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The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
 |  Mar 22, 4:18 PM

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We knew it was just a matter of time once Apple introduced its next-generation of products (most noticeably the iPad 2) that Brabus would be updating their iBusiness package on Mercedes-Benz‘s S-Class luxury sedan. Geared towards becoming the world’s fastest mobile office, Brabus stepped up their game some more on their Brabus 800 iBusiness 2.0 demo car, pushing out 800-hp and 1,047 ft-lbs of torque, giving it a top speed of 219-mph.

The heart of the iBusiness 2.0 is essentially in the excess use of Apple technology throughout the cabin. A Mac Mini is installed in a leather-lined tray in the trunk, connected to a 15.2-inch TFT display that is revealed from the alcantara headliner. The display is also hooked up to be an auxiliary display to the two iPad 2s that can be found on the adjustable custom tables found behind each front seat. Along with each tablet is an Apple bluetooth keyboard, giving its passengers full control to work on the road.

An Internet connection is always ready on the go also thanks to Brabus outfitting the S-Class with UMTS and HDSPA networking. Brabus has even developed their own app, allowing the iPad 2s in the backseat to control Mercedes’ COMAND system that’s normally taken care of by the front driver and passenger. Oh yeah, a 64GB iPod Touch can be found in the rear center console to adjust what tunes are being blasted through the S-Class or Sennheiser’s Noise Gard headphones.

The iBusiness 2.0 conversion is available for any S-Class model, from the S 350 to the S 65. Obviously the gaudy 800-hp is only available for the twin-turbo V12, but hey, some people might rather get to their destination a little slower with all the gadgets available to them. Angry Birds anyone?

Official press release available after the break.

GALLERY: Brabus iBusiness 2.0 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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 |  Mar 22, 4:16 PM

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iSupercar Sounds has developed an app for various Apple iOS products featuring sound clips and high resolution wallpapers for various luxury and exotic cars out there. From Ferrari to Lexus, iSupercar Sounds has you covered if listening to supercars is your source of pleasure. Hey, we’re not judging.

Currently there’s a free version of the app up on the store, featuring 30 minutes of ad-supported sound clips. Those that have $0.99 to spend can grab the full version which comes with 30 additional sounds. iSupercar Sounds is also promising weekly updates with additional cars. Not too shabby for under a buck, save yourself a trip to McDonald’s and you can stop using that juvenile fart app. OK who are we kidding, fart sounds are still hilarious.

[Source: DUB Daily]

GALLERY: iSupercar Sounds App

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 |  Dec 30, 12:11 PM

You love your iPad so much you never want to let it out of your site. And with the iPad Car Headrest Cradle, you can watch it while on the road… unless, of course you’re driving.

With the iPad Car Headrest Cradle, your iPad is snuggled and hung from the back of the car’s headrest with care. It’s perfect to keep little ones in the back seat occupied with their favorite TV show or movie.

Keeping it securely in place is a mounting frame that clamps to the headrest posts, while its rubber lining ensures it won’t scratch the metal finish. And even when you hit the bumpiest roads, the iPad Car Headrest Cradle won’t move, thanks to locking pins that secure it into place at the perfect angle. It also features an aluminum stand with four raised corners that hold the iPad in place without blocking your view or any of the controls, and its ball joint lets you rotate it 360º horizontally or vertically.

If you got an iPad for the holidays, be sure to pick up this handy accessory for $59.95 – it’ll pay for itself after just one long family road trip.

[Source: Coolest Gadgets]

 |  Nov 23, 12:13 PM

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Taking a page from Hyundai’s playbook, customers who pre-order a Saab 9-4X crossover will get an iPad courtesy of Saab – sort of.

After contacting a Saab retailer, the customer will place an order for both the 9-4X, and the iPad. The iPad will set you back $500, but the cost will be refunded upon taking delivery of the vehicle.

If you don’t want an iPad, you can just order the car, and if you cancel the order, you’re still on the hook for the cost of an iPad – which makes this exercise pretty pointless, if you ask us. The promotion runs from January 15th until February 28th.

[Source: Saab]

 |  Oct 30, 2:08 PM

Following the news of Google’s self-driving car, there’s news that the German’s have been working on a pretty cool idea – an autonomous car controlled by an iPad.

This latest addition to the market, brought to you by the AutoNOMOS Labs project at Germany’s Freire University, combines a modified Volkswagen Passat that is equipped with sensors, GPS, radar and scanners, along with an iPad app that relays coordinates and other user information to the car. The test vehicle in question is a taxi – no word on why this type of technology is being used on a taxi service, but it is an interesting concept.

Watch the video after the jump.

[Source: Mashable]

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 |  Oct 13, 7:43 PM

Apple’s iPad has certainly become a huge success and now every company in the world has jumped on the bandwagon to reach out to as many potential consumers as possible. Bentley is one of those companies, releasing an iPad app for their new 2011 Bentley Continental GT.

The app features plenty of high-res photos of the 2011 Bentley Continental GT, with the ability to zoom in and out in order to admire the new Continental GT’s body lines. And of course, all the images are easily sharable through the iPad with a simple push of your finger.

Even though the app centers around the new Continental GT, users can also check out the new flagship Mulsanne and learn a little bit more on the history of Bentley. Tons of multimedia has been packed in a quick and easily downloadable app – get to it, we know you have a few minutes to kill.

GALLERY: Bentley Continental GT iPad App

Official press release available after the break.

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 |  Oct 10, 11:02 AM

Not to be outdone by fellow luxury sedan manufacturer BMW, or aftermarket manufacturer, Brabus and their iBusiness, Mercedes-Benz has decided to outfit their line of luxury sedans with an iPad integration conveniently located on the headrests for passenger use.

The headrest-mounted iPad dock is similar to BMW’s offering and will allow rear seat passengers to comfortably use and charge their iPads. We’re guessing this is perfect for those busy businessmen traveling on the run, being driven around by their chauffeur to their next meeting. But we have to question, again, how comfortable using an iPad from the headrest of a vehicle really is.

And with the incoming surge of tablets from Apple competitors (powered by Android), are we going to be seeing a new generation of tablet integration in vehicles of the future?

[Source: Engadget]

 |  Sep 17, 10:57 AM

Ford has launched an iPad app focused (no pun intended) on the 2011 Fiesta subcompact. The app is intended to act as a brochure for the car, as a way of taking advantage of the multimedia features of Apple’s tablet computer.

With manufacturers increasingly going to electronic brochures, the iPad app is a novel way to promote your new vehicle – although we will always love the tactile elements of a paper brochure, and would be a little upset if they went the way of the dodo. But for Fiesta buyers, most of whom have lived their entire lives with digital devices, the iPad app is likely going to appeal to their target demographic.

Hit the jump to read the official press release

[Source: Ford]

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 |  Jun 02, 3:50 PM

Volkswagen is leading the rush to tablet-based publishing with the creation of a new magazine exclusively for the Apple iPad. Called “Digital Automotive Space” or DAS, the magazine can be obtained via a special app that can be downloaded by iPad users. The magazine will be published quarterly, and features articles, technical information and interactive images, like 360 degree views of cars, in 5 languages. Volkswagen plans to launch a web based version for standard computers sometime after the app’s launch.

Volkswagen has previously partnered with Apple for the 2010 GTI launch, introducing a driving game highlighting the car, while giving away six real GTIs to lucky players.

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]

 |  May 11, 10:03 AM

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It seems like everyone absolutely has to make an app for everything nowadays, and Rolls-Royce‘s marketing department didn’t skip a beat in jumping on the bandwagon. The free app released by Rolls-Royce gives users the ability to customize their own Rolls-Royce Ghost, similar to what is seen on their online website customization.

So if you’re looking to impress that fine lady at the bar by showing off your car, head on over to the app store and download the app and get to customizing. You’ll be able to go through 12 colors, three kinds of wheels, eight shades of leather and five types of veneer highlights. And once you pick up that dream girl by showing off your fake car, you’ll be able to hit up the convenient dealer locator to place yours on order before she finds out you’re just a fraud.

[Source: Carscoop]

 |  Apr 23, 5:18 PM

While technically not about Cadillac themselves, it is about the future of where the company wants to take the brand. In order to appeal to more tech-savvy (read: younger) buyers, the automaker has partnered with Cool Hunting to deliver a feature and style-rich application for the Apple iPad.

Other than the fact we’re in love with the music over the demonstration — 1901 by Phoenix — and the overall impression is of a slick, easy-to-use application that dovetails perfectly with where Cadillac sees their future buyers.

If you’re into this sort of thing, check out the post regarding the challenges design house BBH Labs faced when developing the app.

 |  Apr 19, 4:25 PM

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In the interest of fairness, we do think it’s incredibly difficult to market a new car. After all, how are you supposed to get attention from prospective buyers — especially when your latest city car is geared toward the youngest demographic possible?

Audi is trying to coax a few more eyeballs onto their A1 city car by releasing Beat Driver (iTunes link), an iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad game. The purpose? Steer through a fictional landscape (think F-Zero or Wipeout), drive into pulsating blocks, get powerups, and avoid the dreaded black “X” block.

As an avid iPhone users, we immediately downloaded and fired up the game — and were pleasantly surprised to find a track by Canadian band Metric (“Gold Guns Girls”) as one of the in-game songs. Torpedo, Tommy Sparks, The Music, White Lies, The Rakes, La Roux, The Fall, and Lo-F-Fnk also contribute tracks.

After a quick test drive, here’s the verdict: the music is good, but the game is awful. It’s a tired concept that doesn’t make use of any features of the iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad platform, and was clearly cranked out for some middle manager at a marketing firm to tout its success through numbers of downloads.

And despite an “international high score list,” Facebook, and Twitter integration, it comes off as a desperate attempt to pander to the “cool kids” that Audi so desperately wants in the A1.