Golf 8.5 - you saw it here first!

[Dogman12]

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/andreas-mindt-how-make-vw-nice-guys-again
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How does the cost of the ID 2all interior work out compared with an existing car with its simplified design but higher-quality materials?
 
“[The cost] might stay the same but we up the quality as you save costs with less complex interiors. The money you take out of it you put back into the materials.
“There are too many derivatives today, with the amount of colours and also wheels. We’re moving away from that, [personalisation to create] a different car for everyone. In the USA, you buy a car off the yard of a dealer.
“Nobody orders it. We’ll simplify and combine options with packages, so you don’t spend two hours on a configurator and have no idea what you’ve ordered. It is our task to reduce and I see design as part of that.
_____
 
Thoughts ? 

[SRGTD]

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/andreas-mindt-how-make-vw-nice-guys-again
____
 
How does the cost of the ID 2all interior work out compared with an existing car with its simplified design but higher-quality materials?
 
“[The cost] might stay the same but we up the quality as you save costs with less complex interiors. The money you take out of it you put back into the materials.
“There are too many derivatives today, with the amount of colours and also wheels. We’re moving away from that, [personalisation to create] a different car for everyone. In the USA, you buy a car off the yard of a dealer.
“Nobody orders it. We’ll simplify and combine options with packages, so you don’t spend two hours on a configurator and have no idea what you’ve ordered. It is our task to reduce and I see design as part of that.
_____
 
Thoughts ? 

Building standard models and removing the personalisation has been happening with some models of Seat for a few years now so it’s already happening within VAG. With the Leon and Ibiza - probably other models too - I think the only choices a customer has to make are the trim level (e.g. SE, FR etc.), engine/transmission, the paint colour, and with some models, whether to have the optional sunroof. Removes some of the production complexity (and presumably production cost), so should create production efficiencies, speed up production and reduce lead times - assuming there aren’t global supply chain issues like there have been in recent years.

I dare say that subscription-based options will also become more commonplace within the motor industry which will still give the customer an element of personalisation. I think BMW (and possibly Audi?) already have subscription based options that can be activated from new or retro-activated, so I’d expect VW to also offer this as new models are launched.

As for less complex interiors - it’ll be interesting to see if this means less complex for the owner to use (e.g. easier to use touchscreens and / or physical controls for the most commonly used functions) or less complex for VW to build (or both?). I see the interior picture of the ID. 2all in the linked Autocar article has a rotary control in the centre console - presumably to navigate the touchscreen - and a panel of physical buttons below the touchscreen, which does suggest less complexity for the customer.

[Brenbo]

The rotary dial on the centre console looks like its the same as the new dial on the tiguan Mk3.  It allows you to toggle through drive modes, or use as volume control, or another function of your choosing. I don't think it navigates the touch screen, instead i am lead to believe it is an additional function as well as the touch screen.  It looks good, but could be another distraction from looking at the road for some.

[fredgroves]

SRGTD,

VW already have software purchase activated features on the Mk8... Just that the UK performance models have them all enabled already.

Lesser models or other markets are already different... More of this to come for sure.

Subscription revenue models are all the rage in most market sectors and I guess car makers wanted a piece of that too.

I've not read the contract details but yesterday was struck with the thought that a ten year old modern car might well be crippled in the future because the Internet based services they relied on were taken down by the oem. Much like your phone no longer getting updates or your games console no longer able to access the games you paid for.... It definitely will happen at some point. Better phone makers state how long support will be maintained... I don't think vw offer any guarantees for support beyond a warranty period!

[fredgroves]

Things we might see suddenly drop dead over night would include...

Traffic data for the vw Sat nav
Purchased features from the shop unable to activate (because it checks your subscription at start)
Android auto stopping working because your car hardware is obsolete
Any form of app access to your car being ceased

And that's before you consider 4g getting obsoleted (like 3g was on the mk7.5!) or even that vw stop the gecko authentication platform that is used to access your car in the workshop!

It's quite scary when you think of this

[SRGTD]

SRGTD,

VW already have software purchase activated features on the Mk8... Just that the UK performance models have them all enabled already.

Lesser models or other markets are already different... More of this to come for sure.

Subscription revenue models are all the rage in most market sectors and I guess car makers wanted a piece of that too.

I've not read the contract details but yesterday was struck with the thought that a ten year old modern car might well be crippled in the future because the Internet based services they relied on were taken down by the oem. Much like your phone no longer getting updates or your games console no longer able to access the games you paid for.... It definitely will happen at some point. Better phone makers state how long support will be maintained... I don't think vw offer any guarantees for support beyond a warranty period!

Thanks Fred. I realised that was the case after I’d posted  . It was getting late and had been a long day, so didn’t change it - went to bed instead! 

It’s an interesting point you make about obsolescence and internet services being taken down. I’m sure VW have considered that (NOT!)

[clarky92]

Image posted by faceliftgt on instagram of the 8.5 R, front end looks super aggressive with those extra fins

[Carlosfandango]

Image posted by faceliftgt on instagram of the 8.5 R, front end looks super aggressive with those extra fins

The fins you see there in blue, are in fact fake/camouflage, the actual ‘fins’ run along the bottom edge of the bumper and turn up below the number plate, they have been vinyl wrapped in gloss black in order to hide them.

[Guzzle]

[monkeyhanger]

SRGTD,

VW already have software purchase activated features on the Mk8... Just that the UK performance models have them all enabled already.

Lesser models or other markets are already different... More of this to come for sure.

Subscription revenue models are all the rage in most market sectors and I guess car makers wanted a piece of that too.

I've not read the contract details but yesterday was struck with the thought that a ten year old modern car might well be crippled in the future because the Internet based services they relied on were taken down by the oem. Much like your phone no longer getting updates or your games console no longer able to access the games you paid for.... It definitely will happen at some point. Better phone makers state how long support will be maintained... I don't think vw offer any guarantees for support beyond a warranty period!

Thanks Fred. I realised that was the case after I’d posted  . It was getting late and had been a long day, so didn’t change it - went to bed instead! 

It’s an interesting point you make about obsolescence and internet services being taken down. I’m sure VW have considered that (NOT!)

On my S3, you have to purchase ACC or traffic signal recognition (about £400 each lifetime purchase, about £90 a year otherwise). Given the hardware is already there and in use for other systems such as "Audi presense" crash avoidance, I think they're having a laugh. I'd pay about £200 to add ACC, but speed recognition is just crap - the amount of times it'll ping a 40mph sign up a sliproad from the national speed limit road you are still on is poor.