𝙕𝙡𝙂𝙕𝘼𝙂 𝟘𝟚𝟘 :: Joke dot AI

⚑ Technology.

Love it, leave it—this week, more than one story has approached an aspect of future technology.

For example, BMW is marketing some bizarre, virtualish character that does its own horrible AI art and posts it to social media. Toyota’s newest Prius is being reviewed, and for the first time in my life—now that so many cars are hybrids—it’s just a car.

Audi is cross-pollinating departments to develop AI-generated concepts, though they’re farther along than BMW Dee’s designs. This is just the start, mind you.

cont’d below…

⟿ TECHNOLOGY HEADLINES

• “So, what did we learn from all this? I guess that the next BMW assistant will be called Dee and they will try to make it into some sort of character, and that BMW got soaked and some ad agency is eating hoagies stuffed with $100 bills and only accomplished making BMW’s brand seem more cloying and desperate and out of touch than ever before.” :: BMW Pretends Its Social Media Got Hacked And It’s Just Kind Of Embarrassing For Everyone • The Autopian
• “A few even seem to push the boundaries of what’s possible with modern wheel production methods, which is a very kind way of saying that they can’t physically be built.” :: Audi's AI Wheel Designer Knocked Off a Bunch of Old Wheels • Jalopnik
• Reinventing the wheel? “FelGAN” inspires new rim designs with AI • Audi AG (website)
• “We drove mostly in Normal mode, and tested the quicker but noisier Sport mode and the remarkably inoffensive Eco mode. We might be tempted to leave it in Eco mode—which we’ve said about very few hybrids ever—and just drive it hard.” :: Review: 2023 Toyota Prius rethinks high-mpg hybrid for stunning style • greencarreports.com
• “Virtual AI “artists” don’t bother me, but an AI sketch artist? Horrifying. AI-generated structural building supports don’t upset me, the thought of AI-planned neighborhoods does.” :: AI art is not a crime • speedster.news
• “It isn’t totally new, as it still uses the same platform as the current-outgoing LaCrosse. But the design got a makeover with a new front and rear.” :: Meet The New Buick LaCrosse For China • carnewschina (jk on this one, same old Buick / GM! haha -M)

Every time I watch the McMurtry Automotive Spéirling do anything, I don’t believe it. Having Matt Watson from carwow do a detailed technical overview of the car (with a lead engineer present for the nitty gritty) helps in the believability stakes…

I now know the car is essentially the footprint of a ’60s Formula 1 car (cramped)—albeit with much more power and fans for ground effects. One of the reasons the Spéirling is so quick is its system of fans that give full downforce from a standstill.

↬ I broke the 1/4-mile world record in this new HYPERCAR! • carwow

Personal coupes are coming back! What else would you call a 4,000-lb + electric four-seat car?

Headline specs are impressive, and no doubt the Neta (brand) E (model) with dual motors and all-wheel-drive would shrug off its 1,950 kg curb weight and launch hard enough to put a Dodge Viper in the rearview. But…like…many cars can do that now.

As Car News China notes, it’s the world’s first production electric 2+2 coupé. That means China has left the “EVs = economy cars” growth phase and there’s now a business case for cars with more power, more range (up to 580 km) CLTC, and less practicality.

Just…don’t look at those shutlines…

❍ Neta E Is A Pretty 456 HP Electric Coupe From China • carnewschina