Mercedes Bends (the rules)

A couple of Mercedes self-driving stories caught my eye today.

Looks like they've been a bit naughty in their advertising Stateside.  Autoguide have the story here.  Mercedes have been forced to pull a TV ad for the E-Class in  which a narrator says,

“Is the world truly ready for a vehicle that can drive itself? Ready or not, the future is here.”

The ad also shows the driver removing his hands from the steering wheel, leading to the argument that people will believe the car is full self-driving.

Meanwhile the small-print caption on the ad states,

“Vehicle cannot drive itself, but has automated driving features. The system will remind the driver frequently to keep hands on the steering wheel. Always observe safe driving practices and obey all road traffic regulations.”

Hmmm.  I can see why it was dropped.

This doesn't bode well when the you read the second story, found in Car+Driver here.  The headline reads "Mercedes-Benz and Tesla See a Future in Electric Self-Driving Buses"  The story goes on to talk about The Mercedes-Benz Future Bus, a semi-automated city bus with a technology suite that can allow it to journey up to 12.4 miles without a need for the driver to touch the steering, accelerator, or brake pedal. The Future Bus can spot obstacles and pedestrians, follow lane markings, and function as part of a new Bus Rapid Transit system.

It looks nice too...

 

I wonder what the small-print says - this bus won't journey up to 12.4 miles without a need for the driver to touch the steering, accelerator, or brake pedal and it can't spot obstacles and pedestrians, follow lane markings, and function as part of a new Bus Rapid Transit system?

And I bet it can't do what this Chilean bus-driver did:

Bristol's Perked Up

This a follow-up to my 2011 article - Bristol's Gone Tits Up.

Basically, The Bristol Car Company is back from near-death and even has a new model.

Autocar have some photos ahead of next week's official launch of the Bristol Bullet.

I have to say I'm not that keen on its looks - like in my 2011 article, I think they seem to look too much like other generic cars from the past - in this case Austin-Healey.

The rear view is much better - I do like those fins.

 

Although 1960s Volvo anyone?

Anyway, I'm not sure next week will be the first official launch - look at the Bristol Bullet shown at the 2009 Classic Motor Show at the NEC:

 

So the design goes back to before the recent troubles.

But that doesn't matter.  As long as enough pipe-smokers are attracted to it, Bristol should be fine.

All ship-shape & Bristol Fashion.

Are You Being Serviced?

Loving the Audi Advert I saw this evening:

I don't really understand it but the updated version of the theme tune to "Are You Being Served?" is excellent.

And if you don't agree, I have one word for you:

 

Knickers!

Never Leave Your Car Unlocked in the Woods.

Or this can happen:

Or worse, this:

Here's the Youtube link to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office video.  It's quite amusing the way the calm officer deals with the problem but the damage to the car viewed at the end is quite horrific.

I wonder if the insurance company have a get-out claws.

The End of an Error

The odious Nigel Farage has resigned.

Good.  He should have gone years ago.

But his resignation is not making the headlines.

Because Chris Evans has resigned.

I feel quite sorry for him really - Chris not Nigel - he tried his best and put together a really strong team.

And it looks like that team will carry on without him - even if the Matt LeBlanc stories I reported last week are true.

It has been said that Politics has been mirroring Shakespeare or Game of Thrones lately - two subjects I know very little of.

But Top Gear has been mirroring Politics.  It's even been doing badly against the Euro.

Chris has taken the David Cameron stance rather than the Jeremy Corbyn one.  Only time will tell if Jeremy is right but I'm pretty confident Chris is.

And it looks like there won't be a replacement for him.

So Michael Gove need not put himself forward.

Not Run of The Mill

This is an interesting little article from Car+Driver today.

It is about this:

...which I know looks like what Batman would use on his day off to nip down to the shops.

But is actually a high-tech electric car created and used by "The Mill"

I know I seem to do a lot of articles on electric cars but this one will never hit the highway - and it may end up causing more people to buy non-electric cars.

For "The Mill" is a high-tech film & TV Effects Company based in London (although they do have branches abroad) who use this in car advertising.

Check out their Website.  Imagine having to create a website for "The Mill"

And check out this video showing how The Blackbird (which is what the car is called) can be used.

Being a Doctor Who fan, I first noticed The Mill when that show was re-launched in 2006 - by which time they were 16 years old. 

Just a shame they weren't going in the 1970s: