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Intel has announced that its Atom processors will be integral to the 1000mph car Bloodhound project, with the chips featuring in the engine control and display systems.

The Bloodhound car project has attracted huge interest, with talk of the first 1000mph car inevitably stirring up huge amounts of excitement.

Intel has announced that its processors will be a key component for the Bloodhound, helping to manage the Typhoon fighter aircraft engine which will propel the car.

Netbook-like

"The processors, similar to those used in netbooks, have been specifically designed for use in industrial and automotive applications, and were chosen for their power-saving and performance prowess," explains Intel's release.

"Three Atom chips will manage the calculations behind the car's "hybrid" propulsion systems – the largest hybrid rocket ever designed in Europe - included in which is a jet engine from Typhoon fighter aircraft.

"Given the speeds the car will be going, each processor will be checking the others' calculations to guarantee there are no errors.

"Another processor will also be used to relay this and other status information, stored on an internal SSD chip, back to the driver on the cockpit displays."

Wingless Commander

The other processors - up to four of them - will help the 'driver', Wing Commander Andy Green, to keep the car on a smooth trajectory.

"This is an important engineering milestone, and yet another great example of the close collaboration between Intel and Bloodhound," said Mark Chapman, Chief Engineer for the Bloodhound programme.

"The Atom processor has impressed us with its power-saving, performance and resilience and thanks to this we have managed to use fewer processors in the car – saving on vital weight and space"

Simulation

The announcement was made at the 2010 Farnborough International Air School, where Intel also showed off a simulator of the Bloodhound, developed alongside Southampton University.

Intel is hoping that the Bloodhound project will inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists. "Intel recognises that globally there is an increasing shortage of science and maths engineers to help drive the next generation of innovators for the 21st century," said Tim Hatch, education spokesperson for Intel UK.

"Core to the heart of Intel's Education program are STEM subjects and the similarity to the aims of the Bloodhound education programme is one of the main reasons we formed this partnership."

The Google Earth navigation Audi is putting into the A8 doesn't run on Android; it uses the real-time QNX system that RIM has just bought so it can put BlackBerry into cars.

But many car manufacturers are more interested in Android integration than in BlackBerry or iPhone.

While it will be a few years before we see full in-car systems running Android, Autumn will see the first cars available with built-in integration for Android smartphones that let you launch and control apps from the car's interface.

iPhone vs Android

Although they started by planning iPhone integration, car makers have been turning their focus to Android instead.

Robert Acker, the CEO of Aha Mobile, told TechRadar that Aha has an iPhone app that reads out tweets, Facebook updates and traffic alerts or streams podcasts from a driver-friendly interface.

Manufacturers plan to offer it as an in-car option, but many car companies have been asking them for an Android app instead.

"They have to do iPhone," says Acker,"but Android is a lot more open. There aren't as many steps as for iPhone integration and they don't have to buy a proprietary chip [from Apple]. A lot of them have said 'let's start by doing an Android integration and we'll add in the iPhone piece later."

Android has another advantage; although the iPhone 4 software adds multi-tasking it still doesn't let you launch an app remotely. "With Android, Acker explains, "I can plug my phone in and push this button in the car and launch apps on the phone.

"You're using the vehicle controls and you never have to look at the phone again. You can't have that kind of control on the iPhone." The phone will give the car an Internet connection – "so you can play a Pandora radio station or listen to a Twitter feed in your vehicle, suggests Acker.

Car apps will be able to control some systems within the car, but how much is going to vary from vehicle to vehicle; Ford's SYNC system (based on Windows CE) will tell developers exactly what they can and can't control.

But other manufacturers aren't specifying the details so clearly because either they will approve apps individually or they'll pick a handful of app developers to work with. At least one major vendor is contemplating having its own Android app store, says Acker.

Nissan's commitment to building the UK's 'first mass-market electric car' has been welcomed by the government, who will hand the company a £20.7 million grant as it produces the LEAF.

Nissan will invest 420 million to safeguard and create more than 500 jobs in Sunderland for both the production of the LEAF and a new battery plant, with plans to make 50,000 vehicles and 60,000 batteries a year starting in 2013.

The LEAF, already being produced in two other countries, is a five-seater hatchback which Nissan claims will offer the same space performance and practicality of similar cars in its class, but without the emissions.

Vote of confidence

"This investment is a fantastic vote of confidence in the Sunderland plant and its excellent workforce," said Lord Mandelson.

"The automotive sector is of key importance to the UK. It supports R&D, technological innovation, skills and a supply chain that's a mainstay of the wider manufacturing sector.

"Today's news from Nissan, with support from government, shows that by working together we can achieve our aim of making the UK a world-leader in ultra-low carbon vehicles."

Dawn of a new era?

Andy Palmer, senior Vice President responsible for Nissan's global electric vehicle strategy, added: "The world is at the dawn of a new era in automotive transport. Nissan LEAF, which will go on sale later this year, is a five-seater hatchback that offers the same space, practicality and performance of a similar car in its class - minus the tailpipe emissions.

"Thanks to the UK's firm commitment to a low carbon future in terms of infrastructure, customer incentives and educational programmes, Nissan LEAF will be built at Sunderland, making the UK the third country in the world to produce this revolutionary car."

Ford is planning an in-car app store to allow developers to build software that will run in customisable displays in its new web-enabled cars.

Ford revealed its plans for in-car apps in a recent SXSW talk embarrassingly called, 'Dude, This Is My Car' hosted by Ford R & D man TJ Giuli, and Paddy Srinivasan, founder of cloud computing company Cumulux.

The panellists discussed a host of intriguing ideas for in-car entertainment and other apps, such as games that scored you points for driving in a more eco-friendly way, in which you might compete against friends to see who is the 'greenest' driver.

More interesting journeys

There was also mention of the possibilities of a tour-guiding app that links GPS navigation to Wikipedia to keep you posted on your surroundings and nearby points of interest.

"Instead of having points of interest drawn from a stock database, what if you could have POIs your friends have recommended to you?" said Giuli.

More practically, there could also be apps that contacted your nearest and dearest to help you out in case of emergency.

Car technology is advancing quickly - partly to save the auto industry from imminent collapse, but also because tech innovations can help save lives on the road.

Besides, why not make your morning commute just a notch easier? These ten vehicles offer something new and innovative.

1. BMW 7 Series is camera happy
The most technically advanced vehicle on the road, even compared to the Mercedes E-350, the BMW 7 Series has cameras on the front, side, and rear of the vehicle for a full 360-degree view. The front camera can detect passengers and animals using night-vision, alerting the driver to dangers with a yellow highlight. The same camera, which is mounted near the driver's mirror, can also read road signs and alert the drive about the speed limit. The system even adapts to night-time and driving in the rain by first detecting those variables and reading speed limit signs more accurately.

2. Mercedes E-350 gets your attention
While the Mercedes E-350 cannot read road signs, it is equipped with a similar camera system to the BMW 7 Series in that the car alerts you to pedestrians in the road. Another unusual safety feature: the E-350 can determine if you are driving too long and alert you using an attention assist feature. The car actually uses 70 variables - including how long you have been driving and if you are changing lanes frequently - to determine if the car should get your attention.

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3. Opel (Vauxhall) Insignia reads road signs
Like the BMW 7 Series, the Opel (or Vauxhall) Insignia can read road signs using a camera mounted near the rear-view mirror. For European road signs, the Insignia compares scanned images about 300 meters from the car, at about 30 frame captures per second, against a vast database of legal road signs, then reports this speed to the driver. This helps on long road trips or in conditions where there are too many road signs to track.

4. Volvo XC60 drives itself around town
The Volvo XC60 is remarkable in that it uses adaptive cruise control - a common driver assistance system that slows the car and speeds up again based on traffic - but at speeds less than ten miles per hour. The City Safety feature uses an infrared camera to detect vehicles. When you're driving, if the car detects another vehicle, it will slow down automatically.

5. Infinity M lets you feel the breeze
Infinity invented the lane-keeping system now common on many vehicles that can alert you when you leave your lane. The new Infiniti M actually nudges you back into your lane gently. But that is not the most interesting innovation. A new air control system can detect odors or gases in the car and shut off outside vents automatically and re-circulate interior air. And, you can set the vent system to modulate automatically as well, simulating the natural breezes in a forest.

6. Volkswagen Jetta TDI sips fuel
Most of the technology in the Volkswagen Jetta TDI is under the hood, not inside the passenger compartment. This vehicle uses a unique clean diesel engine for the best fuel economy on the road (about 44 mpg) for a non-hybrid sedan. The engine uses an electronically controlled turbo charger and a fuel injection system that more accurately directs fuel to the engine than other vehicles. The exhaust system is so advanced and precisely controlled it is hard to even see the exhaust in the tailpipe.

7. Acura ZDX has superior sound
Driving doesn't need to be tedious, especially on a long road trip. The Acura ZDX has the most technologically advanced sound system, of any vehicle, with ten speakers and 435 watts of total power. Just as importantly, the surround system is precisely measured - it was designed by Grammy winner Elliot Scheiner - so that you can hear every bass lick and cymbal tick.

8.Chrysler Grand Caravan with FLO TV
Live television in a vehicle is not new - Sirius Backseat TV has been around for a while. With FLO TV, developed by Qualcomm, the Chrysler Grand Caravan has access to a much wider selection of TV channels, including every major network, sports channels, and Disney movies. The service also uses a multi-cast digital signal for better quality. There's an antenna mounted on the roof at the front and the vehicle has three screens, although the driver TV is only available when parked.

9. Ford Fusion Hybrid makes you green
The Ford Fusion Hybrid uses an innovative heads-up display that shows real-time power consumption. As you drive, small leaves in the dashboard - shown to the right of the picture below - will grow as you learn how to conserve energy by braking less and driving consistent speeds. The HUD has four levels of detail so you can tweak the settings to see just the speed and a few other "green tech" readings, or go full-on environmentalist to see your average miles-per-gallon.

10. Toyota Prius has a solar roof
Despite their woes with the sticking accelerator, Toyota is still a powerhouse of technological advances. On the Prius, a solar roof can power the interior air vents and keep your car cool for you when parked in the hot sun. The only downside: the car makes a strange whirring sound while venting itself.

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Average speed cameras could be installed on all UK motorways if a government-backed group gets its way.

The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) has stated that the cameras, currently only used for roadwork traffic management, would provide significant environmental benefits.

Not only would they apparently keep drivers at a lower speed, thus burning less fuel, they would also replace the current speed traps, which encourage heavy braking and accelerating when used.

Taking away control

The SDC also has recommended that all cars should be fitted with speed limiters too, with a timetable in place to curb the maximum speed of cars, possibly in line with school opening times.

Stewart Davies, from the SDS, said: "While information technology alone won't provide all the answers, it could go a long way towards making travel in the UK safer, more pleasant and more sustainable.

"Already, eco-driving technology can help motorists spend less at the pumps and reduce their emissions; better information can make using public transport easier, and video conferencing technology can help business travellers avoid some journeys altogether."

Fiat unveiled a concept version of its iconic and award-winning 500 city car at this month's 2010 Detroit International Motor Show.

No word yet on if and when we might see a final commercial release of the Fiat 500 BEV, although it has immediately become one of the most desirable electronic cars on our want list. (Largely because we imagine we might even be able to afford it!).

Concept 500 BEV

Fiat HQ in Turin has not issued any details on specs on the Fiat 500 BEV, beyond saying that it is a concept model right now.

However, Wired's Chuck Squatriglia confirmed that, "this isn't some slick shell on a tube frame" and that "there's a real motor under the hood, a real battery under the floor and all the interior bits you'd expect of a production car. We're not sure why, but it's even got five-point racing harnesses. Seriously."

Hopefully we should hear more from Fiat on the electric 500 at some point very soon.

Via Gizmag.com and Wired.com

Ford has revealed its latest in-car entertainment and control systems, with its new MyFord tech including the option to have Twitter feeds read to drivers.

Ford's new technology will first appear in Edge and Focus model cars in the next 12 to 18 months, with the auto manufacturer promising Tweeting behind the wheel in a year's time.

MyFord voice control

MyFord includes two 4.2-inch LCD screens on either side of the speedometer, an 8-inch touch screen in the dash and a five-way button steering wheel control to give the driver more control over the heating and air conditioning system, entertainment system, navigation system and mobile phone.

"With MyFord driver connect technology, we realized we weren't necessarily competing with other automakers, but we were really redefining how customers interacted with their cars," said Jim Buczkowski, Ford director of electronics and electrical Systems Engineering.

"We had to look very closely at the evolution of hand-held devices in terms of user interface, connectivity, productivity and entertainment applications."

"What the mouse did for the PC, we need to create for the automobile," Buczkowski told the Wall Street Journal.

"The first version of Sync was impressive, but this blows the doors off," added Carey Butler, v.p. of professional engineering services at Bsquare.

Distraction or control?

However, safety campaigners have been quick to jump on the news as yet further evidence that new technologies are driving us to dangerous levels of distraction in the car. Ford and other in-car tech specialists have, in response, claimed that listening to Twitter feeds and text messages and the like being read out to you is considerably safer that looking at a screen to read them while doing 100mph on the outside lane of the M1.

Doug VanDagens, Ford's global director of connected services, told CNN that people read Twitter feeds and send text messages while they're driving and that Ford is only trying to make those activities safer.

"We take what people do -- they talk on the phone, they fumble with mp3 players, they look at maps. We take these activities and make them safer," he said.

Christie Hype, a spokeswoman for AAA, was quick to hit back, noting: "The more things that are going on in a vehicle, the more things can distract a driver…You only have so much attention to give, and we really want everyone to keep their attention on the roadway for safety reasons."

More study of the tweeting by voice while driving would need to take place to make an absolute determination as to what effect Ford's announcement will have on distracted driving, she said.

As previously reported, Ford's new tech will also generate a Wi-Fi hot spot in the car to let passengers and (presumably, parked) drivers get online in the vehicle.

The Twitter-reading function works with an app called Open Beak. Ford's new in-car tech will also let you play internet radio via Pandora's mobile app.

Ford is set to offer its new car customers the option of turning their vehicle into a moving Wi-Fi hotspot in 2010.

The next gen Sync in-car entertainment system will use a USB mobile broadband modem to establish a secure Wi-Fi connection.

The system will be available in 2010 on selected Ford cars and will not require users to take any additional subscriptions to mobile internet services – users will merely use their own USB Wi-Fi routers to get online. The Wi-Fi enabled models are still to be confirmed by Ford.

Shop and socialise in the car

"While you're driving to grandma's house, your spouse can be finishing the holiday shopping and the kids can be chatting with friends and updating their Facebook profiles," said Mark Fields, Ford president of the Americas.

"And you're not paying for yet another mobile subscription or piece of hardware because Ford will let you use technology you already have."

Ford claims interest in in-car connectivity is increasing rapidly, with one-third of people surveyed by the Consumer Electronics Association in the US wanting the option of being able to get online while in the car.

Ferrari's long-rumoured gas-electric hybrid supercar could well be arriving as early as this coming spring, according to latest reports.

The news comes from Italy's Quattroroute magazine, which claims that Maranello is building a hybrid based on the 588 GTB Fiorano

Sexing-up hybrids

Ferrari's new hybrid car is rumoured to be on show at the Geneva auto show this coming March, with a reported 35 percent overall improvement in fuel economy.

New gas-electric cars from Ferrari can only help to make 'hybrid' motoring tech more aspirational and desirable - which is altogether a good thing.

Autocar also recently reported that Ferrari is planning a hybrid drivetrain for the successor to the 612 Scaglietti, in order to improve handling, and due for launch in 2014.