The times are changing within the automotive landscape. It may not happen tomorrow, or next year, but the day is coming when a steering wheel will be unnecessary thanks to autonomous cars.
But, what about the enthusiast? Some of us still enjoying hopping into a vehicle, steering wheel and manual gearbox proudly displayed. Tadge Juechter, chief engineer for the Corvette, says not to worry because the Corvette will be the “last” vehicle to adopt any driverless technology.
Juechter made the comments during Horsepower Wars this morning, according to The Detroit News.
“We probably as a group will be the last to adopt autonomous technology,” said Juechter, to applause from the audience of performance car enthusiasts. “The whole purpose of our cars is to enjoy the driving experience, not to check out your email while you’re moving from one place to the other.”
Juechter was joined by Dodge and Ford performance executives who envision autonomous cars as commonplace in around 20 years. All of them made it clear, however, that we are living through the golden age of performance vehicles.
With technology and safety at the highest point we’ve ever seen, it only makes for some of the greatest performance vehicles ever produced. The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro could embody all of those aspects, and even the 2016 C7 Corvette as a new body material allowed the car to shed 20 pounds.
So, breathe easy for now enthusiasts, a cyborg Corvette is certainly not in the pipeline.
Comments
And when GM will announce the coming of a ZR1 with about 700+ hp
And there would be no point to a Corvette if you add autonomous driving? The whole point of a Corvette it the drive not the getting there.
I speculate the ZR1 is gone. The C8 will be your new replacement for the ZR1 and with the names they have registered I speculate it will not be called a ZR1.
Seriously why is everyone wanting automated cars? How lazy are people these days? take the damn bus or train or plane if you don’t want to drive.
It seems to me like today’s generation of drivers look at driving like it is a chore and not something enjoyable like some of us do. So autonomous vehicles are being created to meet that demand. Unfortunately, when they do come to market it won’t be long after that , manually operated vehicles will be seen as dangerous and will be outlawed.
Driving is one issue. Parking the Corvette is another. So an autonomous Corvette will park itself and prevent taking chances with the courtesy parking guys.
I’m still reeling in why we need 12 inch touch screens in cars. But seriously what’s the point of automated driving? It makes even less sense to put it in a car built for the purpose of driving. He should’ve said the Corvette will be the only vehicle to never get automated driving. I guess when the time comes I’ll be just like Will Smith in I, Robot. The car may drive itself, but I’m fucking gonna drive it myself.