Really, really tweak your ride: the Unidrive has arrived

Not content with simply creating bizarre, high-end sports cars, Spanish automaker IFR Automotive has unveiled a steering wheel-embedded computer that can electronically alter the way in which a car performs. Dubbed the Unidrive, the touchscreen-driven device (which appears to have been in development for some time) will provide instant access to tweaking the valve timing, rev limit, ride height, ABS, and a variety of other car-nerd trivialities that only a true grease-monkey could really understand. The in-car end of the system will interact directly with chassis and engine functions, even allowing for unique states that can be tuned to individual driver's tastes. Currently the technology is poised to be employed in the company's forthcoming £75,000 (about $150,000) Aspid car -- no word on if this will make it into your next Escort. [Warning: read link is a PDF, and in Spanish]

[Via The Register]

[Jon @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:26PM]

The Escort was discontinued in 2002.

[CharlieX @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:57PM]

So did your sense of humor

[Imran @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:58PM]

So *was* your sense of humour.

[Andrew Borem @ Jul 24th 2008 8:07AM]

Sadly. The Ford Escort was one of the cheapest cars I have ever seen to operate. 35+ miles to the gallon and I only paid 3 grand for it, with it well under 100,000 miles. I have put around 30,000 miles on it without a hiccup.

Lurve.

[Toadlet @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:26PM]

Let's see... Airbag or computer, airbag or computer...

Computer it is!

[teslasnp @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:38PM]

i hope it doesn't have apple software anywhere... you wouldn't want to be distracted by the spinning beach ball of doom.

[Rick White @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:40PM]

Seriously. No auto manufacturer will go for this because it will either a.) violate safety regulations or b.) result in countless lawsuits when the computer becomes part of drivers' brains. Plus, you couldn't market a car like this with all of the safety ratings and reviews that are available these days before a car is even on the street. Maybe if you rigged some sort of projector system that threw the display onto the wheel, but this is just ridiculous.

[Poorieuser @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:28PM]

Uh what? You do realize this was created by an auto manufacturer right?

[Josh @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:34PM]

@ Rick

There are not legally binding regulations to my knowledge that say what you have to put on a steering wheel. Many cars don't have airbags so it's not really a problem. In any case i'd take computer over airbag anyway. Stick with seatbelts.

As for changing settings on the fly being dangerous, well if you've got this sort of money to burn on an in car computer then you're probably a reasonably clued up driver.

Remember that this isn't going to be marketed to the safety conscious public is it? It's like Dell don't invite all their elderly customers to overclock the hell out of their Inspirons. And why would any safety watchdog bother to review it? Their consumer demographic isn't likely to cover it.

Perhaps on Top Gear, but they're hardly going to worry about safety now, are they?

[kaztm @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:43PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbag#Airbags_become_mandatory

[CraigJ @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:22PM]

"spinning beach ball of doom."

Is that like the spinning blue ring of doom in Vista?

[Andrew Kim @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:30PM]

$150,000 to make your steering wheel look like crap... jeez...

[slyd3z @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:11PM]

Read much?:

"Currently the technology is poised to be employed in the company's forthcoming £75,000 (about $150,000) Aspid car..."

car =/= steering wheel

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:20PM]

It looks like the in-dash view on old 16 bit games.

I can't stop staring.

[Charlie @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:31PM]

Sounds like interesting functionality, but why the hell is in the steering wheel?

[Keaton @ Jul 24th 2008 1:02AM]

Haven't you ever seen the steering wheel of an F1 car?
No touchscreen, but about the same....

[k @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:37PM]

great, a waterd-down version of a F1 steering wheel.

http://www.f1technical.net/articles/envi/images/steering-bmw.jpg

I bet 99% of american have no idea what F1 is.

[Boarderwoot @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:49PM]

Hey yew, jus cuz weza fanz of da nazcur doeznt mean we don't know nutin bout yer fancy european Fun1 steering wheelz. sheeshz.

[Yevon @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:49PM]

You're absolutely right. What the hell is an F1?

Signed,
99% of America

[Andrew Kim @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:53PM]

vweee are ahhhhmeee rrreee kahn.

aaahhh meh reee kahnzzzz ahhr pppeeee puhl too.

[kjb434 @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:59PM]

Is that a problem? Maybe we just like going in left turns anway!

I also have no concept of soccer (futbol, football) either. I mean, 90 minutes for a 1 to 1 game? sheesh, give me a gun so i can shoot myself.

At least in a 3 hour car race there are wrecks, fires, and strategy....

[BlowURmindBowel @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:16PM]

Um...

#1. It's pronounced 'mericun

#2. I have no idea what you think "strategy" means, but I think you meant to say "strategery".

[retro77 @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:23PM]

I have an F1 key on my keyboard....is that euro-pee-on?

[Fernando @ Jul 24th 2008 8:40AM]

@kjb434 You mean kinda like baseball right how long those games go for like 5 hours for a "1 on 1" competion.

[RBecho @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:42PM]

Looks like those guys aren't the best carbon fiber users. There is quite a bit of sanding on that wheel (the non shiny). Hope they improve that for production, if not that's going to be itchy.

[BlowURmindBowel @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:18PM]

I think that non-shiny part is called "Leather"...

[RBecho @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:30PM]

BlowURmind... That is sanded carbon fiber, if that was leather it wouldn't have the subtle grid pattern on there. Also, if you look at the inside of the wheel where your right hand might go, it's still shinny there from the epoxy.

Play with carbon fiber one of these days and you will note how that is not leather.

[BlowURmindBowel @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:42PM]

Hahaha, are you blind? in the lower inside portion of the wheel you can clearly see the leather stitching...

[Eric @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:09PM]

I think the non-shiny portions are black leather. Not so itchy, and far grippier than carbon fiber.

[Eric @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:11PM]

It's leather, and it's been perforated. Again, not carbon fiber.

[Ohng @ Jul 23rd 2008 4:55PM]

It looks like it's a remote for the other computer, complete with VCR buttons ...
Reverse .. Stop .. Forward .. Fast Forward

[digitallysick @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:09PM]

Why its nothing like the bmw's I Drive system at all............

[Najakwa @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:12PM]

I'm wary of anything that looks like netscape.

[Terence @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:35PM]

I would highly suggest the UI designer try driving and placing a call on a touch-screen equipped smart phone first.

Touch screens aren't the best UI for something like this. Buttons that you can identify without looking is the way to go...

[Nicres @ Jul 24th 2008 4:22AM]

Judging by the picture it looks as though there are individual buttons that might be used as well as the touchscreen.

Im in love with this car- it looks like a Caterham but with a few more luxuries, the acceleration of a Veyron and the MPG of a Fiesta...awesome.

[MikeKlein @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:41PM]

You don't need to be a grease monkey to understand engine basics (block, heads, pistons, conn rods, valves, ...) or drivetrain (ujoints/shaft), etc.

Just pick up a copy of "How Engines Work" or similar title and read for 1-4 hours (depending upon your memory abilities).

The tricky part of modern engines is the fact that computer and sensors eliminate direct connection between anything now.

[bo sneb @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:49PM]

too much clutter on the steering device- no thanx. all i need is left/right and horn

[rita hainsworth @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:38PM]

Press F2 for bios

[Wwhat @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:54PM]

Does the photo look a bit 'edited' to you guys too?

[Hammond X @ Jul 24th 2008 12:47AM]

Are you shitting me? Most people can't pay attention to their driving while they're on a cell phone or trying to decide on a radio station, and now there's an option for an on-the-fly tune-up screen? Thank God they're too expensive for most drivers.

[Brandon @ Jul 24th 2008 2:37AM]

k,

I love Formula 1 and its a shame where i live everyone loves nascar.....lulz but yes this is a watered down F1 steering wheel except its 150k instead of 20k (not including R&D of course)

HAHA Wrecks,Fires, and strategy? Does those 3 words belong in the same sentence. Maybe the "Nazcur" fans meant Wrecks, Fires, and Beer Bongs. You guys don't know what racing strategy is.

[Brandon @ Jul 24th 2008 2:41AM]

I am also worried about the Spanish engineering :( The food is stellar though. But i haven't seen anything automotive strong come from Spain besides Alonso

[toyotaboy @ Jul 24th 2008 2:12PM]

didn't mtv get sued when "pimp my ride" did this?