The Development of In-Car Digital Technology

digital technology

As you know, we love a funky infographic here at THE Blog About Cars. There is something about the visual presenting of data that could otherwise be boring that we find hypnotic. We can never resist posting them, and hope that you don’t mind.
This particular infographic is pretty cool. It charts the development of technology in cars, from infotainment (read: what keeps you bopping along in the car and stops you dying of automotive boredom) through to navigation systems (the days of the boring TomTom are long behind us) through to the technically more important safety technology, which has come on leaps and bounds in just a few short decades. It even gives us a glimpse into the potential future developments of such tech, although we’re disappointed not to see nanotech (self healing paint, anyone?!) or night vision windscreens making an appearance! Still, it’s pretty damn good!

Chris Harris drives the Lotus Exige S

Chris Harris drives the Lotus Exige S

Watch one of the latest videos from Chris Harris as he takes the Lotus Exige S for a track test.

“Despite difficulties in deciphering anything tangible within the madness of new racing cars and bizarre road car strategies over the past two years”, says Harris, Lotus makes some of the best sports cars in the world, when it has the time and money to do so. And so Harris decides to put all negative thoughts behind him and visit the home of Lotus at Hethel to test drive the Exige S, arguably one of the best Lotus road cars ever made.

The Exige S is the Exige with a different back end on it, new rear suspension, modified chassis and body and fitted with an Evora S powertrain, the super charged Toyota motor with 350 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

Watch Chris Harris in action in the video below:

Ferrari and Red Bull withdraw from FOTA

Ferrari and Red Bull withdraw from FOTA

The New York Times recently reported that both Ferrari and Red Bull have withdrawn themselves from the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA). The organization serves as a forum for advancing the goals of the sports teams.

Ferrari stated that the organization had “run its course” having never fulfilling any of the goals it originally set out including installing a cap on spending to level the playing field among teams and increase competition in this notoriously well-funded branch of motorsport. The eleven member FOTA team all agreed on setting a limit on spending but never followed through.

Both Ferrari and Red Bull were two of the largest teams in FOTA and their withdrawal will likely have a significant impact on the organization going forward.

source: Autoblog

Ferrari 599 GTB 60F1 Special Edition

Ferrari 599 GTB 60F1 Special Edition

Designed to mark six decades of winning in Formula 1, Ferrari is launching a special edition 599, called the 599 GTB 60F1 and here are the first pictures.  Froilan Gonzalez won Ferrari’s first F1 race in in 1951 and 60 years later, Fernando Alonso won Ferrari’s first race of the current season.

Based on the HGTE version of the 599 GTB, visually the 60F1 has styling flourishes inspired by Gonzalez’s 375 and Alonso’s 150° Italia F1 cars. Customers will have a choice of three liveries including: The 375 F1 colour scheme with a scarlet first used back in the 1950s, the 150° Italia hues with the latest-generation rosso paint and white lower bumpers, A-pillars and buttresses and a version of the above but without the bling-white A-pillars. All the cars get 20 inch diamond-finish forged alloy wheels, satin-finish fuel filler cap and scuderia shields painted on the front wings.

The interior showcases Sabelt straps, dark technical fabrics and grippy Alcantara. A numbered plaque on the dashboard will feature the signatures of both Gonzalez and Alonso.

source: Car Magazine