The Face Of Turbo
This summer I had the pleasure of touring Volkswagen’s advanced research lab at an industrial park near Stanford University. VW is developing a number of advanced technologies at this Silicon Valley facility, including its autonomous driving systems and electric battery packs. But in one corner of the lab, VW techs have a driving simulator set up with cameras aimed at the driver’s face. Using these cameras, VW developers measure driver attention and focus, testing just how much the latest Google Maps-based navigation system distracts drivers, and whether a car could offer features designed to keep the driver’s attention on the road.
These are doubtless worthy goals, but this ad for the Hyundai Sonata Turbo made me wonder whether VW pays much attention to changes in facial features based on changes in performance. Surely the kick of a turbo at full boost focuses the driver away from the gadgets and gizmos that VW (and every other automaker) is trying to integrate into its vehicles, and reconnects them with the original automotive “killer app”: a compelling driving experience. Technology, it seems, is being used simply to integrate more technology while minimizing distraction. When will car companies start using that technology to assist their vehicles in providing a more engaging, emotionally-rewarding driving experience?
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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"When will car companies start using that technology to assist their vehicles in providing a more engaging, emotionally-rewarding driving experience?" Because the majority of consumers clearly don't rate that high on their list of priorities. Auto enthusiasts are unfortunately a small minority of the car buying population.
If people wanted "a more engaging, emotionally-rewarding driving experience", they'd buy more manual transmissions and less Camrys.
If you ever get a chance, try test driving a Smart Roadster. I have , once, and allthough it went out of production quite fast (I guess the people who bought it as a design accessory was really let down when it turned out to be a sportscar), it really was a car designed purely for driving pleasure, give or take a few accessories. (it has AC, auto/flappy paddle gearbox power windows and leather, but still weighs only 780 kg's (around 1600lbs) The only downside of the car is the transmission, but it can be chipped to shift faster. Other than that, Caterham continues to upgrade their cars with new technology all the time, even if their not really street legal in all countries.