Things Id like in a future car design

[Tonz]

turn the ignition key off and seat belts automaticcly disengage.

Simple basics, get rid of all the beeps and buzzers

[Top_Ghia]

Hide/integrate hvac vents into the dash.
I’m thinking of cars like the 2024 Mustang. They clearly want to cater to a younger audience however they’ve only done half a job on the new dash if you ask me. If you want a fresh, clean modern look then get rid of the dash vents. They can be hidden of far better integrated into a modern design.

Every car should have actually knobs or buttons for basic hvac and audio control. It doesn’t need to be all the controls but as a minimum it should have audio power button and volume, and hvac power, defrost, auto and temp control.

I hate touch screens, particularly big ones but realize they are here to stay.

[Interceptor]

Lets go back to the era of limited technology, early 70's to early 80's, when things could be made to be repaired and maintained instead of integrated proprietary technological junk that is obsolete by the end of the warranty period, making things a nightmare to maintain once a car is over 5 years old.

[Franco Cozzo]

I want to see manufacturers stop bothering with their own in car entertainment systems and just implement Android Auto/Apple car play fully,

Dunno why they bother with their own mapping solutions or media players.

[EBSXR6]

Originally Posted by Tonz

turn the ignition key off and seat belts automaticcly disengage.

Simple basics, get rid of all the beeps and buzzers

Been in a few late model Camry cars in the back seat and the middle seat belt is buckled up. The drivers have told me there is a bug and the car thinks someone is sitting in the centre of the seat and keeps beeping etc.

[FERG_51]

3 on the tree.

[anobserver]

Rear wheel drive
4 speed auto
Not an SUV
Weighs less than 1650kgs
Tyres with a sidewall and fullsize spare
Three figure comprehensive insurance
Low boost 4 cylinder turbo petrol engine 2-2.5l
Minimal `safety' aids

Kind of thinking a simplified Mondeo....?

[prktkljokr]

Simple a to b cars that let me do the driving without all the garbage I will never use

[FairmontGS]

Why don't we have an easy to reach, simple rotating dial with OFF, LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH for AC? And the same for the fan?

Oh wait...

[roKWiz]

So far meeting all the above criteria + the added bonus of secondary transport and enough room to carry all the spares I'm going to need as it rattles itself to pieces.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

Why don't we have an easy to reach, simple rotating dial with OFF, LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH for AC? And the same for the fan?

Oh wait...

Probably most intuitive and least distracting HVAC and audio control setup I have ever used was the low-series ICC on BA - BF Falcon's, SX - SY Territory.



How novel, a large dial for temp, a large dial for fan speed, a dial for the volume. All easily identifiable by touch alone without even having to take your eyes off the road. No fumbling around poking at buttons or useless touchscreens.

I will go so far as to say that the base-spec ICC on BA-BF Falcons was superior to the high series setup BA and BF Falcon's, and all FG Falcon's. The wall of buttons were harder to opperate by feel, the FG in particular because they shrunk the size of them.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Probably most intuitive and least distracting HVAC and audio control setup I have ever used was the low-series ICC on BA - BF Falcon's, SX - SY Territory.

image

How novel, a large dial for temp, a large dial for fan speed, a dial for the volume. All easily identifiable by touch alone without even having to take your eyes off the road. No fumbling around poking at buttons or useless touchscreens.

I will go so far as to say that the base-spec ICC on BA-BF Falcons was superior to the high series setup BA and BF Falcon's, and all FG Falcon's. The wall of buttons were harder to opperate by feel, the FG in particular because they shrunk the size of them.

but where are the cup holders ?

[Top_Ghia]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Probably most intuitive and least distracting HVAC and audio control setup I have ever used was the low-series ICC on BA - BF Falcon's, SX - SY Territory.

image

How novel, a large dial for temp, a large dial for fan speed, a dial for the volume. All easily identifiable by touch alone without even having to take your eyes off the road. No fumbling around poking at buttons or useless touchscreens.

I will go so far as to say that the base-spec ICC on BA-BF Falcons was superior to the high series setup BA and BF Falcon's, and all FG Falcon's. The wall of buttons were harder to opperate by feel, the FG in particular because they shrunk the size of them.

But but but Bigscreen, because fashion above function.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by anobserver

Rear wheel drive
4 speed auto
Not an SUV
Weighs less than 1650kgs
Tyres with a sidewall and fullsize spare
Three figure comprehensive insurance
Low boost 4 cylinder turbo petrol engine 2-2.5l
Minimal `safety' aids

Kind of thinking a simplified Mondeo....?

Current model Subaru WRX ticks a lot of those boxes, except the auto is a CVT so change your own gears instead (6sp manual).

[smoo]

Originally Posted by anobserver

Rear wheel drive
4 speed auto
Not an SUV
Weighs less than 1650kgs
Tyres with a sidewall and fullsize spare
Three figure comprehensive insurance
Low boost 4 cylinder turbo petrol engine 2-2.5l
Minimal `safety' aids

Kind of thinking a simplified Mondeo....?

rokwiz, how many km on your panel van?

[Interceptor]

Vehicles where some consideration is shown to the poor buggers who have to work on them.
Recently had to do an alternator on a 2016 Triton and I couldnt even see where the drive belt went!

[Tassie f100]

A 2 door ute about the size of the late 70s early 80s .Can’t buy a small ute and lots of people don’t need something the size of a small truck

[Dr Smith]

My daughter popped in for a visit and she and my wife decided to stream a movie....about half an hour in I could hear my wife asking, are you watching it with me, you're on your phone, you're on your laptop and you're also supposed to be watching the movie with me....

and to be fair my daughter actually repeated the last scene and dialogue so I guess she can "multi-task" ....

Maybe this is the generation the car companies are going to target and the current group of interior car designers are only a generation or two older then people like me daughter...the only issue us more "experienced " drivers know is that distractions while driving don't often give you a second chance compared to being on a couch at home.

[Wretched]

Well considering we're moving to EVs for the general populous.
I'd like to see more hub motors on EVs.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by smoo

rokwiz, how many km on your panel van?

Just ran in @ 400 000kms.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Probably most intuitive and least distracting HVAC and audio control setup I have ever used was the low-series ICC on BA - BF Falcon's, SX - SY Territory.

image

How novel, a large dial for temp, a large dial for fan speed, a dial for the volume. All easily identifiable by touch alone without even having to take your eyes off the road. No fumbling around poking at buttons or useless touchscreens.

I will go so far as to say that the base-spec ICC on BA-BF Falcons was superior to the high series setup BA and BF Falcon's, and all FG Falcon's. The wall of buttons were harder to opperate by feel, the FG in particular because they shrunk the size of them.

Shytes me to no end.
Our new Tucson, everything is touch screen. Really need to take ya eyes off everything to do something (in fairness, a lot is controllable via the steering wheel).
Love the car but still!

Controls also extend to the centre console


It does do a heap of stuff automatically and remembered via driver settings.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Shytes me to no end.
Our new Tucson, everything is touch screen. Really need to take ya eyes off everything to do something (in fairness, a lot is controllable via the steering wheel).
Love the car but still!
image
Controls also extend to the centre console
image

It does do a heap of stuff automatically and remembered via driver settings.

This is what I'll have to contend with in the coming months.................



While the customization and configurability of the screens is amazing, I like the look of the S550 interior with the real gauges better. That's not to mention how ALL of the HVAC controls are now on the screen with no physical buttons. At least they gave it a volume knob.

I have said this before, but I prefer "real" gauges, just like I prefer "real" watches and not those digital things. Ford actually got the perfect blend for the S550, using a configurable screen surrounded by a normal gauge cluster surround rather than the afterthought-looking setup now.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

This is what I'll have to contend with in the coming months.................

image

While the customization and configurability of the screens is amazing, I like the look of the S550 interior with the real gauges better. That's not to mention how ALL of the HVAC controls are now on the screen with no physical buttons. At least they gave it a volume knob.

I have said this before, but I prefer "real" gauges, just like I prefer "real" watches and not those digital things. Ford actually got the perfect blend for the S550, using a configurable screen surrounded by a normal gauge cluster surround rather than the afterthought-looking setup now.

image

You're very similar to me, I also prefer actual real gauges and physical buttons/sliders/knobs for HVAC controls.

[Tonz]

[Top_Ghia]

Imagine in 20 years time when they but buttons and knobs back in new cars. Minds will be blown.

[roKWiz]

Tonz. Someones going to need a new alternator soon.

[prktkljokr]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Tonz. Someones going to need a new alternator soon.

Being a Lancia the wiring will let it down way before the alternator will

[Sprintey]

I'm hearing you.

For eg, there are controls in the big screen in the new Outbacks, but, there's also a camera that will beep at you if you take your eyes off the road.

Does not compute.

[Sprintey]

Apart from seeing tactile buttons (the low spec SY Territory is a great setup as mentioned above), I'd like to see simple mechanicals, robust simple suspensions and 'built to last'.

And bench seat 6 seater wagons, bench seat 3 seater panel vans. Column shifts. Make use of all the width of the car.

[Top_Ghia]

Maybe we are just too old.
Today I witnessed a 10 year old boy jump in a new Everest and pair his dads phone and get Apple car play working, all in about 30 seconds.
Keep in mind this car and system was new to him.
He also had the hvac system dialed in even quicker time.

So I think the next generation will be more than comfortable with all the touch screens going forward. It was quite an eye opener.

Compare that to the average 60 year old that can’t connect their phone or even change screens on a display. There’s quite a few older drivers who are too afraid to touch any buttons in their cars.
I still say the industry needs a “country pack” with zero technology in it. It could have am/fm radio and basic hvac controls. I’d call it a country pack as elderly pack isn’t too pc.