More Design: Essential things you didn't know you needed

[summilux]

We are looking to replace our 12yr old Volvo and came across this fabulous piece of engineering: the Red Key. If you use the Red Key to start the car, top speed is limited to 120km/h (nice) and the audio volume cannot rise above middle levels (genius). Not only will your kid be unable to tear around at crazy speed, they will be unable to blast DJ Khaled at your neighbours. Smart.

[colker]

I find it obscene. The fact that it´s a key makes it a sinister metaphor to industries controlling your life.
No wonder retro 60s cars mean style, freedom and sexyness... no matter how silly that is, the Volvo key makes it happen.

If the kid does not behave, don´t give him the car keys.

[bertiewhang]

A sixties Volvo didn't go like a current one and industries controlling your life is foil hat material.

[Too Tall]

Go ahead tell him the worse news. In three years (?) all new Volvos will be 100% electric.

[SteveP]

i thk its a great idea for kids.

[SeanEasley]

i thk its a great idea for kids.

Or, you could do what my dad did and give me access only to a Peugeot 504_diesel_station wagon with iirc a 4-speed manual tranny.

'...top speed limited to 120'...ha, it was a joke trying to hit 80 in that thing!

[funcrusher]

Go ahead tell him the worse news. In three years (?) all new Volvos will be 100% electric.

Not 100% electric....just not 100% combustion so hybrids will be a big part

[colker]

A sixties Volvo didn't go like a current one and industries controlling your life is foil hat material.

Who cares about 60s Volvos? I look at Porsches and Mercedes Benz sportsters. Saab cabriolets.
A car that does not let sound and speed as a substitute for lack of authority? Yeah, who needs parents when you have the swedish state and car industry.

[thollandpe]

Didn't the Corvette have a valet key that limited speed and/or power, over a decade ago?

[The Bridge Guy]

The 1990 ZR-1 had a valet key that limited power to ~210 hp from 375 hp. The Bugatti Chiron has a "Speed Key" that allows a top speed of 261 mph for a very short period of time, otherwise it's "limited" to a mere 236 mph. Progress!

[bertiewhang]

Who cares about 60s Volvos? I look at Porsches and Mercedes Benz sportsters. Saab cabriolets.
A car that does not let sound and speed as a substitute for lack of authority? Yeah, who needs parents when you have the swedish state and car industry.

Forgive me for not making the blatantly obvious connection between new drivers, a total lack of respect for parents, cars being wrapped around trees, vintage sporting vehicles, the tyrannical Swedish state and car industry.

[colker]

Forgive me for not making the blatantly obvious connection between new drivers, a total lack of respect for parents, cars being wrapped around trees, vintage sporting vehicles, the tyrannical Swedish state and car industry.

Well.. i believe the internet is also killing people so you are right, i should not have posted.

[davids]

I find it obscene. The fact that it´s a key makes it a sinister metaphor to industries controlling your life.
No wonder retro 60s cars mean style, freedom and sexyness... no matter how silly that is, the Volvo key makes it happen.

If the kid does not behave, don´t give him the car keys.

Obscene?

Hey, if you don't like the features of the key you have choices:

1. Don't use the features;
2. Don't use the key;
3. Don't buy the car.

No one is compelling you. No one is legislating it as a requirement. It is a functional feature that each person is free to use or ignore.

You must get pretty angry at Facebook for being a business, huh?

[colker]

Obscene?

Hey, if you don't like the features of the key you have choices:

1. Don't use the features;
2. Don't use the key;
3. Don't buy the car.

No one is compelling you. No one is legislating it as a requirement. It is a functional feature that each person is free to use or ignore.

You must get pretty angry at Facebook for being a business, huh?

Get your son his own car and don´t be cheap.

I get angry at facebook for spying private mails and bullying anyone who posts 18th century nude paintings... while You sound like those who buy any BS morality thrown at them.
Obey in silence as much as you like. Just avoid passing judgement on other people cause you are not very good at it.

[dgaddis]

Get your son his own car and don´t be cheap.

I get angry at facebook for spying private mails and bullying anyone who posts 18th century nude paintings... while You sound like those who buy any BS morality thrown at them.
Obey in silence as much as you like. Just avoid passing judgement on other people cause you are not very good at it.

These seem like contradictory statements.

[davids]

Get your son his own car and don´t be cheap.

I get angry at facebook for spying private mails and bullying anyone who posts 18th century nude paintings... while You sound like those who buy any BS morality thrown at them.
Obey in silence as much as you like. Just avoid passing judgement on other people cause you are not very good at it.

My dear Salonista,

Your fury is directed at a consumer product. You do not have to buy the product. You do not have to use the feature. It's your choice (But hey, it's clearly your choice to be outraged that the feature is even offered!)

My comments apply to Facebook just as much as to Volvo. If you don't like what Facebook is offering you are completely free to not use it. Completely. Free.

As far as your attack on me?

1. I don't have a son.
2. I will be as cheap as I please. Parenthetically, I don't understand why my original post - pointing out that you're free to not buy a Volvo or not use the feature - led you to accuse me of being cheap.
3. I don't "obey" consumer product companies. I either choose to use their products or to not use their products. They exert very little "control" over me either way.
4. I wasn't "passing judgement" on you. I was arguing against your point.

[Matthew Strongin]

From a design perspective, it would be good if companies could get on the same page about what the red key does. I hope nobody has both a Volvo and a Dodge Charger Hellcat...you wouldn't want to get those mixed up.

[Tom]

But the torque... oh, baby. I may not need the Polestar tune when I trade in the C30 in 15 years...

[prcrstn8]

How much is the replacement when your kid loses the red key? $300-$500?

(Two different people lost their e-keys one ski weekend in VT. One borrowed a car to drive home to NJ to get her spare and turned around the next day to come back to VT to retrieve her car. In the meantime, someone found her key on the slopes and turned it in to lost & found. It was cut across the middle by a ski but still working. The other borrowed a car to drive home to Boston to get his spare but his original key wasn't found.)

[classtimesailer]

6 years ago, I would have traded in my Forester for a Volvo with this feature. It's all good we mad it but hey Zeus some scary times.