From the dawn of automobiles in the early 1900's, to the 2010's and on, automakers have came and gone. The ones who have stayed were the ones who have adapted to the market and consumer demands. However, with the technology-driven world we live in today, is it a bit too much? Some like the bare-bones basic, like Koenigsegg. They offer nothing but an engine and wheels. Then you have the Godzilla, the Nissan GT-R SpecV or their 370Z.
Now, it's not fair to pick on Nissan, so let's also mention Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Porsche. New car technology like park-assist, hands-free bluetooth, and satelite radio. However, the luxury technology is not what I am talking about, it is the driving assists.
Driving assists, such as Traction Control, Stability Control, Brake Assists, and more. Do All Wheel Drive sports cars offer easier driving to otherwise under-skilled drivers? The Nissan GT-R SpecV has more gizmos than a Playstation, which it isn't far from. It actually had video-game designers helping out designing the user-interface. It allows you to throw the car at high speeds in full control, because of all of the tech helping you out.
Then you have the 370Z. This car has the Synchro-Rev matching, which blips the throttle for you on down-shifts, making the driving easier for you. You can turn this off, but I wish it wasn't offered in the first place. But like I said, it is what the consumer wants.
People are becoming lazier than ever. ADD is more rampant and undiagnosed. People don't feel like driving, as they do texting, eating, talking, etc.... People want to get from Point A to Point B as easy as possible, with the fewest functions as possible. With radar helping the cruise control, all you have to do is steer.
Cruise control was going to be name auto-pilot. However, people (although they still do) thought they could have had the cars do all of the work, including driving. People have often discussed about driverless cars, but it would be impossible. Check out about that in a later article.
Other cars, like Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi, for example, offer superior comfort over true driving experience. Porsche can't dodge this now. Audi has a great S-Line, and their R8 also has some truth for it (except the AWD). Lamborghini is trying, with the RWD Balboni Edition. Bentley also has done a nice job in the performance section with the Continental Flying Spur, which offers options to turn all assists off.
Ford (my favorite company) is doing great, and their Ford Sync package is just awesone. Wait, I thought this topic was about car tech hurting the driving experience? Well, it still is. However, Ford has gone in the right direction with this technology. While some automakers offer all of this crap standard, Ford makes it all up to the consumer. Of course, Ford isn't really aimed at performance or luxury, but they still have a nice line of cars. The Mustang, offered by many aftermarket companies as their own style, still has true-to-bones sports in it. Traction Control can be gone away with, the gearbox isn't a fancy dual clutch, and still needs some muscle on it.
Dual-clutch and CVT transmissions, F1-inspired gearboxes, sounds great? Not if you want a true driving experience. You also have power-steering. I don't care for strong steering, I would rather have strong arms moving a direct-link steering. I want the true feel of the road, and what the car and I, working as a team, can handle.
Well, this is just my review on car technologies. I'm young, I'm not an oldie, so I never grew up without this tech, but I prefer against it.
Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:00 pm by Guest