A LITTLE-known car brand has developed a bizarre new feature to help with road rage.
The so-called “Road Rage Reliever” allows drivers to calmly take their revenge on their enemies of the motorway thanks to the use of augmented reality – but it could be seen as highly distracting.
Little-known brand Xpeng recently entered the UK car market with the G6, an all-electric mid-size coupe[/caption]
The Chinese brand also introduced the P7, a stylish saloon packed with cutting edge tech[/caption]
It’s yet to be revealed if the P7 will be released to Europe or the UK[/caption]
The firm’s bosses recently revealed a bizarre feature that allows you to get revenge on cars around you[/caption]
The feature is designed to help relieve road rage[/caption]
Chinese brand Xpeng, which officially launched in Britain back in February – starting with the Xpeng G6, an all-electric mid-size coupe priced from £39,990 – is to add the feature as part of the forthcoming P7 saloon.
Currently only available in China, the P7 has been described as a premium all-electric saloon, likely similar to the Tesla Model 3, that combines cutting-edge tech and impressive performance.
The firm claims it will offer a maximum range of 510 miles, with a 0 to 62 mph time in 3 seconds.
It also supports ultra-fast charging, adding 326 miles of range in 10 minutes.
But its standout feature is the 87-inch augmented reality head-up display, co-developed with Huawei which integrates AI smart driving and includes the unique Road Rage Reliever.
This tech is simply there to help drivers manage frustration on the road in a “civilised” manner.
Using the augmented reality head-up display, drivers can virtually throw animated emojis – such as angry faces, flip-flops or pigs – at vehicles on the road that annoy them.
These emojis then appear to hit the offending car on the AR display, creating a video game-like experience.
It uses advanced AI and sensors to identify target vehicles, and it can be activated by pressing a button on the steering wheel.
The odd feature is intended to reduce road rage incidents by providing an outlet for frustration, although concerns have been raised over its potential to distract drivers.
Indeed, while it may appeal to some as a playful way to vent, its use in markets like the UK or Europe, where driver distraction is a major issue, remains uncertain.
The P7 saloon, which includes the “Road Rage Reliever” feature, has not yet been confirmed for sale in the UK.
XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng said the feature represents “technology-driven emotion”, adding that the AR game is a way to “be civilized and experience ‘civilized frustration’ rather than engaging in dangerous behaviors.”
“We used to prioritize technology first, but starting this year, we will prioritize experience first,” Xiaopeng said.