AC Schnitzer releases LCD shift knob for BMW, Mini

It must be SEMA Show time again, because we're seeing the beginnings of an aftermarket accessory flood. Some of these products are useful, some aren't. AC Schnitzer, purveyor of aftermarket accessories, has just released a new LCD shift knob for manually shifted BMWs and Minis that we think falls into the latter category.

The red illuminated LCD screen on the top of the new shift knob displays the gear the vehicle is in up to sixth. The only connection to the vehicle are the wires for 12V power, so the LCD shift knob uses an accelerometer to determine in what gear it is sitting, up to sixth. AC Schnitzer hasn't released any information as to whether the shifter would automatically calibrate or have to be programmed before use, nor has it released any pricing information.

In our experience, keeping our eyes on the road and simply remembering what gear we're in is sufficient, so we don't think this would be useful unless you have a dangerously brief short-term memory. The shifter does, however, look pretty cool and is potentially a neat little piece of bling.

Via CNET Car Tech Blog

Mercedes' first hybrid is also first with Lithium-ion

After years of claiming that blue is the new green (in reference to its BlueTec diesel developments), Mercedes-Benz has taken a side step and introduced a hybrid to the market, the S 400 BlueHybrid. The modified S-Class sedan benefits from the addition of Mercedes' first hybrid drivetrain and the world's first implementation of a lithium ion battery in a production vehicle.

The battery, which makes this whole deal possible, is remarkable in that it's surprisingly compact thanks to lithium ion tech. The entire assembly is only slightly larger than a standard 12-volt car battery. The small size allows the battery to be located in the engine bay, where it replaces the conventional starter battery. This underhood placement, as opposed to a huge NiMH battery under the floor or in the center tunnel, means the S 400 BlueHybrid doesn't sacrifice interior or trunk space in the name of economy.
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BMW confirms development of electric microcar

Autocar.co.uk reports that BMW has confirmed--in a statement by CEO Norbert Reithofer--that it is developing a tiny city car in response to increasing demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Reithofer states that the vehicle will be drastically different from any of BMW's current offerings and that it will be motivated by either of two powerplants: A small, efficient internal-combustion engine or an all-electric drivetrain with a range of 200 miles. The electric drivetrain will be created to meet California's requirement that all major automakers offer a zero-emissions vehicle by 2012.

Finer details are still up in the air. BMW hasn't decided whether the microcar will even wear a BMW propeller badge. According to Reithofer: "It could be BMW, Mini, or another name." While we think that an electric Mini would fit right into the brand's quirky image and probably make the most sense, speculation is that the "other name" in question could signal the revival of the Isetta brand, which has been retired since the 1960s.

Via CNET Car Tech Blog

Philips' first Ambient Experience Concept Suite in Asia Pacific

In a partnership that will take hotel guests' needs to a whole new holistic level, Philips and luxury hotel brand Fairmont have teamed up for the region's first Ambient Experience Concept Suite at Fairmont Singapore. Part of Philips' "Hotel of the Future" initiative, regional media today were given a glimpse of what the concept could translate to when finalized. As to when that would materialize, Fairmont GM Ian Wilson would only say that this was a "limited life mockup room" and not the final product as more testing had to be done. Nor is the Concept room open to the public.
Central to the whole ambient experience is Philips' range of Ambilight products both commercial and conceptual, though Wilson, who is also regional vice president, Asia, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, emphasized that the rationale behind this exercise was "not technology for technology's sake but the utilities that it offers".

Over at the mockup room, an actor reprised the role of busy executive who used the one-touch smart remote to turn on one of four mood lights (namely Rise, Perk, Lush and Rest) to demonstrate the ambient settings.
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Bridgestone marks F1 tires with reflective paint

One of the most important components on a F1 racing car are the tires. They form the first, and only, point of contact with the road, and the wrong kind of wheels may mean the difference between basking in glory or recovering in a hospital.

For the first time, tire-maker Bridgestone will be marking the F1 car wheels made from super-soft and extremely wet compounds with a special reflective paint for the upcoming Singapore F1 night race. It does not serve any functional purpose other than to inform specators on the type of tires in use during the race.

In previous competitions, a normal white non-reflective paint was used instead. Other types of dry and wet weather versions do not have the white marking.
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