Many executive sedans and SUVs have loads of features specifically tailored to maximize the comfort of the rear seat passengers. At this year’s Shanghai Auto Show, Volvo took in-car executive luxury to the next level with its reveal of The Lounge Console cabin design concept.
What the Lounge Console does is remove the front passenger seat, replacing it with the titular console that expands the storage and amenities of the vehicle. The console itself is wedge shaped and can be tucked away beneath the glove compartment when not needed, or left out to be used as a foot rest. Beneath the cushioned foot pa is a storage area for shoes, if the executive passenger wants to get cozy.
The console is much more than an automated ottoman, however. A tray can be extended up to the passenger for use as a laptop workstation or opened up to reveal a mini vanity station for on-the-go touch ups. If the passenger is just looking to unwind, simply flipping the tray upwards reveals a 17” flat-screen monitor that will allow them to watch films or videos en route to their destination.
“Removing the passenger seat enabled us to create an open space that dramatically changes the dynamics of the interior and led to a firework of ideas and new possibilities,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design at Volvo Car Group. This gave Volvo the freedom to cater to the needs of a chauffeur-driven executive, giving them both extra functionality and comfort.
Volvo showcased the Lounge Console concept in its capacious XC90 SUV, but this hardly means the idea can’t be adapted to full-size sedans. No word yet on when Volvo will offer the Lounge Console on future vehicles, but we’re looking forward to taking a load off in style whenever it comes our way.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.