Are key fobs going the way of dinosaurs? Perhaps so. But GM is thinking towards the future. At a press conference for their newest car on the block, the compact Chevy Cruze, they also mentioned their new smartphone apps. Of course, I jumped on that news. But I will also mention that the Cruze, which [...]

Start your car with your smartphone? That’s the story from Directed Electronics, the company behind Viper SmartStart for smartphones (that includes iPhones, BlackBerry and Androids). The basic premise—turn your smartphone into a key fob. And there’s more… When the Viper SmartStart hardware is installed on the user’s vehicle (along with a compatible Viper remote start [...]

Yes, we know that texting and calling is NOT SAFE while driving! But, once you’ve taken the Oprah pledge, check out these smart-phone apps from the August issue of Consumer Reports. They can help you with everything from finding a parking space to when to service your wheels. Car Finder. Price: 99 Cents. Phone: iPhone. [...]

When the second generation smart fortwo electric drive comes stateside this fall, I’m predicting that there won’t be enough to go around. The first batch of the 2011 models—250 total—will be available for four-year leases of $599 a month.  80% of the smart electrics will go corporate, the rest will be available for individuals. The [...]

The last time you heard about my Mongolian chronicles I was circling an ovoo and making a wish. I took a week off from writing about Mongolia to go to Detroit so I got off track. In any event, I left you off at the last day at a tent site. They told us that [...]