AD #1503 – BMW Tests Google Glass, F1 Boss Old-Fashioned, Sprinter’s New Crosswind Feature
November 18th, 2014 at 11:56am
Runtime: 8:21
- NADA Forecasts Continued Growth
- BMW Tests Google Glass During Assembly
- Volvo Partners with DHL
- F1 Boss Too Old-Fashioned
- CR Warns of Counterfeit SUV Tires
- Sprinter’s Crosswind Assist Feature
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BMW is using Google Glass for quality inspection, Consumer Reports warns about buying Chinese tires and a look at a world’s first feature on the new Mercedes Sprinter. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily for November 18th, 2014.
NADA FORECASTS CONTINUED GROWTH
Car sales will continue to grow next year in the U.S. according to the National Automobile Dealers Association. The organization forecasts that sales will hit 16.94 million units in 2015. This year sales are expected to come in around 16.4 million vehicles. The NADA expects sales to rise because of low interest rates, lower gasoline prices and an increase in jobs and wages.
BMW TESTS GOOGLE GLASS DURING ASSEMBLY
In an attempt to improve its quality inspections on the assembly line, BMW is conducting a pilot program at its Spartanburg plant in South Carolina using Google Glass. The quality testers are able to document potential issues with pictures or video using Google Glass, instead of writing down problems which could often times be vague. The device also allows the staff to stay at the car while doing the tests, instead of going back and forth between the vehicle and computer terminals. The tests are currently being done with pre-production vehicles but the company says its looking into using Google Glass during final assembly as well.
VOLVO PARTNERS WITH DHL
Back in February we reported that Volvo was showing off connected car technology that allowed people to have food or other products delivered directly to their car by using a “digital key.” Now Bloomberg reports that the automaker is teaming with DHL so that customers can have packages delivered to their vehicle. The delivery service would only get access after the owner accepts delivery via text message. Premium brands are always looking for ways to offer unique experiences that competitors don’t and this is one way for Volvo to do just that.
Still to come. F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone doesn’t care about wooing young people into the sport and Consumer Reports has a warning about Chinese tires.
F1 BOSS TOO OLD-FASHIONED
Formula One TV viewership has been down and after reading an interview that 84-year old F1 boss, Bernie Ecclestone did with network Campaign Asia-Pacific, it seems like they’re going to keep going down. He doesn’t want to try and reach out to the younger generation by expanding into social media because he doesn’t see any value in it, saying he’s just too old-fashioned. Ecclestone also says kids don’t know what they want and aren’t able to relate with its sponsors because they can’t afford a Rolex or don’t have any money to put in a UBS bank. Um, Bernie I, like I’m sure most fans, got into the sport when I was young and the hope should be keeping us around long enough until we can afford a Rolex or have a bunch of money to put in the bank. I think Ecclestone was right about one thing, he is just too old-fashioned.
WATCH OUT FOR COUNTERFEIT TIRES
Consumer Reports is warning to watch out for counterfeit Chinese SUV tires. After buying some Pegasus Advanta tires for testing purposes it discovered after the fact that they were not manufactured or distributed by authorized parties and would not be backed. The tires underperformed the real Pegasus tires in CR’s tests and won’t be recalled unless a safety issue is identified. This isn’t going to help the perception that Chinese-made things are junk. But I say that you should never skimp on the rubber that goes between you and the road because this is one area where quality makes a huge difference. If you’re not sure how to identify a quality tire, we’ll put a link to a video I did on how to read your tire’s sidewall.
Coming up next, a look at a world’s first feature on the new Mercedes Sprinter van.
SPRINTER’S CROSSWIND ASSIST FEATURE
Last week we showed you the off-road capability of the 2015 Mercedes Sprinter van. But that’s not its only new feature. The van is now standard with what the company calls Crosswind Assist. Here’s the highlights of how it works.
(Highlights of Mercedes’ Crosswind Assist can only be viewed in the video version of today’s show.)
And don’t forget to check out our coverage of the L.A. Auto Show starting on Wednesday. John will be talking to executives from Audi, BMW, and Ford plus many more about the vehicles they have at the show. And on Thursday we’ll be bringing you a special After Hours from Honda Performance Development, which is the automaker’s technical operations center for its motorsport program. So, if you have any questions about Honda racing send them our way to viewermail@autoline.tv.
But that wraps up today’s show, thanks for watching and have a great day.
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Comments (13)
November 18th, 2014 at 12:12 pm
The Sprinter Crosswing Assist is interesting. Does it wear out brakes faster?
November 18th, 2014 at 12:13 pm
Oh yea, the BMW Google Glass seems to be the first practical use of Google Glass that I have seen.
November 18th, 2014 at 12:28 pm
1. So if I drive from LA to Vegas on a hot gusty windy day, what kind of mess are the brakes going to be in? This is kind of like how on some rear wheel drive cars, the rear brakes get destroyed during winter snow driving.
2. Google glass, although interesting, isn’t being developed actively anymore – many key team leaders have left the project and more than half of the companies developing for it have stopped.
November 18th, 2014 at 12:47 pm
Are Volvo’s getting so expensive that you really are living in them? Why else do I need a package or food delivered to my vehicle?
That use of Google glass could also be useful for troubleshooting glitches with vehicles at the dealership. Great for intermittent problems on a test drive.
Wow! So NASCAR is more technically sophisticated than F1, at least in connecting with their fans
@ #1 From what I have seen on brake wear with vehicles which already have this type of feature (Chrysler Minivans have had a variant of this for a few years) your brakes do not wear out any faster or unevenly.
November 18th, 2014 at 1:46 pm
Sean I just re-visited you Autoline Garage that dealt with reading the tire. As before, there was some very good information (in it). But since you were talking about counterfeit tires (from China), one has to wonder whether they would ‘fudge’ on the side wall description (of that) too.
I didn’t read the transcript on the F1 television coverage, but if they are talking about U.S. viewership, a lot of the decline (here) is coming from the demise of Speedvision and the ‘potpourri’ of coverage from NBC, NBCSports and CNBC.
November 18th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
Some of the comments made by Bernie were kinda sounding like someone who is losing it a bit, a little dementia perhaps.
Crosswind thingy sounds like a very complex answer to a simple question, couldn’t I just steer in the direction of the cross wind, you know, like we do now.
November 18th, 2014 at 3:35 pm
King Lear, I mean Bernie
It’s hard to take at face value the things Bernie says. RedBull and Monster drinks aim at youth. There’s PepeJeans and Adidas and Puma. There’s B to B sponsorship programs. F1 even has grid girls and a fashion show during MonteCarlo, attracting women’s attention. For Bernie to focus on the 70 old set is just weird, and it’s well worth considering that the full time F1 press reminds us never to underestimate Bernie Ecclestone. James Allen of BBC even writes that the sport has does plenty of work learning about the new media.
Bernie’s got some strategy in mind, but what is it? But is he not as sharp as he could be? You want to try him?
November 18th, 2014 at 4:16 pm
And now there’s a story from Bernie’s favorite journo that he’ll be looking into the race accreditation of websites. Take the story as seriously as you like, as it’s the FIA that gives credentials to the media.
Man, that Bernie is doing a lot of interviews recently. Man in a hurry?
November 18th, 2014 at 4:16 pm
#5 – You’re right they could just “fudge” the info on the sidewall. But as I said, it’s not a good idea to skimp on tires. Tires are cheap for a reason. And in this case even the non-counterfeit tires were cheap.
November 18th, 2014 at 5:18 pm
Hey Marshy,
Do you know anything about cars or trucks? The rear brakes on most cars / trucks last longer, with one exception,the proportioning valve is leaking.Otherwise,your front brakes will always wear faster, nothing to do with winter driving.
THe Cross wind assist will Not be applying the brakes Hard Enough to affect the Brake wear factor.
So now you can go out and buy your M/B Sprinter and enjoy your drive from LA to Vegas.
November 18th, 2014 at 9:22 pm
The rear brakes on my ’07 VW Passat with EPB (electronic parking brake) are prematurely down to zero. The tire/brake shop says they see this in many VW and Audi vehicles with EPB. Any others with this problem?
November 19th, 2014 at 12:51 pm
@ Bob
You missed my point – rear drive cars with traction control CAN and DO wear out their brakes faster – my buddy burned through his rears in about 24 months with his Lincoln LS. Fronts were fine – blamed it on “spirited” driving in the snow.
And yes, somewhere in my vehicle dynamics courses and short race car building hobby, I recall somewhere that the front does do a lot of the braking work…
November 20th, 2014 at 12:55 am
Marshy,
I drive a 300C Hemi-powered Chrysler with Traction Control and over 60,000 miles. I have yet to replace my rear brakes and have changed my front pads twice.Mileage is the criteria, not months.
Oh, by the way, I live in Eastern Canada where we have lots of snow on our roads and the Chrysler Traction Control system is the Best i’ve driven yet.