EE Times reports that Germany-based Infineon Technologies has developed a radar chip whose diminutive size and price will bring the benefits of traffic sensing radar to the automotive masses. As we've just bludgeoned you with GM's arcane accounting practices, let's do the blinding you with science bit: "Dubbed the RASIC, the first in the series, the RXN7740, is a tightly integrated front-end chip for the 76-77 GHz frequency range which includes function blocks for the oscillator, the power amplifier and four mixers for multiple antennas… The chip uses a manufacturing technology based on silicon germanium with a transit frequency of 200 GHz." Translation: "Compared to existing radar systems– that implement these functions through discrete components– its device enables designers to shrink their radar systems a quarter of the current size, while reducing system costs for the radio frequency module by more than 20 percent." Translation: there's yet another handling nanny heading your way. Strategy Analytics says seven percent of all new cars will include the technology by 2014. We reckon it's only a matter of time before the U.S. feds make it mandatory. 

EE Times »

Source: Collision Avoidance Radar Headed Mainstream

While we’re still trying to figure out whether the leaked image of a 2008 Focus ST is real or not (see if you can help us by clicking here), Ford has launched a special edition version of the current generation in the UK, dubbed “ST500”. Available in the UK in a limited run of 500 units, the ST500 is based on the top-of-the-range Focus ST3. All ST500s are finished in metallic black with classic silver bonnet, roof and side echoing the livery of the winning GT40 in the 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans in 1966. -Continued after the jump

Other unique features of the Focus ST500 are the scarlet leather Recaro sports seats and matching upholstery, special ST500 badging, automatic Xenon high-intensity headlamps, auto-dimming rear view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and solar-reflect windscreen.

There are no changes under the bonnet, as the ST500 gets the same turbocharged five-cylinder Duratec 2.5L engine as the standard ST, which develops 225PS at 6,100rpm and 320Nm of torque at 1,600rpm. According to Ford, the ST500 price is set at £20,495 ($42,790 or €29,300)

Source: Focus ST500: Ford Launches Limited Edition Version Of ST Hatch

By Dale Buss

Today’s the day designated for a second “takeover” of online advertising by the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu – although this invasion will take a few days, unlike the car’s one-day blitzkrieg on Oct. 17.

Having pronounced its earlier takeover a blazing success, Wednesday Chevrolet also planned to make it nearly impossible for Internet surfers to ignore its new midsize sedan. Chevy bought advertisements that occupy many of the highest-traffic home pages ranging from Yahoo.com to Amazon.com to FoodNetwork.com. Connected to the online effort is a big advertising push for Malibu on and around the Country Music Awards telecast tonight on ABC.

Mark LaNeve proclaimed the results “awesome” from Oct. 17. Specifically, GM’s North America vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing said in an interview Tuesday with AutoObserver that he was pleased both with the online traffic generated by Malibu’s ad swarm and by the amount of time that visitors spent with Malibu content.

“The goal of the first phase was to ‘disrupt,’ while the goal of the next phase will be to ‘reveal’ and debunk skepticism by taking a more methodical approach to build credibility with consumers through the use of third-party endorsements,” said GM spokeswoman Ryndee Carney.

Specifically, on Oct. 17, Chevy said that nearly nine out of 10 Internet users saw Malibu messages; the company’s target was eight out of 10. More than 960 million impressions were delivered; the internal goal was 800 million. More than 3.7 million unique visitors interacted with Malibu content. The campaign drove record traffic to Chevy.com – more than three times the previous daily high traffic; the company declined to reveal specific traffic levels for competitive reasons.

GM said that there were more than 317,000 of what it called “success events,” in which someone clicked to a specific Web page from a Malibu ad. In this case, it was a click to locate a dealer page, request a price-quote page, a “build-your-own” Malibu page, or others.

“These are very ‘lower-funnel’ measures that indicate a customer is rather serious about considering the car for purchase,” said GM spokeswoman Ryndee Carney.

Christopher Barger, GM’s director of global communications technology and manager of its FastLane blog, agreed that the Malibu ads “were as comprehensive as they could get” on Oct. 17, including TV and print as well as online. “They were in the air that day. Every newspaper I checked, every time I was on WiFi at the airport, every time I turned around there was something about the Malibu. And it looked like some of the auto blogs were picking up the commercials and video clips.”

GM declined to be more specific about its purpose or plans for the phased-in “takeover” that began Wednesday or why Chevrolet selected Oct. 17 specifically, except to say that the CMA Awards are an important cog in Malibu’s overall marketing.

Source: Chevrolet Malibu Again Takes Over Online