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Car Tech

By Jeffrey N. Ross

Earlier this year when I reviewed the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan, one of the most unique aspects of it was the availability of separate rear entertainment screens that could play television channels such as Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and the Cartoon Network. By the end of this year, Chrysler claims that it will be the first automaker to offer live mobile television viewing of up to 20 channels. The dealer-installed option will be available in late December in select Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Truck vehicles.

Chrysler Group’s parts and accessories branch, Mopar, will offer FLO TV on 2008 through 2010 models of the Chrysler Town & Country, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Commander, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Journey, Dodge Nitro and Dodge Ram 1500/2500/3500 that are equipped with a factory DVD entertainment system. FLO TV can also be added on select 2008 through 2010 model year vehicles that are equipped with Mopar’s headrest entertainment system. The system costs $629 regardless of whether it is being installed on a new or used vehicle.

FLO TV, a subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc., receives its signal from a small antenna about the size of a computer mouse which is mounted on the roof. Like any other DVD entertainment system, the programs will be displayed on the rear monitors but only on the front monitor when the vehicle is in park. Currently, FLO TV only lists Fox News, CBS Mobile, Fox West, MSNBC, Comedy Central, ESPN, MTV, Nickelodeon, CNBC, but by the end of December Chrysler says there will be up to 20 channels of live or time-delayed television stations available with this system to show sports, breaking news, kids' shows, sitcoms, reality TV and daytime dramas. By the time the system is operational, FLO TV will be available in more than 100 major markets and that it should also work along most major interstate corridors.

Just like any other Mopar accessory, the optional FLO TV Auto Entertainment system will be covered by a three-year/36,000-mile warranty on new vehicles or a one-year/12,000-mile warranty on used vehicles for hardware and installation.

Ford Motor Company’s new MyKey System was developed to help put parents at ease when their teenagers are at the wheel. The system also teaches and encourages teen drivers to drive safer and be more fuel efficient.

The new feature will allow owners to program a key, which includes a transponder inside of it, that can limit the vehicle’s audio volume and top speed. The key can also be programmed to sound an alert chime for low fuel levels with 45, 55 and 65 miles to go until empty.

The system allows parents to program any key by using the vehicle message center. It can read the transponder inside the key after the key has been inserted into the ignition. It immediately identifies the MyKey code and reads the default driving modes. It can be programmed to activate the Ford Beltminder system, which chimes an alert for six seconds, every minute for five minutes until the driver is buckled up. It also mutes the radio and shows a message on the instrument panel instructing the driver to Buckle up to unmute radio.”

More features of the Ford MyKey System include:

• A top speed limit of 80 miles per hour
• Audio volume limits to 44 percent of the total volume
• Speed chime alerts at 45, 55 or 65 miles per hour

Features like Park Aid, Traction Control and BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert cannot be deactivated if MyKey is in the ignition.

Jim Buczkowski, director of Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering – the same team that developed SYNC in partnership with Microsoft, said of MyKey, “We’ve upgraded an existing, proven technology – the SecuriLock passive anti-theft system – with some simple software upgrades to develop a new unique feature that we believe will resonate with customers. We also developed MyKey’s functions in such a way to quickly spread it across multiple vehicle lines, giving us the ability to go mass market in the spirit of other Ford innovations such as safety belts, stability control and SYNC.”

A Harris Interactive Survey conducted for the Ford Motor Company shows that many more parents would allow their teenagers to drive regularly if their vehicles were equipped with MyKey. The survey showed that 75 percent of parents like the speed-limiting feature, 72 percent like the safety-belt reminder and 63 percent like the audio limit feature of the system. About 50 percent of the parents surveyed who would consider a MyKey equipped vehicle said they would allow their teenager to use the car more often.

Of teens surveyed by Harris, 67 percent said they wouldn’t want MyKey, but only 36 percent would object if having the feature meant they could drive more often.

MyKey will become a standard feature on the 2010 Ford Focus, but will then quickly be made available on many other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury model vehicles.