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Future of Apple CarPlay: why tech big is now working with automobile companies

In late 2023, Apple put flesh on the bones of its intention to amplify Apple CarPlay, drawing in two premium marques – Porsche and Aston Martin

The announcement centered on these manufacturers working with Apple to create customised variations of CarPlay, designed to embody all of the screens in your automobile, quite than simply the central show.

This is a marked change from the earlier state of affairs with Apple CarPlay: it has historically been restricted to that one central show and served up solely apps and companies out of your iPhone, quite than providing any assimilation of automobile capabilities.

Porsche and Aston Martin have each proven off customised variations of CarPlay, with dials which can be a part of the CarPlay expertise however mirror Porsche and Aston Martin model cues.

From a tech perspective, that is large, as a result of Apple hardly ever lets customisation creep into its merchandise: Hermès and Nike did so on the Apple Watch, however that is about it. There’s undoubtedly a change coming down the highway on this sense.

What’s in it for Porsche and Aston Martin? 

Jump into a contemporary automobile and it is radically completely different from one 10 years in the past: the precise capabilities of the automobile have not modified a lot, however the expectations round leisure and connectivity are solely completely different.

The touchscreen now dominates, dials have gone digital, and all vehicles try to duplicate the smartphone expertise.

In October 2023, Cyril Dorsaz, then principal product supervisor at Porsche Digital within the US, highlighted the draw back of Apple CarPlay, telling Ars Technica: “You have to switch back and forth to control some features around media, for example, some more specific features around climate. And ultimately, we learned through customer research that this is something that our customers are not really happy with.”

In July 2023, Porsche up to date the My Porsche app to be CarPlay appropriate, giving entry to a variety of automobile capabilities from inside Apple CarPlay. But this was solely a stepping stone in direction of a extra full integration that is coming with 2024 fashions, such because the Macan EV and the brand new Taycan.

With an all-encompassing Apple CarPlay expertise, the purpose is to ship the shopper a smoother expertise when interacting with the automobile, with out that app switching.

As buyer expectation rises, delivering the expertise they demand turns into extra vital and that is the profit to manufacturers like Porsche and Aston Martin. If a majority of drivers are utilizing Apple CarPlay – which Porsche tells us is the case for its homeowners – then optimising for that atmosphere ought to be the main target, quite than making an attempt to duplicate the expertise with a local infotainment providing.

Ultimately, for a automobile model, making an attempt to compete with the likes of Apple or certainly Google (with Android Auto) is usually a expensive enterprise for little return.

The Fascinating Tale of Chip Foose’s Ford F-100

Chip Foose has had a natural flair for drawing cars and car parts from a young age and honed his design skills in his father’s shop. Despite financial hardships, he further developed his talents at the Art Center College of Design and went on to work on a variety of vehicles throughout his career, including designing concept cars for major automotive manufacturers. One pivotal vehicle in his journey as an automotive designer was the 1956 Ford F-100, which marked the beginning of his rise to prominence in the automotive world.

Related: 10 Most Outrageous Chip Foose Builds Of All Time

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Chip Foose’s website.

A Legacy Of Family, Passion, And Design

Chip Foose's Ford F-100
Chip Foose 

The story of Chip’s F-100 starts with his father, Sam Foose, and the truck’s role as his father’s reliable shop vehicle. Chip acquired the truck at 13 and dedicated three years to completely revamping and personalizing the F-100 with meticulous attention to detail, making it his own.

A Three-Year Labor Of Love

Over three years, Chip rebuilt and restyled the pickup, resulting in a stunning transformation with an elegant root beer brown paint job. The F-100 became not only a reflection of his design skills but also a vessel of cherished memories and experiences throughout his high school and early college years.

Chip Never Forgot His First Love

Despite his busy career, Chip never let go of his dream to rejuvenate his beloved F-100 and often envisioned new transformations for it.

Related: The 20 Most Epic Classic Pickup Trucks Of All Time

The Rebirth Of Chip’s Ford F-100

In 2005, Chip’s 1956 Ford F-100 seemingly went missing from his design shop, only for it to be revealed that it was part of an elaborate plan orchestrated by his father for the Overhaulin’ show, showcasing Chip’s creativity to a broader audience. Using Chip’s sketches and concepts as their basis, Sam and his team embarked on an intricate transformation of the F-100.

Almost Every Single Thing Was Reformed

They extensively reshaped the truck, creating a custom masterpiece that blended Chip’s signature style with the original charm of the F-100. Significant modifications included adjustments to the roofline, hood, fenders, axles, and running boards, along with the inclusion of modern headlights and taillights to improve visibility, and modifications to the bumpers and bed posts.

Revised For A Rugged And More Aggressive Look

Chip Foose's Ford F-100
Chip Foose 

Additional modifications included the utilization of a Roush Aluminum Sideoiler engine, a Ford C6 Custom transmission, and a range of modernized components to enhance the truck’s capabilities.

Chip Foose’s Ford F-100 Specs

Engine

Roush Aluminum Sideoiler

Transmission

Ford C6 Custom

Shifter

Stock Ford Shifter

Wheelbase

116 inches

Rear End

Ford 9″ with 3.73:1 gear ratio

Rear Suspension

Ford 4-link system

Shocks

Coilover shocks

Brakes

Baer Extreme Plus brakes with 6-piston calipers and 14-inch cross-drilled rotors

(Specs sourced from Chip Foose’s website)

The Chassis Serves As A Foundation For Performance And Control

The truck combines stock Ford components with meticulous modifications, resulting in a stable platform for handling and ensuring optimal power distribution to the rear wheels.

Modern Parts To Enhance The Classic’s Capabilities

The revamped interior showcases thoughtful modifications such as custom gauges, climate control, electrical system enhancements, and leather upholstery, culminating in a blend of style and functionality that encapsulates the essence of the F-100’s remarkable journey.

A Classic Blend Of Style And Functionality

Chip Foose's Ford F-100
Chip Foose 

At the 2005 SEMA show in Las Vegas, the transformed F-100 was unveiled to an amazed audience, cementing its status as an extraordinary classic American muscle truck and a testament to the power of perseverance and family legacy.

Suzuki Has A New Coloring Book With All Your Favorite Motorcycles And Cars

Drawing and doodling is undoubtedly a great way to express yourself, as you can pretty much lay out your dreams on a tangible piece of paper. I’m sure a lot of us doodled our dream bikes growing up, while imagining what it would be like to actually own and ride them. Young, restless minds are among the most creative, and providing them with tools to express themselves is definitely a good thing.

Brands have their own ways of connecting with their customers. Some of them take a family friendly approach to make them top of mind to all members of the family. This is something Suzuki has done particularly for youngsters with a growing interest for cars and motorcycles. 

Suzuki Has A New Coloring Book With All Your Favorite Motorcycles And Cars
Suzuki Has A New Coloring Book With All Your Favorite Motorcycles And Cars

A quick trip to the brand’s official website reveals a new coloring book showcasing Suzuki’s popular products. Here, you can find vector images of popular cars like the Suzuki Jimny and Swift Sport. Commercial vehicles like the Super Carry, Every, and Spacia Base are also part of the coloring book.

Suzuki Has A New Coloring Book With All Your Favorite Motorcycles And Cars
Suzuki Has A New Coloring Book With All Your Favorite Motorcycles And Cars

Of course, motorcycles aren’t left out of the equation, too, as some of the brand’s most popular two-wheelers are featured in the coloring book as well. Bikes like the GSX250R, V-Strom 1050XT, Katana, and Let’s Basket scooter are part of the coloring book. Team Suzuki Ecstar is also present here, with Alex Rins and Joan Mir. 

Suzuki Has A New Coloring Book With All Your Favorite Motorcycles And Cars
Suzuki Has A New Coloring Book With All Your Favorite Motorcycles And Cars

All the pages of Suzuki’s coloring book are accessible via the brand’s official website linked below. High resolution images are provided free of charge, and all you have to do is download and print them, and you and your kids will have hours of imaginative fun coloring your favorite Suzuki vehicles. In total, there are 37 pages to choose from, encompassing kei cars, passenger cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and even electric mobility scooters and marine vehicles. 

2024 Ford Mustang Buyers Prefer Drift Brake and Automatic Transmissions

The delivery of the highly anticipated 2024 Ford Mustang is just around the corner. Despite being equipped with pure internal-combustion power, the seventh-generation pony car still offers a manual transmission for those who love shifting gears manually. Ford has recently updated its online Mustang configurator, providing more details and fresh photos of the car. This update also sheds light on the configuration choices made by early buyers.

The configurator was made available earlier this year, allowing customers to customize their 2024 Mustang. It was revealed that the top-tier configuration of the 2024 Mustang could cost up to $80,000. Now, with better descriptions and visuals of the available options, Ford has shared the percentages of equipment and features chosen by customers from January to June.

50 Percent Drift

One popular feature, especially among those who choose the four-cylinder EcoBoost models, is the new electronic drift brake. This feature is included with the High Performance Package, which has a 50 percent take rate. It’s important to note that the only transmission option for the 2024 Mustang EcoBoost is the 10-speed automatic. The manual transmission has been discontinued due to its low popularity, with only a 10 percent take rate in previous models.

27 Percent Shift

While the six-speed manual is still available for V8 Mustangs, its popularity has decreased in the seventh-generation model. Currently, 27 percent of early GT and Dark Horse orders opt for the manual transmission, while the remaining 73 percent choose the automatic transmission. Previous reports indicated that the manual transmission had a take rate of over 40 percent for the GT, but it seems the preference is shifting towards automatic transmissions in the new model.

Packages And Paint

Delving deeper into the statistics, Ford reveals that the Performance and Nite Pony packages are popular choices among 2024 Mustang buyers. The Performance package, which costs $4,995, has a 22 percent take rate among GT buyers. It adds several performance-enhancing features such as Brembo brakes, a Torsen differential, and various chassis and electronic system upgrades. On the other hand, the $1,195 Nite Pony package, which adds black exterior trims, is preferred by 26 percent of buyers.

As for color preferences, Shadow Black is the top choice for GT and EcoBoost models, with a take rate of 17 percent. Oxford White follows with 13 percent, while Rapid Red stands at 11 percent. The high-output Mustang Dark Horse sees Blue Ember as the most popular color, chosen by 39 percent of buyers. Vapor Blue and Shadow Black come in at 18 percent and 16 percent, respectively.