Which storage media can best endure the interior of a hot automobile?

CF cards are based on the ATA standards. SD cards are based on the SD association standards, and have a different controller that contains DRM - but they need a Secure Digital host on the host machine. SSDs are basically MLC NAND flash with a Serial ATA controller. Honda/Alpine still uses a PCMCIA slot in their systems, needing a PC Card adapter for any card to work.

Automotive HDDs are made to withstand more shock, vibration and heat. Or so what Fujitsu and Hitachi say.

 

I prefer stone tablets. Archaic? Maybe. However, I'll let the experiences of the Egyptians (who certainly knew something about building things that last in the heat) speak for themselves.

 

I'm taking a class right now in cartography and we just got through a brief history of cartography. The Egyptians were fairly advanced in cartography, but they used [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus"]papyrus[/ame] and wood to put their maps on, so most of them did not survive. They know from other writing that the Eqyptians had survey maps that they used for taxation purposes, but none of those maps survived. They also had maps on the inside of coffin lids so the dead could navigate to the afterlife. Some of those maps survived.

The Chinese, on the other hand, did use engraved stone tablets.

 

All depends on how you define "hot"

Eg if the car is actually on fire, you will need one of those airline fire resistant recorder slugs from Allied Signal

 

I thought the OP was referring to a stolen automobile - but let's go with the burning car scenario. You might consider an ironkey product. Allegedly fireproof and waterproof
Rugged USB - Waterproof, Shockproof, Fireproof Memory Stick / Pen Drive Reviews