• USA Today, Wednesday, November 15, 2006 11:30 AM

General Motors plans to introduce a remote-control key fob next April that will allow drivers to determine the pressure in each tire, check the odometer reading, and find out whether there's enough fuel in the tank. It can also change radio station settings and see if you remembered to lock the car doors.

GM says it will be the first to offer remote two-way communication with the vehicle using a liquid-crystal display on the fob. The fob will operate at four to six times the range of competitors' keyless entry systems, GM says.

The device will be a $150 option on Cadillac Escalade luxury SUVs and other full-size GM SUVs, pickups and crossover-utility vehicles. GM says consumer test panels showed that interest in the feature rose, rather than fell, when panel members were told what GM planned to charge.

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