bmw

Keeping up with the trend of offering external data connections in cars, BMW announced the addition of gas prices, weather forecasts, and stock indices to its existing Google Maps connection. Drivers will be able to view a list of nearby fuel stations with gas prices; select the cheapest; and have the address automatically entered in the navigation system, catching up to a feature already offered by Ford.

Weather shows up as a graphically rich three-day forecast for the current location of the car or any destination. BMW says the system will also show weather advisories. Stock information, provided by Bloomberg, … Read more

News circulated on the Internet today about a new hybrid Toyota sports car and a hybrid BMW sedan. Spy photos show the BMW 755ih, a hybrid version of the 7-series, driving the streets of Munich. The car uses the 750i's twin turbo 4.4-liter V-8 complemented by a small 20 horsepower electric motor. BMWBlog says the hybrid system reduces the V-8's fuel consumption by 15 percent. The 755ih should be unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show.

The egmCarTech blog reports that Toyota is working on a hybrid sports car to be released in 2011. Over the past … Read more

An enterprising BMW 3 Series owner has taken it upon himself to hard wire a Palm Pre Touchstone charger dock into his vehicle's center console. The Touchstone charging system is a pretty awesome bit of tech. Essentially, this charging base magnetically holds the smartphone in place while it wirelessly charges the battery using an inductive electromagnetic field.

The install itself seems pretty straightforward. The power adapter is hardwired into the the vehicle's 12-volt system, then the Touchstone is secured to the center tunnel with the wires hidden from view. Instead of fumbling with chargers and dongles, the owner … Read more

Did Saab just become a high tech supercar? BMW rewrites the rules for voice command, thankfully. Airbags in places you wouldn't believe. And a ride in a big, comfy, annoying Mercedes!

• Mercedes ESF 2009 safety car

• iPhone will finally get real turn-by-turn navigation

• BMW to dramatically ease voice command in cars

• GM opens up major new battery plant

• Kenwood DNX6140 nav head unit

Conversations with most current automotive voice command systems go something like this: You: Destination Car: Please specify the mode of destination entry Y: Address C: Please say a city name Y: San Francisco C: Please say a street name Y: Market Street C: Please say a street number Y: 101 C: To accept the destination, please press the talk button

And that's when everything is working optimally. This process is so tedious that most people opt for manual entry with the touch screen or whatever other controller the car offers.

In September, BMW will simplify voice command greatly by … Read more

Although the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo was officially unveiled at the nternational Motor Show in Geneva in February, this Web video offers a closer look.

BMW focuses on a contemporary interpretation of the classic Gran Turismo. The new model offers luxury, versatility, and a spacious interior.

When it comes to weather, apparently you can never have too much information.

BMW's ConnectedDrive is taking the weather forecast to the next level and is now providing its European drivers with high-resolution precipitation graphics that show them where the rain is relative to their current location and destination, as well as other locations in Europe. The display features two zoom settings and graphics that show the geographical distribution of rain, hail, or snow, which are updated every 15 minutes. And starting July, drivers will also be able to dial up cloud movements over the last 90 minutes. … Read more

Recently, BMW put a new spin on the art car concept by making the new Z4 Roadster the brush instead of the canvas. Essentially, the artist took a Z4, dunked its tires into red, blue, and yellow paint, and proceeded to whip donuts on a 200 by 100 foot canvas. Now, that's my kind of fine art!

Well, now there's an app for that. (Sorry, I couldn't help it!)

BMW Z4: An Expression of Joy Lite is a free iPhone/iPod Touch app by Artificial Life that lets people get behind the virtual wheel of a customizable … Read more

The weather's nice, and the kids are out of school. Time to pack up some gear and head out on the open road for summer fun. But what sort of car will hold the family and luggage for a weeklong excursion without costing an arm and a leg to gas up? We scoured our recent car reviews to find the best cars with modern tech to load up for a summer road trip.

See the top 5 summer road trip cars.