anniversary car features a restyled front fascia to match the three streaks found in the factory headlights, but the latter are replaced by new headlights with integrated LED turn signals and turn on in sequence. The car also features carbon fiber front splitter and rocker panels, as well as a more aggressive rear diffuser.

The exterior is finished in paint that may appear black, but a closer look reveals that it is filled with gold metallic flakes. The 20-inch wheels, side sills, brake calipers and badging are also finished in gold. Inside, everything that is normally chrome or metallic has either been blacked-out or given the gold treatment. The Recaro seats are covered with a fabric finished in black and gold, and the headliner is black microsuede.

Under the hood, a gold powder-coated Whipple supercharger helps the 5.0-liter V8 develop 725 horsepower. Suspension components from Steeda and an all-new exhaust from Magnaflow complete the mechanical upgrades.

“We like the black and gold idea, and really wanted to get the color as close to 24-carat gold as possible,” Brandon Boeckmann, GAS operations manager, explained the gold theme.

Ford said the spotlight at the 2014 SEMA will be on the all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, which has “much more potential for performance,” according to the automaker. Several tuners will unveil high-powered versions of the new turbo four-cylinder which produces 310 hp and 320 lb-ft (434 Nm) of torque in standard form.

Heck Yeah We Want a Mazda MX-5 / Miata Coupe!

The Mazda MX-5/Miata is the quintessential light British roadster, but that’s not to say it would not be equally good (or better) as a hardtop. We’re not talking about those fiberglass tops that bolt onto the car or a folding hardtop, but an actual one-piece coupe bodyshell from the manufacturer.

According to Automotive News, Mazda has a staggering number of updates planned for essentially its entire range in the coming years. The company's strategy often amounts to a one-two punch with some updates coming one year and more following the next. It's an interesting tactic that should keep the brand in the headlines with all of the changes.

In terms of the Miata, that tactic means going on sale sometime next summer as an all-new ragtop model that returns to its roots with a similar size and weight as the original (Autoblog sources indicate that there will be a substantial weight drop versus today's NC Miata, but we don't expect a return to NA or even necessarily NB featheriness). A 2.0-liter Skyactiv four-cylinder and six-speed manual should provide a decent jump in performance, too.

The vaguer news arises about a year later,when the publication's sources say Mazda will bring out a MX-5 coupe with a fastback design. This isn't to be confused with a power folding retractable hardtop option (PRHT) – the runaway success of the folding lid on the current generation means we expect a similar unit to be available when the new generation first goes on sale. Despite the PRHT's availability, some buyers are still yearning for a proper fixed-head coupe bodystyle, and apparently Mazda may be listening. With the death of the RX-8, Mazda doesn't have a hard top sports car in its lineup, and this would seem to be an easy way to get one.

In similar style, the Mazda6 and CX-5 are also getting back-to-back updates. Both are rumored to get revised interiors in 2015, plus slight visual updates to the outside of the crossover. Then, more changes for them both will come the following year, says Automotive News.

Even bigger changes may be in the works for the Mazda3, which is still new on the market. AN says the 3 will get an exterior refresh in the second half of 2016 to coincide with a new generation of the Mazdaspeed3. That hot hatch is speculated to use a 2.5-liter turbocharged Skyactiv engine packing over 300 horsepower and possibly even all-wheel drive for the first time.

The nearly here next-gen Mazda2 will arrive later this year, but a performance-oriented model with a modified 1.5-liter Skyactiv powerplant is expected, too. AN says the model will feature a less-restrictive intake and exhaust among its changes.

Finally, AN says that the Mazda5 minivan will be axed in 2015, and the as-yet-unconfirmed CX-3 subcompact crossover will bow next June as a 2016 model. That model had previously been rumored to not be a US offering.

These changes certainly sound like they are coming very quickly, but keep in mind the brand is on an engineer hiring binge. All of those people have to be working on something, right? 

PlayStation: 2015 Nissan GT-R NISMO for GT6 Plus Video of Mercedes-AMG GT on DriveClub

PlaySation uses take note: Nissan has just announced the availability of the new GT-R NISMO on Gran Turismo 6, while Mercedes released a video of its AMG GT on the upcoming racing title DriveClub.



The GT-R NISMO that has a 592hp (600PS) 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6
engine in real life is available as a paid Downloadable Content (DLC) or
for free for anyone who entered the GT Academy 2014 competition.



The creator of Gran Turismo, Kazunori Yamauchi, said: "The GT-R NISMO is
an incredible car, and I am thrilled that Nissan is able to not only
offer it to drivers across the globe, but now also to gamers in the
virtual world of Gran Turismo6".



Moving on to Benz, the German carmaker is giving us a taste of the new AMG GT in action on the PS4 DRIVECLUB game that will become available in Europe from 8 October 2014, with the two-door model offered for free in the first week of launch.

NASCAR Releases New Rules For Drivers Getting Out Of Cars

In response to the sprint car crash that ended with NASCAR driver Tony Stewart running over and killing 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr., NASCAR has some new rules for drivers: Basically, stay in your car.

Here's the whole release explaining the new rules:

 My first reaction to the whole accident was how terribly horrible that it happened in the first place but then, surely there must be procedure in place which states drivers are not to exit their car in less than dire circumstances.  Apparently there were not but now there are.

Dodge Charger Pursuit Puts on New Clothes for 2015

Since the Charger has received a substantial refresh for the 2015 model year, it was about time that Dodge applied the makeover to the Charger Pursuit as well.

The police vehicle features an all-new exterior styling for 2015 similar to the “civilian” version, as well as a refreshed driver-focused cockpit and police-duty upgrades.

Dodge says the Charger Pursuit V8 and V8 AWD models deliver best-in-class output (370 hp) and best-in-class acceleration performance, with the 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) sprint taking less than 6 seconds. The Charger Pursuit is also offered with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine producing 292 hp and featuring E-85 flex-fuel capability. The latter returns up to 26 mpg (9 l/100 km) highway.

Besides the police-specific exterior features, the design is not different from the standard Charger. However, the interior is described as a “mobile command center”, with the 2015 Charger Pursuit featuring a new vehicle systems interface module for easy equipment integration, police-duty front seats with unique bolstering to accommodate officers’ belt-mounted gear, as well as column-mounted shifter with Auto Stick to free up space for center-console mounted controls.

Improvements over the 2014 model include a new Dodge steering wheel with re-mappable auxiliary buttons programmed to operate aftermarket police equipment, larger 14.5in (368mm) front and 13.8in (350mm) rear pursuit-rated brake package, additional front suspension bushing durability improvement for RWD models, uniquely designed fascia brake cooling ducts, LEDs in front headlamp assembly and an improved Vehicle System Integration Model, among other things.

Worldwide gasoline demand going to drop after 2021

Even as electric vehicles gain in popularity, we're told again and again that internal combustion engines aren't going away. While that may be true, it would still be nice to kick our addiction to gasoline. Pollution, international turmoil and energy insecurity are getting a bit tiresome. It's good news, then that Navigant Research is predicting a decline in the amount of gasoline we use.

In a report titled "Transportation Forecast: Global Fuel Consumption," Navigant Research concludes that gasoline consumption will begin to decline after 2021, and will decrease by four percent worldwide between 2014 and 2035. While it might not be time to break out the champagne yet, the forecast is promising. And it's not just a fluke or natural, cyclical event, either. This is the result of conscious effort by actual humans who are concerned about the effect gasoline use has on the Earth and its inhabitants.

"The anticipated effects of climate change are driving international cooperation on mitigation efforts," says Navigant Research analyst Scot Shepard, "including reducing oil consumption in the transportation sector. Markets for both vehicles and fuels have gradually begun to respond to these efforts, and alternative fuels - including electricity, natural gas, and biodiesel - are beginning to have an impact on global oil demand." Okay, maybe just a little champagne.

Navigant credits electric vehicles to a small extent for the eventual decline in gas use, as well as development of biofuels and the like. The group says, though, that the main factors are improvements in cars and the internal combustion engines they use, which lead to better fuel economy. Check out the press release from Navigant Research, below, or see more at the group's website.

Worldwide Gasoline Consumption Will Fall by 4 Percent from 2014 to 2035
August 4, 2014

Gasoline consumption will start to decline after 2021, report concludes

The costs of dependence on oil for transportation, which affects energy security, environmental security, and economic stability, have become increasingly clear to governments around the world. As a result, a number of policies aimed at reducing oil consumption have been initiated in many countries, including subsidizing alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles, biofuels mandates, and higher fuel economy requirements for new vehicles. According to a new report from Navigant Research, gasoline consumption for road transportation will continue to rise through 2021, reaching 367.3 billion gallons a year, but then start to fall thereafter, declining to 348.1 billion gallons a year in 2035.

"The anticipated effects of climate change are driving international cooperation on mitigation efforts, including reducing oil consumption in the transportation sector," says Scott Shepard, research analyst with Navigant Research. "Markets for both vehicles and fuels have gradually begun to respond to these efforts, and alternative fuels ‑ including electricity, natural gas, and biodiesel ‑ are beginning to have an impact on global oil demand."

While the market for electric vehicles is growing at a healthy pace, according to the report, the most impactful fuel savings strategy is likely to come from fuel efficiency improvements in the conventional vehicle platform and the internal combustion engine (ICE). To meet the increased fuel economy requirements for new vehicles, automakers have made major investments in engine downsizing, reducing vehicle weights, and vehicle electrification.

The report, "Transportation Forecast: Global Fuel Consumption", analyzes the global road transportation fuels market by alternative fuel and vehicle segment (light duty vehicles and medium and heavy duty vehicles). Analysis and data are provided for the following fuels: gasoline, diesel, ethanol, biodiesel, drop-in biofuels, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, electricity, and hydrogen. Global market forecasts for energy, oil, and fuel consumption, segmented by country and vehicle segment, extend through 2035. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.

John Beltz Snyder RSS feed Google+
Posted Aug 6th 2014 7:58PM

Nissan Promises "Iconic" Design to Make Up for Cube’s Termination

With the demise of the Cube and Murano CrossCabriolet, Nissan’s lineup suddenly lacks eccentric models, perhaps with the exception of the Juke crossover.

But that will change in the future, as Nissan pledges to add an iconic design to keep its lineup quirky.

Nissan’s chief planning officer Andy Palmer says the brand needs a head-turner to capitalize on its innovative image. That role has been played by the boxy Cube compact since 2009, with Nissan launching another controversial design in 2011, the Murano CrossCabriolet, which was a convertible version of the Murano crossover.

Both these models have been dropped from Nissan’s 2015 lineup in the United States, but Nissan promises another offering that will generate just as much buzz.

“To be clear, we will morph this space in our portfolio into something iconic. The space is held to make sure we have something iconic,” Palmer told Autonews. However, the executive didn’t offer additional details about what the company is preparing.

Still, if we look at Nissan’s recent concept cars we may find an answer. The wedge-shaped BladeGlider would no doubt be the most striking as a production car but it won’t be easy for Nissan to build it as DeltaWing Technologies, the company which first used the unusual design, is pursuing legal action against Nissan. Furthermore, DeltaWing has already hinted at a production car, which will no doubt make it hard for Nissan to bring the BladeGlider to market.

Another Nissan concept that may be produced is the IDx, a Datsun 510-inspired sporty coupe concept. However, according to recent report the IDx would be too expensive for Nissan to build on its own, which is why it may be delayed or even cancelled.