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.

[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

[Tom]

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

[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.

[sk_tle]

120kph is largely enough to kill yourself and you can kill others with a fraction of that.

[adriano]

electric, thats nothing. Autonomous Driving | Intellisafe | Volvo Cars

[RichTheRoadie]

This thread title has so much more potential than the content...

[SteveP]

120kph is largely enough to kill yourself and you can kill others with a fraction of that.

Of course, but at 150 chances are exponentially higher.
I thk its a great idea.

[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.

[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!

[bigbill]

I went the other route, I got The Boy a Ford Focus. Underpowered, lots of airbags, factory sound system. Genius.

[sk_tle]

Of course, but at 150 chances are exponentially higher.
I thk its a great idea.

I'd say there are more injured/killed people due to texting or driving while under influence than kids doing drag races.

If a manufacturer really took security seriously they would jam any gsm/3g/wifi/whatever when the car is moving and ask the driver to pass some sort of psychotechnic/cognitive/logical test to figure out if the driver is in good shape to drive.

[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.)