Screenless = Luxury

[ElectricShitbox]

I have theorized that soon what will be considered "luxury" in a car will shift towards physical buttons and tech that's hidden.
Since tesla discovered that the cheapest option is to make all the controls happen through one relatively cheap screen, it was only a matter of time before auto journalists start talking about "bespoke physical interfaces" as a desirable feature.
At this rate, Slate can start charging G-wagon prices in a few years.

https://insideevs.com/news/804578/jaguar-type-01-ev-interior-reveal/

 

[FloppaEnjoyer8067]

I have theorized that soon what will be considered "luxury" in a car will shift towards physical buttons and tech that's hidden.
Since tesla discovered that the cheapest option is to make all the controls happen through one relatively cheap screen, it was only a matter of time before auto journalists start talking about "bespoke physical interfaces" as a desirable feature.
At this rate, Slate can start charging G-wagon prices in a few years.

https://insideevs.com/news/804578/jaguar-type-01-ev-interior-reveal/

I took my wife’s car (‘25 CX30)to the dealer for warranty work. They gave me a ‘26 CX5 as a loaner. Apparently, Mazda switched fully to screens in 2026. When explaining it to me, service guy said “yeah it sucks, but there’s Gemini powered voice command that will automatically make any changes”.

I tried to say “turn down my air conditioning temperature”. After a minute of buffering, I got “could not connect to network”.

how stupid. Give me a dial.

 

[Johnologue]

I tried to say “turn down my air conditioning temperature”. After a minute of buffering, I got “could not connect to network”.

how stupid. Give me a dial.

"It's too warm" = Mostly-subconscious motor function: Reach for the dial, adjust according to sensory feedback in real time. Takes seconds and barely any of your attention.
"It's too warm" = An extended "social" interaction with planning, phrasing, waiting for responses, follow-up commands...

I love how simple voice controls make things.

I have theorized that soon what will be considered "luxury" in a car will shift towards physical buttons and tech that's hidden.

A modern technological luxury is having a really good adblocker when everyone else is driving Chrome.
Privacy is about more than "not being tracked". It's about having your own space.

 

[Freyar]

Step 1) Retire the things people like and are used to in favor of something different and digital.
Step 2) Phase out the physical in favor of digital for cost-cutting.
Step 3) Refuse to restore physical switches for ten years.
Step 4) Return physical switches as a "luxury" option.
Step 5) Claim it was due to "demand", and upcharge for the complexity of physical switches.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

Step 1) Retire the things people like and are used to in favor of something different and digital.
Step 2) Phase out the physical in favor of digital for cost-cutting.
Step 3) Refuse to restore physical switches for ten years.
Step 4) Return physical switches as a "luxury" option.
Step 5) Claim it was due to "demand", and upcharge for the complexity of physical switches.

💯

 

[CorvusCorvax]

This is the reason I hate the screen crap, because of my experience with Audi MMI. The 2010 version of the MMI can't really be updated, and the communications it uses is via 3G. [sigh] You can't adjust any of the car's parameters while the car is moving (like the clock, twice a year.) Yes, I understand it's for safety. But all the monkeying around with the nested menus for climate controls and seat heat, and fan levels, and radio functions is MADDENING. My BMW has straight up knobs and switches. My truck? Same. My Porsche? Ummmm, well, the controls when the car was first designed in the 60s were pretty simple. After 20 years with no re-design and being added onto with more stuff? Well, not intuitive, but still knobs and levers. And the radio, too. And the lights, and wipers, and most everything else - tactile interface that I don't need to take my eyes off the road for.

I HATE the Audi MMI. I REALLY HATE BMW iDrive. Just STOP, please. Knobs and buttons work just fine. Skip the damn CANBUS, folks - just straight-up wire the stuff, it isn't hard.

 

[AZFox]

Minimalist happens at the low end and the high end of design, where high-end design and minimalist combine as "luxury minimalism" or "sophisticated simplicity".

I think this has been true for a long time.