If you love your cars, there's a lot of gadgets that you can add to your motor to improve it, or at least make life a little easier.

That's especially true if you've got an electric car, with home charging options that can save you hundreds in bills compared to public chargers.

Then there's vehicle maintenance, cleaning and upkeep. With the right tools, all of this becomes a breeze and you can keep your car looking shiny and new.

While all of this comes at a price, Amazon Prime Day has some great deals on a range of car accessories that can help keep the cost down. I've been trawling the deals pages and found these top deals that are well worth a look.

• View all auto deals on Amazon.co.uk

Apple CarPlay Ultra is the next generation of car infotainment. Not only does it allow you to access a wide range of popular apps on your car’s central display – from maps to music and even video – but it can now integrate vehicle dynamics and take over the driver display.

While multiple firms have expressed interest in using CarPlay Ultra, only one has so far launched the integration, and that is Aston Martin. Currently available on the DBX, DB12, Vantage, Vanquish and new DB12 S, the system provides a full takeover of the central and driver displays, giving full customisation options and the ability to control all the driving features without leaving the system.

I had the chance to play with the CarPlay Ultra system on the Aston Martin DB12 S and found it extremely impressive. Many manufacturers, I believe, are reticent to allow the full Apple takeover, as they want to not only keep a sense of identity to the brand through the infotainment, but also not hand over the data to an external company, which would presumably be the case to allow CarPlay to display speed, revs, etc.

It’s not all perfect, though, and there are some ways in which the Apple CarPlay Ultra doesn’t match up to the likes of the Android Automotive platform used in the Polestar cars, for instance. Here’s what I liked, and what I didn’t.

1. Consistent menus

The worst part for me about using Apple CarPlay (or Android Auto) is that you end up using two separate systems. While the CarPlay OS takes over the screen, giving you access to your mapping, music and phone options, to switch to the radio or to adjust any of the vehicle features, you need to come out of that and work your way through the manufacturer’s own OS. This adds an extra step in the process, making it all the more awkward.

With CarPlay Ultra, all of those vehicle functions are right there in CarPlay. You can access the radio, change the climate settings, you can even customise your drive modes, or even set the driver assistance preferences. It’s a seamless operation – even though a couple of these options are still disguised Aston Martin pages on the DB12 S, but it most cases you wouldn’t know. It’s as if the CarPlay Ultra system is native to the car.

2. Customisable driver display

The big difference with CarPlay Ultra is it controls the driver’s display, and in doing so, offers a huge amount of customisation. By default, the display on the DB12 S looks like it's an OEM screen, as it features the Aston Martin badge and uses the brand colours. However, you can switch to a range of other options.

The colours of these dials can be changed through a series of options on the menu. There are also alternative dials with a cleaner design (without the numbers around the edge) that also come in a sea of colours. Between the dials, the central area can display your playing media, the mapping, driving assistance or tyre pressures.

There’s also a version that uses horizontal lines instead of the dials for speed and power, with secondary lines for fuel and temperature, and a full-screen map display, which moved the speed, fuel and power bars to the bottom.

3. Range in mapping

As the CarPlay Ultra system provides all of the driving dynamics, including how much is left in the tank and your fuel economy, this information can be shown alongside your mapping. While this is the case on ICE vehicles like the DB12 S, it will be especially useful when we see CarPlay Ultra in an electric vehicle.

This can already be done manually for Apple Maps using iOS 24 CarPlay, but CarPlay Ultra has the potential to work in the same way as an OEM mapping system – telling you the charge you will have on arrival, and where to charge along the way.

Remember your iPhone

The one downside of the Apple CarPlay system is that, despite the appearance, it all still runs from your iPhone. After the initial setup, the car will automatically load up into the CarPlay Ultra mode every time, but the start-up is not as quick as a built-in system would be. And it means, if you don’t have an iPhone, or you leave it at home, the system defaults back to an Aston Martin operating system.

I was slightly surprised that CarPlay Ultra still works on a mirrored basis. It would have made more sense to have an Apple chip inside the car, so it could run independently, much like Android Automotive does, basically placing an iPad inside the car.

It also means that it will require data from your phone to keep services like the maps and any streaming connected. For an Aston Martin customer, this is unlikely to be a problem. You could even leave a spare iPhone plugged into the car, but it doesn’t feel like the perfect setup. Maybe we will see a fully integrated CarPlay system in the future. However, for now, it’s definitely one of the best options out there.

Govee has launched a smart lighting system designed specifically for car interiors for the first time. The new Govee RGBIC Interior Car Lights bring colourful, app-controlled lighting to vehicles, and they can even synchronise with music thanks to an integrated microphone in the control box.

Whilst Govee already has a strong portfolio of some of the best smart lights around, this is the first time we’ve seen the brand release a complete lighting system aimed purely at cars. The kit includes four 30cm light strips, each featuring 18 LED beads, connected in two strands with cables up to 1.8 metres long.

Priced at £31.99 or €31.99, the lights are available from Govee’s online store as well as Amazon, making them a relatively affordable way to upgrade your car’s interior lighting.

The system is designed to be flexible as each of the light strips can be positioned in different areas depending on the vehicle, allowing you to customise the setup. Power comes via a 12V auxiliary power outlet, and the lights are controlled over Bluetooth using the Govee app.

Within the app, users can adjust brightness, choose colours using Govee’s multi-colour RGBIC lighting effects, and select from 30 preset scene modes. These include themes such as Dating, Romantic, Candlelight and Party, letting drivers set the mood for everything from a romantic evening drive to a lively road trip.

The Android phone versus iPhone debate has raged on for decades at this point. It has even spilled over into other areas, with Android tablets doing battle with iPad models.

Now, it's the era of Android Auto versus CarPlay – and the Apple just got a major upper hand. The brand has made it possible to utilise ChatGPT on CarPlay, which is currently not offered by the Android alternative.

That means that those using an iPhone connected to their in-car infotainment display will be able to ask ChatGPT questions directly. The functionality was mentioned in iOS 26.4, but it has taken a little bit of time to get the backend implemented.

Either way, it's something that Android users currently can't do. That's because Google limits which apps can be used, favouring its own Gemini for similar tasks.

It comes as something of a leftfield turn for Apple, which has traditionally been dedicated to its walled garden ecosystem. The fact that it has done a 180° turn on that front is telling of its tough start in the AI field.

What's even more interesting is the reason why you can't use it on Android. Google doesn't allow any chatbots onto its Android Auto system – aside from its own Gemini, of course.

You aren't able to use a third-party voice-based conversation app at all in the Android system, even when parked up. It feels like an incredibly tight wall, especially when apps for watching video or playing games can be used on the system.

If you aren't someone who uses ChatGPT all that often, you might not feel as put out by this. But for anyone who does – or simply anyone who wants to ensure they're working with the best possible tech – the move will likely cause some unrest. Hopefully Apple's approval for the app changes the mind of Google in the near future.

At a time when oil prices are soaring, driving an electric vehicle (EV) might feel like an obvious benefit right now – and a just-added Google Maps upgrade could further benefit millions of EV drivers.

One of the potential perils of driving an electric car is 'range anxiety' – which is something Google Maps' latest update for Android Auto looks to alleviate, by delivering vehicle-specific charging features for a further 350+ models.

You can now add your EV's info into Maps – here's the official how-to, in step-by-step form – which will deliver accurate battery predictions for your specific model (if compatible), including battery estimates upon arrival.

Posted on Google's official blog, the latest Maps update is AI-powered, using "advanced energy models" that analyse your car's details, including weight and battery size, along with Google Maps' real-time traffic and weather information.

Google says this will allow the company to "bring intelligent trip-planning features to most U.S. EVs soon," adding a benefit to hundreds of thousands, potentially even millions of electric vehicle drivers as the user base grows.

Maps is able to offer charging station compatibility, based on your vehicle type, for best availability, optimum charging speeds and pricing, while utilising your provided battery information to predict arrival time and charge level.

The update is targeted at US-based EV users first and foremost, but future expansion will see many more benefit. It's worth adding your EV information into Google Maps now, which is possible worldwide.

Google has been rolling out a lot of Android Auto updates of late, including the most recent addition of customised car avatars and colours. This latest addition only see it further build its strength as the automotive platform of choice.

If you use Android Auto in the car, you'll likely be aware that the option of running YouTube is non-existent. That stands to reason, of course – you shouldn't be watching anything while driving which diverts your attention from the road.

But now, it seems that a new update could finally allow users to utilise YouTube content in the car – albeit with some pretty major caveats. The feature was first spotted on Reddit, with what seems to be a YouTube Player app on the in-car infotainment screen.

Now, as mentioned, there are some caveats. For starters, the system doesn't appear to play the actual video, merely showcasing the audio from those videos.

There's no word in the thread on whether or not you'll get full videos when parked, though we'd assume the absence of confirmation points to that not being available. There are some other quirks, too, with the controls appearing to only allow you to play/pause and skip to the next video, with no options to fast-forward or rewind.

YouTube Player added from r/AndroidAuto

Still, this seems like a decent boost for those who use YouTube as a primary source of entertainment. I definitely fall into that camp, and have long thought that being able to listen to content in the car might be a nicer way to spend a journey than listening to the radio.

Another limit on the utility of this system is that there's no ability to browse. Again, that makes some sense from a safety standpoint, though music streaming apps are able to get around this with voice-led searching.

It would certainly be handy to have something like that implemented, otherwise you'd have to spend time pre-queuing enough content for your journey, or face leaving it all in the hands of the algorithm. Either way, it seems like another long-requested feature has finally appeared.

It feels like the golden age of modifying your in-car audio system has been and gone. I remember watching my older siblings and friends packing out Peugeot 106's with subwoofers, drivers and radios worth considerably more than the car they sat within.

It may not be quite such a vibrant industry these days, but don't rule it out altogether. Focal has just launched the new second-generation Slatefiber speaker kit, which is designed to overhaul your in-car audio experience.

The new line combines six different pieces of kit, all designed to complement one another. The range consists of a coaxial kit, two component two-way kits, a three-way component kit, a pair of full-range midrange drivers and a subwoofer.

The range makes use of its namesake Slate fiber for the cone construction. That's a proprietary material developed by the brand in the pursuit of sonic greatness.

Comprising of non-woven, recycled carbon fibres and polymer, the material offers rigidity, lightness and damping. Those three properties are highly sought-after high-precision sound reproduction, making it perfect for this application.

All of that technology doesn't come at the cost of beauty, either. The cones themselves enjoy a lovely slate-like appearance, but the speakers are also designed with an aluminium basket with a rotor design. They look great, and certainly won't detract from the sculpted appearance of your interior.

It has also been designed with simple installation in mind. There's a range of mounting accessories, separable crossovers and more, which should make fitting them a breeze.

There's no word on pricing just yet, but I wouldn't expect anything too cheap. The brand is well known for its luxurious audio kit, and I'd expect this to follow suit. Still, if you're looking to give your car the hi-fi treatment, there are few retrofit options which feel as meticulously engineered as this one.

As a huge advocate for autonomous driving tech, I was hugely excited to hear that Waymo was due to start offering its service in London. But I couldn’t wait that long. So, while in Los Angeles this month, I took the opportunity to try out the service.

Waymo has been running in LA since November 2024 and covers 80 square miles from Santa Monica to downtown. In November 2025, it extended its routes to include freeways, providing even faster trips across cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix. Today, there’s a fleet of 2,500 vehicles across the US, all bookable through the Waymo One app.

While new services like Google’s Zoox autonomous cars are only available for US app store users, the Waymo One app is available globally, so can be easily downloaded to your phone. Once in the app, the registration process is simple and just takes a few minutes before you’re ready to order your first ride.

Booking a Waymo is much like booking an Uber or Lyft service, with prices to match, too. You put in your destination and it works out the closest pickup point to where you are. As I was in a shopping mall in LA, it directed me out to the side entrance of the mall near the parking lot. Once it had selected a free car for me, I could see how far it was away and how long it would take to reach me.

Though I was standing in a dedicated pick-up spot, my car struggled to reach my destination due to a required turn across traffic. So after a couple of attempts, it offered me a new pick-up location that was just a few minutes' walk away.

I spotted the Waymo car in the spot the map had suggested, parked with its hazard lights on. The car was a Jaguar I-Pace, like all current Waymo vehicles, and kitted out with its 5th-generation autonomous driving system. This includes extra external cameras, sensors and LiDAR, as well as an LED dome showing my initials, so I knew this was my car.

Once I reached the car, I used the app to unlock the doors and climbed in the back. It’s a slightly odd sensation jumping into a cab with an empty driver's seat – especially one with a full steering wheel and pedals – but I went with it.

There’s a large screen in the back between the two front seats, which welcomes you into the car. Once you’re in, the door is closed and your seat belt is on, you simply press the button on the screen to start and the car fires into life. Over the first minute, it talked me through the safety information about the journey and reminded me not to touch the wheel or pedals. As I was sitting in the back, this wasn’t an issue, but it is possible for someone to sit up front in the passenger seat as well.

It’s strange seeing the wheel turning and the indicators going on and off without anyone sat in the driver’s seat but I was busy listening to the information at first and the car took it’s time getting back out on to the road. Once into the flow of traffic, the ride felt very calm and controlled leaving me completely at ease.

I watched the graphics on the rear screen as it showed the positioning of other cars, pedestrians and road markings, as it plotted its route back to my hotel. There was an arrival time on the screen too, so I knew exactly how long the journey would take.

Once you’re into your drive, you can also adjust your surroundings, changing the in-cabin temperature, moving the front seat forward to give you more space and even picking the music. There are different stations to listen to or, if you link your Spotify account to your Waymo app, you can put on your own playlists for the journey.

It was only when the car got free of traffic and picked up speed that I had any concerns about not having a driver, but in LA, as I’m sure it will be in London, those times are limited. I noticed a few times it indicated attempting to change lanes, but then changed its plan when it wasn’t let out. All in all, it handled heavy traffic very well.

Just before we reached the destination, the system came back to life, reminding me not to forget my phone, keys and wallet, or anything else I’d put on the seats. To unlock the doors, you need to put the handle twice.

Overall, I was impressed by how calm and easy my drive was. No erratic driving or awkward conversations with the driver, no being subjected to bad music for 20 mins. Just a relaxed journey in my own space. That’s certainly a big plus over other ride shares. It will be even better once they move to cars without steering wheels, like the Zoox, but once this comes to London, I’ll definitely be booking these on a regular basis.

70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam review in a sentence: a comprehensive surveillance solution that covers all bases.

Fans of aftermarket automotive products will know of SEMA, held annually in Las Vegas. It’s a trade show dedicated to showcasing just about every car or truck accessory, including dash cams. One of the biggest names present this year was 70mai, which is where I got to take a deep dive into the 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam. I’ve since been using the bundle edition in my own car, and it’s been a revelation.

This model is aimed at anyone who wants more complete coverage because the bundle I’ve been trying boasts no less than three different cameras. The 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam is therefore a premium solution that sits up there alongside the best dash cams on the market. It’s got the trio of cameras, but it also has a beefy technical specification, plus oodles of features and functions. Better still, the 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam is a doddle to set up and use.

There are other bundle options out there, of course, so check out our best front and rear dash cams selection. In the meantime, here’s how I’ve been getting on with the 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam.

(First reviewed November 2025)

How much is the 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam?

The 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam is out now and can be purchased from the likes of Amazon in the USA. There are a few model variants, so the single camera model costs $399, the bundle sells for $340 and there’s also a bumper package that arrives with a battery pack too, which is $528. The product I’ve been testing is available through Amazon in the UK and costs £450, though keep an eye out for discounts. All products can also be purchased from the 70mai website.

Design and build

It’s easy to tell that the 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam bundle means business. The main camera unit, which contains both the front-facing lens along with the inward-facing cockpit camera, features a reasonably chunky body that has more of a landscape-oriented design. This means it’s a good choice for less spacious windshields, as opposed to those long portrait-style models that tend to hang down into the screen area.

I found it was easy to mount thanks to both a supplied static sheet, that the adhesive pad can be attached to, and a sloped mounting bracket. The other great thing about this model is the way the barrel of the lens sits in a movable mount, so that it’s easy to get the angle just right for a perfect view of the cabin area. The same goes for the rearward-facing camera, which has a lens in a barrel-type of design. This can also be swiveled to get the shooting angle right given that every vehicle has a rear screen set at a different angle.

Setting up the cameras, and indeed picking through the installation and configuration steps can be done using the 3-inch IPS display. This is on the rear of the main camera unit and the 640 x 360 resolution is more than good enough for checking out the view from the cameras once they’ve been plumbed in. The layout is smart too, with a picture-in-picture arrangement showing the view from all the lenses, but on one screen.

Underneath the screen there are four control buttons for selecting the various configuration options. A microSD card slot and illuminated circular light to show when the unit is operating round out the rest of the design points of interest. Cable connections are easy to figure out too, with plug-and-play simplicity meaning there’s not much need to consult the manual, although it’s in the box if required.

Features and functions

The 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam packs a specification that means it’ll be ideally suited to anyone who wants full coverage and great quality video. This is because both cameras pack Sony IMX678 Starvis sensors that deliver 3840 x 2160p 4K video at 30 frames per second and offer a very decent 146-degree field of view. For shooting inside the cockpit, the other lens offers 1920 x 1080p footage and this means all bases are covered in terms of what the cameras can capture.

Being a package that accumulates lots of larger 4K files, the Wi-Fi 6 capability offers 5GHz file transfers, which can be done with the help of the very good 70mai app. There’s also the ability to store up to 512GB on-board, with the detachable microSD card. An added benefit in terms of power is that this model works using a supercapacitor design that gives it a little more versatility than a unit with a conventional battery inside.

The 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam will shoot footage quite happily all day, but this model also has an impressive after-dark specification that has been designed to tackle less than ideal situations. 70mai’s own Lumi Vision feature is aimed at capturing footage in gloomy conditions, while the nighttime feature called ‘Night Owl Vision’ helps deliver crisper more legible footage during the hours of darkness. Another feature, MaiColor Vivid+ Solution technology, is included and improves exposure that can often be hindered when shooting through windshields.

Naturally, the 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam comes with added extras if you’re prepared to hardwire the unit into your vehicle. While this isn’t going to suit everyone, hence the ability to plug-and-play via a standard 12V port, the optional hardwire route offers a host of extra features. These include Buffered Emergency Recording, which captures events before, during and after an incident. Plus, there is Smart Parking Guardian Mode, which keeps tabs on your vehicle while it’s parked up at night, offering additional 24/7 security. The hardwire kit is a paid for extra though and might be best done by an expert if you’re not great with electrical tasks.

How does the 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam perform?

I’ve used 70mai products before and always found them to be dependable. The 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam is no different. It was easy to set up and configure, with the app being the main go-to option once past the initial steps in the car. The rear screen was useful for getting the shooting angles positioned correctly, but from there on in, it’s the app (for iOS and Android) that delivers all of the really good stuff. I was able to manage files and general functionality using that without any hassle at all.

In terms of shooting quality, I found the 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam to be very consistent, with a good level of responsiveness when it came to recording important moments. Perhaps the best aspect is the way the unit can pull in all of the footage from the three different lenses and present it on the screen, or the app. The lenses end up giving an extensive view from all angles, with the cockpit footage being just as good as that from the outward-facing lenses. There’s all the journey information presented within the footage too, thanks to the GPS, so that means time, date and speed in case of any incidents.

The footage gathered is divided into different folders, so it’s easy to pick through and find a specific clip and from any angle if the need arises. Again, it’s the app that helps best with this task, although some management can be carried out on the dinky rear screen. I thought the Sony Starvis 2 sensors performed admirably, both in harsh daylight conditions as well as on gloomy winter days and after dark. The definition of road signs and license plates adds another level of reassurance if any evidence is needed following an incident. Overall, there was little if anything I could find from the footage to complain about.

Should I buy the 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam?

The 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam is the perfect proposition for anyone needing a more comprehensive overview of their surroundings. Accidents and incidents can happen from all angles, so the trio of lenses keeping tabs on vehicle movements in this bundle will make a lot of sense for some.

The video quality from all of the cameras is excellent, while the features and functions make the 70mai 4K T800 Dash Cam a powerful surveillance solution. That pushes the price up a little, but a good quality dash cam set can pay dividends when dealing with insurance companies in the unfortunate event of an accident, so it could be money well spent.

Also consider

If you're looking to save a little money, then you can check out our best cheap dash cam deals page, and if you're looking for some top options, check out our best dash cam guide.

If you're invested heavily into Apple's ecosystem, you're probably familiar with how smooth and seamless most things are. The brand prides itself on ensuring real continuity between devices, which is a big part of the draw for many people.

Still, that level of seamlessness can also be a real pain if the devices misinterpret what you're trying to do. And one such example has just been rectified with a new setting.

The new "Keep Audio with Headphones" feature is designed to stop the audio shifting from your AirPods to your CarPlay-connected car. Currently, the audio can switch pretty seamlessly between devices, but that's not always what users want.

Say, for example, you're a passenger in a car trying to use AirPods – your audio could switch to the cars when you don't want it to. Similarly, if you're walking back to your car bopping along to Sabrina Carpenter completely undetected, before opening your car and hearing it blare from the speakers. It's a real problem.

Fortunately, Apple's fix is really easy to implement. Simple open the Settings app on your connected iPhone and tap on General. From there, select AirPlay & Continuity and turn on Keep Audio with Headphones.

If you ever need to switch it back, that's really simple, too. Just head into either the Control Centre or CarPlay to manually switch the audio to the car speakers.

It's not just cars where the feature is useful, either. It'll stop the audio from jumping over to the Bluetooth speakers in your home, which is likely just as annoying.

The feature is a part of iOS 26, so you'll need to have that software installed in order to enjoy the new feature. Personally, I think it's a neat little user-friendliness upgrade which gives people control over how their handsets operate. That's never a bad thing.

Xpeng's Next P7 was front and centre of its keynote presentation at the Munich Motor Show (IAA Mobility). This is one of the nicest looking EVs announced this year – if you ignore the lime green paint – and offers an impressive 593PS and 3.7-second 0-62mph acceleration.

The EV was only part of the story, though. The P7 shared the stage with Xpeng's Iron AI humanoid robot, and its flying car was suspended overhead. This is a company thinking beyond the world of automotive transport.

Xpeng has an overarching interest in AI and is one of only a few companies that has actually developed its own chip for that purpose. Its AI chips power its intelligent driving features, with level 4 autonomous driving capabilities planned for 2026 – that's where the car is driven from outside of the vehicle or has no driver at all.

These level 4 vehicles are planned for use as robotaxis in China, with trials starting next year. The company's full-stack in-house research and development allows Xpeng to deliver technology faster than those using third party companies. It is also responsible for its advanced driving, smart cabin and fast-charging powertrain.

Xpeng also produced China's first and largest self-built charging network, providing the full ecosystem for electric vehicles. That same AI technology though, is also what's driving Xpeng's other interests: flying cars and robots.

All three areas rely on the same AI technology to provide the intelligence. In the case of robots, it's to provide human-like dexterity. Xpeng showed its Iron robot, which stands 178cm tall and weighs 70kg, making a freshly ground cup of coffee with very fine motor control. The robot is already in training for factory use and is aiming for mass production of a next-generation model in 2026.

So far, there have been eight years of R&D into its humanoid robot programme and six generations of robot. The potential of these robots ranges from manufacturing to folding laundry and beyond. Their abilities are a little scary, but according to CEO, He Xiopeng, in 5-15 years, robots could rival cars in scale.

Xpeng believes that in the next 20 years, there will be a huge development of unmanned aerial vehicles. So far, it has spent 12 years and over $600 million in investment in the project. The new seventh generation Xpeng flying car is set to make its inaugural flight in Dubai this October and go into mass production in the second half of 2026.

While we have seen previous versions that drive and fly, this new model is only designed to fly. It can be stored in your garage, or even on the back of the Xpeng transporter. As Doc Brown once said in Back to the Future, "Where we're going, we don't need roads."

Dash cams are one of those things that you’d rather have as a precaution – and indeed it pays to get a good quality piece of kit with the features and resolution you’d most want for a car-capturing camera.

Thankfully, despite Prime Day being in the rear-view mirror, it’s actually a good time to buy some of our favourite dash cams. From budget-minded ones like the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 to our very favourite model, the Nextbase iQ. I’ve rounded up five great dash cam deals from Amazon that you should consider if you want to add a little peace of mind to your driving. We’ve included highly recommended models that we and our sister sites have reviewed.

The Abbey Road app, created in partnership with Bowers & Wilkins was first unveiled at the end of 2024, but today we see the app finally arriving in vehicles. Current Volvo EX90 drivers will receive the update over the air if they have the premium Bowers & Wilkins sound system on board. It will also feature on all new Volvo EX90 and ES90 models with the B&W setup.

It's not just Volvo cars though. Polestar 3 drivers also get the app from today. The flagship SUV from Volvo's sister company also offers the Bowers & Wilkins sound system as a premium option and so can benefit from the Abbey Road sound.

Far more than just an audio effect, the Abbey Road app was developed with the sound engineers at the studio to mimic the real acoustics and amps that have been used there over the centuries. With a metronome styled slider, you can make the room sound bigger or smaller, and move through the ages of equipment, from vintage to modern. There's also a series of presets to make it easier.

The app makes use of the in-car microphones and speakers to adjust the sound and make it feel unbelievably real. You can use the app over any music you're playing in the car and it really does make a difference.

Abbey Road has hosted and recorded some of the biggest artists over its 93-year tenure, from The Beatles and Pink Floyd to Amy Winehouse, Oasis, Sam Smith and Ezra Collective.

Polish company Volonaut claims have to invented an “Airbike flying motorbike” that hovers and can fly at speeds up to 200kph. The compact flying machine takes us a step closer to the world imagined by Star Wars, where everyone seems to have some type of personal hovering transport.

While hover bikes are common across the Star Wars universe, the best known is the Aratech 74-Z, the speeder bikes used by the Empire’s scout troopers on the Endor during Return of the Jedi.

The vibes coming from Volonaut are similar, with the company saying that the Airbike’s computer provides the stabilisation so that it will hover with the rider on it. In a move that no one predicted, there are no propellers here, so this isn’t an evolution of drone tech which has typified recent flying devices of this type.

So how does it work? That’s the big question.

Does the Airbike really hover?

From the launch videos its clear that there’s a powerful down thruster that lifts the craft off the ground, but little else is detailed. While the rider appears to be freely flying around, there’s no word on how it’s powered or how long that power lasts for.

With Star Wars fans obviously in its sights, Volonaut has even recreated some of the iconic scenes from Return of the Jedi in its videos on X.

Describing the Airbike as a “superbike for the skies”, Volonaut goes on to confirm that the Airbike is much lighter than a typical motorbike, having used carbon fibre in its construction.

The company says that the project has just come out of “stealth” mode, so we’re hoping that it has more to share in the future about how the Airbike actually works, what it’s capable of and how much it might cost to buy one.

Until then, you’ll just have to keep pretending that you’re a scout trooper by striding the back of the sofa.

Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam review in a sentence: A useful 'always on' feature set that could be really useful for the right user, but the subscription package adds ongoing cost.

Some of the best dash cams come with features and functions that we all expect, frequently including a rear screen for convenience and a media card slot for quick and easy expansion. The Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam comes with neither of those, which might leave some potential customers feeling a little bit flummoxed. However, the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam is a smart little thing that works best by using an 'always on' setup and central to the action is the Nexar app along with cloud storage.

The Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam is basically a smaller version of the Nexar Beam2 Pro, which is beefier and takes up a lot more space on your windshield. That’s what I love about the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam, because it’s got a compact form factor, although there’s less flexibility in the mounting bracket department. Stick this model to your screen and it is probably going to have to stay there. It doesn’t have a suction mount as an option.

Nevertheless, the big appeal about the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam is that it works best in tandem with Nexar’s LTE Protection Plan. This is a paid-monthly or paid-annually option that unlocks extra potential from the model. It gets you live streaming capability, unlimited cloud storage and, for some users, invaluable functions including 24/7 Live Parking surveillance, real-time GPS tracking and practical emergency alerts as well. Subscription models aren’t appealing to everyone, but if features and functions like this are a must to your use case, the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam deserves closer inspection.

One other thing to consider is this is a front-facing only model, so if you're after a front and rear view bundle, try exploring the Beam2 bundle that Nexar sells.

(First reviewed May 2025)

How much is the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam?

The Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam is like the baby of the Beam2 portfolio and, along with its smaller size, comes a price tag that makes it very affordable. At the time of writing Nexar has trimmed $50 off the asking price, taking it from $199.95 down to $149.95 (£113 / €134). This is for the 64GB storage model, while a 128GB edition takes the price up to $169.95 (£128 / €152). A chunky 256GB variant costs $199.95 (£151 / €179) making even that larger edition a competitive option on the cost front.

However, to get the best from the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam requires an additional subscription cost of the LTE Protection Plan. This unlocks additional features and functions for $9.99 ( per month. A saving can be had, though by paying annually, which costs $71.90. Although this is an additional cost, it does add a lot of extra appeal, as is documented in the features and functions section below.

Design and build

Anyone with a preference for a landscape-oriented design will find the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam fits the bill. This is a fairly compact camera that sits along the top of your windshield without encroaching on the viewing area much, which makes it ideally suited to smaller vehicles and sports cars. The slight drawback is that the design doesn’t have a detachable mount, meaning once the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam is stuck in place, it’s there for the foreseeable future.

There’s not much to the body of the camera itself, with the rectangular case acting as home to a hard drive, which makes it feel quite weighty when picked up. Meanwhile, the front-facing lens is housed in a movable mounting, which means it can be swivelled up and down to optimise the view of the road depending on the vehicle type. However, getting this positioned correctly needs to be done using the app, rather than relying on guesswork. It can be tweaked with a fingertip if already stuck to the screen though.

It's hard to fault the build quality of the dash cam unit itself. Plus, inside the product box there is also an ODBII connector and cable, which means it can be plugged in under the dash for permanent power. An optional hard wire kit is also available for extra cost. There are also a couple of accessories for easier fitment, including a plastic lever for pushing cables behind trim. Quick start manuals help with the installation job, although the app is where most of the action takes place concerning this model.

Features and functions

On face value, the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam could be just another generic windshield-mounted model, but there is more to this compact product than meets the eye. Central to the appeal is the way Nexar offers this product (and indeed the other Beam2’s in the range) with an optional LTE Protection Plan. Purchasing a subscription to one of these will really unlock the full potential of this dash cam.

The pricing seems quite competitive really, with a $9.99 monthly charge, which is discounted to $71.90 if paid annually. For the additional outlay, there are a host of extra features on offer, including live streaming, which enables a vehicle owner to keep tabs on their pride and joy at all times just as long as connectivity is in place. There is also unlimited cloud storage plus a 24/7 parking mode, which is a boon if you’re planning on leaving your vehicle in a less than savory parking lot.

I’m rather keen on the GPS tracking and real-time emergency alerts features too, which when combined with the other features and functions of the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam makes the LTE Protection Plan seem like solid value. However, it is possible to plug and play the camera and just use the app in its standard guise to collate and manage any video content. However, there are obvious limitations going down this route and it kinda defeats the object of owning an ‘always on’ type of dash cam.

How does the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam perform?

Anyone currently purchasing the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam in the UK may well find there is an issue with receiving the verification code in order to get set up with the unit and the app. I experienced this headache and it took a while to get to the bottom of it. After contacting Nexar they told me this is a known issue affecting the UK, though other markets including the US should not be affected.

Aside from that, I found that it was also necessary to have a strong cellular signal during setup, which is advised by Nexar too, as otherwise the camera can tend to start telling you to move to a better area of coverage. Aside from those niggles, the app is a breeze once installed and configured. It’s nicely laid out and allows complete management of video files, as well as offering up lots of options for tweaking the settings.

Overall, video quality is pretty good as is the field of view with a neatly balanced view of the road displayed when playing back clips in the app. The Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam can handle a wide variety of weather situations, where cloud cover can mess with exposure levels and the same can be said for after dark duties too. The image comes with vital GPS information displayed at the foot of the video, albeit in a rather dated font style, while a Nexar logo sits in the top left corner just in case you’ve forgotten the product you’re using.

Should I buy the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam?

I’d say the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam is well worth considering if you’re after more of a live streaming, ‘always on’ model. Anyone who just wants to record footage during a regular everyday journey can find the same sort of thing elsewhere thanks to myriad dash cam options. This model functions without the LTE Protection Plan subscription, but to do this is underusing its potential. Therefore, I’d say the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam is a worthy purchase, but the paid-for plan will really unlock its true potential. Oh, and a lack of rear screen and no external media card storage isn’t going to be for everyone either.

Also consider

If you're looking to save a little money, then you can check out our best cheap dash cam deals page, and if you're looking for some top options, check out our best dash cam guide.

With The Android Show now in full swing, there is plenty to love for users of almost every device. We've seen the launch of Android 16 and the expansion of Google Gemini to a whole host of new devices.

It's the latter which has really caught my eye, as the brand looks set to bring the popular AI-powered assistant to cars in the near future. Gemini will arrive as part of Android Auto, and to cars with Google built-in.

The former will arrive in the coming months, according to executives from the company, while vehicles with Google built-in will enjoy the update later in the year. In a private briefing ahead of the launch event, the brand described the update as being the "safest way to stay productive and safe while driving," adding that users can "speak as if its someone sat next to you."

Personally, this is my favourite update from the show. I've been vocal about my love of Gemini, which feels like the perfect embodiment of the voice assistant I've always wanted.

Adding it to Android Auto is simply genius. The current use of Google Assistant is fairly flawed, with users needing to use specific keywords in order to get the desired action. That's frustrating on a phone, but when you're driving, it has the power to be incredibly dangerous.

The more natural, conversational flow Gemini should smooth that out considerably, and make it much safer for users. I'm constantly struggling with Spotify, for example, where I can't remember the name of an album, but I can remember the name of a song on that album. The current Google Assistant has a total meltdown over this, but Gemini should be well-equipped.

There has never been a better time to get this implemented, either. With a growing number of new cars offering some kind of built-in infotainment system, the potential impact is truly massive.

While there is no date set in stone for the launch, I'll be waiting with baited breath for it to arrive in my car.

Garmin Dash Cam Live review in a sentence: A super handy always-connected LTE dash cam that functions best if Garmin’s optional Vault cloud subscription is added to the cost.

Everyone knows the Garmin brand, they’ve been around forever and have produced some of the best dash cam models over the years. But, they’re a company with lots of competition to deal with, not least of which is to be found in the dash cam sector.

While the Garmin name is one to stick with if you prefer that over a generic unknown brand, the Garmin Dash Cam Live model might not be the first choice if price is the main consideration. It currently costs $399.99 / £349.99, and that’s without a cloud subscription plan.

On the upside, the Garmin Dash Cam Live is a super handy little bundle that arrives with everything needed to get set up and running. This is a no-frills camera package, with plug-and-play simplicity at its core. The design and build is solid and very conventional. If you’re impressed by some of the wilder dash cam models out there right now, the Garmin Dash Cam Live will seem quite old school by comparison.

However, it offers always-on connectivity that will appeal to anyone who requires constant surveillance, as well as parking monitoring. The added backup of LTE connectivity and cloud storage will certainly work well for some users, just as long as the optional Vault subscription plans are acceptable. These add cost to an already expensive package. So, the question is – does the Garmin Dash Cam Live make sense in a packed dash cam marketplace?

One other thing to note is that this is a front-facing only model, so if you're after a front and rear view bundle, try our best dual camera dash camera bundle, the 70mai A800S.

(First reviewed May 2025)

How much is the Garmin Dash Cam Live?

The Garmin Dash Cam Live has been around for a while now, so there’s every reason to expect to find it discounted. As it stands, the full price tag is $399.99 in the US and £349.99 in the UK. The package does come with everything for plug-and-play convenience, although a hard-wire kit will be required if you don’t want to use the 12v power socket option, for an additional cost.

Garmin also offers an LTE Vault subscription should you wish to make use of cloud storage and remote viewing features of this model. This costs $9.99 / £9.99 per month for 7-day storage, while the Advanced option costs $19.99 / £19.99 for 30-day storage and both can be selected via the Garmin Drive app.

Design and build

To be fair to Garmin, the Dash Cam Live does feel like a quality bit of kit. While the design is blocky and looks like something that might have been produced a few years ago, especially when compared to some rivals, it feels very solid. The nicely made buttons and bits that make up the package are similarly robust, especially the magnetic attachment bracket part of the bundle.

The magnet itself is super strong, so should ensure it never separates the camera from the mounting bracket when in transit. There are four function buttons down one side of the unit, with a USB power port at the other end. Underneath, there’s a slot for the supplied 16GB microSD card, although this can be expanded up to 512GB if need be.

Around the back is the 2.95-inch rear screen, which almost runs from edge to edge of the case. Down the right-hand side is a power up/power off icon and scrolling arrows for picking through menu options using the side buttons. Once powered up, the screen offers a very good quality landscape view of the road ahead, with various icons indicating the functionality being used along with the quality of the LTE/cellular connectivity signal. It’s all very good to look at.

Out front, the circular camera lens protrudes from the boxy body but is somewhat protected by a chunky surround, although it’s still easy to place a fingertip on it during installation. This offers 1440p, 30 frames per second capture using a f/1.6 clarity HDR lens configuration. The view of the road, meanwhile, can be adjusted even in situ thanks to the swivel balljoint mount that attaches the camera to the magnetic/adhesive screen fitting.

Features and functions

What I really like about the Garmin Dash Cam Live is its overall simplicity, but that’s not to say it’s light on features and functions. Central to the appeal is the 1440p camera, but the ability to enjoy live monitoring using Garmin’s LTE Vault subscription plan is likely going to be most appealing for anyone needed always-on monitoring. The core physical feature set is led by the crisp and clear rear screen, that delivers an excellent view of the road ahead. The option to boost internal microSD storage from the supplied 16GB card right up to 512GB is handy too.

Interestingly, on the power feature front, there’s no 12V socket plug, so you’ll need a full-power USB port to accommodate the 13-foot-long, USB-A to microUSB cable (a five-foot variant is also in the box) or buy an ODBII connector from Garmin as an additional extra. Crucial to this is the way that some features including the Remote Live View and Parking Guard features need an ‘always on’ supply to maintain their functionality. However, as you’d expect from Garmin, there is also GPS, a G-sensor for detecting any potential incidents worthy of recording and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi functionality present.

Joining up all the dots between the features and functionality is the Garmin Drive app. This delivers all of the everyday usage tools needed to get the job done. It looks good and makes data handling a breeze, even if the Garmin Dash Cam Live is only being used in its most basic guise without the benefit of any of the Vault subscription packages. It’s available for both Apple iOS and Android devices.

How does the Garmin Dash Cam Live perform?

I found using the Garmin Dash Cam Live to be as straightforward as I’d hoped. The installation and setup process, in particular, was seamless There’s very little to do in terms of configuration on the unit itself, save for selecting a country of use, which adapts the device to that region. The card was pre-installed and just needed formatting, so the Garmin Dash Cam Live was good to go from the off. Power in my instance came via a USB port in the dashboard.

There are a few shooting options, with up to 1440p HDR video generally on tap. This can also be reconfigured to shoot 1080p at 60fps, 1080p at 30fps right down to 720p HDR at 30fps. I quite like the way the ‘Select’ button on the unit can be pressed to capture stills at 720p. Any tweaking could be done easily via the Settings menu, where it was also possible to fine-tune additional features, including voice control. Garmin has done a great job with making the experience as simple as possible and that’s a big part of the appeal with this dash cam.

I’ve been very impressed with the resulting footage shot by the Garmin Dash Cam Live too. It's all as good as anything else I’d find in this sort of price bracket. However, there are certainly rival products with a lower price tag that can also match it for quality. There are some of the usual scenarios where the lens struggled a bit, such as where contrast changed drastically in a short space of time. This isn’t a deal breaking scenario though and the Garmin Dash Cam Live is certainly more than capable when it comes to capturing all-important details including license plates and road signs.

Should I buy the Garmin Dash Cam Live?

I’d say the Garmin Dash Cam Live model is a good bet for anyone who wants an ‘always on’ option. This might be unnecessary for some folks though and there are the constant power implications of using a camera setup like this. However, Garmin has done a very good job building in lots of features and functionality, even though the design of this model looks a little bit old school compared to some newer models on the market.

The obvious benefit is the LTE cellular functionality of this model, even though it’ll need to have one of the Vault subscription packages to unlock its true potential. The Garmin Dash Cam Live is a very decent product, and the app is solid too, but it’s vital to look at other products in this arena because, personally, I think some do more for less.

Also consider

If you're looking to save a little money then you can check out our best cheap dash cam deals page, or see all of our top pics in our Best Dash Cam guide.

Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam review in a sentence: This small and very versatile dash cam is ideal for those with fairly simplistic requirements.

I can understand Nextbase releasing its premium iQ model, which appeared last year and has to rate as one of the best dash cam offerings currently on the market. However, not all of us want a high-end dash cam to keep us covered when we’re out on the roads. I’ve been living with the Nextbase Piqo for a while now and, to be honest, it’s perfect for my needs, especially seeing as I frequently need to move my dash camera from one car to another.

The bonus with the Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam, though, is the way it features many of the same features and functions as those found inside the Nextbase iQ model. The downside is that these are served up in a sort of ‘Lite’ format, but as far as I’m concerned, there is still plenty nestling inside the svelte design lines of the Piqo to make it very appealing.

There are other compromises to be had from the Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam too, with the absence of a rear screen being one thing that might put some off considering it. Sure, there’s a supporting Nextbase app, which realistically is needed in order to get the best out of those features and functions too. Aside from that though, this dinky little dash cam has a lot going for it, all topped off with a budget price tag.

Bear in mind this is a front-facing only model, so if you're after a front and rear view bundle, try exploring our best front and rear dash cams selection.

(First reviewed February 2025)

How much is the Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam?

Nextbase offers the Piqo in two different model variants. There’s the 1K (HD 1080p) edition, which costs a meagre $129.99 / £99 / AU$199. Meanwhile, a slightly better shooting capacity makes the 2K (HD 1440p) model similarly appealing. It costs $149.99 / £119 / $299, which means either model is notably cheaper than the premium price tag of the Nextbase iQ. That starts at $399.99 / £349.99.

Design and build

One of the things I like most about the Nextbase Piqo dash cam is its compact form factor. As you’ll see from the images in this review, the main camera unit itself is very compact, with a long slender shape, which is a bit like a stretched lozenge. There’s the camera lens on one side of the body and, on the back, a button that glows with a red surround when the unit is operating. There’s a microSD card slot on one side and a port for the power cable on the other.

Another bonus with the Nextbase Piqo dash cam is the way it is mounted in your vehicle. The box contains a small mounting bracket, which has a self-adhesive pad that can be fixed to the windscreen either directly or onto a static sheet. The latter is a great idea if you need to move the camera and don’t want to ruin the self-adhesive sheet although there is a spare sticky pad in the box.

Elsewhere, the cable is nice and long while a charging plug for 12V power sockets found inside most vehicles is suitably robust. Everything feels nicely designed and very well made. That extends to the bracket that joins the camera to the base, which moves around in a ball socket design.

This means it’s very easy to get into a prime position for filming the road ahead. However, it’s worth noting that the app is needed to see how the footage looks. Alternatively, it’s easy enough to pop out the microSD card and view test footage in a laptop instead.

Features and functions

One of the biggest benefits of the Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam is the ease of installation that comes with it. Unlike the more premium Nextbase iQ, which needs to be plugged into a vehicle’s ODB II port, this model simply connects via a 12V power socket. There’s also the shooting specification, which for the 1K HD version of the Piqo means 1080p via the 2560x1080 pixel resolution and 140-degree field of view. Meanwhile, the 2K model offers 2560x1440 pixels and a 145-degree field of view.

In order to get the best from the Nextbase Piqo though, I had to look at the subscription options rather than use its plug-and-play simplicity to enjoy more functionality. Nextbase has a base level ‘Protect’ plan, which costs a not bad £29.99 per year. Alternatively, the free ‘Solo’ subscription model might work and comes with the journey data included in video content adding in the likes of date, time and speed. This can be vital if any evidence is needed in the unfortunate event of an accident.

Anyone wanting to take a deep dive into the more potent features available from the Nextbase Piqo can do so by exploring the app. Available for both iOS and Android, this requires a Nextbase account to be registered and the subscription options outlined above to be triggered to get the best from its charms. The camera will still record without this being used, just as long as there’s a microSD card inserted into the slot on the side of the camera unit.

How does the Nextbase Piqo perform?

I’ve been generally impressed with the quality of the video footage from the Nextbase Piqo, although it is clear to see there is some degree of compromise to be expected. Unlike the 4K clarity offered by the Nextbase iQ model, footage shot after dark (as shown above) can be a little patchy, with things like license plates not being quite as clear as I’d hoped for. The video content is perfectly serviceable, but if you’re nervous about wanting every last detail to be captured by your dash cam, it’s probably worth spending a little more and heading for a 4K model.

Nevertheless, the ease with which the Nextbase Piqo captures video is still one of its main strengths. Add on the simple but effective way it can be mounted, and unmounted then moved to another vehicle, is what really does it for me. This is especially useful and with a simple 12V power connection, the Nextbase Piqo offers a super simple way of getting in-car video. Capturing stills is also very straightforward thanks to the button on the back of the unit.

The Nextbase Piqo really begins to shine once the more advanced features are unlocked via the app and the aforementioned subscription route. By doing this it was possible to make use of SOS, Guardian Mode, Witness Mode and Smart Parking tools, although they are ‘Lite’ variants of those found on the Nextbase iQ model.

Even using the free Solo edition delivers Smart Parking, Guardian Mode Lite and Witness Mode Lite along with allowing access to 30 days of cloud storage. The Protect subscription adds 180 days of cloud storage, emergency SOS functionality and gets you an extra two-year warranty. Either way, voice control is also an option if you want hands-free simplicity.

Should I buy the Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam?

There’s no doubt that the Nextbase Piqo dash cam is an ideal option for anyone who’s keen to have the backup of an always-on video source in car. It’s one of the easiest models out there in terms of setup and configuration. However, the added benefit is that it’s possible to tap into a suite of features and functions that boost its overall shooting appeal.

Choose from 1K or 2K camera models, with the cheaper one being absolute bargain-basement. The 2K edition offers slightly crisper footage but both fall short of the impressive footage provided by more expensive models, including the Nextbase iQ. Nevertheless, overall, the Piqo is handy to have in your vehicle and, for the money, represents great value.

Also consider

If you're looking to save a little money then you can check out our best cheap dash cam deals page, and if you're looking to record all angles then you can read our best front and rear dash cam guide.

Watching TV in your car is a growing trend. Once limited to retro-fitted rear screens to keep the kids occupied on long journeys, now it’s possible to stream the latest Netflix or YouTube shows to just about any seat, and behind a lot of that technology is one of the biggest names in TV – LG.

The growth of car infotainment systems, including the physical growth in the size of the display screens, has made the prospect of watching a TV show or movie in the car more appealing. When parked up, or charging your EV, even the driver can enjoy high definition entertainment on the centre screen.

Front passenger screens also provide more opportunity for watching movies on the move – with clever tech that stops the driver from watching it too. That is at least until Level 3 autonomous systems really take off and drivers can also sit back and watch the show.

LG might be best known for its home technology, including some of the best TVs on the market, but it also has a very large automotive division. Roughly 10-12% of the revenue made by LG Electronics actually comes from its telematic units, infotainment displays and other in-car tech. The really clever stuff, though, actually comes from its TVs.

Its TV WebOS is a user interface that provides access to a range of streaming services and apps to provide video content, podcasts, games and entertainment for its consumer televisions. However, that same technology is being used to power the streaming in many premium vehicles.

The likes of Kia and Hyundai use a white-labelled version of LG’s TV WebOS system to deliver its streaming and monetised content to users. The platform blends seamlessly into the rest of the operating system and doesn’t feature any LG branding. However, it’s LG’s experience in working with these streaming services for its TVs that allows it to do things that would be nearly impossible for the automakers to do on their own.

It’s not just video though. LG’s experience in sound processing – used for its soundbars – is also being employed on some systems. Premium speaker brands have long been a norm in cars and more top-end audio companies, such as Bose, KEF and Bowers & Wilkins are proudly on display inside some of the best EVs and premium cars. It’s almost a shame that the brands don’t do the same for its TV services.

Valentin Janiaut is the Software Solution Task Lead for LG Vehicle Component Solutions (VS) Company and has played a key role in managing and launching award-winning infotainment systems for major European automotive OEMs. He says that LG offers a huge advantage to automakers. “OEMs have a difficult relationship with the likes of Google and Amazon because they are not used to the constraints of the automotive industry. I think sometimes their timeline expectations are not very aligned with the timeline and expectations of big car makers.”

While many users still revert to a mirrored experience from their phone for their entertainment, using CarPlay or Android Auto, Janiaut says that this is only temporary, and ultimately users want to use a native system. “[Carplay and Android Auto] are the easiest way to give access to the features that customers want,” says Janiaut. “In the TV business, for many years, Chromecast technology or home mirroring technology was the best way to access streaming services for a lot of people. But nowadays, people prefer to use the native system, because we found a way to offer better features, better integration.”

According to Janiaut, the way we interact with our TVs is closer to how we interact with car screens than a mobile phone app is – not least because the display is further away. “A lot of time we just use the same, rendering it on the display, but that doesn't work.”

The reason for this, Janiaut says, is that we haven't found the right way to bring those services to the car. “Key experiences, whether it's music, audio content, video content, productivity, gaming, shopping experiences, are still being done with your phone. Even booking a parking spot, or ordering a coffee from Starbucks, despite them being features that could be active in your car.”

LG sees a huge future in car entertainment and its vision of a ‘living space on wheels’ shows just how much potential there is in it. “I think because of the size of the display, the voice assistant and all the ways to interact, there's a great opportunity to have a real experience when you're in your car, says Janiaut. “Eventually, we will reach some kind of smart car, but in a very sci-fi way, where the car communicates with you, engages with you, and reacts to you. That's the kind of software we’re trying to build for the audience.”

What if the standard Mini Cooper is too small, but the latest Mini Countryman is too big? That’s where the new Mini Aceman comes in.

A spiritual successor to the retired Clubman, the Aceman first landed as a concept car back in 2022 and is now production-ready.

It is only slightly more expensive than the entry-level Cooper, is available exclusively as an electric car (unlike both its larger and smaller siblings), and it’s positioned to be the car you turn to when you’ve outgrown your small, three-door hatchback. Having created a gap between its still-small Cooper and bigger-than-ever Countryman, Mini has slotted the Aceman into place like a stepping stone between the two.

Is the Aceman the car you upgrade to when you’ve outgrown your Mini Cooper? Read on to find out.

Price and availability

The Aceman is aggressively priced. Despite being larger than the Cooper it starts at £31,800, which is just £1,800 more than the entry-level version of Mini’s smallest car. The Aceman range tops out at £41,350 and it’s available to order now.

Design, technology and interior

The Aceman shares more of its appearance with the larger Countryman than the smaller Cooper. It’s a car with big, clean surfaces, sharp angles and a distinctive face that demonstrates how Mini hasn’t lazily put the Cooper into a photocopier at 125 percent. It’s more like the Countryman at 75 percent, to extend the metaphor, but park the three cars next to each other and they differ far more than memory alone would have you believe.

A five-door hatchback, the Aceman has a roomier interior than that of the Cooper. This is most obvious in the rear, where space is much improved over the smaller car. Full-size adults can sit back there, even with a pair of six-footers in the front. The glass panoramic roof of our test car robbed a bit of headspace, but it’s still respectably roomy, but obviously not as spacious as the latest generation of Countryman.

Up front, the dashboard features the same circular touchscreen display as the Cooper and Countryman. It’s an OLED panel, so colours and blacks look fantastic, and while the user interface looks cluttered at first, it’s a joy to use once you’ve tackled the relatively steep learning curve. As with other Minis, the Aceman has numerous drive modes that change how the car goes, but also how it sounds (via futuristic engine noises pumped through the interior stereo) and what the infotainment interface looks like.

I quite liked the Mini’s own navigation system during my test drive – rare in a world dominated by Google Maps – and can see myself using it instead of an app from my phone, especially since it knows the Aceman’s charge level and location of nearby or en route charge stations. That said, there’s still compatibility for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which smartly extend their wallpaper imagery to ensure none of the circular display goes to waste.

The interior looks good, in a way BMW-era Mini cabins always do. There’s a nice bit of woven fabric across the dashboard and doors to keep things interesting, and a smart use of ambient lighting too.

Physical controls for the drive modes and media playback are fitted below the circular display, but for everything else (including the cabin temperature and fan speed) you’ve to dig into the touchscreen. There are at least a set of physical buttons on the steering wheel, but tapping the display can be a distraction, at least before you start to learn where everything is and how the UI works.

Give the interior more than a cursory glance and you can start to tell where Mini has cut costs to hit the Aceman’s attractive price point. There are some hard, scratchy plastics on the door tops, centre console, glovebox and at the far side of the dashboard.

The nice seats and interesting fabric help to offset this, however, and if you pay for the Level 2 options kit you get a Harmon Kardon sound system, complete with attractive bronze speaker grilles and the aforementioned panoramic roof.

Lastly for the interior, the Aceman employs Mini’s new voice assistant, Spike the bulldog, to help with your requests. However – and just like many other such systems – it suffers from too many false positives, where it mistakes conversation between driver and passenger for a command, then does something you didn’t ask for.

Performance and driving impressions

There are two versions of Aceman to choose from. The first is called the E and has a 38.5 kWh battery and a claimed range of up to 192 miles. It produces 135 kW (184 horsepower) from a single motor on the front axle, accelerates to 0-62 mph in 7.9 seconds and has a relatively slow maximum charge rate of 70 kW; Mini says this means a 10 to 80 percent top-up should take 28 minutes in ideal conditions.

The version T3 drove is the Aceman SE. This starts at £36,300 and has a more powerful motor (160 kW / 218 hp), a larger battery (49.2 kWh), a quicker 0-62 mph time (71 seconds), a longer range (up to 251 miles) and a greater maximum charge rate (95 kW), but a slower charge time of 31 minutes for a fill from 10 to 80 percent.

Neither version is particularly potent, but as with almost all electric cars the Aceman SE feels plenty quick enough at low speed. It accelerates briskly in traffic but, more importantly, it covers ground with excellent efficiency. After our drive the car’s own computer claimed it has achieved 13.9 kWh per 100 km, which converts to 4.46 miles per kWh. This will undoubtedly fall during a prolonged motorway drive, but it’s a great score nonetheless.

The Aceman serves up a smoother, quieter and more comfortable ride than the firmer, sportier Cooper. Where the smaller car initially surprises by its tautness, the Aceman feels less like it is encouraging to have fun, and instead lets you know it won’t get on your nerves. There’s a maturity here, but the comfort is likely in part due to the super-smooth Danish roads of our test route. I’m keen to see if the Aceman is as composed and comfortable over the UK’s imperfect road network.

Should I buy the Mini Aceman?

On price alone, the Aceman makes a lot of sense. It feels like the perfect car for a young family who has outgrown their Cooper but still wants to be a part of the stylish Mini family and doesn’t need, or cannot afford, the much larger Countryman.

It’s a smart looking car that has enough room in the back for adults, a fairly respectable boot capacity (although at 300 litres it’s slightly smaller than the 318 litres of the Volvo EX30) and great efficiency. The interior looks good, the infotainment system is great once you get the hang of it, and there’s just enough performance to not make the Aceman feel like a slouch.

Being just £1,800 more than the entry-level Mini Cooper, the larger Aceman feels like good value for money. It’s as if Mini is simply giving buyers the choice of which sized car they want, rather than positioning the Aceman as a more premium EV. It’s a sensible, honest move that Mini fans looking to trade in their Cooper for something bigger are likely to appreciate.

The Mercedes Concept CLA Class is just the sort of car that could not only take on the Tesla Model 3 if it becomes a reality, but could also feature a battery that is almost entirely made of recycled materials.

Mercedes-Benz wants to complete its plan for creating a greener, circular manufacturing process after building a new battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim, Germany. The automaker claims that, once it’s up to speed, the facility will be able to recycle up to 96% of the raw materials contained inside its electric car batteries.

Peak production

At peak production, Mercedes-Benz forecasts that the high-tech plant will be able to deliver 2,500 tonnes of recycled materials from the production-line process. The extracted materials could subsequently be used to manufacture 50,000 battery modules every year, which equates in practical terms to 5,000 new EV batteries annualy.

Much of the Kuppenheim workforce will be made up of staff who previously produced transmissions for the company and who have since been retrained to tackle the ambitious recycling task. The plant itself has been built from scratch in just a year and a half, although it will be some time before the facility will be running at full capacity.

Optimum efficiency

Kuppenheim will initially be recycling batteries from the likes of production scrap and test vehicles until its production models start reaching their end-of-life stage, although that could take anywhere between eight and ten years. In the years running up to peak performance, the process looks set to be tweaked and fine-tuned to produce an optimal recycling production line

The mechanical-hydrometallurgical process involved in recycling EV batteries at Kuppenheim is complex, but much more environmentally friendly than existing processes that use blast furnaces, lots of heat and enormous amounts of energy to get the job done. During the various stages, the process separates plastics, copper, aluminium and iron in a production line-esque series of stages.

Production line process

First, old battery modules pass through a shredder, followed by a friction washer and the materials then move through an air separation section of the line. Electromagnetic separation pulls out more elements before the material is passed through a vacuum dryer and mill, followed by a filterpress. This results in an end product known as ‘black mass’ containing vital chemicals from the shredded electrodes.

The material recovered from this process then continues its journey, moving through leaching, another filterpress area followed by a neutralisation section before solvent extraction and, finally, crystallisation methods are used to complete the process.

While the recycling aspect is undeniably high-tech, there’s a good deal of chemistry involved in the extraction stage. This is comprised of mixing, settling and scrubbing using Sulphuric Acid and finally stripping of the material prior to the process completing its various stages.

Achieving carbon neutrality

Adding to the greener credentials of the location is that the 6,800 square-metre facility itself has been built with efficiency in mind. The plant will be generating energy from photovoltaic panels on the roof and wind turbines on the surrounding land as part of its goal of becoming carbon neutral.

Mercedes-Benz wants to be become fully carbon neutral by 2039 and, thanks to the work going on at Kuppenheim, that now seems more possible than ever.

Many drivers are now choosing to use a smartphone-based system in their car, rather than the car's own system. There are two systems going head-to-head here: Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Google has just pushed a new feature to help close the gap with Apple CarPlay.

Ironically, this feature has been available in Google Maps on Apple CarPlay for some months, but has only just made its appearance on its own offering, Android Auto. The feature in question is the ability to report incidents in Maps.

According to 9to5Google, Google is now pushing this feature to users of the Android-based navigation system, meaning you'll be able to contribute to information about the state of the roads. It will let you report things like crashes, traffic, lane closures and so on.

In another twist to this tale, it's strange that it's taken so long for Google to offer this to drivers using Google Maps on Android Auto, seeing as it has been a core feature of Waze for many years. Waze is widely used by drivers, but Google also owns it.

How does incident reporting work on Google Maps?

Within the Google Maps view you'll find a yellow warning triangle. When you come across something to report, you can just tap on this icon and a menu will pop-up offering you relevant things – crash, construction, slow traffic and so on.

All you have to do is tap on what's happening and that's it, you've reported that incident. As more drivers report incidents, Google gets a better picture of what's actually happening on the road, so it can alert other drivers and use that information to better estimate driving times and re-route if necessary.

Of course, you're under no obligation to make those reports, but if you're just sitting in traffic, then it's only a couple of seconds to add to the picture on the roads and that benefits all drivers.

A similar feature has been in Waze for many years, with Waze pitching itself as a community-based navigation app, based largely on this ability to contribute to information about the situation on the roads.

The new feature is rolling out for Google Maps in Android Auto now.

With the majority of drivers now choosing to use either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, changes to these smartphone-powered navigation systems matter. And a little tweak has come to Android Auto that could boost your driving experience further.

This particular update comes in the form of a difference to how navigation instructions are shown when using Android Auto. Spotted by 9to5Google, the redesigned interface makes it much easier to pick out the lane you'll need when exiting a road, which is particularly useful when navigating motorways you don't know so well.

According to the details, the new visuals space the lanes out more when navigating using Google Maps, so you can clearly see the direction you're heading and the lane that you need to be in.

Previously the information was too close together so it wasn't always clear exactly which lane you should be in and which direction you might be headed. Now it should be easy to position yourself in the correct lane to make the turning.

Google hasn't gone as far as some manufacturers, who use a completely different view when approaching a junction to make lane guidance clear, while some car systems will also use augmented reality to show you where you need to be via a heads-up display.

Most manufacturers restrict the most advanced systems to their own navigation, but I recently drove the VW ID.7 GTX Tourer which is one of the few cars where the heads-up display will also give you directions from Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, making it a best of both worlds.

What else does Android Auto do?

Android Auto is designed to give you quick access to all the services you might need when driving your car. It runs on your phone, but is displayed on your car's display. That means you get access to compatible apps – like Spotify – with the focus being on music, navigation, calling and reading out your messages.

With Google Assistant baked into the experience, you can use your voice to control things like navigation, ask questions, control music and place calls or reply to messages. In the future this could move over to Gemini to offer a wider set of features.

In recent months we've seen more details about features coming to Android Auto, including support for the car's own radio hardware. That means you could control the radio without having to switch back to the car's native interface.

Before I get into telling you just how good the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N really is – and believe me, it’s fantastic – I need to explain the theory of the uncanny valley.

First hypothesised in 1970 by Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori and more recently applied to artificial intelligence, the uncanny valley is a place our brains stumble through when confronted by an object possessing human likeness. Our affinity increases with likeness, but then falls dramatically to a feeling of unease when an object nears total likeness, before increasing again when true likeness is reached. When we discover the object is indeed a real human.

This is how the Ioniq 5 N and its N e-Shift system made me feel. Here is an electric car with two motors and one gear that, with the press of a button, pretends to have an engine and an eight-speed, semi-automatic gearbox. It sounds like a petrol car, revs like a petrol car and smashes into a rev limiter with a rally car-like bam-bam-bam if you’re slow to shift up to the next gear. 

It even lurches slightly when you shift down, kicks you in the back on a full-bore up-shift, and you’ll be totally fooled by the exhaust soundtrack, growling and crackling away over your shoulder. There are distinctive power and torque curves too, where acceleration is far more potent in lower gears than higher, and the car will automatically down-shift if it’s at risk of stalling.

But of course it isn’t at risk of stalling. Because this is all fake. All of it. There is no engine, no exhaust and no gearbox. And despite that, it is hugely entertaining. Even before we get to the car’s physical attributes, the Ioniq 5 N will put a big grin on the face of any petrolhead fearful of the all-electric future.

So where does it sit in the uncanny valley? Its likeness to a petrol-powered car is not absolute. The sound effects use the car’s stereo, so are mostly confined to the cabin; opening a window in a tunnel doesn’t increase the volume, and childish revving on your driveway won’t annoy the neighbours. The synthetic engine has a hint of video game to it, but that’s all. So instead of filling me with unease, it hits right in the sweet spot of the uncanny valley. I know it’s fake, but I love how close it is to reality. 

What about the rest of the car?

Ignore the pretend engine and you have an EV that is comfortable, refined and practical one minute, then unbelievably quick the next. It doesn’t fully blow your mind in the way you’d expect from a car with 640 horsepower and all-wheel-drive. At 2.25 tones, it’s simply too heavy for that, and doesn’t quite have the muscle to teleport in the way the Porsche Taycan Turbo S does. But with a 0-62 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 162 mph, it’s still fantastically quick – and, more than that, it handles brilliantly.

Show it some corners and the Ioniq 5 N feels 1,000 kg lighter than it really is. It turns with eagerness and precision; the steering weight and brake pedal feel are just right (but also have three levels of adjustability to tinker with), and the whole thing feels wonderfully cohesive. There’s a Porsche-like intuitiveness to the weight of the controls. The damping is nicely judged to offer stability and confidence in Sport or Sport+ mode, then a perfectly comfortable ride in Normal. You could absolutely use this as your only car, and with everything dialled right back your passengers would have no idea they’re in something so special. That’s the magic here; the Ioniq 5 N’s massive breadth of ability.

Battery, range and charging

The rest of the 5 N is shared with the regular Ioniq. This means an 84 kWh battery pack, an 800-volt electrical system and a maximum charge rate of 350 kW. It’ll charge from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 18 minutes, providing you plug it into a 350 kW charger. The range of the N is less than its less powerful sibling, at a claimed 278 miles compared to 354, but drive as Hyundai intends and the real-world range is closer to 200 miles, which is starting to feel like the bare minimum for any new EV in 2024, no matter how fun. Efficiency sits just below 3.0 miles per kWh, no matter how the N is driven.

Save for the four extra buttons on the steering wheel and N mode goodies, the 5 N’s tech and infotainment is also the same as the regular car. This means a pair of large displays mounted next to each other in the same housing on top of the dashboard. The one on the right is the driver display and the other is a touchscreen for the infotainment. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both included.

Below, there’s a secondary touch panel for the climate control and a set of physical buttons that act as shortcuts to functions like media and navigation. In a world where cars are increasingly dropping buttons in favour of touchscreens, I applaud Hyundai for keeping some physical controls. The steering wheel is admittedly covered in them, and with the N controls it’s a confusing mess at first glance, but soon makes sense once you start exploring what the car has to offer.

N Grin Boost mode

Having two N shortcut buttons is handy (press one for N mode then the other to enable the fake gearbox), as is the drive mode button and the ‘NGB’ button, which stands for ‘N Grin Boost’. Really, it does. No one can accuse this car of taking itself too seriously. Pressing the grin button unlocks the car’s full 641 horsepower (40 up on normal driving) for 10 seconds.

Paddles behind the wheel are used to adjust the strength of the regenerative braking system, as is normal in many EVs. But if you’ve got the fake gearbox enabled they become shifters like you’d find in a semi-automatic car. There’s a whiff of childish silliness to the 5 N. The steering wheel covered in colourful buttons and the pretend digital rev counter can make the car feel like a video game, but then Ferrari and Lamborghini have covered their wheels in switchgear for years, and now both have all-digital dashboards too. 

This car confirms something I’ve believed for some time; that the brains of petrolheads are wired differently to everyone else’s. Where most drivers see the clear benefits of a smooth, silent electric car with no gears to think about and no annoying exhaust sound, car lovers want to be more actively involved. We want to change gear ourselves; we want to bathe in the histrionics of what’s going on, and we crave the dopamine hit and satisfaction of getting a gear change, a corner or a braking spot just right.

If a car sounds good, we become the conductor of our very own orchestra, shifting gear for no other reason than to hear the exhaust bark and crackle. And you better believe we’ll giggle every single time.

You might complain about the 5 N being fake. A fraud. Inauthentic. But I imagine the same was once said about listening to recorded music at home instead of watching a live performance. Each has its merits, but the former is considerably more accessible. In our electric future there won’t be as many chances to enjoy a noisy, internally-combusted sports car. You’ll likely have to go to a track-day or some other organised event to get your kicks. So why not press the N button and enjoy a close facsimile whenever you like? It’s not a live arena performance, but it’s still a high-quality recording you can enjoy at home.

Price and availability

The Ioniq 5 N is available now, priced from £65,000, or £599 a month. This makes it around £25,000 more expensive than the base-level Ioniq 5, and about £15,000 more than even the flagship of the regular Ioniq 5 range.

But for that premium, buyers get considerably more power, a resigned body and interior, and of course the augmented engine and gearbox technology, plus uprated suspension and brakes. Notable optional extras for the 5 N include a glass panoramic roof and a couple of non-standard paint colours, including the pale blue seen here, which costs £900.

Should I buy the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N?

I love technology as much as I love cars. Those who only love the former won’t care for the 5 N’s clever soundtrack, while fans of the latter will baulk at the way it sounds a bit too much like a video game to be believable.

I sit between the two and, for that reason, the Ioniq 5 N isn’t just the most entertaining car I’ve driven all year. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in an EV, full stop. Throw in the inherent practicality of the regular Ioniq 5, and how the N’s firmer ride is still perfectly comfortable, and this might just be the best mainstream electric car yet.

It's fair to say the world of cars is changing. Gone are the days when your centre console was simply a wedge of plastic to hold the various switches and knobs required to effectively operate the vehicle.

These days, physical switches are something of a rarity, with large touch screen displays the preferred choice for most manufacturers. And whether you love them or hate them, you really can't deny the additional functionality they offer.

Many manufacturers are now able to add in the kinds of things which would have been a pipe dream not ten years ago. Users can watch content from the best streaming services or even game on the in-car displays.

Volkswagen is the latest brand to join the fray, with gaming content on offer in a range of popular vehicles. That includes new models of the VW Passat, the VW Tiguan and the iconic Volkswagen Golf.

The manufacturer has partnered with a company called AirConsole to provide the service. That can already be found in some of the brand's best EVs, like the VW ID.5 and the VW ID.7.

That platform offers an easy-to-use system, which requires no additional parts to get going. Simply connect to a suitable screen – in this case, the centre display from your compatible car – and use your phone as a controller. Simply scan the QR code on the display to connect and get down to playing quickly.

The games are far from AAA quality, but I can certainly see the appeal. They're perfect for losing an hour or so – perhaps if you're waiting to pick someone up, or waiting for the car to charge.

The launch is expected to hit countries in Europe by mid-September. Plus, with additional games said to arrive by the turn of the year, users should have a lot of new content to play with before long. 

If you're using one of the best Android phones on the market, chances are you'll also be using Android Auto when you drive. That's the native solution for users of those devices, offering a mirror of your device on your in-car infotainment system.

If you use Google Maps on an Android Auto system then there's great news for you. The brand has just announced a range of updates for the system, adding a host of neat new functionality for drivers.

First up, there's a couple of new AI-powered features in the system. That includes a new model which is designed to search for narrow roads. The idea is that users will be alerted to places on their journey which may be inaccessible for their vehicle, to plan another route if needed.

They've also added support for flyovers. These systems are prevalent in major cities around the world, with space at a premium. However, they can also present a massive challenge for two-dimensional mapping software.

It can be really tricky to decipher whether you're meant to be driving on the flyover or the underpass, though. Google has made steps to address this, with a new feature which will callout when flyovers are intended to be used.

Elsewhere, there's also an update which should make it simpler to report incidents on your journey. That's a big help, as users can identify issues to alert other users of the platform, with fewer clicks required.

So, what's the catch? Well – for now, at least – these features are only rolling out in India. All of the features mentioned were designed with the specific requirements of that country in mind.

Still, we can't imagine it will be too long before they reach further afield. While they're certainly useful there, they could also have a real impact on the usability of the platform for users in other parts of the world. For now, though, we'll just have to sit and wait.

Apple has been teasing the next generation of Apple CarPlay since 2022. But, while CarPlay itself gets the odd change here and there, there's something more significant coming down the line – the takeover of all your vehicle's screens. At WWDC 2024, Apple gave us a closer look at what to expect.

The next-gen Apple CarPlay is something of a hot potato. When Apple first showed us next-gen CarPlay, Emily Schubert, engineering manager, car experience at Apple said that in the US, 79% of car buyers would only make that purchase if the vehicle supported CarPlay. That's something I've heard from manufacturers too – that smartphone connectivity is seen as vital.

People want simplicity and familiarity, and taking the apps and services from a phone into the car without having to install anything, sign-in or anything else makes the experience smoother for drivers.

Apple, however, has designs on more of your car's displays. The next generation of CarPlay is being positioned to take over all the displays in your car and that means it will be able to show information that has previously been under the purview of the car manufacturer. Apple pitches it as "the very best of your car, combined with the best features and familiar interaction patterns of your iPhone".

That's where the contention comes in: BMW has been quite vocal about retaining control of the car experience and while it supports Apple CarPlay, it won't be turning to Apple to deliver information that is fundamental to the car, like charging, the dials and so on. Mercedes too is pouring a lot into the new MBOS system, to deliver a premium Mercedes experience.

Apple hosted a couple of sessions at WWDC 24 focused on design and architecture of next-gen Apple CarPlay. It's worth stressing that this is for automakers to design something for their cars, rather than for consumers to completely customise the design for themselves (although there is some scope for customisation for users within the system).

We've previously seen Porsche and Aston Martin previewing this customised look, using their own brand heritage to influence the design of the instrument cluster, and the new visuals outline just how flexible this new system is going to be. It will allow car manufacturers to easily craft a seamless CarPlay experience across all areas of the car.

That's going to bring uniformity to the look and feel of interactions, with Apple going as far as sharing visuals for things like climate control systems and what might happen when you press a drive mode button in your car. However, it stresses throughout that the next-gen CarPlay is really customisable and will make it really easy for car manufacturers to create a cohesive visual design across all areas of their car.

That could be the problem, as brands like BMW and Mercedes are making clear.

While this is all exciting – and some cars have user interfaces that are clunky and outdated – there's a risk that a huge swathe of cars just end up being the same, no matter what brand you buy. If everything just looks like it was lifted from the iPad, there's a chance that things will get a little boring.

So let's hope that car manufacturers find a great balance between keeping some brand identity and providing a user experience that enhances things.

As a reminder, here's the list of brands that were originally said to be interested in supporting next-gen Apple CarPlay:

• Acura
• Audi
• Ford
• Honda
• Infiniti
• Jaguar
• Land Rover
• Lincoln
• Mercedes-Benz
• Nissan
• Polestar
• Porsche
• Renault
• Volvo
   

We'll keep an eye on this and report when we find out more.

Despite years of drawing attention to the gaming prowess of its cars' infotainment system, Tesla has seemingly changed its tune to at least some degree.

It's been noticed that Tesla no longer lists Steam as a compatible option for its gaming suite, and it's apparently contacted those taking delivery of new Model S and Model X cars to that effect:

"Tesla is updating the gaming computer in your Model X and your vehicle is no longer capable of playing Steam games. All other entertainment and app functionalities are unaffected."

This might not be huge news for many drivers of the brand's best EVs, since the number of people who actually game in their car seems like a relatively small niche for now, but it's still quite a climbdown.

Back in 2022, Tesla was boasting about its Steam Beta app, and Elon Musk was fond of comparing the cars' gaming power to consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

For it now to lose the Steam app altogether will enormously shrink the number of games that you're able to play on its built-in screen. 

As far as users can tell, though, this is a bit of a mixed rollback - the app isn't available to new owners, but those who already have it installed in their cars seem to still have access.

Tesla hasn't said much publicly about the situation, so there's no reason to necessarily believe that your Steam Beta app will disappear from your car anytime soon if you already have it.

Still, it doesn't exactly bode well for the future of in-car gaming for Tesla, with the allure of being able to connect a controller to play while you wait for your car to charge, for example, seemingly not enough.

It's not the car-maker interested in gaming, either - Sony has repeatedly shown off its Sony-Honda Afeela, a car that can be driven itself by a PS5 DualSense controller, and also features that system's gaming capabilities built-in. 

Time will tell, then, whether Tesla's retreat from compatibility with Steam proves an error in judgement, or if there simply aren't enough people who particularly care for it to matter all that much. 

The Aston Martin DBX707 is, for all intents and purposes, an SUV. However, it’s also an Aston Martin and, because of that, it doesn’t behave as you might expect, making it a popular choice for those wanting a larger car without sacrificing performance. 

Now though, the DBX has had an upgrade, making it not only better to drive but also providing the very latest technology inside, along with stunning audio and some rather wild colour options. 

I got a sneak peek of the new model ahead of its release at Aston Martin’s rather fancy VIP building, where customers can book appointments to customise their new Aston, from the DBX up to the limited edition Valour. 

The new DBX707

At first glance from the outside, very little has changed on the DBX. Eagle-eyed fans will notice the new logo, wing mirrors which are smaller but borderless, flush door handles, a more prominent wing profile and a new 23-inch alloy option in all-black. However, it’s inside the car where the changes really show. 

The dash has been made to appear smaller, by separating the centre console and adding new visual cues to break up the design. There’s a new larger 12.3-inch driver instrument display, like the one in the Vantage, and a new 10.25-inch centre touch screen. That centre console also has storage and a charging mat for your phone. 

The entertainment system features not only connected car features for use with the Aston Martin app, but also wireless connection to the most advanced Apple CarPlay integration of any modern car. This provides CarPlay information, such as mapping, on the driver's display as well on the central display. Aston Martin is the only company that offers this additional feature to date. Android Auto requires a wired connection.

Equally exciting is the new audio on the DBX. This now comes with the option to upgrade from the 14-speaker Aston Martin premium audio to a Bowers & Wilkins 23-speaker system, like the one on the Vantage and DB12. This is one of the best-sounding car audio systems on the planet, so certainly a real treat here.

This latest DBX707 is powered by the same 4-litre V8 with 707 mechanical horsepower (there’s no longer a standard 550ps DBX V8 model), which gives you a 3.3-second 0-62mph and a top speed of 193mph. Steering has been recalibrated to make it lighter in GT mode, but hardens with speed, and the exhaust system has been updated to give more feedback inside the car, ramping up quicker as you build those revs.

Aston's custom suite

In addition to the standard paint colours, the DBX707 now comes in five new colours including three new shades of green, a yellow and a black but it was the bold Synapse Orange (already available) that really stood out on the models I saw. That striking tone can be carried through to the inside for the dash, trim and seats, which is nicer than it sounds. 

Customisation is key for Aston Martin, with many of its customers wanting to make their model individual. The configurator on the website allows you to try all of these options on a virtual car but you can also book in to go through the process at Aston’s headquarters in Gaydon UK, or in its Q New York studio space in Manhattan, USA. 

Inside a dedicated pod, clients can view an enhanced version of the configurator, showing the car at full size and lifelike resolution, thanks to the 6K LED screen that covers the entire 10-metre wall – and the one in New York is even bigger. As well as the digital versions, the rooms offer physical paint samples on mini plastic moulds of the car as well as real samples of fabrics and details, down to gear knobs and brake callipers. 

Of course, this level of customisation comes at a cost, with prices veering hugely from the list price for those who want non-standard offerings. However, for those looking to drop hundreds of thousands on a car, getting it exactly how they want it is worth a little extra, and with so many options, the chances of their car being completely unique are extremely high – especially with limited edition models like the Valour. 

Coming soon?

The new Aston Martin DBX707 goes into production in May 2024, with deliveries expected from Q3, though you can order and configure your model from today on the website or through a dealer.  Prices are expected to start from around £210,000. 

Aston’s first full EV is expected to be unveiled in 2025 and it would surprise me if the first model was a version of the DBX with an electric motor. Much like Maserati’s Grecale, the DBX would make an easy transition to electric before we saw the likes of the DB or Vantage models moving to battery power. 

Apple has detailed a change coming to how Apple Maps is displayed in the instrument cluster of compatible cars with the forthcoming iOS 17.4 update.

Apple says: "In iOS 17.4, with supported CarPlay vehicles, Apple Maps will present a new instrument cluster experience with information about upcoming maneuvers.

"Users will be able to swap the desired display type between the main and instrument cluster screen by tapping the map configuration button on the upper right of the Maps main screen."

Apple CarPlay is undergoing something of a revolution as Apple looks to improve the experience in cars. Many car buyers are now only interested in making sure that any new car they buy supports Apple CarPlay and both Apple and car manufacturers want to boost this experience.

iOS 17.4 Instrument Cluster Update from r/CarPlay

This specific change will mean that drivers will soon have the option to change the view that appears in the instrument cluster of their car. Drivers who use Apple Maps for navigation will know that there are two view options for the central display of your car - and now you'll be able to get more information about upcoming turns in the instrument cluster.

There's a catch, of course, which is the "supported CarPlay vehicles" line. At present, it's only really Volvo, Polestar and BMW that support the integration of CarPlay Maps on the car's instrument panel. The vast majority of vehicles only show Apple Maps on the central infotainment display.

Apple CarPlay is evolving and there's more to come

While this might only be a minor change, there's a lot happening in the wider car industry which suggests that Apple CarPlay is going to grow in importance. In December 2023, Apple – in cahoots with Porsche and Aston Martin – showed off full instrument panel customisation, themed to match the car brand, but running from Apple CarPlay.

Since that reveal, little has been said about when this larger experience might become more widespread. We're not just expecting to see it customised for those brands, we're expecting to see it across a range of other cars too.

Apple has only said that the first vehicles offering the new Apple CarPlay experience will arrive in 2024, but beyond that it remains something of a mystery.

For those with select Volvo, Polestar and BMW models, however, your Apple Maps CarPlay experience will get a little better with the next iOS update to hit your iPhone.

Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam review in a sentence: Perfect for vehicles with smaller screen areas with very impressive 2K HDR footage and ease of use being the main appeal.

The Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam is a welcome arrival. Why? Well, as someone who owns a car with a small windscreen I find regular dashcams can be just a little too bulky and frequently get in the way. Have a look through the best dash cam guide and you’ll see what I mean, with many models being a bit chunky. The recently arrived Nextbase iQ, for example, is a brilliant dashcam but it’s not going to work for my car as there’s too much hanging down.

I’m faced with the same issue when looking at the best front and rear dash cams because again, my rear window is tiny and makes fitting something tricky to say the least. The Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam on the other hand is small and very compact. In fact, it’s got to be one of the dinkiest new dashcams on the market, which means that it’s ideally suited to my needs. If you’ve got a car with a limited view or space, or simply want a smaller dashcam because you can then the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam should fit the bill.

(First reviewed February 2024)

Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam review: price and availability

Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam review: price and availability

The Viofo VS1 is available now from, directly from VIOFO US for $149.99 although it’s currently reduced to just $119.99. If you’re in the UK then it’s also possible to buy direct from VIOFO UK for £118.65. This is also currently reduced to £94.92. The box comes with everything you need, save for a hard wiring kit if you want a more permanent installation, but these are widely available from the likes of Amazon.

Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam review: design and build

As you’d expect with a name like this model has, the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam is a diminutive number, which fixes to your screen using the standard 3M sticky pad. It’s about half the size of a ‘standard’ issue dashcam, with an angular design that houses the lens and various buttons and ports for cables and cards. As with other Viofo models, there’s nothing to moan about with the overall design and build quality. While it’s plastic this unit does feel sturdy and able to stand the test of time.

In terms of its overall design, this model is about as simple as it gets, with a slot for the memory card and a couple of buttons and that’s about it. The camera is mounted to a base with a movable joint, which allows you to angle it right so that it captures the road ahead. I managed to get mine set up first time, which was more luck than judgement, while you may find you have to review some test footage after installation to check that it’s capturing the road ahead correctly. There’s no rear screen on this model though, so use the app or pop the card into a laptop or PC.

Also inside the box is a product manual, car charger, a USB2 Type-C to Type-C data cable, a spare sticky mounting pad, a tool for pushing wires behind trim, windscreen static stickers and a 32GB Viofo memory card. This can be supplemented with a hardwire kit and a Bluetooth controller if you want to capture footage manually.

Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam review: Features and functions

The Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam features Sony Starvis 2 technology, and thanks to the 5.12 megapixel, 1/2.8-type image sensor delivers 2K 1440p video recording, which I find more than adequate for most average needs. Despite its size, the HDR (high dynamic range) technology is more than capable of coping with changes in light so when you’re going through tunnels, driving in very dark weather or you’re out on the road at night, it should cope well with the changes.

There’s also voice control for this model too, which lets you use it hands-free to start and stop recordings, take a still photo or turn the Wi-Fi functionality on and off as needed. Incidentally, the dual 5GHz and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi options allow for quick and easy transfer of data, while if you get the Viofo app you can also preview footage on your phone.

If you want to tap into the 24/7 parking monitoring functionality of the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam you’ll need to hardwire it into your vehicle. This is well worth doing if you don’t need to transfer the camera from one vehicle to another as it opens up a wealth of extra features such as detecting movement and time lapse recording, while the built-in G-sensor can record a file when a sudden impact or collision occurs. It’s a handy back-up if you park on the street or in car parks on a regular basis.

Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam: Performance

I found the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam a doddle to set up and start using. I opted for the plug-in option for power, rather than hardwiring, which I always like to do prior to seeing just how good a camera is. I also opted to use the included static sheet to mount the camera onto, rather than using the sticky pad directly on the screen.

These things are quite handy as they work a little like the sheets that go on the front of phones with the upside being you don’t get lots of sticky gum from the pad on your windscreen if you need to remove the camera. However, you can also slide the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam from its mount and leave that in position if you just want to give the unit a once over. 

All I did to get up and running was insert the microSD card, plug in the power and press the microphone button for a short while, which duly formats the card without the need to go into the app. From there, the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam just works and tells you its recording so you know for sure. There’s a small red LED that shows it’s operating too. If you need to quickly store a chunk of footage, simply press the button on the back of the camera and you’ll get that logged on the card. It’s all pretty effortless.

I used the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam for a few days on a variety of journeys and during all sorts of British weather conditions, although grey skies dominate my footage. Nevertheless, the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam offers up very respectable footage, with crisp and clear video that capture important details such as number plates and road signs. Information on date and time is also recorded to the footage, so it very much does everything you ask of it. Albeit in a smaller format camera than many rivals. Overall then, I’m impressed.

Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam review: verdict

The Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam is a great option and stands out from the crowd because of its compact design. As mentioned, this is perhaps the biggest draw compared to rivals because it’s so well suited to cars with smaller screen areas. Obviously, it’ll work quite happily in vehicles with larger windscreens too, but I found it a perfect match for my two-seat sports car.

There’s a downside in that you don’t get any rear screen, so it’s not possible to preview footage directly on the camera. You’ll need to get the supporting app, which is fine and does the job or view footage on a laptop or PC, but I do miss having a monitor. However, the camera tells you when it’s working and the LED flags up normal operation or a malfunction too, so this isn’t a dealbreaker. On the whole, the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam does everything you’d expect of it for not much money.

Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam review: also consider

If you want something small but require better quality footage the Nextbase 622GW is still a great option, despite the fact that it’s been around for a while now. It comes packed with lots of practical features too and is very easy to use. Similarly, the compact Garmin Dash Cam 66W is another dinky offering, which has proved popular with the staff here at T3 Towers. 

However, if you’re really tight on space, then consider the Garmin Dash Cam Mini, which is wonderfully compact with one of the smallest designs you can buy. It too has been out for a while, but that should mean you can find one discounted online without too much investigation.

Don't forget, if you're looking to save a little money you can check out our best cheap dash cam deals page, and if you're looking to record all angles then you can read our best front and rear dash cam guide.

Valentine's Day is looming ever so close, and if you haven't bought anything for your loved one, now is the time to act. If you like to surprise your significant other, we've got a deal for you: Nextbase, one of the best dash cam manufacturers, has launched its Valentine's Day deals, which include most of the company's head units, including the top of the range Nextbase 622GW model.

Shop Nextbase's up to 50% off Valentine's Day sale

We rated the Nextbase 622GW five stars in our review and said, "The 4K video resolution is impressive in itself, but throw in a polarising filter and image stabilisation, and you have some of the smoothest dash cam footage out there. Additional driver aids are usually annoying, but Amazon Alexa voice control and What3Words emergency geolocation both work very well here."

Other offers included in the sale are:

• Nextbase 322GW - $169.99 (15% off)
• Nextbase 222XR - $169.99 (15% off)
• Nextbase 222G - $103.99 (20% off)
• Nextbase 122HD - $79.99 (20% off)
• Nextbase 32, 64, 128 GB SD Cards (50% off)
• Nextbase Cabin View Camera - $69.99 (30% off)

Just think about the joy on your partner's face when they open their Valentine's Day present and realise that, unlike those everyday Joes who 'surprise' their loved ones with flowers, you gave them the gift of road safety because you genuinely care about them.

Nothing says 'I love you' better than wanting your loved ones to be safe when they are out there in this crazy world. A dash cam is a symbol of this, sure, but it also gives you and them an added peace of mind. So, don't hesitate to shop the Nextbase sale now!

While there are many different EVs which you could opt for, it's fair to say that Tesla are still the pick of the bunch for many. The brand – led by global business tycoon, Elon Musk – have attained a cult following around the world.

Now, users of Tesla cars have got a decent free upgrade. In the latest software update, ultrawide band Bluetooth connectivity has been added. 

That's designed to improve accuracy for those using the app to unlock their vehicle. Users can go into the Tesla app to unlock without a physical key.

The addition of ultrawide band technology should make that process much more accurate. In theory, it will ensure the vehicle is only being unlocked when you pass close by. That may not have been the case with older technology.

A statement from the release notes says, "Ultrawide band (UWB) technology is now available for Phone Key. So your vehicle and Phone Key can communicate with greater accuracy to more responsively lock, unlock, and open Automatic Doors."

It's a decent upgrade for users. Not only will it increase security by ensuring you aren't accidentally unlocking your car as you wander around, it should also make life more seamless for users.

In order to take advantage of the new technology, users will need both a vehicle and an iPhone which supports ultrawide band technology. That includes everything from the iPhone 11 and later, though it's worth noting that the iPhone SE models aren't capable of running that.

Beyond that, though, you should be good to go. Make sure you have the latest version of the app downloaded in order to use the feature.

Oh, and don't panic if you don't have the update right away. These things can take some time to roll out to users, so you may need to wait a little while longer for it to hit your device.

Apple's CarPlay, which brings an iOS-style experience to in-car systems, is getting a big upgrade with its next generation. But the upgrade has been a long time coming, and it was starting to look like car firms had lost interest in Apple's infotainment system. So it's good to see that the new CarPlay really is coming to cars in 2024.

Apple hasn't said which cars as yet, so the only official announcements we have are from Aston Martin and Porsche. But for those of us who can't afford an electric Macan or a DB12, it's good to see that Apple has updated its website from "vehicle announcements coming in late 2023" to "first models arrive in 2024". Apple has previously listed its partners as Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche, Renault and Volvo.

The upgrade is a big one. Instead of a single screen it'll expand to every touch screen and display inside the vehicle, whether that's the infotainment screen, the driver information display or other parts of the in-car experience. And it introduces eight new CarPlay apps for more control of what's happening in your car.

What's coming to CarPlay in 2024?

According to MacRumors, the new apps that are referenced in the latest iOS beta are:

• Auto Settings for managing paired iPhones and changing system settings;
• Car camera, to display the feed from your rear view camera;
• Charge, to let you see charge status, remaining charging time and other key data;
• Climate, to give you access to the car's climate control, heated seats and other toasty items;
• Closures, which alerts you to open doors and other warnings;
• Media, providing AM and FM radio controls and SiriusXM (in the US);
• Tyre pressures, which is self explanatory;
• and Trips, which will offer trip computer-style information such as driving efficiency, distance travelled and so on.

We don't yet know if these apps are exclusive to the new generation of CarPlay or if these apps will be compatible with existing vehicles; the iOS update is expected to launch in March 2024, so we'll no doubt find out then.

Ford took the wraps off its gargantuan, Lincoln-badged Nautilus last year, premiering what it referred to as a "midsized premium SUV". The model, which can only be described as 'massive' anywhere outside the US, will commence deliveries imminently, but more details have recently surfaced of its next generation infotainment system, which is likely to feature on slightly less opulent Ford models in the near future.

Dubbed the Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience, the Android-based operating system allows for numerous popular apps to be downloaded and used on the various displays. This includes things like Waze, YouTube and Spotify.

Of course, both Android and iPhone users can plug in a smartphone and mirror the device, but Ford’s plan is to offer more on its digital ecosystem. When parked, the enormous 48-inch panoramic screen in the Lincoln Nautilus transforms into a drive-in cinema, able to stream HD content from YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and more.

Similarly, it's possible to hook up Bluetooth controllers and game when stationary, with Ford announcing that the title Asphalt Nitro 2 is exclusive to its system. If racing games aren't your thing, the company says a "growing list" of titles is available from Google Play.

Video conferencing can also take place, although Ford claims the occupants can only join with audio for now. Although the video stream of fellow workmates can be shown on the vehicle’s numerous displays.

"The system is capable of more than five-times faster main processing, nearly 14-times faster graphics processing and features four-times the memory and eight-times the storage compared to today's Ford and Lincoln in-vehicle infotainment system. 

"It's designed to enable more new apps and services in the future thanks to over-the-air software update capability, including 5G wireless technology," Ford says. 

Fast, highly customisable and impressively massive, the sweeping panoramic screen is currently a Lincoln Nautilus exclusive, but a press release from Ford asked customers to "stay tuned" for the first Ford Digital Experience integration, hinting that it is likely coming to be introduced in more Blue Oval vehicles in the near future.

One of the biggest deciding factors for new car buyers right now is whether the car offers Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility. We have become so used to doing everything on our phones that the idea of a car without them seems strange. 

While these operating systems mirrored from our phones are handy, many car manufacturers have expanded their offerings to provide something that’s even more suited to the latest electric vehicles. One of the companies leading this progression is Mercedes-Benz. Its MBUX system already provides one of the most visually appealing operating systems, with the integration of navigation and voice assistant, as well as direct access to music subscriptions such as Apple Music without having to connect your phone. 

The next step for Mercedes is its MBOS system, which will launch with its new MMA platform models next year and is set to bring in a new level of ‘hyper personalisation’ to the system. Some of these upgrades are even coming to the latest 2024 models in advance, allowing users to get a more custom experience with an increased range of features. 

“The car is getting hyper-personalized,” says Markus Schäfer, Mercedes’ Chief Technology Officer. “It becomes the digital you of the customer. This is a pivoting point in the relationship to a vehicle. We came from a world of having knobs and buttons in the car and then maybe phrases if you want to address commands in the car. We went to natural language understanding, which is what we have today, but now we're taking it to the next level.”

Hey, Mercedes

The MBUX virtual assistant is now based on a large language model using an open AI version of Chat GPT, allowing for a more natural understanding and response. This means that users can give more conversational commands to the system and its responses will feel more human. 

During a deep dive at CES, Mercedes previewed the future assistant for its upcoming MBOS platform offering a few noticeable upgrades. Firstly the assistant now has a form. 

Though this is a human face – as this divided option in testing – the animated three-pointed star Mercedes-Benz badge glows different colours when it’s speaking, listening and processing. It also adds emoticons for moods. 

When the new voice assistant speaks, it can vary the tone of its voice to suit the situation and your tone. Subtle variances in a single sentence make it more formal, more relaxed or even excited, which all add to the humanising of the assistant. 

The new system will also pair the navigation with driver assistance in one screen. This will show you exactly what the car sees, via its cameras, sensors and LiDar. This comes through a partnership with Google Maps to deliver detailed 3D representations of the buildings and features surrounding the car as you drive, as well as other cars and pedestrians. 

Sound Drive

One of the most innovative of changes coming to the Mercedes infotainment system is the addition of a feature called Sound Drive. This addition has been created by the Grammy-winning rapper and tech entrepreneur, Will.i.am and turns the vehicle into an instrument – or at the very least a mixing desk.

Changes in the music tracks are made via the car’s sensors, so pressing the accelerator will bring in the main bass while steering and even using the window wipers can add elements to the song. It's much like a DJ remixing a track in a club using the sliders and dials on a mixer. 

The tracks have been specially developed for Sound Drive and include some well-known tunes as well as new creations. Starting out, there are around 100 tracks available on the system but more are expected to follow. 

In-car gaming

Mercedes-Benz is one of the only companies to offer full level 3 autonomous (hands off, eyes off) driving and now sells its EQS model equipped with LiDar for this in select locations, including California, Nevada and Germany. Being able to take your eyes off the road opens up more time to enjoy the car’s entertainment, and so the latest Mercedes models are offering an extensive array of games in the car. 

A new partnership with cloud gaming company, Antstream Arcade will bring a wide array of retro games to the Mercedes MBUX platform. This includes classics such as PacMan, Bubble Bobble and Space Invader and can be played on both the centre display, the passenger display and any rear displays. These are ideal for entertaining passengers on longer drives, or for all passengers when parked or charging. 

At CES, the company also revealed its own immersive in-car game that uses both the steering wheel and a game controller to operate. The two-player game combines a driver and a shooter in a space adventure to avoid falling down holes in the tunnel and being attacked by flying objects. 

Audible and Dolby Atmos

Those incredible Burmester speakers in Mercedes cars are for more than just musical fidelity. Thanks to a new partnership with Audible and Amazon Music, Mercedes drivers and passengers will be able to enjoy a range of audiobooks and podcasts in addition to new music. These will be delivered in full Dolby Atmos, to give the best possible experience in the car, and allow the passengers to immerse themselves in the story in the same way they would music. 

Amazon Music will also be made available in Dolby Atmos through the app, providing yet another direct service to the Mercedes MBUX platform without the need to go via your phone. 

Though connecting your phone to your car was originally about using the car’s system for hands-free calls, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have increasingly been the providers of navigation and music services. With a system like the new MBUX and upcoming MBOS platform, it is proving that you don’t need your phone for this and that there’s plenty of innovation to come that will keep in-car systems ahead of their mirrored phone counterparts. 

Nextbase iQ Dash Cam review in a sentence: A high-tech dash cam that offers a one-stop solution for your vehicle, albeit on a subscription basis for the best features.

If you’re growing increasingly tired of dismal driving standards and nervous about the alarmingly high number of people driving without insurance, it makes a lot of sense to get yourself one of the best dash cams. I’ve been using one for a while now, which turned out to be just as well after our stationary car was rear-ended by someone else doing around 40 miles an hour.

We were just about to pull away at the lights when the other car ploughed into us, with our front-facing dash cam footage showing how our vehicle was pushed across the carriageway and into the verge after the impact. There’s no doubt that it made the job of contacting our insurer that much easier. Therefore, I think that having a dash cam fitted is prudent and fast becoming nigh-on essential. Well, just as long as you’re happy with having a record of your own driving too that is.

If you can get a model with a camera facing the rear as well as out the front, then so much the better. Even more useful is this smart cam, the Nextbase iQ Dash Cam, which also monitors the interior of your car. In fact, the innovative new model from this leading British brand covers all bases and a little bit more to boot. In short, it’s a complete surveillance solution for vehicles, even though you’ll need to buy the supplementary rear-facing Nextbase camera as an extra.

All told then, the Nextbase iQ Dash Cam is not going to be cheap, plus there’s a subscription fee to pay if you want all the bells and whistles. Nevertheless, it is currently one of the best dash cam packages on the market.

While you’ll find a whole stack of front-facing options in the best dash cam guide, there are rather less to choose from in the best front and rear dash cams for any kind of vehicle. It’s currently quite a sparsely populated part of the market and the Nextbase iQ certainly stands head and shoulders above the competition, for now at least. Just as long as you don’t mind buying the Nextbase rear-facing camera as an additional extra, even though it’s not essential.

(First reviewed December 2023)

Nextbase iQ Dash Cam review: price and availability

Nextbase iQ Dash Cam review: price and availability

You can purchase the Nextbase iQ Dash Cam in one of three different versions and it’s available now from Amazon and other leading online outlets. Cheapest of the trio is the 1K resolution model costs, which is priced at $499.99 / £349. Next up is the 2K resolution model, which costs $599.99 / £399. Meanwhile, the best of the bunch is a 4K resolution model, which costs $699.99 / £449. 

It's worth noting that while you can use the camera without the frills, the whole point of this package is to exploit its smart features. Therefore, you’ll need to sign up for the Nextbase iQ subscription packages. The Protect subscription costs £6.99 monthly or £69.99 annually, while the Protect Plus is £9.99 per month or £99.99 annually. The entry-level Solo edition is, however, free to use as is. 

If you also want to kit yourself out with the Nextbase supplementary rear camera, that will cost you $199.99 / £149.

Nextbase iQ Dash Cam review: design and build

The Nextbase iQ Dash Cam arrives in a chunky box that is packed with everything needed to get setup and running including the camera unit itself. This is a beefy unit, which contains a section with the camera lens and sensor, while the other part of it is a bulbous microphone sandwiched with what are presumably two antennas. There’s a circular-style sticky pad, which mounts to your screen and ports for the various cables, all of which are included.

Considering its high-ticket price, the money does feel justified as it is nicely designed and feels solid enough too, even if you’re making do with the cheapest 1K resolution model. My test unit was the 4K package, which obviously includes more muscular innards. It’s worth noting however, that whichever model you plump for, the Nextbase iQ Dash Cam needs to be plugged into your vehicle’s ODB II port, which is generally found underneath one side of the dashboard.

Nextbase does give you the option of hardwiring the camera into your car, but some people like the flexibility of being able to move their dash cam from car to car. You can do that with the ODB II route, although they can be quite tight to unplug again once you’ve clicked it into place. 

In addition, for anyone fretting about their battery, the Nextbase iQ monitors this and shuts itself down if power runs low. What you definitely cannot do with the Nextbase iQ Dash Cam is plug it into a circular 12V socket, which might strike it off the shopping list of anyone who prefers that connectivity route.

Nextbase iQ Dash Cam review: Features and functions

Nextbase has incorporated three major features into the iQ Dash Cam. These are made up of Smart Sense Parking to help make parking easier, Witness Mode, which is a voice-activated control for capturing evidence when it’s needed, while instantly saving it to the cloud as well as notifying a specified emergency contact. Meanwhile, Live View lets you keep tabs on your vehicle at any time, using the accompanying Nextbase iQ app.

It should be noted though that you’ll enjoy all of the best features and functions by opting for a subscription, rather than making to with the base-level model that works well enough with the app, but without all of the extras. This is called Solo, which has voice control and real-time text notifications. 

Sign-up for the Protect version and you get the Nextbase iQ app voice control, real-time image notifications, Live View (up to 60 minutes), Smart Sense Parking, Witness mode, RoadWatch AI, Guardian Mode, Remote Alarm along with Cloud Storage for 30 days.

Head for the Protect Plus subscription though and you’ll benefit from the Nextbase iQ app voice control, real-time image notifications, Live View (up to 120 minutes), Live View Look Back, Smart Sense Parking, Witness mode, RoadWatch AI, Guardian Mode, Remote Alarm as well as substantial Cloud Storage for 180 days. There is also the ability to have multiple user accounts along with Emergency SOS and Automated incident back-up. Nextbase points out that the RoadWatch AI and Guardian Mode features are arriving soon, along with a Push to Talk option.

Nextbase iQ Dash Cam: Performance

Aside from all those features, the hardware credentials of the Nextbase iQ Dash Cam are solid too. If you’ve got the 1K version, it records at 1080 x 1920p, or full HD but the mid-range 2K iQ model records at 2560 x 1440p. Pick of the crop though is the 4K version of the iQ, which captures video at a resolution of 3840 x 2160p. All models have the same 140-degree field-of-view along with the same interior-facing camera too, which is built-into the main unit.

This part of the package captures footage from the inside of your vehicle at full HD via a neat 180-degree lens, which also features infrared night vision. As mentioned earlier, you can complete your surveillance package by adding a Nextbase rear-facing camera. This connects to the main unit with a cable and records video at 2K resolution through a 140-degree lens and is priced at $199.99 / £149. Add it all together and the overall coverage is second to none.

My 4K model worked perfectly, with quality footage and excellent audio in a wide variety of driving scenarios. The great thing is that it just gets on with the job, so you don’t really have to do anything unless you want to manually intervene. Alternatively, when you’ve finished driving you can review any footage using either the app on your phone or on your laptop because everything is stored in the cloud, so it’s safe and secure. 

This is a great option as, in the event of an accident you can tend to forget to remove the media card from the unit. Having that piece of mind adds value in itself. In fact, the smart tech of the Nextbase iQ, which includes GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi along with 4G connectivity through Vodafone in the UK and Europe and T-Mobile in the US makes it a real winner with me.

Nextbase iQ Dash Cam review: verdict

The Nextbase iQ Dash Cam is quite a bulky bit of kit, especially when compared alongside some of the more svelte models you can buy. However, the additional size is justified when you weigh up what this unit is capable off. Even the 1K model will be more than adequate for most drivers, but if you want the extra crisp footage delivered by the 4K model then be prepared to pay for the privilege. The same goes for the smart features and cloud backup, all of which come via the Nextbase subscription packages outlined above.

Nextbase has also stated that it will make the additional features it promises available to owners as they become available, which adds value and does give your expensive purchase a degree of future proofing. While the Nextbase iQ Dash Cam comes armed with potent hardware and software, it’s also mercifully easy to install and configure. It took me less than half an hour to get up and running, following the step-by-step procedure that is clearly presented within the app.

Overall, then, it’s a pretty impressive bundle, just as long as you’re happy with the purchase price, the fact that you get the best features using a subscription package and don’t mind the way it connects to your car.

Nextbase iQ Dash Cam review: also consider

If you're looking to save a little money then you can check out our best cheap dash cam deals page, and if you're looking to record all angles then you can read our best front and rear dash cam guide.

BMW’s idea of an augmented reality windscreen just got a bit closer to reality. The concept was part of the iVision Dee car that is paving the way for the company’s Neue Klasse vehicles that will launch from 2025. At CES 2024, however, we got a bit of a preview of how this will work. 

The enhanced driving experience uses XREAL Air 2 augmented reality glasses for the passenger or driver (where regulations allow). Once wearing the glasses you get a small circular panel that sits virtually on your dashboard, which allows you to switch between modes. 

In navigation mode, directional arrows and warnings appear on the road in front of you, like an expanded head-up display. There are virtual speed signs, roadworks warnings and stop signs that show up clearly and animate on the road in front of you. These are far easier to follow than even the best head-up displays, as they really follow the road positioning. You also get an overview of your journey on the dash. 

When driving or reversing, blocks appear in the road to highlight obstacles, such as curbs and barriers close to the car. There's also a virtual charging icon, which could be used to find a future charging pad for electric cars, that simply requires you to park over the charger – like a giant wireless charging pad. 

The system can also provide info about local sites and surrounding buildings, which are spoken to you by an avatar that appears on the dash. It’s certainly a more real type of virtual assistant than the formless Alexa or Siri offerings.

For the passenger, the glasses also offer a game mode. I tried one where you had to move a circle around to swallow up poker chips. The circle moves based on where you are looking, so after a little practice, it was easy enough to play, and far more fun than I expected. It also provided a rain shower of dice and poker chips – we were in Vegas after all.

The final mode available opens up the potential to watch films on a big screen in the car, so again ideal for the passenger – at least until level 3 automation (eyes-off driving) takes hold. You can fold down the sun visor to provide a darker background and the screen appears in your vision, much larger than any physical display screen could.

The one downside at the moment is that the projected area in the glasses is fairly small, so doesn’t cover the full field of vision. This means that you sometimes have to physically turn your head to see some features. That’s something that will change as the glasses improve though. The glasses also need to be plugged in, as there’s no onboard processing. This isn’t the biggest problem, as you are stationary inside the car, but a wireless connection would be more convenient.

Augmented reality is definitely in its infancy, and will get better as the glasses get smaller and easier to wear. The ideal of course would be to make the whole windscreen into one big augmented reality lens, but that could be a few years away yet.

While these glasses are still a concept, the system is entirely possible. The Xreel Air 2 glasses are available to buy already and while the demo I experienced was prerecorded, the system is close to being ready. BMW already offers its Motorrad Smart Glasses for its motorcycles, which provide speed and navigation information for bikers. However, these aren’t locked to the road position in the same way as this AR concept. I’d love these to make their way into the market, even just for the passenger. It’s a fun addition to what is becoming a wide range of entertainment options for electric vehicles.

Volkswagen kicked off CES 2024 with news that its in-car voice assistant will gain support for ChatGPT later this year. The artificial intelligence then promptly struggled to understand questions and made up a car company called Flux.

It wasn’t the best start, but we all know live demonstrations of unfinished technology are a risky business, and ChatGPT is no stranger to making mistakes. But I think VW’s work here is still worthy of your attention, and I have faith that the finished product will impress.

In-car voice control systems have improved in recent years, mostly thanks to manufacturers partnering with giants like Amazon and Google, whose Alexa and Google Assistant platforms bring the sort of intelligence that was sorely missing previously. ChatGPT – or other large language models like it – have the potential to bring an extra level of intelligence to in-car, human/machine conversation.

They can find detailed answers to almost any question, for a start. And they can understand a great deal more about what you’re trying to say; they get the intonation of your commands. Volkswagen says ChatGPT helps its IDA voice control system understand what you want when you say you’re cold, for example, or that you need to buy a new phone charger.

ChatGPT works in two ways as part of Volkswagen’s IDA system. It helps to make sense of more unusual commands spoken by the driver or their passengers. This helps the car understand that you want to increase the cabin temperature if you say “I’m a bit chilly” rather than “increase the temperature by two degrees”.

The AI is also called upon if the car’s own voice system can’t help, but it is confident ChatGPT can. In this case, your spoken question or command is fired to the cloud and the answer (still spoken by IDA’s own voice) is prefixed with “according to ChatGPT”. This is much like how Alexa states its source when serving up an answer, and lets VW distance itself from what ChatGPT says. The AI is also ring-fenced by Cerence Chat Pro, the platform running Volkswagen’s voice system, but the carmaker admits it could still be lured into saying something inaccurate.

Jan Wehmeyer, Cerence's vice president for business leads in Europe, told me at CES: “We have still the possibility, if you provoke it, that ChatGPT will start to hallucinate. But what we do is, in the answer prompt, the first words are always “according to ChatGPT”. We think this is useful to do at that point.”

What ChatGPT can do in a car is still mostly a blank canvas. Jan told me how he asked his daughter what she thought of the technology, and her response was to ask it for help with homework and, naturally, to tell her things about Taylor Swift.

Not particularly groundbreaking, you might say, but having a system ready to provide long and detailed answers to your questions, while you’re driving and can’t look at your phone, is still useful.

Wehmeyer didn’t want to give too much away, but suggested I “stay curious” and said Cerence and Volkswagen are “addressing exactly that” when I asked if the  system could be used to play games on a long car drive. Again, the focus here is on keeping kids entertained rather than drivers informed, but where’s the harm in that?

For now, VW proudly says how its version of ChatGPT deletes every utterance by both the user and the AI, right after it’s been said. This is great for privacy, the carmaker says, but it takes away a huge part of ChatGPT’s intelligence; it’s ability to remember previous conversations and use earlier interactions to better understand the user’s questions. Cerence says it isn’t changing this strategy just yet, but again I’m told it’s working on a solution to bring conversation history into the fold.

Wehmeyer explained: “We’re trying to take care and to make sure the personal data of our customers is protected. The basic system is designed to protect that and that’s exactly why, after each query, it’s deleted and you cannot trace back anything. We are now evolving that, so that in the future you will have exactly that experience, so the car knows what you said and what your question was.”

I was also told how Cerence is looking to incorporate other LLMs beyond ChatGPT. “Probably we won’t rely on a single LLM like ChatGPT,” Wehmeyer said. “We could but we won’t. We could probably go then to different sources.”

Lastly, I ask if a custom GPT could be created by Cerence, Volkswagen, or any carmaker for that matter, with assistance from Open AI, the company behind ChatGPT. Creating custom GPTs is already a part of the business model, and a feature paying subscribers to ChatGPT 4.0 have access to. 

Might we one day see custom GPTs from every carmaker, and is a ‘VW GPT’ on the way? “Stay curious, because we also came across that thought,” Wehmeyer said.

This could all be a flash in the pan. The demonstration presented by Volkswagen at CES this week wasn’t particularly impressive, and I gather the system has only been in development for a few short months. But, as ChatGPT – itself just over a year old – has taught us, AI systems can grow and improve very quickly, so I have faith in VW’s version getting smarter before it’s released to the public later in 2024.

Will we see a GPT for every manufacturer? The potential is certainly there, if that’s something car companies and Open AI want to pursue.

Volkswagen is to integrate ChatGPT with the voice assistant and infotainment system of its cars, starting later in 2024.

The move was announced at the CES technology show, which kicked off in Las Vegas today, and will see Volkswagen bring the artificial intelligence of ChatGPT to its ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 and ID.7 electric cars, starting in the second half of this year.

The AI tech will also come to Volkswagen’s new Tiguan, Passat and Golf models in 2024, with the latter appearing on stage at CES wearing camouflage ahead of its global debut later this year.

VW says “automotive-grade ChatGPT integration” will be added to its cars’ IDA voice assistant, which is used to control the infotainment, navigation and air conditioning systems. The carmaker says the AI technology will “go far beyond the previous voice control,” with the ability to also answer general knowledge questions and improve its knowledge and language skills with future upgrades.

Volkswagen said: “This can be helpful on many levels during a car journey: Enriching conversations, clearing up questions, interacting in intuitive language, receiving vehicle-specific information, and much more – purely hands-free.”

There’s no need to install a new application or create an account to use the new ChatGPT-powered voice assistant, VW says. And in a bid to protect user privacy, questions and answers are deleted immediately “to ensure the highest possible level of data protection,” the company added.

Rather than relying exclusively on ChatGPT, Volkswagen’s voice control system uses multiple data sources. Created by technology firm Cerence,  built on a platform called Cerence Chat pro and called IDA, the voice assistant is activated by saying “Hello IDA” or pressing a button on the steering wheel.

VW says how the system then “automatically prioritises whether a vehicle function should be executed, a destination searched or the temperature adjusted”, adding: “If the request cannot be answered by the Volkswagen system, it is forwarded anonymously to AI and the familiar Volkswagen voice responds.”

ChatGPT does not gain access to vehicle data, suggesting the AI cannot be used to check on fuel level or battery charge, for example, or to help explain a dashboard warning light or error message.

I’m interested to see how this develops, and what precautions Volkswagen and Cerence have installed to prevent ChatGPT from hallucinating and confidently giving incorrect answers. It’ll also be fascinating to see how the system is improved over time, and if Volkswagen will grant the AI access to car data to create a more integrated chat bot experience.

Speaking of what’s next, Cerence boss Stefan Ortmanns said: “As we look to the future, together Volkswagen and Cerence will explore collaboration to design a new large-language-model-based (LLM) user experience as the foundation of Volkswagen’s next-generation in-car assistant.”

As we gear up for a slew of infotainment, EV and future automotive announcements from the hallowed halls of the Los Angeles Convention Center, Samsung has decided to kick CES proceedings off early with the news that it will bring SmartThings functionality to Kia and Hyundai vehicles, as well as buddy up with Tesla on its energy management systems.

As today's homes and cars are becoming cleverer and generally more connected, introducing Samsung’s SmartThings inside the car (likely in the form of a bespoke infotainment app) will allow drivers to remotely kick-start routines or check the status of pretty much any Samsung IoT device without becoming distracted by a fiddly smartphone.

Digital appliances, such as dishwashers and robotic vacuum cleaners, will be able to be monitored or activated on the way home from work, while Kia gives the example of activating the in-home air conditioning when the temperature outside hits a set threshold and the vehicle reaches a pre-determined geolocation.

Conversely, Car-to-Home can also be flipped on its head, with Home-to-Car services including the ability to check on an EV's charge status via a Samsung Smart TV, or asking your favourite AI assistant or smart speaker to remotely heat or cool a vehicle before setting foot inside of it. 

Currently, Kia and Hyundai Motor say that they are currently working on developing  "stable service-providing infotainment systems", hinting that things are still very much in the developmental stage. 

However, the South Korean automakers were keen to point out that any future updates could easily be applied over-the-air or via USB for older, lesser connected vehicles.

Big Tesla energy

Where Kia and Hyundai are very much centring the experience around connecting the car to the domestic setting, Tesla is enlisting Samsung's assistance in integrating data from its Powerwall,  Solar Inverter, Wall Connector charging and EVs into the SmartThings app, making it easier for users to manage and monitor energy usage from these products.

A blog post from Samsung suggested that users can harness SmartThings Energy to "display information relating to users' energy production, storage and usage". What’s more a suggested 'Storm Watch' feature will warn of impending extreme weather events on connected Samsung TVs and mobile devices.

From here, Tesla Energy users can take action and activate an AI Energy Mode that will help eke the most out of Tesla’s Powerwall in the event of a blackout.

"This new collaboration is a key milestone for Samsung Electronics in making our solution more widely available beyond home appliances, " says Chanwoo Park, EVP and Head of IoT Development Team of Device Platform Center at Samsung Electronics.

Again, the tech will be officially unveiled at CES next week, with Samsung claiming its Tesla tie-in should be ready for use by customers in the second quarter of 2024.

Earlier this year we reported that GM was ditching both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in future electric vehicles, a decision that it's fair to say wasn't greeted with universal joy. At the time GM said that it didn't want to make in-car systems that required you to have a phone, but the firm has now been more vocal about the two tech giants' in-car systems. The short version: neither one is good enough.

According to Motortrend, the official explanation at the time was "poorly communicated" and didn't really explain why GM was ditching the platforms not just for EVs, but for all vehicles. So Motortrend had a chat with GM's head of product for infotainment, Tim Babbitt, who said that there is one crucial issue that made the decision inevitable: safety.

What GM says is wrong with CarPlay and Android Auto

Babbitt listed multiple issues that he says simply aren't good enough. There are stability issues with both platforms that cause bad connections, poor rendering, dropped connections and slow responses. And those issues have a direct effect on vehicle safety because when something goes wrong with the in-car infotainment, drivers pick up their phones and take their eyes off the road. 

Babbitt does admit that the problems are largely wireless ones – he said that the issues are largely absent from wired phone connections – but wired ones still aren't trouble-free: both Android and iPhone have compatibility issues, Android because of the sheer range of phones and Apple with older iPhones.

Of course, there's an element of "well, GM would say that, wouldn't they" here: GM has its own platform, Ultifi, which uses multiple Google apps and Google Assistant on its own system. But even if the niggles were solved, there's a wider battle between GM and the tech firms and it's over data: who controls it, who owns it and who can sell it to third parties. And in the long term, there are also potential revenues from in-car apps such as paying for fuel or charging or drive-through food. According to Motortrend, GM alone expects such apps to bring in up to $25 billion a year by 2030. There's clearly a lot of money to be made from in-car apps, and GM would very much like to be the company that makes it.

Volvo has no intention in following rival car manufacturer GM in ditching Apple CarPlay in its vehicles. In fact, it revels in offering customers the choice between it, Android Auto and the company's own in-car infotainment system.

General Motors decided to go down the controversial route of ditching both CarPlay and Android Auto earlier this year, believing its customers would prefer a curated, dedicated experience instead. It's a move that hasn't always proved welcome, and one that Volvo is keen to avoid.

The car maker's boss, Jim Rowan, formerly of BlackBerry and Dyson, explained to The Verge that Apple's CarPlay and Android Auto are still very much in Volvo's plans.

"We... want to offer the choice of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay so that they can then offer all the plethora of choices that they’ve got, whether that’s the different apps that you can download into the car itself that sits on that centre stack or just the convenience of having your iPhone or your Android machine connect directly and seamlessly with the car," he said.

Rowan also suggested that it would be a misstep to ignore the "7 billion people on the planet that have an iPhone or Android [device]".

"I don’t really get off on the fact that I want a customer to say, 'Hey, Volvo', [or] if they say, 'Hey, Google' or 'Hey, Siri.'"

Certainly this means that Apple CarPlay is here to stay, when it comes to Volvo at least. The latest Volvo XC90 Recharge includes it, as will the new electric SUV, the Volvo EX30.

It wouldn't be a surprise if the recently-announced Volvo EM90 luxury people carrier also sported CarPlay and Android Auto, although that's destined for China (at least initially).

It also seems that none of the forthcoming electric vehicles from the brand will charge subscription fees for extra features.

"I don’t buy it, quite frankly," added Rowan. "Because I update my iPhone the whole time, I would be pretty peeved if every time... they gave me a bill."

Garmin is well-known for being one of the best hiking GPS manufacturers and has long been at the forefront of navigating in the wild, whether that’s charting a course via boat or tackling untapped trails using the functionality of one of the company’s numerous fitness and outdoor smartwatches.

It manages to serve the weekend wannabe Shackletons just as well as it does the true adventurers, and after spending a lot of time with the Garmin GPSMAP 66i, we feel it is aimed very much at the latter group.

The unit, which combines a handheld GPS navigational device and a satellite communication system, is a unique offering in the world of outdoor tech, but it suffers from being fairly bulky and quite expensive as a result. What’s more, setting it up is a complex process.

If you are the type to regularly venture deep into the wilderness, or perhaps you guide students outdoors for a living, we can see this becoming a favoured companion. But, if you are like us (mere mortals), you might find it all a bit bamboozling. 

Garmin GPSMAP 66i review: price and availability

The Garmin GPSMAP 66i is currently discounted on the Garmin website, down from £549.99 to £409.99 in the UK. It is a similar story in the USA, where it costs $449.99. However, in Australia, the cheapest we can find is AUS$799. If you are happy to hunt around, you can find it on the likes of Amazon for £393.59 or $399.99 in the USA.

Garmin GPSMAP 66i review: Specifications

• Dimensions: 6.6 x 16.3 x 3.5 cm
• Weight: 241g
• Waterproof rating: IPX7, MIL-STD-810
• Display: Colour TFT, 240 x 400 pixels
• Battery life: Up to 35 hours at 10-minute tracking; up to 200 hours at 30-minute tracking (power save mode)
• Internal memory: 16GB
• Sensors: GPS, Galileo, Barometric Altimeter, Compass
• Connectivity: Wifi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ant+

Garmin GPSMAP 66i review: design and build quality

Looking a tad like an old mobile phone from the late 90s, the GPSMAP 66i is a chunky little thing, covered in protective rubber that sees it bounce if dropped off the side of a mountain. Designed to be robust, rather than stylish, it comes with a Carabiner clip for attaching to your bag and/or jacket, as well as an oversized button on the side for SOS purposes.

The rest of the buttons are relegated to below the screen, and there are a fair few of them. These are relatively small, but can still be operated with gloved hands. So long as those gloves aren’t deep-filled Arctic numbers and you are fairly dexterous.

Overall, the build quality is great and as tough as you would expect of something that’s designed to accompany folk on multi-day expedition across the world’s harshest environs. 

The screen is bright and easy to read, even in direct sunlight, while we found it to be very resistant to scratches and scrapes.

That said, despite the relatively diminutive dimensions, this still feels like a bulky piece of kit, especially when operating in the lightweight world of hiking or climbing, where every single gram counts. 

Garmin also offers the tiny inReach Mini 2 and inReach Messenger if comms is all you are after, while the eTrex SE is one of the smallest GPS handheld devices in the range. Although neither of these does both in one package.

Garmin GPSMAP 66i review: set-up

This is where things get tricky, because the Garmin GPSMAP 66i is not an easy piece of technology to set up. In fact, it can be frustrating and a bit baffling at times, and you will be flicking through the user manual like an adventurer possessed.

Garmin offers European Maps preloaded into Euro models, but it is possible to purchase a plethora of more detailed Topo maps of pretty much every region in the world. These are best downloaded to a desktop or laptop and then loaded onto a microSD card, which fits neatly into the device.

On top of this, you’ll need to download the Garmin Explore app to your smartphone, which is where you can choose to load maps onto the device, sync and share waypoint data, send messages when a compatible phone is in reach and functional, as well as plan trips and create courses.

Anyone used to the Garmin ecosystem, particularly Garmin Connect for smartwatches and cycling computers, will feel fairly at home here. But Garmin Explore certainly isn’t as user-friendly as its more lifestyle-leaning Connect sibling.

Finally, and we feel like we are banging on in this section, you will also have pay to activate an inReach subscription plan, which starts at £14.99 per month without a contract for very basic safety features and quickly escalates to £64.99 for an unlimited service, if you want to communicate via satellite alone.

This is essential if you are thinking of venturing anywhere out of mobile phone signal range, as it allows you to send messages and track waypoints, as well as access live weather when off-grid. 

Garmin GPSMAP 66i review: performance

The GPSMAP 66i is a technical piece of kit and the user experience isn’t designed to be as idiot-proof as, say, an Apple iPhone. This is definitely one of those devices where it pays to have the instruction manual handy for the first few days as you get used to it.

We found navigating the menus via the small buttons quite fiddly and plotting a new route on the device is a slow process - using the D-pad to scroll around a map takes patience and time. That said, you can simply choose a point on the map, hit Go and the device will plot a route for you, but there is a risk you’ll have to trample through hedges and hop fences if you haven’t selected the right routing mode. 

Instead, it’s best to plan a route from the comfort of a warm bothy or - better still - at home, and then use the device to occasionally check progress. What’s more, it pays to have knowledge of OS-style maps, or those maps packed with topographical information, as that is what you will be using most of the time.

Garmin makes its topographical maps routable, so you can plot and plan hikes, while the addition of points of interest makes it quite simple, if not the most intuitive,  to locate nearby campsites or a place to stop for lunch, if you are close enough to civilisation that is.

In terms of communication functionality, it uses the Iridium satellite network, which theoretically works wherever you are in the world. We got to test this out a bit during our time in the wilds of Snowdon, the peaks of Scotland and in the desolate wilderness of Dartmoor - although there were scant occasions where everyone in the group had zero phone signal.

Sending messages is like using an old Nokia and texts can take a while to send and receive, but then you are beaming them through a satellite that’s busy orbiting the earth. 

The same goes for receiving live weather updates, but having that option will be a godsend for anyone exploring remote and potentially dangerous places. 

Battery life is fantastic, and Garmin claims it will last 35 hours if you set the device to track waypoints every 10 minutes. You can extend this to a whopping 200 hours by using power-saving features, such as switching off Bluetooth and generally not interacting with the device very much.

We have to admit, we never used the device long enough to even dent that claimed 200-hour max battery life. Even on multi-day trips, where we hiked and camped, we found the Garmin GPSMAP 66i had plenty of juice left when we returned home, so long as we turned it off when not in use.

Garmin GPSMAP 66i review: verdict

If you are planning on charting a course through remotest Patagonia, or slashing through a jungle in Borneo, there is no doubt this device will be critical to mission success. For those with slightly less lofty ambitions, most modern smartphones - and certainly Garmin’s Fenix, Instinct and Marq smartwatch range - also make great companions (with SOS functionality) without the added bulk.

Add the InReach subscription into the mix, and it is a lot to justify for those doing a spot of fell walking at the weekends. But if you are serious about adventure, there is very little else that compares to Garmin’s box of tricks.

Garmin GPSMAP 66i review: alternatives consider

Garmin offers a wide range of much simpler and smaller devices for navigation. There’s the eTrex SE (£149.99/$149.99) and GPSMAP 64x Series (£259.99/$319.99), for example, or you could rely on a smartphone or smartwatch instead. 

When it comes to an easy and failsafe satellite communication device, we really rate the simplicity of the Garmin inReach Mini 2 (£349.99/$394.99) or the Motorola Defy Satellite Link (£159/$149.99) - both add peace of mind when exploring off-grid and take up very little pack space. 

It's been a while since we had a good bit of privacy paranoia, such as the fear that the best smart speakers are secretly spying on us. And the latest one's a doozy: according to Reuters, Tesla cars have been sending nudes – and those nudes have been shared among Tesla workers.

The report says that according to nine former employees, for at least a three year period between 2019 and 2022 groups of Tesla employees used a private messaging system to share "sometimes highly invasive videos and images recorded by customers' car cameras". One example described a video of a man approaching a Tesla "completely naked".

The solution seems pretty obvious – if your car's got cameras, keep your pants on – but schoolboy sniggering aside, there's a real issue here: it seems that employers were sharing all kinds of supposedly private video and photos, with potentially serious consequences.

What's so bad about car-cam clips being shared?

According to Reuters, multiple former employees said that the program they used at work showed where recordings had been made, potentially revealing where the owner lived. And those recordings were of all kinds of things, including footage of "crashes and road-rage incidents" where some videos spread "like wildfire".

The location information is the most concerning thing here, because Tesla's customer privacy notice specifically states that "camera recordings remain anonymous and are not linked to your vehicle"; according to these former employees, that isn't true. "We could see inside people's garages and their private properties," one former Tesla worker told the reporter. "Let's say that a Tesla customer had something in their garage that was distinctive, you know, people would post those kinds of things."

One former Tesla worker said it was enough to put them off buying one of the firm's cars. "The people who buy the car, I don't think they know that their privacy is, like, not respected … We could see them doing laundry and really intimate things. We could see their kids.”

This isn't the first privacy concern around Tesla cameras; earlier this year, Dutch regulators ended an investigation into Sentry Mode, which records activity around the car when it's parked. It decided not to fine Tesla after the firm made some changes to the way Sentry Mode works. However if Tesla employees are indeed sharing video and photos and continue to do so today, that could be a problem – especially in the EU, which has very strong data protection laws.

The whole Reuters piece is worth a read, because it goes into lots of detail about Tesla, the human labelling that goes into its image recognition and some of the data it collects and uses – ads well as why some employees "became paranoid" while driving the firm's own cars.

Today at CES 2023 Garmin launched the all-new Garmin Dash Cam Live, an always-connected LTE dash cam that offers drivers access to a live view of their vehicle wherever they are in the world. 

The new Garmin Dash Cam Live will also prove theft alerts and other incident alerts, with 1440p video recording and a wide 140-degree field of view.

This sounds perfect if you're travelling or have left your car in a dodgy part of town, as it'll give you valuable peace of mind that your vehicle is safe and sound.

We'll be testing the Garmin Dash Cam Live and seeing whether it earns a place in our best dash cam buying guide.

Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales, has compared this new model to a video doorbell, saying, “Much like the popular doorbell security camera systems that give you a view around your front door, Garmin Dash Cam Live can serve as your eyewitness 24/7 for ultimate peace of mind and situational awareness. You can feel secure whether you’re walking away from your truck at the stadium or leaving your convertible at the beach.”

With Dash Cam Live, saved video clips are automatically stored for 24 hours in the secure, online Vault and can be accessed using the Garmin Drive smartphone app. 

Just like wireless security cameras, this dash cam is always on, meaning it automatically records and saves video of incidents, tagging time, date and location of saved video thanks to built-in GPS. 

When you're ready to access or share recorded video, the LTE connectivity also makes Dash Cam Live superior to standard dash cams, because you don't have to take the camera out of the car to download and share a video clip.

Just like Garmin's other Dash Cam models, the Live will also feature useful voice commands, allowing you to save video, stop/start recording, and take still pictures while keeping your hands on the wheel. 

It also includes alerts for forward collision, lane departure and speed camera notifications to help encourage safer driving and increase situational awareness.

Okay, so how much does the premium Dash Cam Live cost?

It has a suggested retail price of £349.99, but for you to enjoy all the connected features of this LTE dash cam, you must also purchase a monthly Vault subscription plan in the Garmin Drive app. These plans, which start at £4.99/month, enable 24/7 connected features, including live view, location tracking, theft alerts, emergency contact notification and parking guard notifications as well as the ability to extend the storage duration of video clips for up to 30 days.

Waze is now available as a native navigation app for cars, where it can be accessed without connecting a smartphone.

The Google-owned app is available to download from the Play store of Android Automotive, the infotainment system baked into some cars, which runs without connecting a phone to the vehicle.

Google Maps is already available in Android Automotive, where it is the default navigation app. But for those who prefer the crowd-sourced mapping abilities of Waze, they can now access it by logging into the car, or by creating a new Waze account via the dashboard display.

For those unfamiliar with Android Automotive, it is not to be confused with Android Auto. The latter, which recently received a major update, is an app that runs on a smartphone connected to a car, then displays a phone-like interface on the vehicle’s dashboard touchscreen. The former is a platform that acts as the car’s own infotainment system and runs without a smartphone, using the vehicle's 4G or 5G data connection.

But, while Waze coming to Android Automotive is good news for the system, which currently doesn’t offer many native applications, it’s only offered on two cars at launch. These are the new Renault Austral hybrid and Renault Megane E-Tech electric car, and for now only examples sold in Europe will be able to access Waze.

This is likely to change over time, and we expect to see Waze on more vehicles with Android Automotive, like those from Polestar and Volvo, in due course.

Waze for Android Automotive is available now, and is free to download from your car’s Play store, or from the My Renault smartphone app.

Dash cameras are a must nowadays thanks to crazy drivers, and thankfully many are on sale off and on throughout the year. If you don't have one of these potentially money-saving devices just yet, Garmin's 67W dash cam setup (one of the best dash cameras available) is on sale for 15-percent off at Amazon.

Garmin Dash Cam 67W: was £199.99, now £169 at Amazon

On sale for £169, this nifty little dash cam setup provides full 1440p HD recordings with a 180-degree field of view for maximum coverage. Along with some added perks like voice control, automatic incident detection and more, the Garmin 67W offers a great and inexpensive solution for those in need of a dash cam.

In T3's five-star Garmin Dash Cam 67W review, we said, 'the 67W still manages to make a compelling argument for itself, thanks to its 1440p resolution, GPS, compact design and 180-degree wide-angle lens.

We’re also big fans of the compact design and effortlessly simple windscreen mount, the app works well, and the new cloud storage system is convenient for those who want to connect their dash cam to Wi-Fi and the cloud.'

Check out the deal below:

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Be sure to also check out T3's Black Friday deals hub as well! We'll be following the biggest sale event of the year closely, with updates on start times, best deals, what to expect, and more!

You can also take a look at our best Cyber Monday deals guide to get an early start on the biggest online shopping day of the year! Learn where to look for the best deals, what to watch out for, and more!

Lastly, if you're hoping to find some holiday gift shopping inspiration head on over to our best Christmas gifts guide today! We'll be covering the hottest products and trends picking up this holiday season.

Winter is here, and whether you’re planning on commuting or a staycation visiting family, chances are you’ll be travelling in more treacherous conditions than usual. If you’re hitting the road with your family this winter, you might want to consider investing in a dash cam to capture every detail while you’re driving and to keep yourself and your family safe on the road.

Lucky for you, Nextbase has one of the best Black Friday deals going, allowing you to buy one and get one half-price directly from the Nextbase website.

• Shop the Nextbase Black Friday sale today

All Nextbase models are included in the sale, including the Nextbase 122, 222,  322GW, 422GW, 522GW and 622GW.

The Nextbase Rear Window Camera and Nextbase Rear View Camera are also included in the sale.

At T3, we’ve tried and tested many dash cams and found the Nextbase 522GW to be one of the best dash cams on the market today. We also gave it 5 stars in our Nextbase 522GW review and commented that “when it comes to finding the perfect dash cam, the Nextbase 522GW is just about it. It’s class-leading in a number of categories, from video quality and smartphone connectivity, to safety features.”

If you’re planning on a road trip or car journey this summer, a Nextbase camera is the perfect addition to your car. To view this money-saving dash cam Black Friday deal, click the link above or keep reading for more dash cam deals.

If you’re interested in getting a dash cam but don’t feel you need two, you can check out other models in the widget below:

It might be worth holding off on updating your iPhone to iOS 16, at least for now, as users are reporting a serious bug in Google Maps when using Apple CarPlay.

Although the timing could be coincidental, iPhone users have reported on Reddit about the bug appearing since upgrading to Apple’s latest version of iOS. The bug appears to be affecting the GPS location of an iPhone running Google Maps.

Specifically, the problem occurs when Google Maps is running on CarPlay, Apple’s iPhone-powered car infotainment system.

The bug isn’t affecting everyone – we haven’t seen any issues with iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 16 – but some users have described their Google Maps app as going “haywire”. One user said on Reddit: “The directions go haywire and don’t show me on the road and to turn somewhere completely incorrect.”

One user said how Google Maps on CarPlay has been “extremely buggy” since iOS 16 arrived, with another saying: “The map shoots to the middle of the ocean”.

Yet another said: “My Google Maps, while open, will cause everything else to be laggy and unresponsive. For example hitting ‘skip’ on audio will skip to the next track immediately but the next song will not show for 5-15 seconds. Tapping anything gives a massive delay of the same amount. Only happens while Google Maps is running. Apple Maps doesn’t do the same.”

The issue has also been experienced and reported by AutoEvolution, which adds that a workaround doesn’t seem to exist just yet. Other users claim force-closing Google Maps on the iPhone (while parked, of course) fixes the issue, but only temporarily.

For now, if your iPhone is showing the same issue it could be worth switching to an alternative navigation app, like Waze or Apple Maps.