“automobile” collection
HTD Tech Briefs
View all →February 28, 2012
Review of the 2012 Buick Regal GS – Definitely NOT your Grandpa’s Sedan
For some reason, Buick's seem to have this odd stereotype of being a car that your grandparents cruise around in with the left blinker permanently on. They were lackluster and pretty conservative. The 2012 Buick Regal GS runs over that stereotype in all of its 270 horsepower, 6-speed manual, Brembo brakes, curvy lines glory, making this non-grandfather want to hold…
Read more →January 19, 2012
A Solid, Tech-Filled, All-Around Performer – 2011 Ford Explorer Test Drive
A few months ago, Sony and Ford Motors invited the Cast of Dads out to the East Coast to participate in a variety of events, one of them was driving a 2011 Ford Explorer (note, link is for the 2012 model) from Boston to NYC. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the event, and boy was I jealous. Part…
Read more →January 3, 2012
The “Power” Behind the New 2013 Ford Escape
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Ford folks at a San Francisco 49er game. There I got to see a preview of the new 2013 Ford Escape, which is billed as a "smart utility vehicle." I didn't actually get to test drive it, but I did have a chance to test out a new,…
Read more →November 28, 2011
A Street Rocket with Class – 2011 Infiniti G37 Journey Coupe with Sport Package
The automobiles that I have been testing over the past few years were very much oriented toward families of 5 or more people (which is how many there are in my family). Typically these are SUVs or Crossovers, and many have 3 rows of seats. Let's face it, if you have a larger family, you need more space, for warm…
Read more →October 25, 2011
How Ford is Saving Teenage Lives, One Person at a Time – “Driving Skills for Life”
I'm scared. In 1 year, I will have a teenager. In 4 years, I will have a teenage driver. And I have two more daughters after that. Just writing the past few sentences has given me a few more grey hairs. While automobile safety has improved dramatically over the past few years, so have distractions. It's a leapfrog race to…
Read more →September 1, 2011
A Day at the Races with Cadillac – Driving the CTS-V Wagon Around the Infineon Raceway
I have been to two auto races in my life, one down in Long Beach (for the Long Beach Grand Prix) and this past weekend one at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA (for the Sonoma Grand Prix). And with each race, I have been really lucky. Down in Long Beach, the buddy who took me managed to get Pit Passes…
Read more →August 25, 2011
100+ Voices Unhappy About Honda Clear Coat Paint Peel Defect & Honda’s Ambivalence
I normally don't like complaining about companies or their products. Sure, all things that we purchase have issues or will have problems over time. But when it comes to expensive purchases and when there seems to be a commonality among the types of issues, I feel that there is a requirement to say something about it publicly, either to simply…
Read more →June 28, 2011
Cloud Computing in Cars? Extending Powerful Compute Cycles to your Phone via the Cloud? Intel Knows How!
I'm always "in the cloud" with my day job as Technology Evangelist for GoGrid, and all of the rest of the time, I'm working on the HighTechDad side of my life (parenting and technology). Yeah, I sleep once and a while as well. Sometimes, both of these jobs intermingle and that intersection is cloud computing. I first started talking about…
Read more →June 27, 2011
My Kids & I Have Fun with the “Cool” Features of the Lincoln MKT
Over the Father's Day weekend, my kids and I had some fun with the 2011 Lincoln MKT AWD crossover. In the past, with other autos like the Ford Flex and the Lincoln MKX, I approached my articles about these vehicles with more of a "reviewer's perspective." This time, I just thought that I would let me kids "drive"...well, not the…
Read more →April 29, 2011
Ford & Sony Bring “Cast of Dads” Members Together (Almost) – “Family Road Trips”
I'm encouraged that big brands out there are starting to listen. There is a difference between simply pushing your product traditionally, and using real voices, people and opinions to create stories around these products and brands. The first is a traditional method that frequently gets lost in the clutter of all of the other brand chatter out there, and the…
Read more →April 25, 2011
10 Days in a Lincoln MKX – A Crossover SUV with an Almost Perfect Blend of Technology and Luxury
It seems that I have started sort of an annual tradition every Spring Break. For the past two years, Ford Motors has graciously lent me a car to enjoy with my family during our vacation. Each year thus far, we have driven from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back again. And each year, the car that we used has…
Read more →January 11, 2011
Ford Truly Deserves to be at CES: Ford Sync AppLink & 2012 Ford Focus EV Pave the Way!
For many, many years, I never thought much of Ford . I had been unimpressed with their cars (with a few exceptions like the Mustang) and especially with their styling and technology. In the 80's and 90's, to me, Ford was "just another American car" which said a lot. All of the technology, style and innovation had been coming from…
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