The End Is Nigh

[rossybee]

Watch on YouTube

[j2 lot]

Excellent, as long as it stays in America
Does show that things are going to be very different in 50 years time.

[rossybee]

Perfect for non-car lovers.

But would be better using the technology for a bus, that way they can all be ferried about en masse, twats.

[Ferg]

Mercedes getting on the bandwagon saying they could release one now if law allowed. I think there's a fair amount of real world implications to sort out first, but the freedom for a disabled person is particularly compelling.

[rossybee]

Mercedes getting on the bandwagon saying they could release one now if law allowed. I think there's a fair amount of real world implications to sort out first, but the freedom for a disabled person is particularly compelling.

Yes, and the blind man in the vid.

Does have benefits for folk with disabilities, even tut.

Merc developed a car years ago with a joystick instead of a wheel and foot pedals, but legislation and red tape killed the idea.

[campbell]

It'll happen.

It's not for me. But that doesn't mean I don't applaud what they are trying to do. Top marks, Google.

Are you ready for Microsoft's answer to this, though? I hear they are getting Lotus to build them

[tut]

I would as much sit in a driverless car as I would in a non piloted helicopter.

Fcuking stupid idea just to show how technology has developed without thought going into how it would actually be used. Could only appeal to numb wits that have no idea of what driving a real car actually feels like.

Go ahead and play bumper cars, but stay the hell away from me, or catch a tram.

tut

[campbell]

But there are people who assume cars always had DSC, EBT, TC etc. In a generation there may well be people who thought cars never had drivers. Progress. Mark my words...

[woody]

Having been pax many times with my old dear driving her converted vw caddy from her wheelchair with hand controls, I can see the appeal.

[tut]

Probably correct Campbell, but fortunately I will not be around to witness it.

Like most on here we are S_E because of the cars that we love driving, if that is going to be the future, then will the last Elise driver please turn off the lights.

tut

[campbell]

Couldn't agree more, Tut.

Elises from the K series era are from a simpler time, where EVO mag's "the thrill of driving" rings very true indeed.

That said, I like the idea of the raft of safety features, driver aids etc in even our lowly Skoda family barge.

Horses for courses, eh...

[Dominic]

Sniff on the mark...

http://sniffpetrol.com/2014/05/28/googl ... or-idiots/

[tut]

Obviously you can not have too many safety features for women drivers, front and rear camera displays were a great idea, side ones would be even better, and a self parking car would protect our bumperless ones.

tut

[flyingscot68]

When looking at this you've got to take in to account that for the many people these days the car is just transport, nothing else.
Many find driving a chore, the numbers of people like us who enjoy driving daily are dwindling and for many it's becoming a weekend only pastime, or it would be if they could get by like that.
I guess this is the thin edge of the wedge and the start of the next big thing in personal transportation.
Not for me mind you, I could never relinquish control !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Shug]

Jay Leno said something some time ago, which I guess would be the ideal. He suggested the time of the internal combustion completely manually controlled car was coming to an end, but us enthusiasts shouldn't be worried about it. He compared it to the days of going from horses as the main force for transport, to the car. Suggesting that in his utopia - the actual necessity of transport would be performed in autonomous non-polluting vehicles, with the gasoline cars saved as leisure pursuits, just as horses are now.

There's a logic in that there is an established infrastructure (the road network) for autonomous cars and it makes sense to develop them to fit the bit we already have. Hopefully also we haven't blindly handed over so much power to government that they think they could get away with removing the right to drive yourself as a freedom we could still enjoy. It still amazes me that the average person on the street is happy to slap a telematics box in their car to save some money on insurance and hand away basic privacy...

Of course, easy to look forward to cars becoming a leisure pursuit when you have the money of Jay Leno - the minute they aren't necessary expenses for daily transport, every aspect of the costs will rise massively. Whatever happens, I think even the most optimistic has to admit that the glory day of the internal combustion car and driving enthusiast is probably now behind us...