Car Loves Driver
Let your vehicle nurture you during those long commutes.
They can't make potholes, construction delays or
"Detour" signs disappear. But by transforming your car
into a comfortable, productive space, these accessories can turn
your morning commute from hellish to happy (or at least
bearable).
You may already have a heated driver's seat for those cool
mornings, but does it also massage your back and provide lumbar
support? If not, you can get a padded cushion that plugs in to your
car's cigarette lighter or power point to warm those nether
regions (www.obusforme.com).
How about a car desk that sits on the passenger seat? The Mobile
Console has seatbelt slots, so it stays in place if you hit the
brakes. Put a laptop or fax machine on the large, nonskid, hinged
top; store files in the space underneath. The desk has grab handles
so you can carry it easily to stash in the trunk (www.steelhorseautomotive.com).
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Hang up more than just your jacket with a ratcheting expansion
bar (www.keepercorp.com).
If the hot sun plagues clients sitting in the back seat,
Infiniti offers an automatic rear sunshade on its I30 sedan
(www.infiniti.com).
Sturdy holders for your center console or dash mean you'll
never fumble on the floor for your dropped cell phone, handheld or
notepad (www.sharperimage.com).
And for true road warriors, the RoadWriter, a docking station
for Palm products, comes with an integrated keyboard (www.revolvedesign.com).
On the fly
Wish you could rise above it all instead of sitting in
bumper-to-bumper traffic? Moller International predicts you
will-literally-in 10 years. Tests of the company's Skycars are
well underway. The flying coupes and sedans may only get 15 to 20
miles per gallon, but they'll travel 350 mph after vertical
takeoff. You won't even need a pilot's license. On-board
computers do all the flying for you. Cost? About the same as a
top-end luxury car (www.moller.com).
Editor and consultant Jill Amadio has reported on the
automotive industry for 23 years.