Not so long ago, when a buyer was imagining just how he or she could customize a new car, they would have to stare at a manufacturer brochure and simply imagine everything that could be, new wheels, big wings, and a slathering of shiny, custom paint. Thankfully, for us, Reagan is no longer president and we don’t have to rely solely on our imaginations (whatever that is) for would-be car customization. Enter Ford and its new Mustang Customizer app, which will allow prospective and current owners to spruce up their ‘Stang in the virtual realm.
Free for both Apple and Android devices, the app lets people mix and match all the available options on Ford’s brand new pony car … and even some that aren’t. When the app is downloaded, users can start customizing by choosing which model Mustang they desire: The V6, the newly-added Ecoboost option, or the GT, which packs the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 that produces 435 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.
The next screen presents a 3D rendering of the ‘Stang where users can move and examine with a simple drag of the finger. They can also hit specific points to begin swapping out parts like the hood, grille, and wheels, or access them from a side menu.
App users can even change the locations that the 3D car sits in, with more presumably on the way. Once they have the car they want configured, there’s a summary list that is accessible that gives a run down of the parts used that can be saved on a PDF and presented to a Ford dealer.
Once that’s done, app users who are particularly proud of their car can upload them to the community for judging, earning points towards the most popular configurations. There’s even a “race” section of the app that, as of this writing, prompts a “coming soon” message. Anyone interesting shopping for a Mustang will find this a useful tool, while anyone who are simply fans can enjoy a few minutes building the car of their dreams.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.