Someone once said that an automobile is the closest thing man can come to creating a living thing. Nothing combines philosphy, style, passion, utility, and excitement the way a well-designed car can. That grip on our psyche combined with their technical nature make them a perfect vehicle (pardon the pun) for promotion at a trade show booth. Even the German Chancellor had a photo op with one of Germany’s hottest new cars, the Audi R8.
The Audi R8 is a gorgeous car, simple as that. An aluminum-bodied 2-seater mid-engine V8 with an electronically-controlled magnetic-fluid variable-density suspension. Note that the exhibitor didn’t add anything to the car beyond putting its logo all around (but not on) it.
Parrot had a customized Lotus tricked out with all their Bluetooth gadgets, from handsfree speakerphone to the stereo and computer networking in the glovebox.
Can a vehicle display be too big? ;-)
Driving simulators were very popular, from this novel windshield-screen Smart Car (What is it with the appeal of tiny autos?) to the open-air simulator at the Toshiba booth. The widescreen display in the BMW 330i convertible is factory issue, though.
This car from Toyota is a fantastic example of what can be done to help those who need mobility assistance. The wheelchair is the driver’s seat, with a motorized entry and exit system. The wheechair wheels tuck in, and the vehicle charges the batteries while you drive. Too bad you can’t buy this in the US.
Speaking of the appeal in tiny cars, gaily-painted pocket rockets (well, pocket pistols, anyway) seemed to be at every booth. IBM‘s entry is a “geek squad” knockoff for medium-sized business. This BMW Isetta is one of the more interesting vehicles ever made. The entire front of the vehicle is the door.
These vehicles weren’t part of the show, but are worth a look. The first is a German news van. How come ours don’t look that cool? The second is an immaculate antique VW Beetle I found parked on the street. The old Beetle convertible is arguably one of the most fun cars ever made.
You’re dreamin’ in AutoLand…
One thing Americans ever mention when in Europe is Diesel.
Virtually inexistent in the USA, it’s ubiquitous in Europe.
Even those tiny Smart cars have a 650 cc. Turbo Diesel Engine capable of 65 Bhp. (which is a lot for a car that size.)
I knew that, given enough time, Audi would eventually produce a car I’d actually want to own… I’m hoping that it’ll be the thing to prod BMW into doing a proper GT, it’s been 25 years since the M1.
Damme – I meant to add:
“(What is it with the appeal of tiny autos?)”
Get out of those big cities for a while, Alix, and go note the size of the streets in old European towns and I’m sure at least some of the appeal will be clearer…
Besides, far more people on the Continent see a car as transportation, and not so much a rolling advert for the size of their (often imaginary) bank account and/or genitalia as do we Yanks. Viewed as a pure ‘transport module,’ how big does a car really have to be?
Ditto Lauren…
for once we agree…
I drove a large GM rental car last week while my Toyota Tacoma was being repaired. Nice and quiet inside, but harder to maneuver, and the autolock “feature” and the always on headlights were annoying.
When buying a vehicle, I want cars or trucks with _fewer_ features, not more things to go wrong. And I want something that’s maneuverable, which is true of tiny autos. My truck and my wife’s Honda Accord fit the bill, though her car also has the autolock “feature.”
Not to criticize, Floyd (although it often appears to be my calling in this life), but I really don’t understand your statement, “…the always on headlights were annoying.” Unless you’re somehow driving the car from outside, in front of said car, how on Earth can the headlights, off or on, annoy you, the driver?
It is a safety feature, after all, which has been conclusively proven to reduce accident rates by increasing your visibility to other drivers…
I hope you’re not one of these people I roundly curse for driving around in the rain with no lights on, egocentrically thinking, “Why turn the lights on? I can see just fine.” 🙂
6: Shouldn’t I be the one to control whether the lights go on or not? I have my doubts that headlights on when it’s sunny is really a “safety feature.” If it’s raining or visibility is bad (fog, snow), then yes.
Another reason for control: I’m a very amateur astronomer, and driving up to a star party site with my headlights on would get me in a heap of trouble, as it destroys night vision.
In addition to that, if I know my auto battery’s marginal (say, because the car had its lights on when I didn’t know it or when after jumpstarting someone else’s car) and I’m driving in daylight, I would want the headlights off when I’m driving home so the battery can recharge.
Well, your first could just as well apply to other equipment – shouldn’t I be the one to control whether the brake lights go on or not? Something to consider…
Anyway, your doubts nowithstanding, it has been, as I mentioned, conclusively proven to reduce accidents. It may not increase your visibility to others in broad daylight by much, but an increase is still an increase, and therefore it’s a certainty that you will be seen at one time or another where you would not’ve with them off. Someone driving down a sunlit road who, because of glare and contrast, doesn’t see you pulling out of a driveway that’s in deep shade… it does happen, and with consequences.
I can understand your second reason, but I hope I’m nowhere in your vicinity while you’re out driving the public roads at night with no lights…
And the third, understandable, but how often does that scenario arise?
I admit, I don’t personally consider the increase in safety to be worth the inevitable (for me) problems that forgetting to extinguish them would entail – but when driving a car that has them, forgetting them’s not an issue, so I couldn’t care less that they’re on…
As they say in the naval engineering biz, ‘Whatever imparts buoyancy to your watercraft.’ 🙂
3,
Actually, small cars work well in big cities like NYC, too. I own a Caliber myself. The question was directed at those who do not feel as I do. It’s called playing devil’s advocate. 😉
Aah, the absence of an appropriate emoticon lulled me into taking you literally… I simply must take my Irony Detector™ in for calibration one of these days.
We’ve debated trying to invent an irony font.
Here’s another car photo I forgot to add, because I had it in my “booth babes” folder. Call it a preview.
PS, That Audi is one smoking whip. I would only place the Bentley Continental GT above it for my birthday present. I just love what the 12-cylinder, 6-litre, twin-turbocharged engine is capable of.