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Chrysler is betting millennials will want to be as connected in their cars as they are at home with a new concept car that mixes high-tech gadgetry with a head-turning design.
The Portal concept was unveiled on Tuesday at CES in Las Vegas as Chrysler's proposal to the millennial generation and is designed to be a comfortable "third space" for a generation that is just as much at home in a coffee shop as they are at home or work.
[...] On the tech side, the Portal hits all the right notes when it comes to the current crop of concept vehicles: A large sweeping digital dashboard with many of the internal surfaces doubling as flat screens, and internet connectivity throughout.
There are an impressive 10 gadget docks so the six passengers will never be fighting over who gets to charge their device, and Chrysler said speakers direct audio to each seating zone so it's possible to each listen to their own music.
[...] The Portal is a battery electric vehicle with a 250 mile range, and supports fast-charging that can deliver a 150-mile charge in 20 minutes.
Setting aside its intended market, the car has good features that would appeal to a lot of customers.
[One thing to note is that this is a concept car, not intended for production - Fnord666]
(Score: 2) by Unixnut on Thursday January 05 2017, @04:32PM
The car has to start self destructing at a quarter inch impact partially to make money off fender benders, but mostly to start dissipating energy in a 40 MPH crash to make it survivable. Ditto the frigging giant beams attaching the roof in modern cars, if you roll one or hit something with those beams you have a much higher chance of survival than with an older car.
This is true, however I do wonder what is safer overall. One of my cars have really thin pillars attaching from the roof, because the car is from the 80's. If I get into an accident where I roll the car over (really unlikely as it is low and wide), I am at greater risk of injury or death. However the chances of me getting into an accident are reduced because I can see far better. It is like driving in a glass house, virtually no blind spots.
I drove a modern rental recently, and it was not only more dangerous because the poor visibility increased my chances of a collision, it was more dangerous to others (like cyclists and motorcyclists) because it is harder to see and hear them. You really are insulated in a modern car, to the point where it dulls your senses.
Greater safety is of course a nice thing, but sometimes I do wonder if in the pursuit of safety, we have made accidents more likely to occur in the first place.
I personally prefer sacrificing some safety features in return for a lower likelihood of getting in an accident. Helps with my insurance premiums, and less hassle overall.