Segrave: the Harrods of supercar clubs

You may find this incredibly difficult to relate to – if it isn’t, this writer has “personal sponsorship opportunities” available – but some people don’t find the existing supercar clubs exclusive enough. Enter stage left Harrods, the ritzy British department store that caters to just such a crowd, to answer their calls with the launch of the Segrave Club. Read more

Hitachi: Finger-controlled steering wheel

Rest assured, there are plenty of steering wheels on the road right now that happily accept finger commands, but Hitachi’s latest invention takes things one step further. The so-called finger vein authentication system can apparently be customized for a certain driver so that simple presses can adjust one’s seat, load up a given playlist, tweak the equalizer, crank the AC or start up the engine. Moreover, such a system provides an additional layer of security against theft or unwanted drive-offs (think mischievous children). Reportedly, Hitachi is still unsure if / when this will actually hit vehicles on showroom floors, but a ballpark figure of “three to four years” was thrown out there for good measure.

[Via Engadget / Yahoo / Agence Franc Press]

Siemens and Microsoft do In-car entertainment

With the car becoming the second home to a seemingly unconcerned generation (jeez, now I’m sounding old), what you see up there might at first appear to be a cute adornment for your four-wheeler buddy. It sure is that, but then it’s the onset of much more.
As from what we hear, Microsoft and Siemens (yeah two of the world’s best) and set to co-ordinate and bring you tonnes of navigating and entertainment in your second-home wonder. Road trips are going to just become all the more exciting and long distance drives may never seem boring anymore. Read more