Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Auto: IS TECH TAKING THE THRILL OUT OF DRIVING?


"I've seen it" the youngster swooned.

Comfortably perched on (what must have been) his Dad's shoulder, the boy's words and the accompanying sigh got laughs and nods from those around him (the men especially), not because they were making light of his spontaneous moment, but because echoed a sentiment instantly familiar to "car guys" (yes, and girls) the world over  for generations: the awe of being within touching distance of a fantasy, one that comes with a sloping bonnet, crystalline windscreen, gleaming tyres and sexy lines in an eye-popping colour.

The "it" in question was the reveal of the spectacular Audi R8 V-10 Spyder, which checks all the above boxes, and was presented - by CEO Adam Stewart at the ATL Auto complex in a joyous shade dubbed Las Vegas Yellow. If ever there was a fantasy capable of drawing sighs of awe from impressionable little boys (and many "big boys" too) this was it.
The seduction was complete when CEO Stewart got in and fired up the ignition; a commanding yet sonorous and multi-layered growl that somehow managed to convey confidence in both masculine and feminine (feline?) guises.

Judging from the oohs and ahhs, and the blinding flash of phone and SLR cameras, there certainly were those among the gathering who felt "Las Vegas lucky" to have witnessed this first-ever in the Caribbean presentation, an occasion so momentous as to attract the presence of a representative of Audi North America (who had graciously provided the sporty tomcat). It was part of a three-day auto extravaganza that Stewart and his team hatched to share the company's multiple brands (VW, BMW-MINI and Porsche in addition to Audi) against the backdrop of competition from (and conflict with) the Aurto Dealers Association (ADA), who were staging their own, multi-dealer showcase, and the looming "spoiler" of an expected gut-punch to vehicle owners from the Government in the form of new taxes.
Still, there was merriment and selfies aplenty. There seemed to be an auto attraction for every sensibility - from the aforementioned Audi to the metallic crimson of the Porsche Macan GTS to the "blue cool" of BMW's M3 and 440i, and MINI's batch of flirty convertibles and people carriers (which drew a near endless stream of girls- young and old - acting out THEIR version of the auto fantasy). A food court, a kiddies haven (the VW showroom artfully converted) and a row of auto support service providers (insurers and financiers) meant that just about every need was considered ( even a shuttle bus to the adjacent car park).

But among the admiring looks and the "get-comfortable" positioning in the various plush leather (and fabric) drivers' seats, there was some debate too.
And much of it centred on the ongoing "digitalization" of cars, and what that meant for drivers (as opposed  to those who are merely 'transported') Now, technology has been "driving" automotive development right from the beginning, but there's little doubt that we've entered an age where" the computer had become as much the centre of the car as the engine, where bytes are as important as horsepower, where cars are not merely "smart" but "considerate" and almost "commanding".

Speaking with Buzzz, Stewart, while acknowledging that automobiles are increasingly coming off as "computer boxes with wheels" adds that there is very good reason for the technology. "The thing is, carmakers are actually paying more attention to the needs of drivers, number one being the need for safety, and you'll notice that technology is making cars that not only react better but are even proactive, looking to sense the potential for an accident and seeking to prevent or minimize it."
A "little way down the road" from ATL at Mercedes dealers Silver Star (part of the Stewart Auto Group, not the ATL Stewart), this push toward proactive safety was confirmed in a video on the new E-Class sedan, loaded to the gills (as are many auto brands) with sensors to help driver stay in their lanes (literally), manage blind spots and apply additional brake pressure for sudden stops. Cars can also drastically tighten seat belts and deploy air bags in specific ways so that injury is minimized on those occasions when collisions do happen.
Technology is also limiting, or reducing, direct physical contact with the vehicle, as in the "foot-flash" activation of hatchbacks and rear trunks (to relieve the load of those carrying bags and other burdens) and remote starts where the driver/owner is "recognized" even from some distance away.

Tracking is another evolving hot area, with services like Amber and others offering not only fleet tracking but individual car monitoring, and to the point where  radio-determined "boundaries" can be set and enforced. This would have killed many a teenager's dream back in the day when "tiefin' out" Dad's (or Mom's) car was really a rite of passage.
Indeed, the "driver's argument" as represented by one bi-national buyer (splitting his time between Jamaica and New York City) at the ATL show is that today's cars are making all the decisions and taking the thrill out of driving, with not even the multiple driving modes now offered being a true compensation. He even bemoaned checking out a new BMW i8 (the company's award-winning electric car, not at the ATL Show) in New York, only to find out that - horrors! - the exhaust note was, of necessity, generated through the car's audio system, given that the electric motor is whisper quiet.
Still, the internal combustion engine, and its lascivious growls, doesn't look set to disappear quite so soon. Technology is having a "revolutionary" effect on car design and performance - and will continue to do so.
But just as digital music hasn't managed to stifle the analog version (vinyl is hot again) so too, the car will continue to be that four-wheeled conveyor of freedom and other dreams - the kind that bring a satisfied sigh from an eight-year old (and many of the rest of us).
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