The Telematics Research Group (TRG), through its Automotive Technology Index, had recently announced to the whole automotive public that it is the BMW brand that is still topping lists on having the best high technology features in all of their vehicles. This is according to a study that the group has conducted for all vehicle brands that are offered in the United States and the rest of North America.

The Automotive Technology Index, that was created and done by the Telematics Research Group, has been done through actions like measuring the availability of key telematics. It also included other criteria like driver assistance as well as infotainment technologies. They did check all there criteria on various brands line up of vehicles that are offered to the market. And the conclusion came out that BMW took the top score, hence claiming the spot as the leader in the aspect of high technology features in vehicles.

Phil Magney is the principal analyst for the group who conducted the study. He comments, BMW has been a technology leader for many years, as it is part of the brands positioning. And this has been proven by the brand through the various that it has been sending to the automobile market.

A whole package of features. This is what BMW has been offering the market for each of their vehicles. The list of high technology features includes the integrated navigations systems with iDrive and Voice Command, the BMW Night Vision, Adaptive Cruise Control, Head Up Display, as well as Park Distance Control. For entertainment, high technology is certainly reflected in the Sirius Satellite Radio, HD Radio, rear seat entertainment, and iPod integration. There also is the BMW Assist system and services. You can also call without using your hands through the Bluetooth hands free calling with speed recognition which is part of the BMW Assist system.

The Ford Mondeo sedan was for the European market. Travel to the lands of the United States and North American and you would find the Ford Contour. The Ford Contour would be the Ford Mondeos American counterpart. This sedan was actually sold by the Ford Motor Company starting from 1995 up until 2000. Fact is, this vehicle actually was the basis for building a version of this under the Mercury brand. And the result came to be the Mercury Mystique and later on became the Mercury Cougar. The Ford Contour was found in the Ford Motor Companys line up filling the niche between the Ford Escort and the Ford Taurus.

The Ford Contour has a DOHC V6 engine with 24 valves. It has an aluminum block and aluminum heads. This has a displacement of 155 cubic inches. It can produce some 170 units of bhp at 6250 rpm, and 165 pound feet at 4250 rpm. It has also been equipped with a five speed manual transmission system. The wheelbase of the Ford Contour measures 106.5 inches, 183.9 inches in length and has a curb weight of 2910 pounds.

From 1995 to 1996, the Ford Contour came to be body colored. The front seats were recessed to the back so as to improve rear seat leg room. This is compared to the first wave of Ford Contours that entered the American automobile market. After a year, changes were still done. Traction control no longer was given as an option. The remote fuel door release feature was deleted and the fuel door that this batch held had a flanged opening. Made available were an interior trunk light, a tilt steering wheel, and a power antenna. In 1997 to 1998, the Ford Contours that entered the streets sported front and rear end designs that were new. There were new alloy wheel designs. The sail panels on the rear door windows were now smooth and held the word Contour emblazoned on it.

As per the last years of the Ford Contour, it still continually received changes. In 1998 to 1999, the Ford Contour deleted one of its trim levels. There was a clock in radio available. There were also some color revisions. The rear window and the brake light designs had changed. For Canada, this was the last year of the Ford Contour. In the United States, 2000 was the last year for the vehicle.

Starting next year, 2007, Daimler Chrysler would be sending off on the streets and roads the new Dodge Caliber. This vehicle is a compact car and it would be coming with a hatchback body style. Aside from that, it would hold five doors. This vehicle has been built on the MitsubishiDaimler Chrysler GS platform, and for this very reason, it has been said that this vehicle is very much related to the Jeep Compass and the Jeep Patriot. When it starts to hit the streets, the Dodge Neon would be mainly competing against the Chevrolet HHR, the Ford Focus, the Toyota Matrix, the Mazda Mazda3, and the Pontiac Vibe.

The Dodge Caliber would eventually be replacing the Dodge Neon come the time it hits the streets. More or less, the size of this vehicle would be just like the Dodge Neons. The 2005 Geneva Motor Show became the avenue for Dodge to introduce this compact vehicle to the automobile market. The Dodge Caliber holds a crosshair grille as well as large wheel arches that are very much the common features of Daimler Chrysler vehicles. If you are interested in purchasing one, then you should be willing to pay up some 13,985 for this.

George Murphy, the companys senior vice president for global marketing, states, Dodge Caliber is not your typical small car. The all new Dodge Caliber redefines the compact car by combining crossover styling with space efficient packaging, interior flexibility, innovative features, and affordable performance. Caliber allows owners around the globe to be active, do more and stand out to live life to the fullest, and do so at a very competitive price.

Matt Liddane, the chief engineer for the Dodge Caliber, adds, Dodge Calibers spacious interior is also very versatile. We combined styled and comfort with innovative features and clever packaging to create a vehicle that gives new meaning to functionality in the compact car market.