T E C H N O G A D G E T S ®
Taking The Geek Out Of Gadgets
Infiniti QX56
0When it comes to full-size, luxury SUVs, this is a standout in the category. The Infiniti QX56 is an impressive four wheel drive vehicle that’s nothing less than huge. The 400 horsepower V8 springs to life in an instant, but it’s thirsty, in the 14-20 m-p-g range. Power? You bet, with a towing capacity of 85-hundred pounds. This full-size SUV handles great…but the steering felt just a little light at times…never letting you know you’re piloting a 56-hundred pound vehicle. A total of 8 people enjoy the leather-clad comfort of a quiet cabin, carried on 22 inch wheels, surrounded by safety equipment that’s state of the art. We took a short highway trip in the QX-56…enjoying the cruise control that automatically adjusted to keep a safe distance from the car in front of us. The same sensing technology can engage the Forward Collision Warning system and the Intelligent Brake Assist to help avoid a crash. A blind spot light on the door comes on to warn you if a vehicle’s hiding there and beeps if you attempt to change lanes. A lane departure warning indicates if you’ve drifted across the lane line and can engage the proper brakes to nudge you back. At slow speed, we loved the onboard cameras giving us an overhead, 360 degree view of our SUV while parking. See more test drives at FM News Chicago
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Adopt-a-Band
0168 days
by MBC
in Technogadgets®
Kids in school bands can be exposed to dangerous sound levels in about 2 minutes. Wearing special hi-fidelity ear plugs can allow them to be exposed for 2 HOURS. These Ety Plugs don’t ruin the sound of the music, they just turn it down a notch. The Adopt-a-Band program protects your ears at a cost of about $6. The cool thing is that the kids become better musicians because they can hear the band around them more clearly. Learn more at this Etymotic Research site. Watch the video. It’s all science and then it features Hoffman Estates High School students trying ear protection for the first time.
2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV
0170 days
by Ed Curran
in Technogadgets®
This week’s test drive is the all-new 2012 Cadillac Escalade E-S-V, when a REGULAR Escalade just isn’t enough. The first thing I have to get across to you is size. The E-S-V is 20-inches longer than a regular Escalade. Think Chevy Suburban, but the similarity ends there. Carrying up to 8 in luxury, it’s big step up from your mini-van. Speaking of big steps up, running boards automatically fold out to greet you as you step into this tall ride sitting atop beautiful 22-inch wheels. Inside, you’re greeted by leather stitched seats, a leather-clad dashboard, real wood trim, cup holders that heat or cool, and mirrors that warn if someone’s in your blind spot. This quiet super comfortable cabin also has a huge amount of cargo space. Your view outside is lit by brilliant L-E-D headlamps – the first of their kind. Performance is incredible. The 6.2 liter V8 gives this huge Flex-Fuel SUV a 0-60 time of 6.8 seconds. Handling is great, with road-sensing suspension that adjusts in the blink of an eye. There’s a lot to like in this vehicle and, with a sticker of $85,000 in our top-of-the-line Platinum version, there should be.
EscaladeESV as heard on FM News.
See the Escalade ESV’s features at Cadillac’s web site.
Enjoy this nice video of car dealer Tim Miller as he takes you on a tour of the fantastic 2012 Escalade ESV. Tim’s with Schwan GM Auto Center in North Dakota.
Electric Car Charging Stations
1185 days
by Ed Curran
in Technogadgets®
Free Gas! Wow, now that would be a great deal. But it’s, essentially, the same deal I’m getting when I plug the electric car I’m driving into a public charger. As an incentive, the chargers I’ve plugged into have not cost me a penny. I don’t own an electric, but I’m currently testing a Chevy Volt and had a Nissan LEAF a few weeks ago. They’re great cars and, along with the free gas…I mean electricity…I’m getting all charged up. Read more about my experience at charging stations here.
Infinity G37
0198 days
by admin
in Technogadgets®
Sometimes, you have to drive with your ears. Listen to that roar. It’s the V6, 24 valve sound of the Infiniti G37X…a luxury sport sedan that gives you 328 horsepower and All Wheel Drive. The G37 handles great, and though the ride has a stiffer, sporty feel, it’s just want you want in a car like this. Any concerns about giving up comfort went out the window when we took the G37 on a road trip. Two hours, from highways to country roads, and we found the cabin pretty quiet, the car responsive, a thrill to drive, and the sporty seats a comfortable fit. Our G37X All Wheel Drive Limited Edition carried a sticker price of nearly 45-thousand dollars. But the G37 starts at only $36,200. Compare that with some of the competing luxury sports sedans and you’ll see that you get a lot for your money with the G37. Learn more at the Infinity site.
Nissan Juke Test Drive
0206 days
Take a quick ride with us in the Juke! The Juke’s aggressive styling is a blend of curved steel, eye catching tail lights and a bold front end with turn signals mounted high. Inside, the red center console, inspired by a motorcycle gas tank, leaps out at you. Press the start button and you find the Juke is as much fun to drive as it is to look at. The All Wheel Drive sure footedness impressed me during my test drives. So did the pickup, the feel of the ride and the finish of the interior. The Juke ride was a little harsh on rough roads but wasn’t a deal breaker. The peppy Juke has a 4 cylinder 1.6 liter turbo, gets 27 to 32 miles per gallon. Our All Wheel Drive version had a sticker price of $24,000. The Juke offers fun, sporty, economical performance.
Steve Jobs…The Old Mac Icon Says It All
0227 days
by admin
in Technogadgets®
This says it all. Fired up my original 1987 Mac SE with a 20 megabyte hard drive. It could hold about 2 of today’s digital photos. The smiling Mac face tells you this is not MS-DOS. “I’m your friend…this is gonna be fun.” That’s what Steve Jobs built into all these products that so many of us have embraced. I like to say he gave technology a soul. A great user experience every time. What was your first Apple experience that wowed you? Music, video, publishing? Thanks, Steve.
Traffic Technology Improves Your Drive
0234 days
by Ed Curran
in Technogadgets®
I enjoyed working with Harvey Moshman and Chuck Coppola on this traffic tech segment for the First Business Network.