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Review Of GM's HyWire Hydrogen Concept Car
SanLouBlues writes "Autoweek has a detailed review of a test drive in GM's HyWire concept (second item). The gas and brakes are both on the steering wheel which may be placed on either the left or the right with little effort. Overall some very positive marks for such a radical car."
I don't know about anyone else, but personally I don't consider adding to the number of tasks performed by my hands to be an engineering acheivement. Why don't they work on steering with your feet? Then I could have both hands free while driving.
-- Adam
You are advocating cars with the brakes and the accelerator on the steering wheel and a tank full of hydrogen underneath? Looks like it's time to move to one of those islands where they don't have cars.
People still have trouble with the accelerator and brake pedals in their traditional spot. Now you want to put them on the steering wheel? I'd really rather not have one of these coming toward me.
Push the joy stick forward to accelerate, pull it back to brake, lean it left and right to steer. The trigger is the emergency brake, and the thumb button turns your car back upright when you roll it.
What else do you need?
There is nothing so silly as other peoples traditions, and nothing so sacred as our own.
Another brilliant bit of motivation. Not!
I was already concerned about having the "pedals" on the steering wheel but, now you want me to face a roadway full of people that learned to drive by playing Vice City?????
God help us all.
(second item on the blog)
TOKYO (Dec. 2, 2002) - Federal Express Corporation ("FedEx Express") and General Motors Corp ("GM") announced a joint program to advance fuel cell technology by conducting the first commercial test of a fuel cell vehicle in Japan.
Wouldn't that make their name expand to "Federal Express Express"? Is that like KFC chicken?
autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
I think that you aren't completely understanding where the gas and brakes are going to be located. They will be adding them to the Swiss Army Blinker(tm) that we've all come to know and love. Hmmm... Lessee... Gas... No, thats washer fluid...
Actually, if they were to replace the steering wheel with a set of handlebars (ala motorcycle), then they might be able to pull this off. Of course, then you've just invented the four wheel version of the Tron Light Cycle.
Hmmm...
Life is the leading cause of death in America.
So can you just turn the wheels 90 degrees and drive sideways into the parking spot? Sweet! This will sell in San Francisco. /me suddenly has mental image of hundreds of new ways for pedestrians to have accidents...
== Jez ==
Do you miss Firefox? Try Pale Moon.
That rollover was faked for Dateline NBC( By Stone Phillips I believe). The Flintstones car was really quite stable, and generally can handle any size Brontosaurus ribs you can find. Damn liberal stone age media.....
"Of course, then you've just invented the four wheel version of the Tron Light Cycle."
It'll bring a whole new dimension of fun and entertainment to cutting people off in traffic.
As hybrid vehicles go, the Gas/Electric hybrids like Toyota's Prius are cool. They also feel like you're driving a cardboard box.
I've driven a Prius, and I've driven a cardboard box. I might have only been 8 when I drove a cardboard box, but I still think I'd remember it enough to have noticed if the Prius was in any way similar.
Hey kids, there's only 5 days left 'til Yak Shaving Day!
My mother-in-law doesn't drive but she has a hand brake on the dash of any car in which she rides. It's not very effective but effectiveness improves if she makes a screeching sound, not unlike the sound of squealing brakes.
Nice to see the same principles that gave us schizophrenic computer UIs being applied to large lumps of metal moving at high speed. Can't wait for:
Microsoft LookOut! which will remember the last place I drove to and keep taking me there unless I re-install it.
Lexmark Premium DiHydrogen Monoxide service pak, which will refuse to let me pull into service stations not owned by Lexmark.
The RIAA approved theft prevention radio that accepts my credit card number as the PIN and decides a listening program based on my revenue profile.
The GTA3 augmented reality patch that overlays cool stuff on my external visual screens.
"Everything is adjustable, provided you have the right tools"