What Does the Car of the Future Look Like? Google Googles It

Google released some footage this week of people in the company’s self-driving car in a cutesy video reminiscent of how a toy company would show newborns engaging with mobiles, colorful blocks and stuffed animals. The reason this video merits our attention is that Google is not an automotive company. Many companies that make cars are experimenting with self-driving cars, and we think that they can find success given that they know a lot about cars in general.

Google, on the other hand, has the blessing and curse of not knowing how to make a car. The parallel between this video and a toy company is not dissimilar in the sense that many people would approach this type of vehicle with more curiosity and trepidation than they’ve encountered anything since their very first years. It’s also a parallel that makes Google the newborn in a way. Though they possibly employ and/or consult with former automotive engineers, there is a sense of naiveté in the company’s efforts to not only make a car, but make one that has a wholly different experience for consumers.

Photo: Google

The car has no steering wheel. There are no pedals. It has two seats, safety belts, and a start/stop button. Sensors and software speed or slow the car as it whisks you to your destination, just like a taxi. It’s just a prototype, and thus probably runs only a preprogrammed route, but the principle seems to be that you would input your destination in Google Maps, press start and let the car do the rest. One lady in the video commented about how it slowed down before the turn and accelerated out of it, just like she was taught in high school and how she’s always telling her husband to do. It’s like an automated taxi that completely does all of the work for you and is faster at seeing trouble and avoiding it than a human could ever possibly be.

This is made possible by software, which Google is very good at making. Google has been working with cars for years thanks to their Street View and Google Maps products. Combining that knowledge with the mechanics of collision avoidance and user input is the challenge at hand. By the way, it’s worth noting that the amount of programming code in the average car is massive. Like, a lot. An infographic prepared by independent sources shows that the tens of millions of lines of code in regular cars is more than the operating system that your computer or phone is running right now to let you read this article. A modern car needs more programming code to run than Microsoft’s Windows, Apple’s OS X, Facebook, the Hadron Collider, an F-35 Fighter Jet, Google Chrome or the Mars Curiosity Rover. Think about that: cars, which have been around for more than a century, need more computer code to run than computers.

Photo: LA Times

Clearly the automotive industry is ripe for change in the software department. With programming code, more does not necessarily equal better. It could be that Google can do code for cars better than most automotive makers, and would make their car quite viable. That in turn could spur automakers to streamline their code, which would make everyone’s products better. Google’s self-driving car is thus a good thing, we think, because it raises competition and introduces innovation. It’s goofy looking, but we don’t mind. The new kid is often made fun of for looking funny. We love how the video points out the advances in mobility a self-driving car could enable: blind people, the elderly, those without a license, those who don’t know how to drive, etc. People now can use their driving time to do other things, which presents a tremendous potential boost in leisure and productivity.

Google will be testing about 100 of their self-driving cars in real-life conditions for the next 12 months or so. They will use real people as testers and no doubt learn a lot. We wish them well in their enterprise, and look forward to the great things that will emerge from their work.

C-Class Estate Wagon Announced for 2015 and Everyone Went Crazy

For some reason, auto journalists are prone to favor station wagons. Not all of us, of course. But enough that when Mercedes-Benz announced this week that it’s releasing an Estate version of the C-Class, it’s been the leading item on Google News for Mercedes-Benz, and every major publication wrote about it, mainly to say that they already want it even though they haven’t driven it.

The 2015 C-Class Estate will not be coming to America, but that doesn’t mean Mercedes-Benz doubts that there will be demand for it. The station wagon will provide three four-cylinder gasoline engines, four diesel engines (two of which will be hybrids), and larger V6 engines later on, not to mention a probable plug-in hybrid version. Right there we have about 10 possible engine configurations for what many in the U.S. believe to be a dying breed of vehicle. It suggests to us that there is plenty of appreciation left for station wagons in the world, only that America is a bit behind the times.

The video announcing the C-Class Estate shows the car quite well. As an extension of the C-Class, its lengthy proportions do justice to the C’s bottom-heavy body, and put that bottom to good use by letting the voluminous trunk expand. We couldn’t help but find Mercedes-Benz’s video of the Estate’s cargo space a bit unusual, however.

After talking a fair bit about how the Estate lets emotion meet “functionality” and “class,” the video shows a man loading his rather large model helicopter, blades and all, into the rear trunk. A helicopter? Is that really a hobby? Perhaps our lack of model helicopter flying is why the Estate is going to literally anywhere on earth except the U.S. The man uses the open trunk as a bench as he happily steers his helo through the desert air, and the camera cuts to a woman in a tailored business jacket driving her Estate because presumably she has something better to do than pretend to fly.

In any case, we love station wagons and appreciate the E-Class Wagon that we do have in the U.S. Perhaps you would like to try it, as well.

Summer Donation Campaign for Military Members and Families

The people who serve in our military sacrifice much for our country, our well-being and our safety. The Drive for Troops campaign was created to raise funds for service members and their families. Donated funds are given to a number of charities that have a range of focuses.

Leith’s way of contributing to this campaign is to make a donation for every vehicle sold, new or used, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. That means that vehicles bought during the summer have a huge impact in improving the lives of service members and their families. Even if you don’t purchase a vehicle, however, you can still donate directly to the Drive for Troops campaign. You can also vote for your favorite charity; the charity which receives the most votes will receive an extra $50,000.

• North Carolina has one military ocean terminal, five military bases and a Coast Guard base
• NC has the ninth largest population of military veterans —nearly 800,000
• One-third of NC’s population is military, former military or has an immediate family member who is military/veteran

Below is a description of each charity involved, as well as their particular focuses. Vote here for your favorite and please consider supporting this aspect of our community.

Operation Homefront

The Carolinas chapter (OH-C) provides assistance to military families and wounded warriors. OH-C helps with rent, food, utilities, car and home repair, essential baby items, holiday toys, and more.

Patriot Foundation

Patriot Foundation provides college scholarships for children and child care assistance for spouses who need to go back to school to provide for the financial stability of their families.

Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation

The MCSF is the oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military children. More than 30,000 need-based scholarships valued at more than $80 million have gone to children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen since 1962.

Fisher House Foundation 

Fisher House Foundation provides housing for military and veterans’ families to stay while a loved one is receiving treatment. Donations received from this program will build a new Fisher House at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina.

Hiring Our Heroes

Hiring Our Heroes helps veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find meaningful employment opportunities.

5 Bad Driving Habits Putting Yourself and Everyone Else at Risk

Good driving is more than not having been in a collision recently. Many of us think that we’re basically good drivers, which entitles us to bend the rules here and there. A no-look lane change. A little driving while sleepy. A bottled water while we drive (water’s good for us, right?). A closed-eye sneeze (just kidding, nothing you can do about that).

In reality, however, these small actions create opportunity for collisions and even fatalities. Keeping your safety skills sharp is the best way to avoid complacency, and we’ve composed a list of the biggest driving mistakes currently happening. This list is based on actual driving habits observed and recorded in North Carolina, our own back yard! Look out for your friends, family and neighbors by being a good driver; it’s the best thing you can do.

5. Driving with headphones

This is a big one. It’s also illegal in North Carolina and most other states. Many people like to listen to podcasts, music, news, or even TV and movies while driving. The problem is that headphones and ear buds seal your ears from outside noises, making it very difficult to hear all the things that you’re responsible for hearing.

Even if you keep the volume low and think that you can hear outside noise, your hearing is still severely compromised and can lead to collisions. Like we said, it’s illegal for a reason.

4. No-look backing up

Two reasons for this: a) you’re in a hurry, or b) you know the area. Both are terrible reasons. Backing up without looking is like driving forward with your eyes closed. Even using your mirrors is not a good enough excuse. Your mirrors, and even a rearview camera, are there to help your eyes, not replace them.

The low-speeds of rear driving are enough to cause significant damage to people or cars. Take the time to put your hand on the headrest, twist around in your seat, and look where you’re going before you step on the gas, just like you were taught—or supposed to have been taught—in driver’s ed.

3. Intersection lane-changes

Also illegal in North Carolina. Once you enter an intersection, you are required by law to remain in your lane until you exit, even if the vehicle in front of you stops short. Why? Because it’s an intersection. Inter. Section. Vehicles are intersecting here. A traffic hub is the worst possible place to change your lane because there are vehicles entering lanes from multiple directions.

Unless you have three pairs of eyes or a car made out of marshmallows, don’t do it.

2. Applying make-up/grooming

Ah, looking good. So important to look your best in the morgue, isn’t it? That’s exactly where you or anyone near you could be headed if you mistake your steering wheel for a sink and mirror. Many places in the U.S. now have restrooms available to the public, which means that you could actually find the perfect shade of lipstick or trim that soul patch into nirvana when stationary.

Rather than doing the old “driving with knees or elbows” thing, take a good look at yourself in that mirror and repeat after us: “My self-worth is not bound up in my attractiveness. I value human life more than looking good. I’d rather look scraggy than spend 30 years in the pokey.”

1. Mobile devices

You knew it was coming. Whether it’s texting, calling, or Facebooking, don’t touch your phone. You might recall a widely-publicized study from two years ago that showed thattexting while driving cuts your reaction time in half, making collisions far more likely. A further study showed that a car can travel the length of a football field—100 yards—in the time it takes to read a text.

Our reflexes are at our best when we’re 15-25 years old. Even kids that age, however, have reaction times roughly equivalent to a senior citizen when using a mobile device. You might feel more alive or on point, but it’s an illusion. Your brain can’t keep up with everything at once, and that’s all it takes to ruin someone’s day or life.

So there you have it. Be a better person and take comfort in knowing that you’re making the world a better place, and likely saving yourself thousands of dollars in the process. Pump the brakes, slow down, and enjoy life by taking it in.

Avoid Distracted Driving!

-Put the cell phone down. 

Turn it off if the sound of a text alert or call will tempt you to check it.  This seems like an obvious one, but according to the Official US Government Website for Distracted Driving, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving at ANY given daylight moment in America.

-Don’t eat or drink while driving.  

It’s tempting to swing by a drive-thru and hop back on the road to make good time on your trip. But think about the risks involved–fiddling with wrappers, finding condiment packages, and dealing with the mess made are all distractions that take your eyes off the road.  Think about whether shaving that extra hour off your trip is worth cutting your life or the lives of others short.

-Clean up & fuel up.

Make sure your windshield is clean, oil changed, and vehicle generally maintained BEFORE you start your travels! Seeing your check engine light switch on or struggling with low visibility due to windshield grime is an avoidable distraction–so avoid it

5 Bad Driving Habits Putting Yourself and Everyone Else at Risk

Good driving is more than not having been in a collision recently. Many of us think that we’re basically good drivers, which entitles us to bend the rules here and there. A no-look lane change. A little driving while sleepy. A bottled water while we drive (water’s good for us, right?). A closed-eye sneeze (just kidding, nothing you can do about that).

In reality, however, these small actions create opportunity for collisions and even fatalities. Keeping your safety skills sharp is the best way to avoid complacency, and we've composed a list of the biggest driving mistakes currently happening. This list is based on actual driving habits observed and recorded in North Carolina, our own back yard! Look out for your friends, family and neighbors by being a good driver; it’s the best thing you can do.

5. Driving with headphones

This is a big one. It’s also illegal in North Carolina and most other states. Many people like to listen to podcasts, music, news, or even TV and movies while driving. The problem is that headphones and ear buds seal your ears from outside noises, making it very difficult to hear all the things that you’re responsible for hearing.

Even if you keep the volume low and think that you can hear outside noise, your hearing is still severely compromised and can lead to collisions. Like we said, it’s illegal for a reason.

4. No-look backing up

Two reasons for this: a) you’re in a hurry, or b) you know the area. Both are terrible reasons. Backing up without looking is like driving forward with your eyes closed. Even using your mirrors is not a good enough excuse. Your mirrors, and even a rearview camera, are there to help your eyes, not replace them.

The low-speeds of rear driving are enough to cause significant damage to people or cars. Take the time to put your hand on the headrest, twist around in your seat, and look where you’re going before you step on the gas, just like you were taught—or supposed to have been taught—in driver’s ed.

3. Intersection lane-changes

Also illegal in North Carolina. Once you enter an intersection, you are required by law to remain in your lane until you exit, even if the vehicle in front of you stops short. Why? Because it’s an intersection. Inter. Section. Vehicles are intersecting here. A traffic hub is the worst possible place to change your lane because there are vehicles entering lanes from multiple directions.

Unless you have three pairs of eyes or a car made out of marshmallows, don’t do it.

2. Applying make-up/grooming

Ah, looking good. So important to look your best in the morgue, isn’t it? That’s exactly where you or anyone near you could be headed if you mistake your steering wheel for a sink and mirror. Many places in the U.S. now have restrooms available to the public, which means that you could actually find the perfect shade of lipstick or trim that soul patch into nirvana when stationary.

Rather than doing the old “driving with knees or elbows” thing, take a good look at yourself in that mirror and repeat after us: “My self-worth is not bound up in my attractiveness. I value human life more than looking good. I’d rather look scraggy than spend 30 years in the pokey.”

1. Mobile devices

You knew it was coming. Whether it’s texting, calling, or Facebooking, don’t touch your phone. You might recall a widely-publicized study from two years ago that showed thattexting while driving cuts your reaction time in half, making collisions far more likely. A further study showed that a car can travel the length of a football field—100 yards—in the time it takes to read a text.

Our reflexes are at our best when we’re 15-25 years old. Even kids that age, however, have reaction times roughly equivalent to a senior citizen when using a mobile device. You might feel more alive or on point, but it’s an illusion. Your brain can’t keep up with everything at once, and that’s all it takes to ruin someone’s day or life.

So there you have it. Be a better person and take comfort in knowing that you’re making the world a better place, and likely saving yourself thousands of dollars in the process. Pump the brakes, slow down, and enjoy life by taking it in.

Oh, the Ways You Can Cabriolet!

Drop the top and any trip in a Mercedes-Benz Roadster or Cabriolet becomes positively dreamy. We certainly have a few favorite top-down moments of our own, but what about you? Showing up to your best friend(aka Bridezilla)'s wedding with wind-blown hair? Tanning while commuting? Summertime stargazing? Maybe going on your first single solitary road trip? Share your story with us and have an amazing weekend!