If you’re short on Christmas gift ideas or fancy treating yourself to something nice, here are some gadgets that can make your car smarter.
1. Automatic, a connected car adapter
- Diagnose engine problems and remember where you parked
- Gives you lots more data beamed to your phone
Photo credit: Automatic.
Although I’m not convinced you need all the “Fitbit for your car” data this Automatic pumps out, some of it can be useful – like the gas usage tracking, which could help you drive more smoothly and improve your mileage. Plus it can remember where you’ve parked, send an alert in the event of a crash, and gives you detailed information when a warning light comes on the dashboard.
Automatic can do all this because it plugs into the car’s OBD-II port, usually secreted away under the dash, beaming data to the corresponding app on your phone.
As well as the safety and frugality features, it can modernize old cars by giving you a trip computer via the app.
Automatic is the best-known and a very highly-rated connected car adapter, which makes it a wiser choice than the array of cheaper clones which generally get poorer reviews and have fewer app features.
2. Pearl RearVision wireless reversing camera
- Easy to install
- Beams stream to your phone
Photo credit: Pearl.
If your car has no backup camera, this is a simple and effective add-on. It connects wirelessly to your smartphone to give you live streaming of the view behind – plus proximity sensors.
The camera is embedded in the license plate frame. The kit also includes an OBD-II port plugin, which means it would interfere with the Automatic if you also bought that gadget.
3. Zero Edge Z3 dashcam
4. TechMatte CD slot phone mount
5. LED music-activated stickers, by Flexilite
Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.
Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.
