Auto Body Gilroy News: 11-9-12

Volkswagen versus iPhone 5 | CNET

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

The VW Golf R uses an iPod integration system common to many VW and Audi models.

When Apple announced the iPhone 5’s new Lightning connection, a replacement for the 30 pin connector of past iPhones, iPads, and iPods, it also announced an adapter to maintain compatibility with 30 pin accessories and docks. I tested the iPhone 5 with its biggest 30 pin accessory, a Volkswagen.

Volkswagen uses the same iPod integration system as Audi, which it calls the Music Interface. This system consists of a proprietary port in the car with adapter cables for 30 pin iPod connector, USB, mini-USB, and auxiliary input. As Volkswagen has not come out with a Lightning cable for its Music Interface, you have to get Apple’s 30 pin to Lightning adapter, and connect it to the car’s adapter cable. Not exactly an elegant solution.

iPhone 5 to Lightning adapter to VW Music Interface adapter. What could go wrong?

(Credit: Wayne Cunningham/CNET)

I previously tested the iPhone 5 in a Chevy and Nissan by plugging its Lightning cable directly into those cars’ USB ports. In each case, the integration worked perfectly, showing the iPhone 5’s music library on the car’s LCDs and having no issues in playing music through the… [Read more]

2014 Maserati Quattroporte, 2014 Audi R8, McLaren P1: This Week’s Top Photos | MotorAuthority

2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black SeriesThis week we saw the reveal of the new 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series along with the 2014 Maserati Quattroporte. We also received our first glimpse of the upcoming TMG Lexus LS 650 prototype, and we spied the McLaren P1 testing. We even drove the new 2014 Audi R8 models. Of course all of these things brought along terrific photos that…

 

SEMA Attendees Win Prizes Through SCRS Raffle Drawing | BodyShopBusiness

During last week’s SEMA Show, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists gave away a series of great prizes from sponsors of its RDE series.To…

 

2013 Honda CR-V, 2013 Ford Escape, 1972 Nissan Skyline GT-R: Top Videos Of The Week | TheCarConnection

2012 Honda CR-VAs the world counted down the days until we no longer had to endure political ads, we continued to post new video road tests for your viewing pleasure. Two of our new video road tests featured popular family crossovers: the 2013 Honda CR-V and 2013 Ford Escape. Speaking of those two crossovers, both of those video road tests topped our charts this…

 

Does what you drive to the polls indicate how you’ll vote? | ShopAutoWeek

Can Democrats and Republicans find some common ground behind the wheel?

A survey by totalcarscore.com, a Web site that does car reviews, product comparisons and automotive research, suggests a relationship between the type of vehicles people drive and how they’ll vote on Tuesday.

The Facebook survey of more than 600 U.S. participants identified as either Democrats/liberals or Republicans/conservatives allowed each respondent to select the type of vehicle he or she drives.

The primary findings show that 29 percent of Republicans/conservatives drive a pickup truck and 27 percent of Democrats/liberals drive compact cars.

But people in both parties agree they like SUVs and crossovers about equally with 20 percent for Republicans/conservatives vs. 18 percent for Democrats/liberals.

And here’s another area of common ground, surprisingly: Members of both parties dislike hybrid/alternative-fuel vehicles about the same. Hybrid/alternative-fuel vehicles came in last place for Democrats and second-to-last place for Republicans, just above the van/minivan segment.

Still, with 6 percent market share among Democrats, the hybrid segment is more than twice as popular with them as it is with Republicans, who drive hybrids only 3 percent of the time.

With the latest election polls showing the race for the White House at a tie, maybe it’s time the pollsters peruse the parking lot?

Auto Body Gilroy News: 5-11-12

Carroll Shelby, Automotive Legend, Dead At 89 [Carroll Shelby]

Click here to read Carroll Shelby, Automotive Legend, Dead At 89  Before reality TV, and even still to a very large degree now, the best known name associated with performance cars to the average person is Carroll Shelby, and with good reason. Shelby has been considered a legend in the field for decades, and his influence is still strong to this day. He died today at the age of 89, as a result of complications from an illness. More »

 

Bill Cosby Tells A Great Carroll Shelby Story [Video]

I don’t know what’s funnier, that Bill Cosby bumped into Carroll Shelby in a grocery store back in 1966 or so, or that he wrote one of the greatest comedy bits (about cars) of all time about what happened next. More »

 

Learning to drive faster at the Simraceway Lancer Evolution Experience- CNET

(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)

The best mod that you can make to improve the performance of any car doesn’t happen in the engine bay or in the wheel wells. It happens in the cabin; and I’m not talking about a stereo upgrade, a Momo steering wheel, or racing bucket seats. I’m talking about boosting the performance of the boob sitting in the driver’s seat. Improving your skill as a driver will allow you to pull the most performance out of any mod that you make to the car you’re currently driving and it’s transferable to any other car you drive in the future.

One way to make that driver improvement is through trial and error; another is to practice in a racing simulator game such as Simraceway, Gran Turismo, or Forza Motorsport. However, the best and fastest way to improve your driving skills is to enroll in a performance driving school, which is why after 25 years behind the wheel and almost half a decade of reviewing cars, I still jumped at the chance to check out the Simraceway Lancer Evolution Experience at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Simraceway, a name that you may recognize from the … [Read more]

 

More Than 1,700 Exhibitors Confirm Booth Space for 2012 SEMA Show – BodyShopBusiness

Thursday, May 10, 2012 11:05:20 AM

More than 1,700 exhibitors have confirmed booth space for the 2012 SEMA Show slated for Oct. 30-Nov. 2 in Las Vegas. These exhibitors will select…