Well, I think it’s newsworthy, Part II
typed for your pleasure on 27 October 2005, at 8.05 pmSdtrk: ‘Kenkäneekerien nenäkekkerit’ by Mats Swan
This is a really fab idea, but I think they’ll need to install some really tight security measures for it, otherwise it’ll be A FESTIVAL OF THEFT.
Mazda Ditches Cylinder Locks in Favor of USB Key
By Scott Clark on Tuesday 30 August 2005, 8:24 PMI never thought it’d be possible, but Mazda of all companies has embraced the inner geek inside me to make me want to run out and test drive one of their cars. Thankfully this is only a concept car for now, and my Honda is still running strong.
Designed for “net-savvy youngsters”, the new concept hatchback, Mazda Sassou, ditches the traditional cylinder lock key system in favor of USB flash drives. In addition to starting the engine, the flash drives can be used to transfer driving directions for long trips along with the latest songs for the day to the Sassou’s internal hard drive.
Just be sure to vent the windows though, it looks like the extra large sunroof would literally cook any electronics you have in the car during your lunch break.
Mazda also has to refine the technology, so that people over the age of 35 can use it. You know.. all those individuals out there who aren’t exactly ‘tech savvy’. Which is probably half the US population. JOE SIX-PACK: ‘Why do they call it a key drive, if it ain’t look like a key??’
I can see this car doing well in Japan, of course, and maybe Europe, but unfortunately not so much in the U.S and A. Which is a shame, cos it’s a pretty ace-looking car..
More about the Mazda Sassou here
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October 29th, 2005 at 5.48 am
Well, I`m way over 35 and reckon I can just about cope with new tech stuff, cheecky munkee.
My favourite manufacturer, Citroen has always come up with some very futuristic designs, there worth having a look at.
Good to see your still alive and kicking DC, dont be a stranger at TDF.
Beleive it or not you are actually missed, although God only knows why :^)
October 29th, 2005 at 5.42 pm
We second that emotion (as emoted by Rentell above)!
Since we can’t afford any vehicles futuristic or otherwise, I’d best leave this topic to the fanciers and experts 😉
PBS & Lily-who-drives-like-shit 😛
October 30th, 2005 at 9.13 pm
Lexus has been successfully selling cars with a “start” button for a couple years now.
And the Mazda 3 with the big LCD panel pop-up in the dashboard is pertty damn techie already.
I want one.
Perhaps I’ll get a Mazda 3. Its the closest thing us poor Americans will get to the European Ford Focus, which hasn’t been anything like our Focus for a few years now.
November 1st, 2005 at 1.53 am
SafeT –
The Mazda 3 sounds intriguing! But anything with a pop-up LCD screen in the dash is relevant to my interests.
And at first, I thought push-button engine starting was an old thing, cos I have fuzzy memories of a few cars from Europe in the 50s and 60s that had the push-button thing going for them, but that was more like a ‘push a button after you slide the key into the ignition’ kind of thing.
PBS and Lily –
Get a Vespa! (Sweetie told me to say that. 😉 )
Wow, no auto at all? Living in Michigan, the state where public transportation is but a wistful memory, that’s almost inconceiveable. But as long as you can get around (skateboard? pogo stick?), then it’s okay.
And remind Lily that practise makes perfect! Especially if it’s someone else’s car! 🙂
rentell –
What a nice surprise! How are you and Angelina and Kukoi-chan?
Yeah, I need to stop making blanket statements like that. Two people who I’ve worked with rather closely over the past couple of weeks are in their late thirties, but they act like they’re in their late twenties. ‘You’re as young as you feel’, as they say..
And you’re right, I need to get back to TDF real soon.. Odhinn only knows what you lot have been up to while I’ve been away. 😉