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Cadillac ELR special limited edition now on sale through Saks Fifth Avenue

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Transportation,

Cadillac ELR Saks Fifth Avenue

The next big thing from Cadillac will be the release of its ELR, and it looks like Saks Fifth Avenue of all companies gets the first crack at selling a limited edition model of the new electric vehicle. The Saks version of the Cadillac ELR is so limited that there will only be 100 of them made. For the privilege of being 1 of 100, you get the Cadillac ELR in White Diamond with your choice of Light Cashmere or Jet Black interior. You also get a premium 240V charging station and included installation service.

Wanna get your hands on one? You'll have to pick up the phone and dial 855-SAKS-CAD to place a special order. The dedicated order line is open now, and will stay open through January 10th. No word on if the limited model will see a price increase from the standard starting Cadillac ELR MSRP of $75,000. All special edition vehicles will be available for delivery in March 2014.

Bleeding Edge TV 434: Cadillac CUE infotainment system tour

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CES, CES 2012, Features, GPS, Podcasts, Transportation, Videocasts, Videos,

In this episode we give you a look at the Cadillac User Experience, also known as Cadillac CUE. This is the new infotainment system that you can expect to find in the upcoming Cadillac XTS and Cadillac SRX as a standard feature, as well as an optional feature on the upcoming Cadillac ATS as well. Cadillac CUE offers a bunch of cool, new features that make driving more fun:

Connectivity: CUE seamlessly connects you to a world of content. Its available 3D GPS navigation system has map-integrated Doppler weather reports. It accesses every contact and song on your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone. It reads text messages aloud and streams Pandora Radio. With downloadable custom apps, its content possibilities are endless. With CUE, you are always connected.

Convenience: CUE starts with a clean, uncluttered design. From there, intuition takes over. Spread your fingers to zoom in closer on a map. Swipe to breeze through your music. Program the homepage to keep your favorites front and center. With fewer buttons and more intelligent controls, CUE also offers natural voice recognition, allowing you to effortlessly place phone calls and play music.

Control: Proximity-sensing technology detects your hand as it approaches the 8-inch LCD touch screen. When an icon is pressed, the screen pulses to acknowledge the command, keeping your eyes safely on the road. Even the gauge cluster is reconfigurable (select models), offering four display layouts that mix vehicle data, such as a speedometer and fuel gauge, with navigation, entertainment and 3-D vehicle image.

Big thank you to GoToMeeting and JackThreads for sponsoring the show - be sure to check them out! GoToMeeting provides rich, super-simple collaborative virtual meetings. As for JackThreads, we've got exclusive invite codes that give you $5 to use towards anything you'd like on the site.

Bleeding Edge TV 420: OnStar API, FMV, RelayRides at CES

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Full Episodes, Gizmatic, CES, CES 2012, Features, Podcasts, Software, Transportation, Videocasts, Videos,

We chat with Vijay Iyer of OnStar to talk about how the OnStar FMV mirror add-on is performing at retail, as well as the new announcement of the OnStar API. The OnStar API allows third-party developers to write code and apps that tap into OnStar's cloud of user information. The first announced partner is RelayRides, which allows the average user to lend out his or her vehicle when they aren't using it, all controlled by a RelayRides app that taps into OnStar. We get a rundown of what OnStar users can expect from developers going forward. You can purchase the OnStar FMV from Amazon. This was recorded at CES 2012.

Big thank you to MozyPro and JackThreads for sponsoring the show - be sure to check them out! MozyPro provides simple, automatic, and secure data backup. As for JackThreads, we've got exclusive invite codes that give you $5 to use towards anything you'd like on the site.

U.S. Government Orders Hybrid Vehicles

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Transportation,

The government will be spending about $285 million by June 1 in Detroit by trading in their older gas guzzlers to purchase about 17,600 new vehicles from GM, Ford and Chrysler. Part of the stimulus bill, it couldn’t have come at a better time for the beleaguered industry. About 2,500 hybrid sedans like the Chevy Malibu, Saturn Aura and Ford Hybrid Fusion have been ordered. Now if we could just get our local governments to follow suit.

Nano Vehicle Released in India

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Transportation,

Nano Today is the day that Tata Motors debuts its Nano in Mumbai, India. The starting price of $1999.00 means that it is pretty basic. The car is 10.2 ft. long, has a 623cc rear engine, a very small trunk and only one windshield wiper. Power steering, a radio and air conditioner are optional. The fact that it doesn’t have airbags or antilock brakes tells us that it will undoubtedly not reach the States without some upgrading. Tata Motors has been having financial problems of late so we hope the mini-car can get them out of their difficulties.

TH!NK City Automobile

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Transportation,

Kleiner Perkins and RockPort Capital have invested in the TH!NK City, an electric environmental vehicle, emission free and 95% recyclable. It reaches a top speed of 100 km (65 miles) per hour and can drive up to 180 km (110 miles) on a single charge. Made in Norway, the TH!NK City meets all European and U.S. Federal motor vehicle safety requirements. The car will start off in Scandinavia, Switzerland, and France, then expect to see the TH!NK here next year. Knowing that the Chevy Volt will not arrive at least until 2010, we applaud the efforts of the two companies to invest and help us save the planet.

VW Redesigns Eco Car

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Transportation,

Take a look at Volkswagen’s revamped carbon-fiber microcar that gets over 200 mpg. The VW features two-cylinders, weighs a mere 660 lbs., and seats two. A basic model will include ABS/ESP, a driver’s airbag, a sequential motorbike-style transmission, as well as LED head and tail lights. Don’t look for extras though, as power steering and brakes won’t be available and air conditioning is optional. Set to debut in 2010, the price should be somewhere between $30,000.00 and $40,000.00.

Smart Car Vending Machine

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Transportation,

In a kind of belated April Fool’s joke, a vending machine was constructed in Japan that holds a full-size Smart Car. Located in the Smart Vendor in Shibuya station, you get to choose between a Coupe and Cabrio and deposit your $20,000.00 in the slot. While we realize this probably an incredible effective marketing ploy, we were thinking that we might go for the real thing since it wouldn’t involve smarmy automobile salespeople looking for commission.

Italian Car Maker Develops Wiper-Free Windshield

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,

Imagine not having to deal with the noise and hassle of replacing windshield wipers. This is exactly what Italian Car Designer Leonardo Fioravanti has done with his prototype Hindra. The windshield not only filters out UV rays, it repels water. “Nano-dust” forces dirt to the glass edges activated by sensors. Electricity is used to run the entire mechanism. The process is completed by drag which allows freer flowing air over the windshield. The Hindra and its technology will be on display next month at the Geneva Motor Show.

X Prize Offers A Million for Green Car

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Transportation,

The green heat is on. To continue a quest for a car that can make it up to 100 mpg, The AXP (Automotive X PRIZE) promises $10 million to the company that can make a “safe, affordable, and desirable” vehicle for middle America. There are two categories, mainstream and alternative.

The foundation putting up bucks was created by Peter Diamandis when Charles Lindbergh went after the $25,000 reward for flying from New York to Paris. We figure there are plenty of creative Gear Livers that could use the bucks and certainly can come up with their own idea or two by 2009.

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