AD #1896 – Consumers Warming Up to Autonomy, Tesla to Expand Charging Network, Audi TT Proves Less is More
June 30th, 2016 at 11:44am
Runtime: 8:38
To watch this episode on YouTube click here.
- BMW to Partner for Autonomous Technology
- Survey: Consumers Warming Up to Autonomy
- Tesla May Tap Gas Stations to Expand Charging Network
- 2017 Cadillac ATS & CTS Enhancements
- Audi TT’s Super Clean Interior Layout
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On today’s show… consumers prefer Silicon Valley over the automakers to develop software for autonomous cars, why the Audi TT has one of best interior layouts we’ve seen in a car and Tesla is looking at gas stations to expand charging station locations. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily for June 30th, 2016.
BMW TO PARTNER FOR AUTONOMOUS TECH
Autonomy could be one of the most transformative technologies to ever hit the auto industry. And it seems that everyone wants to get in on the action. That’s why Reuters is reporting BMW is set to announce a partnership to develop self-driving cars with Intel and Mobileye, a company that makes driver assistance technologies. Earlier this month, the German automaker revealed plans to introduce a new flagship vehicle with autonomous technology in 2021. There aren’t many details about the partnership but a formal announcement is expected tomorrow.
CONSUMERS WARMING UP TO AUTONOMY
And it seems like consumers are warming up to the idea of self-driving cars. Recent studies showed that car buyers aren’t ready to give up control of a vehicle. But a new survey from AlixPartners found that trend is reversing. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said they would use an autonomous car for their daily commute. That number jumps to 90% as long as riders can occasionally take control of the wheel. And perhaps best of all for automakers, 80% said they would pay extra for the technology. Most interestingly though, consumers by a wide margin said they trust Silicon Valley more than the automakers to develop the software and protect their privacy. However when it comes to building the vehicles, consumers prefer the automakers but it wasn’t as decisive. Automakers and tech companies are pouring billions into this technology, so you can bet they’re glad to see consumer attitudes are changing.
Still to come… a look at the enhancements to the Cadillac ATS and CTS.
FILL ‘ER UP PLEASE
One of the things preventing electric vehicles from catching on is not having a place to charge them. So in order to expand charging locations, The Washington Post reports Tesla is in talks with gas station and convenience store operator Sheetz, to have its chargers installed at its locations. Sheetz, which is located mostly in the mid-Atlantic region, says no plans are final but discussions are ongoing. It currently has plugs for non-Tesla EVs at eight of its locations. Tesla declined to comment but it did reveal that it’s talking with gas stations, hotels and restaurants to install chargers. This could solve another potential headache for Tesla. It currently has a network of over 600 supercharger stations across the U.S. for Model S and X owners to charge at for free. But earlier this month CEO Elon Musk revealed the company plans to charge Model 3 owners to use them. So this news could help those owners with more spots to plug-in.
2017 CADILLAC ATS & CTS ENHANCEMENTS
We like to try and keep you up to speed with all the new product that’s out there and Cadillac just announced a few enhancements for the ATS and CTS. New to both vehicles is a Carbon Black sport package, two paint colors and new wheel options. Cadillac CUE, which is upgraded with new technology, is now standard on the ATS. The 2017 CTS gets a new grille design and an all-new rear fascia with vertical exhaust. However, these changes are not reflected in the V-series models. The CTS will also get the Rear Camera Mirror that debuted in the CT6. Look for the 2017 models to start hitting dealer showrooms within the next few months.
Coming up next, Audi goes for the “less is more” approach with the new TT.
LESS IS MORE
The new Audi TT has got to have the cleanest looking dash in the business right now because the design team removed two of the most prominent features found in cars today. As you can see the HVAC controls are hidden within the air vents. From left to right, you have the blower speed dial and AC control, temperature adjustment, mode selector for vent control and then all the way at the sides you get the control for the heated seats. The bezel around the vent also rotates for fine tuning airflow and there’s lever at the bottom to open and shut the vent. But you’re probably thinking to yourself, there’s something else missing from this picture. And you’re right. No big infotainment screen in the center of the dash. It’s been integrated into the instrument cluster. I found the best way to control all the functions is to use the steering wheel controls. On the left hand side there’s a few buttons for scrolling through all the options, like navigation, devices (for a plugged in cell phone) and the radio. A nice easy-to-use thumbwheel allows you to search through and select stations. The volume knob is on the right hand side of the steering wheel along with navigation and phone controls. One of the trickiest parts of this setup is the ability to change the screen layout. With a simple click of the view button, the speedo and tach jump out of the way and the infotainment screen takes center stage. Again, you can scroll through radio stations using the thumbwheel and adjust the volume. But the great part is you no longer get this minimized version of the navigation screen. It’s nice and big. There are also controls on the center console to navigate all these functions if you don’t like the steering wheel controls or the passenger wants to change the station. But the passenger is kind of screwed with this setup. They have to peek over the driver’s shoulder just to see the screen. But I will say it’s kind of nice to have options. If you’re romping through a nice section of road, you can have the speedo and tach be nice and big, but if you’re just cruisin’ around, you can switch to a larger infotainment screen. In the end, I didn’t find that it helped with the amount of time I took my eyes off the road compared to a center screen or anything like that, but just look how clean the dash layout is.
We’ve got a great AFTER HOURS coming up today. Our own Dr. Data, A.K.A. Gary Vasilash, is the host of this live roundtable with three of the best “Mikes” in auto journalism. In alphabetical order, Mike Colias from Automotive News; Mike Martinez from The Detroit News and his colleague at the News, Mike Wayland, will be talking about their various beats as well the hot topics in the auto industry. If you have any questions send them to us at viewermail@autoline.tv.
But that wraps up today’s show, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
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June 30th, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Imagine restoring a 2017 Audi TT in, say, 2042. Welcome to Hell, kid.
June 30th, 2016 at 12:59 pm
The 2016 Camaro also has the HVAC controls within the center stack vent surrounds. I thought this was a clever way of opening up space on the IP but the added complexity and repair costs might come back to haunt you.
June 30th, 2016 at 1:04 pm
1) Brett, I agree, but I think the same could be said about most vehicles laden with electronics. Concours quality cars goes as far to have the correct color of throttle return springs. The hunt of finding a working & correct MAP sensor for a 1987 (insert make & model) in 2025 might be a challenge!
June 30th, 2016 at 1:09 pm
That’s unfortunate that they made CUE stardard on all trim levels of ATS. Instead, they should have a “CUE Delete” option on all Cadillacs, including the CT6.
June 30th, 2016 at 1:41 pm
Back in the day, I used to travel quite a bit. I hated getting a Pontiac for a rental car since the controls were not where you would expect them to be. I can’t imagine jumping into a modern Audi at night in the rain and trying to figure everything out. Good thing they don’t rent ‘em.
June 30th, 2016 at 2:09 pm
I have CUE on my XT5, and so far, I don’t have much gripe about it. There are redundant buttons for set-up functions, volume buttons on the steering wheel and also a slider (for passenger interface with volume). A/C fan, auto setting, recirc, defog and rear defog also have separate controls. Granted I’m just getting started (with CUE) but I just believe it won’t be a problem.
On the new Audi interior; maybe a little too stark (in appearance), at least to me. And as earlier said, great for the driver, not so much for passenger (interface).
June 30th, 2016 at 2:27 pm
I’d pass on the Audi TT dash. While it looks clean, there is too much looking at the dash while making changes. I have redundant controls in my car now on the wheel, but I prefer the volume knob on the dash as it never moves and is quick to adjust. The Audi seat heater control looks too complicated for a single control.
June 30th, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Correction…the Audi TT HVAC mode selection control is too complicated, not the heated seats.
June 30th, 2016 at 2:39 pm
#6
Yeah, I may be too hard on CUE. My reference point is UConnect in my friend’s Challenger, generally considered about the most intuitive of today’s “infotainment” systems, and the MyLink in my Corvette, also one of the more user friendly systems. Also, the CUE that I experienced, and didn’t like at all, was an earlier version in a first-year ATS.
June 30th, 2016 at 2:40 pm
I still use the volume/channel knobs until I remember that I can do it all on the steering wheel.Old habits die a hard, sometimes long painful death,lol.
June 30th, 2016 at 2:52 pm
The Audi TT continues the German obsession with complexity. The repair costs must be out of this world as wear, dust, temperature cycles, and time take their toll. Another Lease car only for sure.
June 30th, 2016 at 3:53 pm
Dashes are now on a par with texting , time for voice controls , w/no more than 6 commands necessary
June 30th, 2016 at 7:00 pm
Interesting article:http://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/index.ssf/2016/06/tesla_driver_killed_in_crash_w.html
June 30th, 2016 at 9:11 pm
G.A. Branigan, I was coming back here to post a similar article. Tesla’s defense that all Tesla drivers are fully aware this is still Beta software is not reassuring. I hope this doesn’t dampen the enthusiasm for autonomous cars, but realistically it does dampen it for me
July 1st, 2016 at 8:30 am
Self-Driving Tesla Was Involved in Fatal Crash, U.S. Says
http://nyti.ms/29dJjPp