Navigon 7100's Reality-View
What It Is: The newest generation of GPS tools is packed with multimedia functions. No longer mere direction-givers, high-end navigators are bundling hands-free phone-calling, music-playing and traffic-warning tricks into one sleek device.
What It Is: Portable car-seat massagers aim to lessen the effects of traffic and bad drivers by kneading away your stress as you drive. The cushions are strapped or placed on any car seat, and are powered by the cigarette adapter. The massagers usually have several settings and muscle locations to choose from. Some of the massagers are heated.
Locating a parking spot in a big city ranks among drivers' most nagging frustrations and new services aim to direct drivers to open spots.
Taking advantage of the Web and new generation vehicle navigation systems, these offerings give drivers more information to help them find the closest - and sometimes cheapest - available spot. ParkingSearch.com is a "virtual exchange" that lists open parking spaces within ZIP codes, said the company's founder Stephen Sinclair.
While the majority of the roughly 6,000 spaces currently listed on ParkingSearch.com are from commercial lots, there are a small number of residential spots for sale, rent or sublet. The availability may range from a six-month sublet to a space that is only available during the weekend. The number of parking spaces listed fluctuates seasonally as well as regionally, Mr. Sinclair said.
What It Is: Picnics and beach parties could get a lot more memorable with new sound systems that let tailgaters tap their inner DJs. Auto makers are equipping some vehicles with souped-up cargo-area speakers and audio controls that allow for back-door song adjustments.
What It Is: Drivers are getting more help with staying safe on the road.
Cutting-edge automotive-safety technology gives drivers night vision, or sends alerts if the car moves too close to other objects or drifts outside its lane. Some systems can also make sure the driver signals properly.
What It Is: As gadget-laden consumers rely more on their car batteries to power up, two-prong power outlets and strips like the ones found in homes are cropping up in cars.
What It Is: Intimidating flames and sleek racing stripes are perennial favorites among drivers wishing to jazz up their cars. For those looking to use their car as a canvas without the permanence of paint, there are a variety of stick-on options, ranging from checkerboard swooshes, vibrant daisies and even do-it-yourself designs.
What It Is: Auto makers are revamping the windshield wipers on their vehicles to make them work more efficiently or last longer.
The new wipers include those that cling to the glass for a more precise job or reposition themselves to avoid getting stuck in icy weather.
What It Is: So you're sitting in traffic and the car behind you is feeling a little antsy. The driver leans on the horn and you hear not a harsh toot but a lion's growl.
Fans of cellphone ringtones have a new outlet for self-expression: Drivers now can update their car horns with downloadable tones, including libraries of songs. Some horns can even be equipped with recording capabilities.
What It Is: Drivers no longer have to rely on a hand wave or a bumper sticker to send a message to fellow motorists.
Car-to-car messaging products range from cute light-up smiley faces to customizable electronic mini-billboards. You also can have an actual conversation with another motorist on a shared, anonymous cellular service that mixes social networking and driving.
From the racing world, where a steady foot on the pedals is vital, come no-slip brake pedals that make driving with high heels easier. Auto emergency kits not only include the usual tools, but also instructions for changing a tire, among other things. Some kits also come with membership with an auto-safety club.
Lavender-scented tires bring aromatherapy to your garage.
Aromatherapy burns rubber.
What Is It: Car features or products for women once went no further than soft-lit mirrors. Here are a few products women might appreciate.
What It Is: While Starbucks and universities are well-known public Wi-Fi hot spots, travelers and workers on the go might not always know where to find a reliable signal on the road. Some products help parked drivers harness the Internet in the car via a wireless router in the trunk or on the backseat. Other products act like Wi-Fi-divining rods and light up when a hot spot is near.
