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[Markjay]

OK, this thread is about automotive inventions that seemed like a great idea, and while they did not flop as such, they just never caught on...

When I say 'never caught on' it does not necessarily mean they have been condemned to oblivion, it is just that they have not been universally accepted by car buyers (and therefore by car manufacturers), so they do exist the offering is limited and remains a niche market in the main.

The point is that you would have thought that if something is a good idea, it would catch on and become commonplace. Some examples for ideas that did catch on are ABS brakes, Airbags, in-car SatNav, electric windows, central locking / remote control locking, etc.. there are many others, these are just to demonstrate what happens when an idea is good and receives general welcome and implemented by a wide range of manufacturers on many if their models.

So this thread is not about any of these these...

[CaptainZok]

OK, this thread is about automotive inventions that seemed like a great idea, and while they did not flop as such, they just never caught on...

When I say 'never caught on' it does not necessarily mean they have been condemned to oblivion, it is just that they have not been universally accepted by car buyers (and therefore by car manufacturers), so they do exist the offering is limited and remains a niche market in the main.

The point is that you would have thought that if something is a good idea, it would catch on and become commonplace. Some examples for ideas that did catch on are ABS brakes, Airbags, in-car SatNav, electric windows, central locking / remote control locking, etc.. there are many others, these are just to demonstrate what happens when an idea is good and receives general welcome and implemented by a wide range of manufacturers on many if their models.

So this thread is not about any of these these...

BMW drivers using indicators, that never caught on.

[Markjay]

OK, this thread is about automotive inventions that seemed like a great idea, and while they did not flop as such, they just never caught on...

When I say 'never caught on' it does not necessarily mean they have been condemned to oblivion, it is just that they have not been universally accepted by car buyers (and therefore by car manufacturers), so they do exist the offering is limited and remains a niche market in the main.

The point is that you would have thought that if something is a good idea, it would catch on and become commonplace. Some examples for ideas that did catch on are ABS brakes, Airbags, in-car SatNav, electric windows, central locking / remote control locking, etc.. there are many others, these are just to demonstrate what happens when an idea is good and receives general welcome and implemented by a wide range of manufacturers on many if their models.

So this thread is not about any of these these...

BMW drivers using indicators, that never caught on.

 

[Markjay]

#1 Headlamps that steer with the wheels.

First pioneered by Citroen on late-models DS, seemed like a cracker of an idea, but then disappeared for five decades. Why? Surely not just due to cost, especially as it would not bee too difficult to do nowadays with modern day electronics.

[Markjay]

#2 Voice commands, voice alerts.

Most science-fiction movies of the seventies featured cars that talk, and take voice commands. Not just cars, but also space ships, aeroplanes, computers, etc. ('...Dave.... Can you hear me Dave....' by HAL 9000).

With minor exceptions such as TrafficMaster and some models of Austin Allegro (or was it the Marina)? cars do not talk these days... yes there are the likes of Merc that have this as optional feature, but in the main cars just don't talk. Again surely not down to cost, speech synthesisers are dead cheap these days. It seems that the driving public is just not interested in having conversations with their motors...

[Andy B]

....... and some models of Austin Allegro (or was it the Marina)? cars do not talk these days... .....

It was the Go-Faster Maestro MG. A mate used to have one.

[Markjay]

#3 Permanent all-wheel-drive for road cars

Audi pioneered this idea in the early nineties, and it has been initially copied by many manufacturers from Fiat (4x4 panda) to Ford (4x4 Sierra) to Vauxhall/Opel (4x4 Calibra).

Nowadays still the stronghold of the VAG groups, with various Audis and Volkswagen are being offered with 4 wheel drive. On yes, there's also Subaro. But none of the luxury (Merc, BMW, Bently, Rolls...) or sport car manufacturers adopted it seriously..

Again, cost, weight, and complexity are not the only reason. If it is such a cracking idea why aren't all of the more expensive cars on the market offered with it? Surely the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Maserati, are not deterred by the cost or by the engineering challenge?

So I think this goes in the category of 'did not catch on'....

[Tony H]

Four wheel steering :-/

[Andy B]

 ....
Audi pioneered this idea in the early nineties ......

I think you'll find that Jensen beat Audi by about 30 years

[theolodian]

#1 Headlamps that steer with the wheels.

First pioneered by Citroen on late-models DS, seemed like a cracker of an idea, but then disappeared for five decades. Why? Surely not just due to cost, especially as it would not bee too difficult to do nowadays with modern day electronics.

That one is back under 'adaptive headlights'.  One that really didn't catch on was a light sensor in the grill that automatically dipped your headlights when it saw oncoming headlights.

[Andy B]

Austin All Agro's Quartec steering wheel!        

[Marks DTM Calib]

The K series Engine....

Flat head engines

Hydrospastic suspension

[zippo]

ford Granada Scorpio the one that looks like a ruptured clown

[Andy B]

Audi's ProCon Ten. A very simple idea that tensioned seat belts & pulled steering columns away from the driver with out fancy electrickery. But because every one else had air bags & Audis therefore appeared to be short on the safety features they dropped the idea & kow towed to the rest.  :-?

[theolodian]

 ....
Audi pioneered this idea in the early nineties ......

I think you'll find that Jensen beat Audi by about 30 years

Audi made it mainstream.  I had a '76 Dodge pickup with full-time four wheel drive but it was an oddball.

This can be found in many brands of cars, but even Audi doesn't use true full-time four wheel drive on many of the cars that are labeled as quattro. However, Audi, Porsche, and Subaru are still the only main brands that have AWD connected to their brand image - not just special models or Chelsea tractors.