Green and connected
With an eye on the environment and connectivity, Hyundai wants to remind car shoppers that its zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered Tucson Fuel Cell vehicle is focused on high-versatility and clean transportation. For 2016, the Tucson Fuel Cell adds HomeLink® connectivity to the mirror, allowing owners to open and close garage doors and security gates, as well as control home lighting systems via a button on the rearview mirror, which now includes a digital compass. The Tucson Fuel Cell is designed to create its own electricity, on-board, from hydrogen, as well as offer:
- A driving range of 265 miles
- Refueling time comparable to gasoline vehicle of same size
- Instantaneous electric motor torque
- Minimal cold-weather effects compared with battery-electric vehicles
- No moving parts within the power-generating fuel cell stack
- Quieter EV operation
- Zero greenhouse-gas emissions (emits only water vapor).
Find my car
Hyundai’s Blue Link app for the Apple Watch permits Hyundai owners to remotely flash their car’s lights in a crowded parking lot, lock their car doors or start their car using their Apple Watch. Hyundai’s cloud-based Blue Link platform allows these features to be accessed through smartphones as well. To use the app, the wearer taps an icon or uses voice commands to execute remote functions. Pushing the microphone icon on the watch activates the voice function, whereby the driver can execute commands such as “Start my car,” “Lock my car,” or “Find my car.” The Blue Link Apple Watch app works with first generation (e.g., the 2012 Sonata on through the 2013 lineup) and next generation Blue Link-equipped Hyundai models (e.g., the 2015 Genesis, Sonata and Azera). The Blue Link Apple Watch app features voice activated features such as:
- Engine Start
- Engine Stop (Only available when vehicle is in remote engine start mode)
- Door Lock / Unlock
- Flash Lights / Honk Horn
- Car Finder
- Vehicle Status
- Parking Meter
Mind your health
Buckle up for safety…and, while you’re at it, don’t forget to take your blood pressure. When the automotive industry says it wants to make driving safer, it’s not only referring to airbags and enhanced visibility. It appears it won’t be long before the industry introduces auto technologies around health, wellness and wellbeing (HWW), according to Frost & Sullivan’s Executive Outlook of Health, Wellness and Wellbeing Technologies in the Global Automotive Industry. In response to the growing population of aging drivers, automakers are developing cars designed to anticipate a driver’s heart attack or sudden disability in order to bring the vehicle to a safe halt and alert doctors. Ford, Toyota and some luxury automakers, such as BMW and Audi, are said to be the pioneers targeting the integration of HWW features into their next-generation products. Automotive HWW non-critical features, such as reconfigurable seats and mood lighting, are expected to be present in 30 to 40 percent of all cars by 2018, while features such as blood pressure monitoring are expected to be present in nearly five percent of vehicles by 2025. The report notes that key global original equipment manufacturers are devising strategies to include built-in, brought-in or cloud-enabled health monitoring systems in cars as standard, optional or advanced features.
How much is that car in the window?
The cost of purchasing a new car appeared to be on the rise this summer, according to analysts at Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com). The source reported the estimated average transaction price for light vehicles in the United States was $33,340 in June 2015 – a 2.5 percent increase ($209) over car prices the previous month, and a 2.5 percent increase ($821) over car prices in June 2014.
Online sales
AutoWurld, a subscription-based service and national marketplace for the auto industry, recently announced AutoWurld Mobile for iOS and Android. The app enables smart phone and tablet users to scan the VIN on their vehicle and instantly import all critical vehicle data directly from Kelly Blue Book. They can also enter a price, snap images and list their car for sale. In a minute or less, vehicles can be posted to AutoWurld.com as a retail and or wholesale listing. In addition, the service offers:
- Free account setup and activation (no contract required)
- Automated uploads and maintenance
- Unlimited usability
- Flat monthly rate with no additional fees, including no listing, transaction or auction fees
Drive safely
Hoping to sneak in an end-of-summer vacation? State Farm Insurance offers the following tips to help ensure a safe road trip:
- Know the law. Some states require drivers to restrain pets in carriers during car rides. Children must be restrained in car seats and adults must be buckled in.
- Do not permit passengers or pets to hang their head, arm or paws out the window; they could be injured by flying debris.
- Bring along GPS and music on long car trips; stow cell phones; and have books, toys and blankets on hand when traveling with children.
- Ensure the car’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) is in good condition.
- Make it a point to pull over when feeling drowsy, eating snacks, or attending to children or pets.
- Check ahead for construction sites and find alternative routes when necessary.