The tech landscape feels as if it is struggling with innovation at the moment.
We have reached peak screen, there is a gadget for every part of our lives and as a result, Mark Zuckerberg has been on-stage trying to convince us all that a pair of thick-rimmed glasses that beam a live stream of information directly into our already bloodshot eyeballs is a worthy investment.
It’s a similar state of affairs in the automotive industry, which when it isn’t flip-flopping over the decision to go electric, it is pursuing whatever Silicone Valley fad is currently flavor of the month.
Sure, EVs are more powerful than ever, the electric range is gradually improving and we can now make a Zoom call while waiting to brim batteries, but the entire industry is awash with ‘innovations’ that very few customers actually asked for.
Okay, so I’m not a complete Luddite and do enjoy poking around the latest piece of automotive gadgetry (it’s sort of my job), but there have been a number of recent innovations that truly deserve to disappear – these are top of my list.
The 6 most annoying EV and automotive innovations
1. Cameras for wing mirrors
“It reduces the drag co-efficient and helps increase EV range!” came the cries from engineers when Audi first took the wraps off its 2018 e-tron SUV.
The feature these boffins were referring to was the German marque’s virtual mirrors, which essentially tossed the cheap and reliable wing mirror into the trash in favor of a complicated and expensive concoction of cameras, wires and displays.
As a result, the trend of sticking a pair of glorified GoPros on stalks and mounting them to the front doors has been replicated by numerous brands, all keen on showcasing their technological prowess.
In reality, the video screens that display the live feed from said cameras are almost always in the most awkward, unnatural position inside the cabin, it’s impossible to judge distances properly and in low light or poor weather conditions, the image quality drops.
A wing mirror, which can be easily heated, adjusted and cleaned, is a solution that has stood the test of time because it works. Any aerodynamic savings made from ditching them is almost certainly lost in the additional weight penalties that bloated EVs suffer from anyway.
The same goes for replacing rear-view mirrors with cameras. We are looking at you, Polestar.
2. Virtual assistants
Often they take the form of a robotic voice that is summoned with a command or press of a button. Sometimes they pop up as an animated logo and occasionally they manifest as a digital fox that aimlessly kicks a football around in the corner of a screen. Nearly always, they suck.
Virtual assistants or voice assistants or ‘Reno’, if you own a Renault, are designed to reduce driver distraction by taking care of key car functionality with a series of simple vocal commands.
Many of them are getting smarter thanks to AI and LLMs, but nearly all remain more effort than simply pressing an easy-to-locate button.
Shouting “Hey Renault, make it cooler in here” takes longer than turning a dial, while asking XPeng’s little robot Xiao P to do anything is largely pointless… it mostly refuses.
Reduce volume: dial (on steering wheel, preferably). Answer call: button (preferably not haptic). Heated seats: ditto… you get the picture, engineers.
Granted, things are moving on at a pace and the introduction of AI that understands natural, conversational language certainly makes navigating to destinations and performing more complex infotainment tasks easier. But these early, often anamorphic examples are more hassle than they are worth.
3. Convoluted relaxation programs
This can most certainly be chalked up as a ‘first-world problem’, but many luxury automakers are turning towards ever-more extravagant relaxation programs as a unique selling point.
Of course, a nice massaging seat with heating and cooling functionality is never going to go out of style, but pairing it with an ambient light show and the soundtrack of trickling waterfalls and panpipes is just silly.
In addition to this, many of these individual vibes often come with cringe-worthy names, like Summertime Serenity, Forest Glade or Vivid Passion. Some cars even automatically activate a program if it senses the driver is slouching or decides you are in a bad mood.
While this sort of automotive theatre likely impresses a few passengers the first time they are used, I’d bet good money they very quickly lose their appeal.
4. Front-passenger displays
Shout out to all of the automotive interior designers, many of whom have remained highly professional when faced with the question: “how much interior design is actually left now the entire cockpit of a car is covered in screens?”
Their commitment to the cause is further tested when they are faced with the entry-level model, which sees the fancy interactive display replaced by a cheap piece of black plastic.
This point is perfectly highlighted by the introduction of front passenger infotainment, which has been spearheaded by Audi, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz – all of which are convinced that VIP now means more LCD.
When quizzed on this subject, a Porsche spokesperson told me that a high percentage of the company’s customers specify its front passenger display, but couldn’t give me a steer on the actual usage figures.
In reality, most front passengers want to engage in conversation or deal with bickering kids in the back seat. When those two pastimes are exhausted, they might listen to the radio or turn to their smartphone, which takes care of all of their social media, life admin and entertainment needs.
Watching Mr Beast on YouTube or playing a round of Crossy Roads on a small display that’s just slightly out of reach probably didn’t cross their mind.
5. Active Lane Keep Assist
Before I receive hate mail from the NHTSA or EuroNCAP, I’d like to admit that I understand importance of active safety systems and wholeheartedly agree that some of them have probably helped mitigate accidents.
But come on, Active Lane Keep Assist has to be up there with one of the most annoying, right after driver distraction detection that shouts at you when all you are trying to do is interact with the ridiculously complex infotainment system.
The issue here is that the quality of Lane Keep Assist varies wildly between brands, with some systems yanking on the steering wheel at the mere whiff of a central reservation or curb.
On top of this, many roads in the UK and Europe simply aren’t wide enough (or even marked correctly) to allow these systems to perform properly. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve had steering intervention when navigating a twisting country road or trying to avoid gargantuan pothole.
What’s even more irritating is the extent some manufacturers go to in order to dissuade drivers from turning it off.
6. Capacitive or haptic buttons
Offering buttons that seemingly blend in with a surface might look futuristic (and potentially save the manufacturer some cash) but they are among the fastest way to boil a driver’s blood.
Accidentally brushing the steering wheel is sometimes enough to change a radio station and, in many cases, the functions on the touch-sensitive surface change, leaving the driver to take their eyes off the road and rummage around the dash for what used to be a simple one-button solution.
Smartphones have a lot to answer for, as many automotive manufacturers have aimed to replicate the experience in a vehicle, but capacitive surfaces could soon be a thing of the past.
Euro NCAP, the leading car safety organization in Europe, will make it harder for manufacturers to achieve the top scores if they continue to bury key car functionality in touchscreens or shirk reliable, physical buttons.
What EV or automotive ‘innovations’ drive you round the bend? Let us know in the comments below.
