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This is the New Face of Audi

It’s the Audi prologue.

(note: prologue is not capitalized)

It debuted at the 2014 LA Auto Show, and Audi remained one of the busiest booths till the end.

Ahh that wider grille, the whole front end just digs in harder eh,
accented with those narrow wedge headlights that most OEMs shy away from,
because they look too mean. So. Into. This.

That skinny 2-spoke steering wheel… and no screen!  Maybe it descends into the dash like their current models, but regardless it’s refreshing not to see a big, black hole in the dash.

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Non-car nerds: this is a concept car, you can’t buy this yet. An automaker makes one to say “hey, we’re about to change up our look here, and it’s probably going to become like this.”

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Blog tag = Audi

 

 

Ford Brings Back the Hard Buttons!

Found on the new 2016 Ford Explorer.  It’s replacing a touch-based console.

This photo was taken during the SUV’s advance-reveal at the LA Auto Show.  When the announcement was made, the room cheered.

Welcome Back, Buttons and nice one, Ford.

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Why I don’t like touch consoles:  

Ideally these buttons can be used while your eyes remain on the road… so where’s the logic in using touch, a non-tactile interface which requires more looking? Haptic just makes it worse.

 

 

So Into this Car – 2015 Subaru BRZ

2015 Subaru BRZ

Subaru’s only rear-wheel drive car (the rest are all-wheel)

2.0L 4-cylinder Boxer engine, 6-spd manual transmission

200 hp and 151 lb.ft

Starting at $27,395
This one $31,395

This is the the Aozora Edition, the highest trim available.

It comes only in manual, and adds an under spoiler (which really enhances the look), red callipers and 17″ black alloys, fancier seats and stitching, push start and a frameless rear view mirror (1st time I’ve ever seen that option.)

Notice what’s missing?

No steering wheel controls and buttons, it’s a plain steering wheel! That alone made me love it immediately.

Why I love this BRZ:

It’s good looking; an appropriate amount of power; it’s just my size and fits me physically (which is rare); I like the boxer growl; and the interior is so refreshingly simple.

Plus there’s practically no driving aids (like Lane Keep Assist, and the Sucks The Fun Away Aid.)

It’s got hard buttons and dials *, all the analog stuff I love.

The infotainment system is a bit of a disaster, but I never use them anyway so it’s okay.

Subaru BRZ Animated

All starting at $27k. Hey!

So much superfluous revving happened this week.

 

Maybe the most I’ve liked a car in 1.5 years.

 

 

Delete your Phone from a Car

Unpair your phone from rental, friend’s and relative’s cars, because until you do, your contacts database is driving around.

Would anything bad actually come from leaving it?  Probably not. In the same way, if you left a copy of your contacts on a USB key * at your friend’s house, it’d probably be fine too. But why do that.

Some infotainment systems can save more than one phone. This one saves 4.

Alena is clearly the most popular.

Don’t name your phone your name. Here’s why.

 

 (* if you say, ‘I use FB for my contacts list’, please leave my blog)