BMW 9 Series?

BMW is one of the world's leading car manufacturers, and people who own Beamers are obsessive about their beautiful cars. Perhaps the biggest appeal of the BMW is the simplicity within the luxury. There are plenty of models to choose from, ranging from the compact 1 series sedan to the larger 7 series. But BMW is considering adding two models to their lineup: The M7 and a 9 series.

The M7 would be the highest performing BMW on the market, potentially packing 650 hp or more, which would actually make it the highest performing vehicle in its class. Currently the Audi S8 is the top performing vehicle in its class, but a BMW M7 would blow it out of the water. However, BMW wants to compete with Rolls-Royce in terms of luxury, and the M7 would not be able to match the price point of the Rolls-Royce.

In order to compete with Rolls-Royce, BMW is considering manufacturing an even more luxurious car as a 9 series. The 9 series would be sure to be an absolute beauty, but it would be an extremely large sedan. The 9 series would be more focused on comfort than performance, providing even more legroom than that of the current 7 series model.

Apple CarPlay: The Ultimate Copilot

Your future car's dashboard may be getting a welcome addition in the coming years. Apple just announced that they have agreements with several major car companies to feature their newest toy: CarPlay. CarPlay is built in to your car's display and is a safer, easier, way to use your iPhone when you are on the road.

CarPlay is Apple's solution to seamlessly integrate your iPhone with your car's existing screen on the dashboard. All you have to do is plug your phone into the USB port and you are connected to CarPlay. Here is what you can do while you're connected to CarPlay: turn-by-turn navigation with Apple Maps, listen to your music library, make and receive phone calls, dictate messages, and have messages read to you. You can do all this while charging your phone.

Apple recently announced that they have partnered with 40 major players in the automobile industry and have integrated CarPlay into over 100 different models of cars. CarPlay will come standard for all models after 2016, and here is the list of cars that support the software: http://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/available-models/

Okay, so what if you don't have an iPhone? For those android users, there is good news on the horizon. Google is currently working on a similar system that will support Google Maps called Android Auto, but it is still in the works and is not yet as widely available as CarPlay is.

What if you are not ready to buy a new car, but you want access to CarPlay anyway? Good news! Companies like Alpine, JBL, JVC, Kenwood, and Pioneer are launching aftermarket systems that feature CarPlay this year! The JBL Legend CP100 is the most affordable way to add CarPlay to your car, with an MSRP of $399

CarPlay is certainly a step in the right direction to limit mobile phone usage on the road. Texting and driving is becoming the number one killer in America, and this is Apple's innovative solution.

Driverless Cars: The Future?

The future of the cars we love to drive is incredibly exciting, but will we actually be driving in them or riding in them? There is already driverless car technology being tested by Google and Tesla, but those vehicles are not quite yet completely autonomous. They still require a human to command the wheel.

Google began testing their autonomous driving system back in 2011 once legislation allowed them to start testing their technology on the roads. A few of the cars that were used as guinea pigs were the Toyota Pruis, Audi TT, and the Lexus RX450h. After early success testing these vehicles, Google introduced a completely autonomous car that didn't even have a steering wheel, a gas pedal, or a brake pedal.

One of the best parts about driving is being in control of such a powerful machine. You have your hand on the steering wheel, foot on the gas, eyes on the road, and you are just cruising. If we make the shift to completely autonomous cars, that feeling of being in control of your car will be taken away. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because if we can prevent accidents by having autonomous cars on the road, then this is obviously a better alternative that will limit human error.

These driverless cars are still in their very early stages of development and are barely being road tested at a maximum of 25 MPH. We are a long way away from the day where everyone drives an autonomous vehicle, but this is potentially the future of the automobile industry. Are we going to be ready to let go of all control? Will this technology make driving safer and limit car accidents? Only time will tell.

5 Must Have Apps for Car Owners

We live in a world where we are attached to our mobile devices. It is rare when we leave our phone at home and it is usually an accident when we do. Texting and driving is never recommended, but there are several companion apps that will help you out while you're driving. Here are a few of our favorites here at STG Auto Group:

1. iOnRoad - Augmented Reality App

What is better than reality? Virtual reality! This app is perfect for people who struggle with tailgating the car in front of them. iOnRoad essentially keeps an eye on the road for you and it will alert you if it senses the car in front of you slowing down. The app uses your phone's camera to keep an eye on the road for you, so you must mount your phone on your dashboard or windshield in order to use it. As mentioned above, iOnRoad will detect the safety of the distance between you and the car in front of you, but it also detects if you are swerving out of your lane, and will alert you if you are doing so. The app also offers turn-by-turn navigation, monitors your speed, discourages texting and driving, locates your car in parking lots, and it will give you a complete driving analysis after your trip is complete. This app does it all and it is only $0.99 in the app store.

2. Waze - GPS, Maps, & Social Traffic

Nobody likes to sit in traffic, so the people over at Waze created an app that will warn you when you are approaching traffic and will give you alternate routes. This is a genius app that even Google Maps has implemented in their navigation. Waze is essentially a social media where users report accidents and traffic to other users. Not only does Waze give you the ability to report traffic, but you can also be warned about potential police traps so you know when to watch your speed. Waze offers turn-by-turn navigation and gives you an ETA down to the minute, so you can let your friends know when to expect you. Waze does it all and it is the ultimate driving companion. Best of all, it is free in the App Store!

3. Find My Car Smarter

Do you ever forget where you park your car? It can take forever to find it, especially in a huge parking lot. This is the issue that Find My Car Smarter has tackled and solved. Most other car apps require that you open the app and save your location after you park, but what happens if you forget to do that? Find My Car Smarter solves that problem as well; the app always tracks your car via bluetooth! You do need to purchase a beacon for $25 that will always remain in your car, but it is definitely worth the expense. You will never forget where you parked again. The app is free in the App Store, but remember you need to purchase the beacon for $25 for the app to function.

4. Gas Cubby - Fuel Economy & Service Log

How much is it costing you to drive each day? You can finally have the answer when you start using Gas Cubby. Gas Cubby is essentially a log that you can use at your own disposal to keep track of your car's performance. Not only does it measure your gas mileage, but you can keep track of the services performed on your car and alert you when you're due to take your car in for some TLC. I find it useful when friends offer to pay my gas for long trips; in which case I will calculate the cost per mile and give them an accurate price. Just kidding, I'm a good friend and I don't charge my friends for gas, but if that's what you're into, this app is for you! There is a free version in the App Store, but if you prefer to do away with the ads the app will run you for $1.99.

5. Gas Buddy - Find Cheap Gas Prices

Gas prices are always something to complain about. Luckily prices have been low in comparison to previous years, but they are steadily back on the rise. Gas Buddy makes sure you get the best gas prices based on your current location. You will be glad you downloaded this app and your wallet will thank you. Gas Buddy is free in the App Store!