Automotive News - February 25, 2008 - (Page 14)

14 • FEBRUARY 25, 2008 Beware of high tech running amok Some features are nutty, unnecessary or maybe both Frank Aukofer Volvo has a high-tech feature called BLIS. But it’s anything but blissful. It’s mostly annoying. And it’s unnecessary, just like many of the other high-tech, high-cost and mostly useless features being foisted on gullible buyers as manufacturers think up ways to sell vehicles with faddish technology for technology’s sake. Among them: Rain-sensing windshield wipers: They usually don’t work, and besides, what’s wrong with setting the interval yourself? Auto-dimming mirrors: You can’t see anything but headlights at night. Keyless push-button ignition systems: How about inserting a key and twisting it? Radar cruise control: It slows you so the guy next to you can jump in the lane in front of you. Air-conditioned and heated seats: They’re not needed if you sit on good-quality cloth instead of trendy leather. Surround-view cameras: What’s wrong with looking around? Proximity warning systems: You can’t tell whether it’s picking up something in back or near the front fender. By now everyone has heard about the BMW iDrive, a hopelessly complicated system to do simple things, and Comand, which got MercedesBenz into a lot of quality trouble. Lexus has a self-parking system that needs about five times as much parking space as the average driver uses. Some of the stuff has marginal value, like rear cameras on SUVs that can keep some rutabaga brain from backing over a child. And Lexus has a face recognition system that sounds a warning and applies the brakes for the idiot who is drunk or nods off. Infiniti has a lane departure system that sounds a chime and gently applies the brakes to bring the car back in line. EDITORIAL STAFF 313-446-0361 E-mail autonews@crain.com Web site www.autonews.com Keith E. Crain Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Peter Brown Associate Publisher and Editorial Director DETROIT 313-446-0361 Fax: 313-446-0383 1155 Gratiot Ave. Detroit, MI 48207-2997 David Sedgwick Editor dsedgwick@crain.com Edward Lapham Executive Editor elapham@crain.com Richard Johnson Managing Editor rjohnson@crain.com John K. Teahen Jr. Senior Editor Mary Beth Vander Schaaf Deputy Managing Editor Charles Child International Editor David Kushma Retail Editor Dave Guilford News Editor Volvo’s BLIS alerts drivers when a car has entered a blind spot. When that occurs, a light shines on the A-pillar. Philip Nussel Special Projects Editor James B. Treece Industry Editor Karen Faust O’Rourke Insight Editor COPY EDITORS: Bob Allen, Tom Fetters, Patricia C. Foley, Kenn Jones, Gregory Skwira Susan Zavela Bamford/Graphics Editor Rick Kranz/Product Editor REPORTERS: Leslie J. Allen, David Barkholz, Mary Connelly, Ralph Kisiel, Jamie LaReau, Arlena Sawyers, Robert Sherefkin, Richard Truett, Bradford Wernle, Amy Wilson Mary Raetz Senior Statistician Debi Domby, Camille Pippen Research Assistants Dan Jones Office Manager Robertta Savage Editorial Assistant Corinne M. Price, Michael Garrison Information Center LOS ANGELES Mark Rechtin/Bureau Chief 310-739-8009 Fax: 310-832-6362 Kathy Jackson/Reporter 323-370-2481 Fax: 323-655-8157 6500 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90048-4947 NEW YORK Diana T. Kurylko/Reporter Phone/fax: 908-273-6059 dkurylko@crain.com WASHINGTON Donna Harris/Reporter 540-668-7295 Fax: 540-668-7296 Harry Stoffer/Reporter 202-662-7212 Fax: 202-638-3155 814 National Press Building Washington, DC 20045-1801 MID-SOUTH Lindsay Chappell/Bureau Chief 615-371-6654 Fax: 615-371-6655 April Wortham/Reporter 615-371-6617 104 East Park Drive, Suite 315, Brentwood, TN 37027 TOKYO Hans Greimel/Asia Editor +81-3-3828-9060 Fax: +81-3-3828-9061 hgreimel@crain.com Yurakucho Denki Bldg., 20th Floor 1-7-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006, Japan SHANGHAI Alysha Webb/Bureau Chief +86-21-6226-9485 Fax: +86-21-6226-9483 alyshawebb@yahoo.com TURIN Luca Ciferri/Reporter lciferri@craincom.de +39-011 961 0194 Fax: +39-011 961 0113 Viale Cavaglia, 8 10029 Villastellone (TO) Italy STAFF CORRESPONDENT: Eric Freedman/Legal file, 517-337-0269 www.autonews.com DETROIT Victor Galvan/Web Editor vgalvan@crain.com 313-446-0345 Scott Kennedy/Multimedia Editor comment Frank Aukofer writes DriveWays, an automobile review column published in newspapers and online. There are some extremely worthwhile high-tech inventions, including stability and traction control, antilock brakes and tire-pressure monitoring. But some are off-the-charts silly, like BLIS and similar systems. This is BLIS? BLIS stands for “blind spot information system.” Cameras are mounted under the outside mirrors; they pick up cars approaching on both sides from the rear. When a car shows up in a supposed blind spot, a light inside on one A-pillar or the other illuminates to tell the driver something he should already know. It’s not exclusive to Volvo. Mazda has one, and other manufacturers and suppliers have or are working on similar devices. They are costly and pointless. They don’t always work as advertised, either, often providing false warnings. Virtually all automobiles and trucks these days have large outside mirrors with broad ranges of adjustments. Anyone can adjust the outside mirrors so that blind spots do not exist. All you have to do is adjust the left outside mirror so its right side lines up with the left side of the inside mirror. And adjust the right mirror so its left side aligns with the right side of the inside mirror. I am continually amazed at how many engineers, designers and even some automotive journalists believe in blind spots. They either don’t know or refuse to learn how to adjust their outside mirrors properly. Or maybe they’ve been brainwashed by somebody’s marketing department. In Europe, they’ve even institutionalized the fallacy by installing those ridiculous split reduction mirrors, which are supposed to eliminate blind spots but are mostly confusing and fortunately not legal in the United States. I think the blind-spot myth was propagated by generations of driver education instructors who told students to adjust outside mirrors so they could see the sides of the car — a “reference point.” The problem is that if you adjust them that way, you get the same picture in all three mirrors — and blind spots. Then what? So, with Volvo’s $695 BLIS, a light goes on when a car approaches. What are you supposed to do then? Guess where it is? Glance over your shoulder? All of that is distracting, and distractions are the No. 1 cause of accidents. The Mazda system, called BSM, has a page and a half of small italic type in the owner’s manual with warnings about how the thing might not work, similar to those prescription drug advertisements on TV that warn of possible disablement or death if you use the product. The best part is that it says in boldface type: “Do not rely completely on the BSM system and be sure to look over your shoulder before changing lanes.” Better yet, eliminate those expensive, complicated and unnecessary technology-spawned systems. Reduce the price of the car and spend the money on something useful, like a tush massager. time period. If Berman likes life on the dark side, so be it. Automotive News does not need to publish all the negative stuff it does. continued from Page 12 product and service is directly related to the cartel-controlled petroleum industry’s pricing and its unbelievable greed. Maybe there is even a cleaner and cheaper alternative to battery power. ROBERT VARIELL Jackson, Mich. The writer works for a Tier 1 auto supplier. Energy for the Chevrolet Volt will come from new battery technology. learn whether the glass is half full or half empty. The same goes for guest commentators such as Bradley Berman. Chevy is doing a great service for everyone in designing the Volt and pushing the envelope on battery technology. Berman doesn’t know General Motors’ mind-set on payback on new concepts. He doesn’t know how many dollars GM has in its rainy-day fund, and he is only speculating on the payback TOM KUCHNICKI Alanson, Mich. The writer is retired. He was an advanced systems engineer. Dealer wants to view Volt from both sides To the Editor: I enjoyed the column about the Chevy Volt. The writer’s thoughts certainly parallel some of my own. There are unquestionably several impediments to General Motors’ potential successful launch of the Volt that must be overcome. However, I was disappointed that the column was one-sided, pointing out only the potential pitfalls. Teach reporters half full/half empty To the Editor: I know it is easier to write in a negative manner, but your writers need to Maybe the writer sees no potential upside. If that is the case, I would have appreciated learning thoughts to help formulate my own future course of action. Someday I hope to be asked to stock that vehicle for sale to consumers. However, if nobody can see an upside, I may have to contemplate other actions. I certainly hope that the Volt will be a success, and I recognize the potential for a technological breakthrough that could shift public opinion to reconsider General Motors as the leader it had been recognized as for decades. I believe that to be the potential upside of the Volt that was not addressed. CLAUDE BURNS President Burns Chevrolet-Cadillac Inc. Rock Hill, S.C. http://www.autonews.com http://www.autonews.com

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Automotive News - February 25, 2008 Chamco's 'consultant' is forced into limelight Group 1, Gulf States clash Dealer profit stuck in neutral Ghosn: Autos are in recession NHTSA investigates Toyota, Pontiac cars' windows The upside of upside down: Better belts Push buttons will alter interiors Schwarzenbauer leaves Porsche for Audi CSM: Cuts in auto output to ease in 2nd quarter Ford's Hispanic ad campaign takes it to the mat Hydrogen slips as a solution for the greening of autos Kia to spend big to upgrade dealerships GMAC: Office cuts won't affect dealers LaSorda: Chrysler's $700 million axle plant is 'going up' Toyota hybrid battery partner boosts output Buick may add a car below the LaCrosse Toyota could add 2 more small vehicles to U.S. lineup Calif. regulators shoot for 40-plus mpg by 2020 Loyalty/conquest: Power's best, worst Chrysler firm on retrieving tools from Plastech Former NUMMI exec applies Toyota ideas to aircraft industry Kozyra's resume reflects volatile supplier climate Obituaries Chrysler, Plastech now have chance to work together Do it the NADA way Hail, Geneva; spring must be near Volt's potential is unlimited The Volt is terrific; give GM a hand Beware of high tech running amok Teach reporters half full/half empty Dealer wants to view Conti exec: Inside, it's about the info Dealers Caddy chief's goals: Build on CTS, prestige, high-tech Geneva looks like another green scene Volvo XC60 system senses impact, hits the brakes Saab 9-1 concept awaits green light GM: Supply of vehicles to certify will stay steady Used-vehicle supplies up, prices down in Jan. Black Book plans daily updates Cars.com rolls out video service Manheim launches search tool Luxury sales channel is high on GM agenda GM seeks dealers' help with 5-point green plan Northwood offers dealer MBA Court rejects Chicago dealer's appeal Taxes distort Jan. sales in Europe Nissan to cut designers NHTSA studies window woes Bank: Autos easier to afford VW labor boss gets jail term Delphi sells 2 units Toyota Tundra had tough Jan. Chrysler's white knight: We're investors, not heroes Ford's 'Knight Rider' is Sync on steroids GMAC parties have lost a bit of their pizazz Global warming? It's a crock - but . . . Nardelli's NASCAR debut is a winner A frosty reception for the TSX

Automotive News - February 25, 2008

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