traffic

Mercedes-Benz does not shy away from tech for its top-tier cars; these vehicles have every new electronic feature the company can conceive. For the CL550, that means adaptive cruise control that can bring the car to a complete stop when traffic ahead halts, a split-view front LCD letting the passenger watch a movie while the driver views the navigation system, and night vision, which uses infrared projectors and a camera to show the driver the road on dark nights.

Although we've seen some of these features before in other Mercedes-Benz cars, the CL550 also debuts a new engine, a … Read more

With stylish good looks, a powerful engine, and sharp handling, the Lexus IS 350 makes for a fun driver's car. Luxury appointments in the cabin also make it a comfortable place to sit. The Mark Levinson audio system is a treat to the ears, but the rest of the cabin tech pushes no boundaries. And we found poor performance from the iPod integration.

For the 2011 model year, Lexus made some strategic updates, the biggest of which is the now available all-wheel drive. LED parking lights were a necessary addition, given the competition. And Lexus' new Enform telematics system … Read more

In some ways, the 2011 MKZ Hybrid is old news. As a badge-engineered version of the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, we've seen its power train before. Cabin tech is also mostly the same, although the Lincoln benefits from an audiophile-level THX audio system.

But what was excellent last year remains excellent. Comparable midsize sedans come nowhere close to the fuel economy of the MKZ Hybrid. Sync, Sirius Travel Link, and Lincoln's navigation system are all first rate technologies. And we cannot emphasize enough the pleasure afforded by the THX audio system.

Check out our 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid review. … Read more

The wagon lost popularity in the U.S. for a time but looks to be making a comeback, as people scrapping their SUVs for more economical vehicles still find the need for useful cargo space. Acura hopes to capitalize on this trend with the wagon version of the TSX, new for 2011.

Acura invited a group of journalists to spend a day with the new car in Northern California. Wagons have always been a popular type of vehicle for automotive journalists; the cars can combine sporty driving and practicality. It was a happy group that went out driving.

In some … Read more

I've seen some smokin' GPS deals before, but this one just about beats them all.

For what promises to be a very limited time, Amazon has the TomTom XXL 550T 5-inch GPS for $99.99 shipped. It's notable not just for its roomy 5-inch screen, but also for its free traffic updates--for life.

See, lots of GPS receivers can fetch real-time traffic data and route you around trouble spots, but most of them require add-on hardware and/or a subscription to the traffic service. The 550T requires neither. TomTom's Lifetime Traffic Updates last "until the product'… Read more

How's this for a prediction? By the end of 2011, the iPad will generate more than 2 percent of all North American Web traffic.

That's according to Chitika, which has been tracking iPad adoption rates on its ad network (3 billion ads served monthly across more than 100,000 sites) for some time now.

As of this month, the iPad accounts for 0.83 percent of all traffic on Chitika's network, research director Daniel Ruby tells me. And at current growth rates, which have been steady since the device's launch, it should hit 2.3 percent … Read more

Taking a big risk, Nissan pushed ahead of the pack to release the first mass production electric car. Although some people might find the limited range of the Nissan Leaf makes it impractical for their needs, it will fit into the lifestyles of many suburban commuters. And clean air aside, it has the advantage of costing about 70 percent less to run than an equivalent gasoline-powered car.

We drove the Leaf through the urban and suburban landscape of the San Francisco Bay Area, and found its 100 mile range enough to cover quite a bit of ground. It felt comfortable … Read more

I hate, hate, hate getting stuck in traffic, especially on the freeway (where you're usually trapped until the next exit). That's why I always drive with a GPS that can receive live traffic updates and steer me clear of congested areas.

Or a GPS app. CoPilot Live, MobileNavigator, and TomTom are among those that offer a live-traffic option, but all three charge you extra for it--usually on a monthly or annual basis.

Magellan RoadMate used to be the same way, but now, with the release of version 1.3, RoadMate offers free live traffic updates for life. I'… Read more

Kudos to BlackBerry-maker RIM for continued work on the free BlackBerry Traffic app. We see the freestanding app as a combination of Waze's social traffic app, which uses crowdsourced data to get real-time traffic results, and the traffic layer that's an optional part of Google Maps.

Like the others, BlackBerry Traffic is a driving tool that estimates the real-time distance between you and your destination. The app sources a combination of historical traffic patterns and real-time data taken from other BlackBerry Traffic users in the area. In addition to displaying travel times, the app also shows off alternate … Read more