Internet-Ready Car

bark76 writes: "Volkswagen is going to be selling VW Golfs with an MP3 player, a computer and a mobile phone, it will be the first mass-produced car that is internet ready. You can see the car and read the specks here here (warning, it's in German) or you can read an article over at abcnews.com." Another submitter sent in a gas-electric hybrid minivan from Toyota, so if you liked the hybrid vehicles but didn't like the subcompact form factor, there's hope yet. Your grandchildren will never know a gasoline-only car or one without internet access.

Information Superhighway

After years of building the information superhighway, we finally have something to drive on it.

Re:This is a outrage.

When will the care industry stop trying to make vehicles more like mobile homes? They spend all that time and money in crash tests, but then turn around and add distractions that can only be detrimental. Certainly people can do without these features while they're commutting from place to place.

I would assume these things would be pretty safe if used by a passenger, and perhaps useful to the passenger as well. The MP3 player ought to be more safe then a CD player as one should be able to have it run much much longer without repeats, so you won't be as likely to change the "CD" at the wrong time.

Probably also useful and mostly safe when stopped dead in traffic, at least as long as you put it in neutral and pull up the parking break. A paper back works well then too though.

Sooner than later, we're going to start clogging the courts with lawsuits involving people in accidents where these toys were involved. Cell phones included. When the time comes, I say they do the same thing they did with the tobacco industry. Slap them with a hugh lawsuit. It's not like anyone can't see it coming.

Hasn't it already? Isn't that why the USA didn't get nav systems in cars until years after european models?

Of course, the people using these devices are equally as guilty.

Or more so, the people are the ones using the toys at a unsafe time or in an unsafe manner (or who just plain got unlucky).

Microsoft/VW Internet Car

In related news...

Redmond, WA Microsoft announced they were working with Volkswagon on a joint venture where WindowsXP would be used to power the Internet car of the future. Announced as possible features:

• MicroCarSoft would use two forms of gasoline. One of the standard format, and another developed by Microsoft. Due to licensing agreements with the auto manufacturers, though, the standard format will burn far less efficently then the Microsoft format. Microsoft officials are even toying with the idea of going strictly with the Microsoft format gas. Microsoft gas will be available from common retailers such as CompUSA and Best Buy.
• In beta test, the MicroCarSoft has been found to be fairly stable with only 1 out of 500,000 testers reporting system crashes which led the engine core dumping on the pavement right on the highway.
• Finally, the MicroCarSoft will not accept gas from retailers that do not adhere to the P3P standard, as the car accepts cookies to allow Microsoft and Volkswagon to track where your family has been on vacation.

As you can see, the future is now. Be prepared.

Bryan R.

VW's thumb up its collective ass

(BTW, please flame me. I don't really give a rat's ass what the VW defenders have to say. I'm not making judgements based on business or anything other than the fact that they make something that I want, and they will not sell it in the United States. It's my right as a consumer in a capitalist country to bitch to high heaven about what I want, can afford, but still can't get.)

So, we can get a stripped golf with a built-in MP3 player (BFD) but we (in the US) will NOT be able to get the four door Golf with the 180hp turbo gas engine? (Before flaming, read that spec carefully, and then go research it. I know I did. That's exactly what I want, and according to VW, I can sit and spin).

So, Herr Piech, stick it up your ass and light it.

Dangerous minds

As if cell phones and driving didn't spell enough danger now we have to worry about people driving and getting into an accident for typig fp

Why we need robotic cars

In all seriousness... the trend to put more and more gadgets in cars (and I have a *lot* in mine) shows how badly we need robotic cars... except for those who can afford chauffeurs.

Computing and sensors will ultimately solve this problem (except, perhaps, in the US where the tort legal system will make them impossible to deploy).

I hope that the fallout from the military, always useful to the personal technology industry, will bring autonomous vehicle technology before I am too old to enjoy it!

Furthermore, once robotic cars are working (and not on those silly, very expensive automatic highways), mileage will go up, pollution down, safety up (which means I may not need my monster SUV to protect me from other drivers), etc. All around... good stuff if it ever gets done!

Re:Dangerous minds

this is just german efficeny in action -- immagine: your driving down the street, you log into your bank and find your tech stocks have crashed. Distraught, you use your navigation software to find the neareset bridge to drive off.

Just what i need

After i overclock my car, i can frag that trucker who cut me off !

No realy, spending a lot of time stationary in trafic jams (+30 mins a day ) this is nice,
sending a few mails from the trafic jam, checking where the speedtraps are, ircing already like the idee
building a beowulf in the trafic jam
sorry could not resist

Computer Case Car

The new car, available only in a German pilot program, comes only in blue

I think they should have went with beige.

This is a outrage.

When will the care industry stop trying to make vehicles more like mobile homes? They spend all that time and money in crash tests, but then turn around and add distractions that can only be detrimental. Certainly people can do without these features while they're commutting from place to place.

Sooner than later, we're going to start clogging the courts with lawsuits involving people in accidents where these toys were involved. Cell phones included. When the time comes, I say they do the same thing they did with the tobacco industry. Slap them with a hugh lawsuit. It's not like anyone can't see it coming. Of course, the people using these devices are equally as guilty.

English version of the forementioned page...

...available here:

http://www.volkswagen.de/international/english/ind ex_2.htm [volkswagen.de]

BJoD

The new car, available only in a German pilot program, comes only in blue.

I suppose when these crash we can say it was a Blue Jetta of Death. Sorry, but I just had to say it. (: