GeekSugar

4 Reasons to Love the New Tesla Model X (And 1 Reason You Won't)

Kristy Korcz — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:21:25 PST

Tesla announced the latest edition to its eco-friendly car lineup, the Model X, earlier this week. Staying true to its roots, the Model X will be sleek, powerful, and of course, easy on the planet, thanks to its all-electric motor. But more than just a pretty face, the Model X comes with some features you may not want to pass up. Check them out below and stay tuned for the Model X to hit the streets in 2014.

All electric motor - Of course, the most attractive thing about the Model X is its ability to go 200 to 270 miles on a charge from its electric motor, omit zero emissions, and go from zero to 60 in just 4.4 seconds. It's an eco lover's dream!
It's big enough for the family - Seating seven adults, the Model X is perfect for a growing family or car-share commuters. Three rows make for an easy ride!
Falcon Wings - You heard me right. Falcon Wings. Instead of sliding open like a minivan or swinging out like an SUV, the back doors on the Model X open up and out of the way to allow for more space to get in and out of the vehicle and to squeeze into narrow parking spaces. Easily one of the coolest things I've seen on a car.
The dashboard - The front panel of the Model X comes with a massive touch screen display to provide GPS and battery information, entertainment, and lots more.

Why on earth would you have a reason to hate a car that looks like this? Find out after the break.

Behind The Wheel: The Best Cars for Families

LilSugar — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:23:31 PST

As parents, we all want the safest, most secure way of transporting our families from point A to point B. If the car is good-looking, well that's just a bonus. So when U.S. News Best Cars released its 2012 Best Cars for Families Awards earlier today, we couldn't wait to share the results.

Check out the highlights, and let us know - how does your family get around? Do you agree with these rankings?

Minicars I Wouldn't Mind Test-Driving Right Now

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:13:18 PST

While the gadgets have been plentiful at CES in Las Vegas, over in Detroit, it's all about the cars. The 2012 North American International Auto Show kicked off this week, and there are cars of many flavors: luxurious, flashy, eco-friendly, and my favorite - mini.

Tiny cars are great for big cities, but some are even better on gas. Take a gander at a few that I'd love to test-drive right away.

The Bentley You Always Wanted (but Can't Afford) Comes With Gadget Goodies

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:52:01 PST

Though I'm more of a gas-friendly, small-car kind of gal, I wouldn't mind taking a ride in this Executive Interior Concept Bentley that features sweet, sweet gadgets throughout. Not only is the entertainment and audio system powered by a Mac Mini from the trunk, but the rear seats are probably the best in the house. Coming with seatback video screens, a center 15-inch monitor, two iPads, a mechanical fold-out tray to accommodate a laptop, space for your Apple trackpad, and a center console that houses hookups for your iPhone and iPod, a keyboard, a refrigerated compartment, and controls for your audio and video system, and WiFi, it's pretty much the ultimate mobile workstation.

There's no price on this customized upgrade, but naturally, it's probably too expensive for 99 percent of the population.

Lean and Green Cars Take Center Stage at the 2011 LA Auto Show

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:20:00 PST

The LA Auto Show kicked off this week, and among the big, bulky, and expensive gas-guzzlers, there's also an army of small, eco-friendly, and electric vehicles that are taking the show by storm. Check out a few of my faves in the slideshow and tell me - would you consider driving one of these cars?

Look For the Electric DeLorean on Streets in 2013

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:23:03 PDT

Move over Batmobile, if there's one car straight from a movie we'd take home in a heartbeat, a DeLorean in the style of Back to the Future is at the top of the list. A built-in flux capacitor isn't even required. And as it turns out, the DeLorean Motor Company is still in business, repairing parts from old DMC-12 vehicles and even building new custom cars using 80 percent original DeLorean parts and 20 percent modern engine technology.

The DMC has joined forces with an electric car company, called Epic EV, to produce a new fully electric DeLorean. A prototype of the electric DeLorean, called the DMCEV, was displayed at last week's International DeLorean Owners Event in Houston. The two companies hope to have the DMCEV in production by 2013. The ultimate fan car and good for the environment! Pricing details weren't released alongside the DMCEV's unveiling; how much would you be willing to pay to bring a piece of your favorite movie home?

Geeky Things You Didn't Know About the Fiat 500

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:23:03 PDT

Living in a big city can create all kinds of transportation nightmares - packed buses, expensive cabs, and traffic everywhere. And while you should always try to reduce your carbon footprint where you can (riding a bike or walking is ideal!), having a small car when you need it is a lifesaver. The good news is, you don't have to join the Mini or Smart Car masses - break away from the crowd and check out the 2012 Fiat 500 instead. Making its debut in the US this year, the Fiat 500 (and cabriolet version, the 500c) is the perfect city car. I should know - I recently bought one!

The Fiat 500 is small enough to fit in those tiny "in-between driveway spaces" that regular cars are too big for, but is big enough to hold four adults and is incredibly fun to drive (especially with the top down!). This little car is easy on gas (up to 38mpg), adorable, and - wouldn't you know it - tech savvy, too. Check out these geeky facts about the Fiat 500 below.

EcoDrive - The Fiat comes with a cool feature called EcoDrive that lets you download your driving information via USB, analyzes it, and then gives you tips on how to conserve gas the next time you hit the road.
Blue&Me - Fiat teamed up with Microsoft to bring you a new way to make calls and listen to music while you're driving. Using your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, Blue&Me lets you use a series of voice commands to make calls, listen to incoming texts, navigate the road, and listen to MP3s stored on your phone without taking your hands off the wheel.
MobileTrace - Better than LoJack, MobileTrace can track your Fiat in real time if it happens to get stolen and send you text alerts if someone's trying to break in, but you can also open and lock the car with your smartphone, and get alerted if your bro - who's borrowing it for the weekend - is going over the speed limit.
MultiAir Engine - Fiat's patented MultiAir engine cuts down on gas consumption and emissions while at the same time, increasing power by controlling the air intake of your car. It's a revolutionary design that earned the title of International Engine of the Year in 2010.

Intrigued? Check out more images of the Fiat 500 and Fiat 500c in the gallery.

Riding With a Head Out the Window: Yay or Nay?

PetSugar — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:24:19 PDT

Fur flying and tongue flapping in the wind, many pups simply smile with heads out the car window. While it's not the safest thing to do for a couple of reasons - including the risk that he'll jump out and that bad things can get into his eyes, ears, or mouth - I still see it all the time. Am I seeing your pooch riding this way?

What Do You Know About Dogs Left in Cars?

PetSugar — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:04:15 PDT

A hot day equals a hot dog, inside or out! Before bringing a pooch along for the ride, remember the risks of leaving a dog in the car for a "quick errand." Ever notice how warm you feel opening the door once again? Well, imagine how a pup feels trapped inside that greenhouse on a Summer day. In case you're tempted to try this out at home, and the poster below isn't sign enough, take this quiz to see some shocking stats to change your mind.

Take the Quiz

5 Vehicles With Kid-Friendly Features

Heather Dale — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 05:12:57 PDT

With road trips, soccer practice runs, grabbing groceries, daycare drop-offs, and more, it's important that your car is economical, built to last, and offers some family-friendly features to make it easier for you to transport your tots. The good news is more car companies are incorporating nifty kid-oriented characteristics into their cars to qualify a vehicle as a family car. And because of this, parents are left with a wide variety of choices to suit their particular needs. Here are some 2011 models that are taking the "kid-friendly" motto to a whole new level.