Straightline

Microsoft Auto showed up at CES with a tent full of cars including this sweet looking Alfa Spider. Microsoft Auto is the software responsible for Ford's Sync system. Right now, Ford has the exclusive use of that product in the US. It won't always be that way - other automakers will surely want in when Ford's exclusive agreement expires. Alfa already has such a system, only their system is branded Blue and Me. Alfa Romeos, like this Spider use the Microsoft platform to power a navigation system in addition to Bluetooth and other features.

With the Microsoft system, the navigation info does not live on a hard drive or DVD, instead it lives "in the cloud" as they're fond of saying. The car will simply communicate with a server or series of servers to provide you with destination information. Updates would be automatic.

Microsoft Auto's current platform has another use too - emissions monitoring. FIAT calls it Eco Drive. Soon many FIATs, like this 500, will have  software that allows the owner to check on the car's impact on the environment - driving habits and maintenance play a part.  The information can be loaded onto a memory stick then checked on your PC. Can you imagine how popular this kind of thing would be with the Prius set here in America?

Also, I wanted an excuse to post pictures of cool looking cars we can't get in the US - Brian Moody, Road Test Editor.