Tesla's to unveil $35K Model in 2016; will go on sale in 2017

[Zanza]

It's meant to be self-driving, so you don't need a traditional instrument cluster anymore.

It isn't going to be able to self drive everywhere, or probably even most places just yet, so you're going to need to be able to see how fast you're going without looking down at where the radio controls traditionally are. 

I agree. As I wrote above, I am a big fan of heads-up displays where all relevant information is displayed directly in the windscreen.

E:  Speaking of which, I saw a thing on my news feed the other day about a....Volvo, I think it was.....self driving car not doing so well here in the US because of how shittily marked the roads were. 

I think the first major application of self-driving vehicles will be with long-distance trucks that drive mostly on highways. If the time the truck drives itself does not count against the work time of the driver it means you don't have to stop as often anymore to stay within legal limits for driving time. You could basically let the truck drive for 24h and would only need the driver occasionally off-highway.

[Iormlund]

I've always wondered if it's actually legal to have the car drive itself. 

IIRC the first state to allow driverless cars was Nevada.

I think the first major application of self-driving vehicles will be with long-distance trucks that drive mostly on highways. If the time the truck drives itself does not count against the work time of the driver it means you don't have to stop as often anymore to stay within legal limits for driving time. You could basically let the truck drive for 24h and would only need the driver occasionally off-highway.

Much like planes, where the autopilot is usually engaged during cruise.

[MadBurgerMaker]

Yeah a HUD would work.  I assume they don't get washed out by direct sunlight anymore, so there you go.  As far as the highway driving goes:  man, even our highways suck for markings in a lot of places.  Here's the article I was thinking of:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-autonomous-infrastructure-insig-idUSKCN0WX131

Musk is quoted as well as the Volvo dude. I also wonder about construction areas where everything is totally screwed up.  Poor car sensors aren't going to know wtf. I'm sure there will be workarounds and all that.  Hopefully soon.  I don't like driving to and from work.  Making my car do it for me would be p nice. 

As far as this specific car goes, they got a shitload of pre-orders:

http://www.engadget.com/2016/04/01/teslas-model-3-has-already-racked-up-232-000-pre-orders/

I saw someone....somewhere (  )...talking about that $7500 fed credit not really applying anymore because they've hit, or will hit soon, a certain number of sold vehicles even if you just count the S and X.  Something like 200,000. 

[HisMajestyBOB]

Apparently they don't work too well in the snow or heavy rain, either.
So I guess you're fine as long as you stick with California.

[LaCroix]

at least for the first few generations, I can't see (completely) self-driving cars being too popular beyond a few niche markets. the idea is nice, but I don't think people would like giving up control

[Berkut]

Apparently they don't work too well in the snow or heavy rain, either.
So I guess you're fine as long as you stick with California.

I thought they were all wheel drive? Should do well in the snow I would think, as long as you aren't driving it too aggressively?

[Grey Fox]

Apparently they don't work too well in the snow or heavy rain, either.
So I guess you're fine as long as you stick with California.

I thought they were all wheel drive? Should do well in the snow I would think, as long as you aren't driving it too aggressively?

I think he meant the heads up displays.

[MadBurgerMaker]

Heavy rain and snow can interfere with the sensors on self driving cars.

[Grey Fox]

To be fair, snow interferes with everything!

[HisMajestyBOB]

I mean the self-driving cars.
They have difficulty identifying the lanes, and heavy precipitation interferes with the sensors.

[Siege]

I mean the self-driving cars.
They have difficulty identifying the lanes, and heavy precipitation interferes with the sensors.

I think you are looking at 2010 technology.
The demos i have seem of the google car with the lidar and the other whahisname sensor have no problem navigating through the rain.

[Siege]

at least for the first few generations, I can't see (completely) self-driving cars being too popular beyond a few niche markets. the idea is nice, but I don't think people would like giving up control

Please.
Wait until people discover they can read, sleep, watch movies, and what not while the car drives itself.
Even more importantly, the autocar its far safer due to the reaction time to any issues on the road.

When the full autocar, with no steering wheel, hits the market, and people realize they don't need car insurance anymore, and its safety record is 100% accident free, nobody is going to even look at primitive steering cars.

I foresee the following timeline :
5 years.  All new cars have autopilot.
10 years. All new cars are steering wheelless.
15 years. Humans prohibited from driving.
20 years. The only way to drive a car is to rent one in an specialized track, the way we ride horses these days.

[Eddie Teach]

at least for the first few generations, I can't see (completely) self-driving cars being too popular beyond a few niche markets. the idea is nice, but I don't think people would like giving up control

Please.
Wait until people discover they can read, sleep, watch movies, and what not while the car drives itself.
Even more importantly, the autocar its far safer due to the reaction time to any issues on the road.

When the full autocar, with no steering wheel, hits the market, and people realize they don't need car insurance anymore, and its safety record is 100% accident free, nobody is going to even look at primitive steering cars.

I foresee the following timeline :
5 years.  All new cars have autopilot.
10 years. All new cars are steering wheelless.
15 years. Humans prohibited from driving.
20 years. The only way to drive a car is to rent one in an specialized track, the way we ride horses these days.

When has a new technology ever been adopted so quickly and seamlessly?

[Siege]

I also foresee great changes in car design.

I think the first row, where the driver is now, will become optional, maybe collapsable into the floor, and the back row will become the main seat, luxurious and expandable into a bed.

Front windshield will likely become a big screen TV, though the virtual reality headsets might upstage this design feature. But i see major changes in car design.

Also, the apearance of the carbot, not designed to carry people, but to carry goods from the market to your home.

Order online from the supermarket, the bot gets loaded with your order, it delivers it to your door, send you a text when it gets there, only opens up when it detects your phone in proximity.

Just saying.

[Siege]

at least for the first few generations, I can't see (completely) self-driving cars being too popular beyond a few niche markets. the idea is nice, but I don't think people would like giving up control

Please.
Wait until people discover they can read, sleep, watch movies, and what not while the car drives itself.
Even more importantly, the autocar its far safer due to the reaction time to any issues on the road.

When the full autocar, with no steering wheel, hits the market, and people realize they don't need car insurance anymore, and its safety record is 100% accident free, nobody is going to even look at primitive steering cars.

I foresee the following timeline :
5 years.  All new cars have autopilot.
10 years. All new cars are steering wheelless.
15 years. Humans prohibited from driving.
20 years. The only way to drive a car is to rent one in an specialized track, the way we ride horses these days.

When has a new technology ever been adopted so quickly and seamlessly?

Smartphones.