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It seems an odd choice to say three turbochargers in an article that references superchargers when it reads as an electric supercharger plus sequential turbos.

It seems an odd choice to say three turbochargers in an article that references superchargers when it reads as an electric supercharger plus sequential turbos. Personally, I'd much rather see advancement / acceptance of self-drivers even if limited to highways than incremental improvements to traditional cars. The main, perhaps only reason I really care about response and acceleration is the generally selfish, adversarial behavior of human drivers. The contrast between the same daily drive in a 4-cyl compact and torquey V8 is stark. In the former, every lane change has to come with permission - that drivers are often unwilling to give. In the latter, I'm in complete control. I'd much rather the third possibility - to know we're all on autopilot gliding along at a safe, predictable rate to our destinations.

sliverstorm 12y ago
It isn't all about the commute. There's also towing, high mountain passes, and plain fun to consider. It's amazing how gutless my old 140hp/150lb-ft wagon was at 10,000ft. Foot to the floor, 3rd gear, barely maintaining speed.
- undersuit 12y ago
  The plain fun aspect isn't a reason to keep the human driven automobile around as a legal activity on public roads. We segregate fun from business and competition for a number of activities. We don't go hunting with fully automatic weapons, why do people get to engage in fun with ridiculously overpowered vehicles when I'm in a more practical commuting vehicle right next to them driving to work?
  - sliverstorm 12y ago
    I didn't say anything like that. Only that "fun" is one of the reasons for more than the absolute bare minimum of engine power.
  - MrDom 12y ago
    > why do people get to engage in fun with ridiculously overpowered vehicles when I'm in a more practical commuting vehicle right next to them driving to work? Why do people get to tell me what I can and can't drive? Lots of people manage to drive safely on public roads with cars far far more powerful than they technically need. > We don't go hunting with fully automatic weapons Then you're clearly not having as much fun as you could be ;)
dalke 12y ago
"I'd much rather see advancement / acceptance of self-drivers" Volvo is doing that as well. See http://www.wired.com/2014/09/volvo-proving-grounds/ http://www.wired.com/2014/09/volvo-proving-grounds/ and https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/media/pressreleases/145619/volvo-car-groups-first-self-driving-autopilot-cars-test-on-public-roads-around-gothenburg https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/media/pressrele...

sliverstorm 12y ago

It isn't all about the commute. There's also towing, high mountain passes, and plain fun to consider. It's amazing how gutless my old 140hp/150lb-ft wagon was at 10,000ft. Foot to the floor, 3rd gear, barely maintaining speed.

undersuit 12y ago
The plain fun aspect isn't a reason to keep the human driven automobile around as a legal activity on public roads. We segregate fun from business and competition for a number of activities. We don't go hunting with fully automatic weapons, why do people get to engage in fun with ridiculously overpowered vehicles when I'm in a more practical commuting vehicle right next to them driving to work?
- sliverstorm 12y ago
  I didn't say anything like that. Only that "fun" is one of the reasons for more than the absolute bare minimum of engine power.
- MrDom 12y ago
  > why do people get to engage in fun with ridiculously overpowered vehicles when I'm in a more practical commuting vehicle right next to them driving to work? Why do people get to tell me what I can and can't drive? Lots of people manage to drive safely on public roads with cars far far more powerful than they technically need. > We don't go hunting with fully automatic weapons Then you're clearly not having as much fun as you could be ;)

dalke 12y ago

"I'd much rather see advancement / acceptance of self-drivers" Volvo is doing that as well. See http://www.wired.com/2014/09/volvo-proving-grounds/ http://www.wired.com/2014/09/volvo-proving-grounds/ and https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/media/pressreleases/145619/volvo-car-groups-first-self-driving-autopilot-cars-test-on-public-roads-around-gothenburg https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/media/pressrele...