Nobody likes a backseat driver, but if they could save us money while actually keeping us safe, we might just change our tune.
At CES 2016, Liberty Mutual Insurance and Subaru have announced a new, helpful version of the backseat driver in the form of the RightTrack app. Available in 2016 on vehicles equipped with Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, the program gives motorists real-time analysis of their driving style, which can help reduce insurance premiums and keep them out of danger. According to the companies, RightTrack is the first app of its kind.
“We are excited to bring this innovative offering to market,” said Hamid Mirza, Auto Product Manager at Liberty Mutual. “This partnership combines Liberty Mutual’s extensive experience and reach in usage-based insurance with Subaru and Clarion’s cutting-edge connected car technology to bring RightTrack savings to consumers in new ways.”
RightTrack is powered by the Clarion Smart Access platform, a cloud-based information service that works with Starlink to bring vehicles and smartphones together. When the app is active, it offers instant feedback on the driver’s behavior behind the wheel, while also providing a comprehensive report after each trip. Depending on the amount of rapid acceleration, hard braking, or other factors, Subaru owners will be eligible for savings through Liberty Mutual’s usage-based insurance program. Starlink also gives drivers access to services like severe weather alerts, roadside assistance, automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle recovery, diagnostics, and more.
Subaru wasn’t the first automaker to announce a big partnership at CES 2016, and it certainly won’t be the last. On Monday, Volvo and communication technology firm Ericsson revealed plans to develop intelligent, high-bandwidth media streaming capabilities for use in self-driving cars. What else are you going to do while being driven to work, read? Read more about the story here.
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.