The editors of Popular Science named the gizmo-loaded high-performance 2009 Nissan GT-R as one of the winners in the automotive category in its Best of What’s New awards.
The magazine lauded Nissan engineers who “scrutinized every component to squeeze out more performance while saving weight and money,” and “the videogame-inspired control panel displays arcana like steering angle and brake-pedal pressure, giving the driver more detailed information and more control than any other car.”
Other winners in the automotive category included:
• Lexus wide-view cameras, on the 2008 Lexus LX57, which eliminate blind spots.
• Honda FCX Clarity, the first hydrogen production car.
• Scratch shield on the 2008 Infiniti EX and FX-model SUVs; it has a finish that repairs itself. • MyInfo, available with BMW’s latest iDrive system, lets the driver search Google maps from inside the car, and can receive addresses, phone numbers and notes sent to it.
• Ford EcoBoost engines use direct-injection and turbocharging to squeeze more power out of smaller, more efficient engines.
• Ford’s capless fuel filler, which replaces the standard gas cap with a spring-loaded interior lid. The system seals tighter than a typical fuel cap, too, reducing emissions.
• Speed-limit display on European BMW 7 Series.
The system figures out the speed limit and displays it on the windshield. The system could arrive in the United States in the next couple of years.
The full list of auto and all categories of winners are available in the December issue of Popular Science, and at www.popsci.com.
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