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CNN Live Today
Watching Your Speed
Aired October 10, 2002 - 11:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: When you are driving, is it sometimes difficult for you to keep an eye on the car speedometer? If so, some car manufacturers are offering a potential remedy for that.
Our Jeanne Moos takes us for a test drive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Imagine getting behind the wheel, only to find there's nothing behind the wheel.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When you first sit in it, it is absolutely weird looking.
MOOS: OK, so it's not exactly earth-shaking. But think of the times you have had to peer between the spokes of the steering wheel to glimpse your speedometer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I drive it and it's right here, my hand is usually blocking the -- you know, my speed. I've got to move my hand all of the time. That's a good idea.
MOOS: There's a name for it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, the Center Instrument Cluster?
MOOS: New on the 2003 Saturn Ion; other cars, for instance, the Mini Cooper, feature a variation on the configuration, as do Toyota's hybrid gas-electric vehicles, such as the Prius. Even a $130,000 BMW Z8 has a Center Instrument Cluster, but the Ion is the first American mass-produced car to feature it.
LAURIE TACK, PRODUCT SPECIALIST, SATURN: And some people have been nervous about it, but once they've gotten into the vehicle and tested it out, they notice it's a lot easier just to glance over, than to always constantly look down and take your eyes off the road
MOOS: Some folks were less than speedy about noticing the relocated speedometer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is that missing? There's a steering wheel.
MOOS (on camera): All right, what do you notice?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's over there instead of over here. MOOS (voice-over): The Ion won't hit the show room for a month or two, but Saturn salespeople have been attending ride-and-drives to get familiar with the new models.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Within 30 seconds, it becomes normal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You wonder why it wasn't there all the time.
MOOS: Because the wheel no longer has to frame the gauges, the wheel itself can be smaller, taking up less room.
The $12,000 to $16,000 Ion is meant to appeal to young drivers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Little girls like this car.
MOOS: Even the editor of "Car and Driver" calls it a "chick car."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, I think that's -- I like that. It's bold. It's right there. Oh, I like it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not crazy about it, honestly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I find it really easy to get used to.
MOOS: So what if the dashing dashboard isn't the first feature some guys notice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, my mother-in-law is not sitting here, that helps a lot.
MOOS: Jeannie Moos, CNN, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired October 10, 2002 - 11:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: When you are driving, is it sometimes difficult for you to keep an eye on the car speedometer? If so, some car manufacturers are offering a potential remedy for that.
Our Jeanne Moos takes us for a test drive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Imagine getting behind the wheel, only to find there's nothing behind the wheel.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When you first sit in it, it is absolutely weird looking.
MOOS: OK, so it's not exactly earth-shaking. But think of the times you have had to peer between the spokes of the steering wheel to glimpse your speedometer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I drive it and it's right here, my hand is usually blocking the -- you know, my speed. I've got to move my hand all of the time. That's a good idea.
MOOS: There's a name for it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, the Center Instrument Cluster?
MOOS: New on the 2003 Saturn Ion; other cars, for instance, the Mini Cooper, feature a variation on the configuration, as do Toyota's hybrid gas-electric vehicles, such as the Prius. Even a $130,000 BMW Z8 has a Center Instrument Cluster, but the Ion is the first American mass-produced car to feature it.
LAURIE TACK, PRODUCT SPECIALIST, SATURN: And some people have been nervous about it, but once they've gotten into the vehicle and tested it out, they notice it's a lot easier just to glance over, than to always constantly look down and take your eyes off the road
MOOS: Some folks were less than speedy about noticing the relocated speedometer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is that missing? There's a steering wheel.
MOOS (on camera): All right, what do you notice?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's over there instead of over here. MOOS (voice-over): The Ion won't hit the show room for a month or two, but Saturn salespeople have been attending ride-and-drives to get familiar with the new models.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Within 30 seconds, it becomes normal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You wonder why it wasn't there all the time.
MOOS: Because the wheel no longer has to frame the gauges, the wheel itself can be smaller, taking up less room.
The $12,000 to $16,000 Ion is meant to appeal to young drivers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Little girls like this car.
MOOS: Even the editor of "Car and Driver" calls it a "chick car."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, I think that's -- I like that. It's bold. It's right there. Oh, I like it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not crazy about it, honestly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I find it really easy to get used to.
MOOS: So what if the dashing dashboard isn't the first feature some guys notice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, my mother-in-law is not sitting here, that helps a lot.
MOOS: Jeannie Moos, CNN, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
