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I am so glad the US taxpayers saved GM; They are really on a solid road for the future
Topic Started: Jan 10 2011, 08:16 AM (728 Views)
George K
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Finally
KlavierBauer
Jan 10 2011, 01:51 PM
Single-door cars FTW!
Here's an interesting number I saw in Germany, back in 1967:

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A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
Fascinating concept.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
KlavierBauer
Jan 10 2011, 12:04 PM
Not sure why they though "en-v" was a good name.

I'm anything but envious.
It's a concept car, it stands for electronic networked vehicle.

http://media.gm.com/autoshows/Shanghai/2010/public/cn/en/env/news.html

iT - your response was a little surprising, you've been to Shanghai and have seen the urbanization and auto-ownership trend lines of China, I would imagine. Extrapolate out to 2030 and somethings gotta give.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Mark
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HOLY CARP!!!
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___.___
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o 0
When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
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KlavierBauer
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HOLY CARP!!!
jon
 
It's a concept car, it stands for electronic networked vehicle.


Oh, I get it. I'm all about clever naming conventions - I work in linux all day. It's no coincidence that this acronym is EN-V - I mean, you don't really believe that part's a coincidence do you?

jon
 
iT - your response was a little surprising, you've been to Shanghai and have seen the urbanization and auto-ownership trend lines of China, I would imagine. Extrapolate out to 2030 and somethings gotta give.

That doesn't mean they have to design something horrible...
The whole point of this vehicle is the concept of driverless cars - hence the body design, and network capabilities. These aren't 20 years out either, many of these systems are being developed/tested right now, for test deployment inside the decade. In fact, your first networked driving systems will be hitting the market within the next 5 years, doing things like dropping you off at the mall and automatically parking, then coming to pick you up when you're done. Also, collision avoidance systems, traffic manipulation optimization, etc.

The future of automobiles won't be in ROBI robots - but the future of automated personal transports may be. Anyone following the trends in auto development right now knows the current atmosphere will be changing rapidly, growth and energy concerns aside. The technology will simply necessitate it.
"I realize you want him to touch you all over and give you babies, but his handling of the PR side really did screw the pooch." - Ivory Thumper
"He said sleepily: "Don't worry mom, my dick is like hot logs in the morning." - Apple

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jon-nyc
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How do you know what their point was in developing this?
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Mark
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HOLY CARP!!!
Who cares?

It's stupid.
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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
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KlavierBauer
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HOLY CARP!!!
Jon: I'm guessing it was the same as all concept cars no?
It's like the Viper concept motorcycle.
It spoke culturally to a sub-set of Americans, but wasn't designed to ever be a production vehicle - like most other concept cars, it's to do little more than spark conversation, and attract publicity.
Posted Image
Edited by KlavierBauer, Jan 10 2011, 04:53 PM.
"I realize you want him to touch you all over and give you babies, but his handling of the PR side really did screw the pooch." - Ivory Thumper
"He said sleepily: "Don't worry mom, my dick is like hot logs in the morning." - Apple

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jon-nyc
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Mark
Jan 10 2011, 04:49 PM
Who cares?

I do.


Mark
 
It's stupid.



Have you considered the possibility that you aren't the target market for this device?
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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jon-nyc
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KlavierBauer
Jan 10 2011, 04:50 PM
Jon: I'm guessing it was the same as all concept cars no?
You said the whole point of this was testing driverless cars. Clearly, that's not the point of all concept cars.

How do you know that the point of this was testing driverless cars? (btw this can be manually driven as well as autonomously driven)
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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KlavierBauer
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HOLY CARP!!!
No - the point of this as a concept vehicle was to do what I just described in my edit above:
The point of all concept vehicles is largely the same - spark conversation, publicity, brand recognition, etc.
Very little of it has to do with emerging trends/technology.

I understand that it's capable of being driven - that much is clear from the picture. What's also clear is that it's promoting a driverless design, which is a future many concepts, and manufacturers are exploring right now - as I said above, concepts have largely to do with the cultures in which they're displayed. This concept of lean, small foot-print, auto-drive "smart" vehicles will be very well received in China - and not here.
I don't have a problem with them doing it - it's just stupid is the point.

What I meant by "the whole point of this vehicle is..." is that GM is striving to show their interest in future technologies - including the emerging trend of networked vehicles, green SMART vehicles (requiring no gas and no driver), and other technologies which are a ways out still. Within that though, is a larger focus - "GM DID THIS - HAWESOME!"
"I realize you want him to touch you all over and give you babies, but his handling of the PR side really did screw the pooch." - Ivory Thumper
"He said sleepily: "Don't worry mom, my dick is like hot logs in the morning." - Apple

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Rainman
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Fulla-Carp
Quote:
 
KlavierBauer:
In fact, your first networked driving systems will be hitting the market within the next 5 years, doing things like dropping you off at the mall and automatically parking, then coming to pick you up when you're done. Also, collision avoidance systems, traffic manipulation optimization, etc.

Could be. Am I s'pose to get excited over this?? Sounds like borrrrrrring to me.
Drop me off and pick me up at the. . . mall.

SS396/409 with a 3/4 cam, 4-speed, 411 posi-trak rear end, huge Carter (or Holly) 4-bbl., 6 mpg., handles like carp and you can't stop it over 80 mph (drum brakes).

Now THAT's exciting!
:smokin:
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jon-nyc
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KlavierBauer
Jan 10 2011, 04:58 PM
No
You said in easily understandable words that the 'whole point' of this was to showcase driverless cars.

Do you stand by that or would you like to offer a retraction?
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Improviso
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HOLY CARP!!!
Rainman
Jan 10 2011, 04:58 PM
SS396/409 with a 3/4 cam, 4-speed, 411 posi-trak rear end, huge Carter (or Holly) 4-bbl., 6 mpg., handles like carp and you can't stop it over 80 mph (drum brakes).

Now THAT's exciting!
:smokin:
Yea, but did you have one of these on your accelerator pedal? And the dimmer foot switch? :D

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and admiration while breaking down over even the slightest bit of criticism.

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KlavierBauer
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HOLY CARP!!!
That's not exciting.
An Ascari or a Zonda F is exciting...
A Ferrari 308 or 328 would be exciting (and affordable).

Exciting isn't what sells cars however - people want mini-suvs with parking assistance, GPS nav, and heads up displays.
I don't think being dropped off at my destination is exciting, but it's pretty darn cool.
To get to the theater 5 minutes before curtains, and let the car go park itself is pretty nice. Exciting? No... sellable? Most definitely.
So is the idea of cutting down drive times significantly, with cars that are all networked together, and working to achieve more consistent speeds on the Interstate.
"I realize you want him to touch you all over and give you babies, but his handling of the PR side really did screw the pooch." - Ivory Thumper
"He said sleepily: "Don't worry mom, my dick is like hot logs in the morning." - Apple

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KlavierBauer
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HOLY CARP!!!
What I said was this:
Quote:
 
The whole point of this vehicle is the concept of driverless cars - hence the body design, and network capabilities.


The point of this vehicle IS that concept - concept not in the sense of concept cars, but the concept of networked/driverless/SMART driving.
The point of this vehicle design is just that.
The point of this Concept Vehicle is to increase brand recognition, and publicity for GM, and to say "look at the cool stuff we're developing for tomorrow."

Is that clearer?
"I realize you want him to touch you all over and give you babies, but his handling of the PR side really did screw the pooch." - Ivory Thumper
"He said sleepily: "Don't worry mom, my dick is like hot logs in the morning." - Apple

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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
KlavierBauer
Jan 10 2011, 04:50 PM
Jon: I'm guessing it was the same as all concept cars no?
It's like the Viper concept motorcycle.
It spoke culturally to a sub-set of Americans, but wasn't designed to ever be a production vehicle - like most other concept cars, it's to do little more than spark conversation, and attract publicity.
Posted Image
Can it turn, or did GM overlook that?
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KlavierBauer
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HOLY CARP!!!
No, the turning is actually brilliant.
You can see the multi-axis turning capabilities in the design of the front wheels (yes, that's two wheels). They scissor as the bike turns, maximizing contact with the road - which is necessary, since that's a Viper engine in that thing (V-10).
"I realize you want him to touch you all over and give you babies, but his handling of the PR side really did screw the pooch." - Ivory Thumper
"He said sleepily: "Don't worry mom, my dick is like hot logs in the morning." - Apple

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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
A 10 cylinder bike? Great idea
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KlavierBauer
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HOLY CARP!!!
Well, thanks to physics, a 10 cylinder bike is a lot slower than a 2 cylinder one. :)
"I realize you want him to touch you all over and give you babies, but his handling of the PR side really did screw the pooch." - Ivory Thumper
"He said sleepily: "Don't worry mom, my dick is like hot logs in the morning." - Apple

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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
jon-nyc
Jan 10 2011, 02:09 PM
iT - your response was a little surprising, you've been to Shanghai and have seen the urbanization and auto-ownership trend lines of China, I would imagine. Extrapolate out to 2030 and somethings gotta give.
There may well be a market for ugly little over-designed two seat pods without any storage space, but it seems irresponsible to use tax payer funds, or for a company in dire financial straits, to be developing such a speculative product.
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
The number of cylinders is not necessarily about power, but smoothness of acceleration.

I don't think it is stupid at all. Driving your own car manually will go by the wayside just as planes being flown totally by the pilots has. When they said cars would replace horse drawn transportation people laughed too.

I love throwing a great vehicle around up on the Blue Ridge Parkway as much or more than anyone, but the vast majority of your transportation has nothing to do with that and computer controlled navigation will prevent a whole lot of useless highway deaths.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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KlavierBauer
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HOLY CARP!!!
Mik: I agree - I'm all for SMART driving technologies.
I don't think anyone's calling the technology stupid.
The fist iteration of these future technologies won't be vehicles like this though - not unless culturally things change significantly.
I'd think the iRobot (Will Smith) version of this type of technology would be more agreeable to personal-space-loving Americans than the Robot from Rocky IV carting you around with no protection, no storage, and no style.
Just my $.02 of course - $.02 from someone who follows cars a bit, and knows something about how enthusiasts drive them.
"I realize you want him to touch you all over and give you babies, but his handling of the PR side really did screw the pooch." - Ivory Thumper
"He said sleepily: "Don't worry mom, my dick is like hot logs in the morning." - Apple

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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
I'm kind of looking around for a performance convertible right now. Something fun to drive when Lauren goes to school and I can terrorize date my wife regularly on long, fast drives. I love a curvy road and bracing acceleration.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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KlavierBauer
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HOLY CARP!!!
I hear that!
I think the new Viper might be right up your alley.
A good friend of mine has one, and it's quite a thrill. :)
Miatas are also great, but you said you wanted something "fun to drive" under "bracing acceleration" which pretty much rules that out. :)
"I realize you want him to touch you all over and give you babies, but his handling of the PR side really did screw the pooch." - Ivory Thumper
"He said sleepily: "Don't worry mom, my dick is like hot logs in the morning." - Apple

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