Technology

I bought a new Nissan Navara NP300 STX, the vehicle we "Nissan people" waited for, only to find the GPS has a 2013 map. Nissan Australia says "not my fault" — the blame game. So this is my third and last Navara.

A story about good customer service. I have a 2010 Renault Koleos, bought new with a three-year warranty. A few months ago, I had brain fade and hit the "factory reset" button on my satnav. The whole thing crashed including Bluetooth. The first attempt by Renault to rectify it was only partially OK with the maps working, the second attempt also did not resolve the problem. On the third attempt they held on to the vehicle for a few days, giving me a courtesy car. In the end they installed a new satnav, which continues to function satisfactorily.

At first glance BMW’s yet-to-launch luxury flagship is about as relevant to the average CarsGuide reader as haute couture.Yet just as bespoke fashion finds its way into mainstream outlets, so will the technology infused in the big limousine filter down to more affordable models.And the sheer number and extent of the computer-controlled systems is staggering. In a segment where owners now expect to awe their audiences with more than a serene ride, it’s a case of innovate or be irrelevant.BMW’s 7 Series product guru Sven Arens says the 7-Series combines futuristic functions with craftsmanship and materials borrowed from Rolls-Royce, which BMW owns.CarsGuide looks at some of the key features found in the sixth-generation 7 Series.Gesture control: BMW is the first carmaker to fit a production model with gesture controls based on specific movements. A camera monitors an area in the centre of the dash and finger swirls can raise or lower the volume of the 16-speaker Bowers and Remote parking: Operated using the display key with an integrated screen, the idea is the occupants can exit the vehicle before it drives in or out of a tight parking space.Carbon core: Adopted from the i Series vehicles, the carbon-fibre reinforced plastic has helped trim 120kg from the 7 Series. Arens says bonding car components is better than welding because the weld softens the metal around the joint.Wireless connectivity: The 7 Series can now wirelessly charge smartphones using an inductive pad while Bluetooth pairing uses near-field communication — the same tech used with “pay wave” credit card purchases.Removable tablet: Rear-seat passengers can use a seven-inch tablet to control everything from the aircon to the seats. The Android-powered device can be taken out of the car to load up a movie and various apps can be installed.Occupant wellness: The big BMW can emit occasional bursts of scent, the seats incorporate a vitality program that extends the massage function and “allows rear passengers to engage in active physical exercise for recuperation purposes”. The The cars will launch in Australia late this year in 730d, 740i and 740Li models, with the top-spec 750i/Li due early next year. Pricing has yet to be set but the current model starts at $206,200 for the 730d.

Re GPS speedos, I use a Bogaard Hillspeed digital, which is available online — it's as low as $135 on eBay. Bogaard comes from Ballina, NSW and is an excellent unit. It has numerous features and, unlike head-up units, the display is enclosed in a casing that sits neatly on the dashboard. I previously had a head-up display but found that driving beneath street lights at night often caused a flare of colour on any dust on the windscreen and that was distracting. One negative with GPS speedos is that they lose the satellite signal in tunnels. The Hillspeed drops out on starting the engine and takes a little while to regain a readout, especially if one drives away immediately. A very minor niggle is that GPS units tend to play catch-up, in that they can indicate a low speed when stopping, or lag when accelerating.

Interest in GPS speedos has prompted me to suggest a seven-inch Garmin GPS. Mine displays the vehicle's speed and even glows red if I exceed the posted limit. Sure, it sometimes takes 100m to do this but it is accurate otherwise.

Autonomous emergency braking is the new focus for cutting the death toll on Australian roads.

A broken windscreen could create major safety problems for a growing number of new cars.

Safety doesn't sell cars. If it did, there would be no need for governments to mandate the fitment of potentially lifesaving technology on new cars.

I just purchased a Mazda 3 and love the car apart from the stupidity of not being able to operate the satnav while the car is in motion. Not only can the driver not operate it, but even the passenger is prevented from using it. So Mazda with their "Nanny State" logic would expect drivers to pull over on a busy freeway or highway in order find a petrol station or change their destination. Why do Mazda treat their owners like idiots?

Young motorists tracked by car spying technology will get cash bonuses for safe driving, in a study that could revolutionise insurance pricing.