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Fiat eco:)rive
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Senior User
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Right, I wanted to share this quite impressive piece of technology with you guys.
My sister got a Fiat Grande Punto a while ago (3 years ago, to be exact).
It came with a very simple onboard computer called Blue&Me which allows iPods, External HDDs and USB sticks to be connected to the car using USB.
Turns out this Blue&Me is just another name for Windows Automotive and thus little Applications can be installed on it. Now Fiat released a neat little AIR application (crossplatform, Mac/Win/Linux) called EcoDrive that’s supposed to teach people how to drive more efficiently.
You download the application and it’ll install the car-program on a USB stick. Then you plug the stick into the car and leave it there for as long as you want EcoDrive to track your driving style.
What surprised me is the accuracy and amount of data recorded. speed, acceleration, fuel consumption, shifting-points, gas-pedal position in each gear, et cetera.
Pretty cool stuff considering this is all on a low end car.
I hope other car manufacturers plan similar telemetrics apps like this in the future.
Note: This is a city car and the engine (1.3L turbo diesel) f’in horrible and an absolute pain in the rear to drive for my standards.
It really doesn’t move at all until ~2200 rpm where the turbo kicks in and ecoDrive already recommends shifting into the next gear at that point.  The car itself is pretty ok.
a couple of screenshots:
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Last edited by moep; Oct 29, 2008 at 11:59 AM.
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"The road to success is dotted with the most tempting parking spaces."
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The deep backwoods of the PNW
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...
That is freaking rad.
My 2000 Grand Prix GT had a mileage calculator that would change as I drove, but it didn't have actual visual data to show what I was doing to improve my mileage.
Do any non-luxury (e.g. not BMW, Acura, Lexus, etc.) cars in the US have this?
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Sell or send me your vintage Mac things if you don't want them.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
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With this in mind, I'm really hoping that Rev's hardware is released in time for Christmas...that'd me an awesome gift (for me...MacNN'ers, keep that in mind when you're shopping for me).
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
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If you're acceleration isn't aggressive in 1st and 2nd, I hate you as a human being.
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Senior User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Aarhus, Denmark
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Yes, it looks cool. I know one, who have a Grande Punto, I'll have to ask him tomorrow if his car have this too. And I would not mind if my Smart had something like that. But for now, I'm waiting on the iPhone app Rev to be completed, and to see what the wireless module looks like. I have considered a Scangauge, but it's just not that nice looking:
Yeah, definitely waiting for Rev!
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Senior User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Aarhus, Denmark
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hehe, okay, I'm not the only MacNN'er waiting for Rev; could just see on their News section, that hardware is supposed to ship in november, and pricing should be should soon be announced. I just hope this also will be available outside the US...
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vacation.
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Kinda cool tech.
1) I'm betting it's not available in Italian.
2) You're knackered if you're in a crash and you're 1mph over the limit.
3) Will create gridlock. Because nothing is quite as good at creating gridlock as folks who "accelerate gently" away from lights and folks who "brake gently" on approach to lights. Barstewards.
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Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vacation.
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Originally Posted by Laminar 
There are already devices that measure and record speed standard on cars.
I'm aware of that. It's just never been so USB accessible before, has it?
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Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Automatic
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It is cool, I had posted about it on another thread. It should work with any Grande Punto and the Nuova 500… which is the car OP sister should upgrade to. 
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
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Originally Posted by shifuimam
...
That is freaking rad.
My 2000 Grand Prix GT had a mileage calculator that would change as I drove, but it didn't have actual visual data to show what I was doing to improve my mileage.
Do any non-luxury (e.g. not BMW, Acura, Lexus, etc.) cars in the US have this?
Which one, the instant mileage calculator, or the Fiat thing? A ton of cars these days have the instant mileage calculator, none have something like Fiat's setup.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
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