Sparking endless options

The new Holden Trax compact SUV has BringGo, a new navigation system running off smart phones.

Two gadgets in the Holden Trax will be talking points when the compact SUV arrives here next month.

One is BringGo, a satnav app that links up the touchscreen infotainment centre (above). Priced from $1.49 for a month's trial and downloaded for US$49 ($60.78) with three years of free map updates, the system doesn't eat through smartphone data unless you use Google to find a location.

You can pre-set your destination from a smartphone or, once linked to your car (via a cable for iPhones), you use the screen.

But the gadget to get most of the attention at the Australasian media launch this week was a 240-volt, 150-watt three-pin plug power source in the rear centre console.

Sensibly, you could use it to charge laptops, plug in the vacuum to clean the vehicle or keep the kids' DVD players working.

But take it a step further and all passenger morning ablutions could be covered on the commute to work: plug in your hairdryer, hair straightener, electric toothbrush, shaver or even razor if a buzz cut is needed.

Then you could take it that step too far. How about a blender so your passenger could make you a smoothie for breakfast? Or plug in the rice cooker so you're ready for dinner?