Didn't You Always Want To Be A Test Driver? This Would Be Your Cubicle

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Imagine barreling down the road in a hot prototype. Now you don’t have to imagine anymore, because these pictures, taken on the first day of the annual conference of the Japan chapter of the SAE, show you in graphic detail what your workplace would look like. Like a mess.

You would be surrounded by a maze of wires. Your stick shift would be encased in something that makes a chastity belt look like a piece of lingerie. In the next turn, the laptop will smash into your head.

Stay clear from any pedestrians, because with these things on your wheels, you will drag a pedestrian a long, long way.

Do you still want to be a professional test driver? Kyowa, the company that outfits vehicular torture chambers the world over, will be happy to be of service.


Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Icemilkcoffee Icemilkcoffee on May 23, 2012

    What is up with the double steering wheels?

    • Greg Locock Greg Locock on May 27, 2012

      That's so you can measure steering wheel torque and and angle independent of the car's electronics. It also lets you fit a steering robot easily. That's not as fancy as it sounds, just a belt and a pulley and an electric motor.

  • AKADriver AKADriver on May 24, 2012

    At least you get a really nice white-stitched Nardi Classico.

  • ToolGuy I was challenged by Tim's incisive opinion, but thankfully Jeff's multiple vanilla truisms have set me straight. Or something. 😉
  • ChristianWimmer The body kit modifications ruined it for me.
  • ToolGuy "I have my stance -- I won't prejudice the commentariat by sharing it."• Like Tim, I have my opinion and it is perfect and above reproach (as long as I keep it to myself). I would hate to share it with the world and risk having someone critique it. LOL.
  • SCE to AUX Sure, give them everything they want, and more. Let them decide how long they keep their jobs and their plant, until both go away.
  • SCE to AUX Range only matters if you need more of it - just like towing capacity in trucks.I have a short-range EV and still manage to put 1000 miles/month on it, because the car is perfectly suited to my use case.There is no such thing as one-size-fits all with vehicles.
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