Podcasting by the Seat of Our Pants

Welcome to our 2011 end of year car sales extravaganza. We talk about:

• December U.S. auto sales
• 2011 full-year sales
• Top selling by category
• Top selling vehicles
• Chevrolet Volt vs. Nissan Leaf

Other than sales, we also look at the decrease in recalls during 2011.

Ford Concept

Next week is both CES and the Detroit auto show and in addition to interesting vehicles from Ford, Chrysler and others, vehicular gadgets will be on display, including a slew of new apps for Ford's SYNC.

One piece of technology that might be too wacky even for CES is a system that uses people's behinds to identify them.

Perhaps HiGear could use that system to prevent the vehicle thefts that is leading the peer-to-peer auto rental to shut down.

Speaking of criminals, Jimmy Hoffa is apparently buried under GM's headquarters in Detroit. Not Giants stadium.

Listen Now: (IF ERROR-HIT REFRESH)

 Standard Podcasts [00:42:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | 

Ford Let's Owners Update MyFord Touch Via USB

MyFordTouch

For those of us with computers, smartphones and gaming machines, upgrades are a part of life. But for cars, if there are upgrades, they are typically handled at the dealer with special equipment.

Now, Ford is updating it's MyFord Touch infotainment system to make it easier to use and faster. Available early next year – and offered at no charge to existing MyFord Touch owners – the upgrade to the software improves the user/driver experience.

The upgrade includes faster response for touch-screen inputs, better voice recognition, and compatibility with a wider range of mobile phones as well as tablets and e-books. Phone connection has been made faster, and Ford says it improved the noise and echo cancellation for phone calls made through a Bluetooth connection. The screen display designs are simpler, with larger type for the most often used functions, fewer options, and less clutter. Ford says that altogether, it redesigned the graphics of more than 1,000 different screens.

 Ford says the revamp was developed by listening and responding to customer feedback. The auto maker has been dinged by owners and the media, most specifically Consumer Reports -- because the current system is clunky and complex.

I think the most interesting part of this story is that Ford will be mailing out USB memory sticks with the upgrade so that owners can do the upgrade themselves. This is the first instance of a car maker allowing non-mechanics to do a significant upgrade to a key system in a vehicle that I can think of.

Ford Drops Price of SYNC by $100

Ford announced both a $100 price drop for Ford SYNC along with expanded availability by offering it as an option on base trim levels for the first time.

The voice-activated infotainment systems will now cost $295 (down from $395, where optional), starting with its 2012 Edge and Explorer models. SYNC will also become standard on SEL variants for the first time -- before, it was previously reserved for Limited and Sport trim levels.

Ford plans to roll out the system across its entire lineup over the next three years, including the 2013 Ford Taurus, Focus, Escape and Flex.

Ford Launches App With ‘On the Go’ Navigation

Ford's new SYNC app

Drivers with Ford SYNC-equipped vehicles that have Traffic, Directions and Information (TDI) services can now use an Apple iOS (iPhone and iPad) or Android app designed to help get them where they need to go with more information.

The SYNC Destinations mobile app gives users of TDI services mobile access to a host of navigation and traffic information specifically designed to make any trip easier.

This comes a day after Ford announced that SYNC will allow parents to lock-out access to explicit programming on satellite radio. The lockout feature is being added to Ford's MyKey technology, which already give parents tools to boost safe teen driving habits. MyKey is a programmable key that lets parents limit a vehicle’s top speed, limit radio volume and encourage safety-belt usage by muting the radio until front occupants buckle up.

Given my recent PVI with the Mercedes, these kinds of features might push me into a Ford. Do apps like these interest you?