NPR-New Volvo concept car parks itself

I heard this this morning whilest getting breakfast for me and the Mrs.--no link

They had a designer or engineer on and she said that this new car has sensors on it to tell you if you can fit in a spot and it parks the car for you. The driver will still have to manage the gas, breaking, and gears but it will parallel park for you.

Sounds interesting. She said that Volvo has at least one female out of 5 designers/engineers/idea people. They are interested in making cars that work for you and need to consider every kind of driver.

I only caught the tail end of it but apparently there is either no back seat or you have to change the set up to have one. She said that it is rare for people to carry passengers (babies ? ) in the back anymore and that their research showed that most people only have a gym bag or work related carry along in the back seat.

Sounds really small, she said that parking was more of a problem in Europe than it is in the US which is true.

I wonder how fender benders will be handled. I guess it is your car so you are still responsible for it.

which ran an article on it today, the car has wrap-around bumpers. Its to be marketed for women.

A car that parks itself, that doesn't need oil changes, and has wrap-around bumpers? Just a little bit sexist, no?

I didn't hear that. Amsoil? I used to work with a woman whose husband sold that stuff and they swore you never had to change the oil again. I don't know if that is possible but I wouldn't like it. I feel like and oil change is good for the car-without sounding like a freak it's a "spirit of the car" thing. I've had some real POS where hoping and praying seemed to actually get it through some trips.

While I enjoy parallel parking
there is certainly a market for this feature.

You want a drink and/or smoke afterwards, and you want to show all your friends what a damn fiiiiine parking job that was

:evilgrin:

/not really

from past experiences.

:bounce:

Funny story-My now wife and me and another couple went out to dinner and I had a prime spot on the main drag in the Bottom (Richmond's bar area). On a slight uphill. We came back from dinner and about 3 inches behind my back bumper were 15 Harley's lined up. We turned the corner to see it and I and the guy both let out sighs (we would be the one's getting our a**es kicked) and both of the ladies started laughing, sympathetically. I knew I could get my Mazda out of there but one of the bikers (and I do mean BIKER ) was helping me out. Nothing got hurt including me, it was straight out of a movie there for a second.

Ya know, those little Martian antennas that scrapedalong the curb! They were all the rage during the era of the land yacht!

:D

What do you want to do save the world? We are just talking about making things even easier for us not doing anything constructive.