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Would You Pay for Heated Seats Subscription? Financial Times The Future of Car Summit 2023

After a long hiatus, I returned to the Financial Time The Future of Car Summit 2023. Despite the pandemic, the summit continued in an online format. It was delightful to reconnect with familiar faces after four years. This year’s hot topic was, surprisingly, “Would you pay a monthly fee for heated seats in your car?” I understand that this might sound amusing and absurd. However, notable automotive brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Toyota, Audi, Cadillac, Porsche, and even Tesla charge a monthly fee for optional features available on their cars.

This represents a new paradigm! In the past, when purchasing a car, you would specify the desired features at the dealer, and that was the end of it. If you opted for heated seats, you would have them, or else you wouldn’t. Now, however, things have changed. All cars come equipped with all features, but you need to make monthly payments to activate them.

Mercedes-Benz has taken an unconventional approach by introducing a monthly subscription fee for increased acceleration.

The list of examples is extensive, but it is not something that consumers are happy to pay for. Here’s why: car companies compare this model to services like Apple Music, Netflix, or Spotify. They argue that tech companies, such as Apple, follow a similar approach. However, Apple never charges a fee for features like the ultra-wide lens or external speaker. Apple and Google charge for software. If you wish to listen to music, you can pay for Apple Music or download Spotify. Even if you choose not to pay for Apple Music, your iPhone’s speaker still functions. You are not limited to exclusively listening to music from Apple Music. Your iPhone will continue to operate properly.

During the FT summit, I posed a question to Matthew Simpkins from Salesforce. I inquired about Netflix losing customers after the pandemic, as people grew bored with the content and realised they were paying a substantial amount of money. Essentially, people became disinterested and stopped paying. I wondered if the same issue could arise in the future with car subscriptions. Matthew made an excellent point, highlighting that Netflix failed to introduce exciting new content, leading people to no longer find value in paying for the service. He suggested that the car industry could learn from this situation and take the opportunity to improve technology and introduce new features. Additionally, he emphasised the importance of bundling these optional extras with the monthly lease payments. Otherwise, customers may be reluctant to pay an additional £50 while already paying £500 per month. It was a great answer, and Matthew wrote an article about this topic on the Salesforce website, which you can read through the provided link.

https://www.salesforce.com/resources/articles/merging-driver-and-vehicle-data-article/

From the perspective of participants, the majority at the FT Car Summit are not enthusiastic about paying a subscription fee specifically for heated seats. Drawing from my observations and experience in behavioural economics, it is clear that people generally dislike paying last-minute extra fees, such as delivery charges for online shopping or fees for individual features like heated seats. It would be more effective to bundle these fees into the overall price customers are already willing to pay. This way, the subscription fee would essentially become an optional feature fee. In essence, this approach would likely result in no significant change.

I believe the car industry is endeavouring to find new sources of income and taking inspiration from the tech industry. However, it’s important to note that the tech industry primarily sells software, unlike the automotive industry, which deals with high-priced products like cars. Attempting to retrofit a Netflix payment model to something like a BMW heated seat may not prove successful in the long term.

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Salon Privé Chelsea, London 2023

I attended Salon Privé this year and was worried I would be late, but my timing was perfect – I arrived just after the rain. Although the show was a bit wet, it didn’t stop people from attending.

The most iconic cars of this year’s event were the Ferrari F40 and F50. I have to admit, I am a bit biased towards these cars because they are rare and very hard to come by. Not only are the F40 and F50 limited in numbers, but they are also difficult to drive.

Like the previous year, I visited Anna-Louise Felstead’s stand, and as always, she had amazing paintings.

Ferrari introduced the soft-top version of the Ferrari Roma by HR Owen, called the Roma Spider. The final version of the Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate was also on display, marking the end of an era for V12 Aston Martins (except for the SUV).

Anyway, there were so many cars at the event. Salon Privé is the best car show in London, and you shouldn’t miss it next year.

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Cars

Salon Privè 2023, Chelsea London

In just a few weeks, Salon Prive will return to the Royal Chelsea Hospital in London. Salon Prive is arguably one of the only motoring shows in West London. Even if you are not particularly interested in cars, it is worth attending to see artwork inspired by automobiles and to catch a glimpse of some concept vehicles that may or may not make it into production.

If none of these aspects captures your attention, you will still be at the Royal Chelsea Hospital, which was built in 1682. It is one of the most calming places in Chelsea and, surprisingly, someone has not yet managed to turn it into a block of flats. Simply walking around the hospital’s garden is a great experience to have.

Here is the link for the event:

https://www.salonprivelondon.com/buy-tickets/

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Cars

TikTok and Angry Birds on the New Mercedes Benz E-Class

The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class is going to feature TikTok and Angry Birds built into the MBUX system. We have been waiting for this for a long time. While Angry Birds may be considered an outdated smartphone game (sorry, Angry Birds, but your time has passed), it’s still nice to have it available. Meanwhile, TikTok has become a social media sensation. It’s better to have TikTok on your smartphone while you are at home or on public transportation.

It is not ideal to have TikTok on your car’s screen! TikTok is the most addictive social media app, and Mercedes-Benz is offering this app on its most “boring” car, the E-Class. I think Mercedes-Benz is trying to add some excitement to the E-Class with a TikTok app, but let’s be honest, the E-Class has always been seen as a bit dull.

The E-Class is not exactly known for being fun or exciting; the CLS is the cool one. Unfortunately, Mercedes-Benz is going to stop manufacturing the CLS.

From a logical perspective, adding TikTok to the E-Class is unlikely to attract a younger audience. And how are they supposed to use TikTok while driving a car? If they can only use TikTok when the car is not moving, what’s the point of having it in your car? Why not just use your smartphone?

The second strange feature in the new E-Class is inherited from the Porsche Panamera: touch screen controlled air vents. Did you know we have a built-in feature for moving air vents? It’s called our hands! Controlling air vents from a touch screen with a slight delay is like using a smartphone with a stylus!

The E-Class is a nice car in terms of engineering and technology, but it’s not designed for fun or excitement. It’s a car that gets the job done. I don’t really see the point of adding unnecessary features. I know Tesla adds everything to their cars, but the Tesla cars also have reliability issues. They even fail to do basic things like opening the door from the door handles.

Photos // Mercedes-Benz

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Cars

Bugatti Chiron Profilée Sold!

Bugatti Chiron Profilée was sold for €9,792,500 at RM Sotheby’s Paris auction, excluding VAT, making the final price higher. This makes the Chiron Profilee the most expensive car ever sold at an auction.

The Bugatti Chiron Profilée was planned as a limited-edition, but it was not produced due to the 500 unit allocation for the Chiron being filled before the Profilée. The Chiron Profilée is designed to be stiffer than the Pur Sport, offering a more dynamic driving experience. It features a fixed rear wing and has a top speed limit of 380 km/h. The engine’s redline has also been increased to 6900 RPM. The 8-lt W16 engine produces 1500 hp.

There is a rumor regarding the Bugatti W16 engine that it is based on either a VW VR engine or an Audi V8. The truth is unknown. However, it is certain that the buyer of the Chiron now possesses the last W16 engine ever built by Bugatti.

Photo // Bugatti

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Cars

Autosport International 2023

Autosport International is back in 2023, three years after its last appearance at NEC, Birmingham. I am excited to see the show this year and the return of cars and models.

I have been attending Autosport since 2012, and the last three years were a significant break.

As expected, the show was amazing. There were new companies, models, and exciting new motorsport technologies, particularly electric vehicle racing cars. I anticipate seeing more electric vehicles in future Autosport shows.

By the way, I don’t know the story behind that Lamborghini Huracan.

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This Article is Written by The ChatGPT Ai Tool // Bugatti Chiron

This article is written by an artificial intelligence tool called ChatGPT (http://chat.openai.com). I knew this day will come, and machines will write articles, but I wasn’t expecting this quickly. After 13 years of blogging here, I am proud to present the first article on my blog written by a machine.

The Bugatti Chiron is a mid-engined sports car developed and manufactured by Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. It is the successor to the Bugatti Veyron and was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016. The Chiron is named after Louis Chiron, a racing driver who won the Monaco Grand Prix three times in the 1920s and 1930s.

The Chiron is powered by an 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine that produces 1,500 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque. It has a top speed of 261 mph, making it one of the fastest production cars in the world. The Chiron also has a 0-60 mph acceleration time of just 2.4 seconds, thanks to its all-wheel drive system and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

In terms of design, the Chiron is a blend of traditional Bugatti styling cues and modern design elements. It has a long, low profile with a wide grille and a sweeping roofline. The Chiron also has distinctive LED lights and large air intakes to help cool the engine. Inside, the Chiron is luxurious and well-equipped, with comfortable leather seats and a high-tech dashboard.

The Bugatti Chiron is not just a high-performance machine, but also a work of art. Each Chiron is hand-built by a team of skilled craftsmen at Bugatti’s headquarters in Molsheim, France. The Chiron is limited to just 500 units, making it a rare and exclusive car that is highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.

Overall, the Bugatti Chiron is a stunning achievement in automotive engineering and design. It is a true masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of what is possible in a production car.

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Cars

13th Years

This year marks the 13th year of my blog. I never thought I would be blogging for such a long time, but here I am, still doing it. During these 13 years, blogging and many other things have changed a lot.

Soon, I will have a surprise for you on this blog. Stay tuned!

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Cars

The Porsche 911 Dakar

The Porsche 911 is one of the most iconic sports cars. It has been evolving since it was first introduced in 1964. It is one of the most refined sports cars with a wide range of engine options. Also, you can choose either a rear-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive option. Now, we have the Porsche 911 Dakar.

The Porsche 911 Dakar is designed for rough and tough terrain. The Dakar is here to get rid of your Cayenne and let you drive the real Porsche! I know the Cayenne is practical, has all-wheel drive and offers an off-road experience.

Now, the Porsche 911 Dakar can do the same, and you don’t need the Cayenne! The Porsche 911 Dakar is based on the Carrera S with a 50mm uplifting suspension kit with an option to lift it an additional 30mm via a four-corner lift system.

The Porsche 911 Dakar is powered by a 911 GTS engine, a 3.0-litre Biturbo six-cylinder engine with 480 PS (353 kW) and a maximum torque of 570 Nm. The Dakar can reach 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds and the top speed is only limited to 240 km/h due to the all-terrain tyres. The engine is coupled with an 8-speed PDK gearbox. Rear-axle steering is also available. Dakar’s off-road top speed is limited to 170 km/h, but I am sure this speed will be enough on rough terrain. And there is a new driving mode: Rally and Off-Road.

There will only be 2500 Porsche 911 Dakars produced for £173,000. If you can afford it, go buy it!

Photos // Porsche

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Cars

Ford Discontinued the Fiesta

At the end of October 2022, Ford announced its decision to discontinue the Fiesta from June 2023 onward.

The Fiesta is one of the longest-standing vehicles in the industry, having been produced for 47 years. Unfortunately, the trend and addiction to driving SUVs has forced Ford to stop manufacturing the Fiesta.

This segment of Ford will be replaced by Puma’s electric version. Honestly, the Puma looks weird, and in the early 2000s, the Puma brand used to be a car based on the Ford Ka.

The original Ford Fiesta was launched in 1976, and since then more than 18 million units have been built around the world. Recently, Ford discontinued the Mondeo, Galaxy, and S-Max models. Honestly, I never liked MPVs (Galaxy and S-Max); they can be gone for good!

Anyway, I’m hoping that one day, the Fiesta will be back again. Until that time, we will miss you, Fiesta!

Images // Ford