Finally on The Register, a car review it makes sense to include because of a tech angle
Renault Clio IV and R-Link Android console hands-on preview
To say Renault needs the new Clio to be a hit is an understatement. With its non-’leccy UK range now pared back to just Twingo, Clio, Megane and Scenic, Renault needs the new Mk. IV Clio to sell in greater numbers than the MK. III, which if not a bad car was a little vin ordinaire. Even after just 48 hours of charging around …
-
This post has been deleted by its author
-
-
Thursday 25th October 2012 11:30 GMT James Thomas
Stupid subscription
The idea of yet another subscription would certainly put me off. Someday soon you won't be able to buy anything that doesn't require some sort of wallet draining tax to keep it fully operational, but until that day comes I'm steering well clear.
Besides, it's not even necessary. The console should be driven off the smartphone in your pocket via bluetooth.
-
Thursday 25th October 2012 11:44 GMT Anonymous Coward
Re: Stupid subscription
"The console should be driven off the smartphone in your pocket via bluetooth"
Too right. And if they do want it built in, why did they choose Android and Google Maps? Nothing wrong with it as a free OS for a phone (as on my SGS2), and given that I pay nothing for Maps it's not half bad. But if it's built in and costing me money both up front and to run, then the last thing I want is the Google Maps "bong" at critical times.
For those who don't use Google Maps: When you're approaching a junction and the app hasn't a scooby on the directions (eg because it's lost the data connection or the GPS lock), then you get a bong noise that is the electronic equivalent of your wife shouting "Well I don't bl**dy know! If you're so damn clever, why don't you ready the f***ing map!"
Sounds like Renault haven't ever seen a modern smartphone, but have perhaps heard a description of a 2007 model. 4/10 for effort.
-
-
-
Thursday 25th October 2012 11:50 GMT Spoddyhalfwit
Surely anyone who wants twitter or email so bad that they need to have it in their car is going to have a smart phone anyway?
And if you have a smart phone, why do you need a cheesy inbuilt system that will be out of date in a couple of years, let alone the likely lifespan of the car.
Why don't manufacturers focus on making the car work with your smart phone - integrate bluetooth hands free, stereo to play from your itunes collection, video and sat nav to playback on screen etc. I know some cars do this already, but few do it well. And makes it easy to handle multiple user accounts - each driver has his/her own phone.
-
Thursday 25th October 2012 15:46 GMT Anonymous Coward
Out of date?
The comparison is with a standard ICE unit which could only ever be updated by a dealer and only for a critical recall.
This will at least allow you to add new software, update apps etc (for as long as you pay a subscription) so it already trumps standard ICE.
Any low level device integration will most likely require an iPhone and therefore would be less useful for normal people.
This may not be perfect but it is one of the first on the market so I'm sure it will get better.
-
Thursday 25th October 2012 12:07 GMT Silverburn
Renault
Renault always scored well on the journalist reviews, because they only test them for a day or two. Not even that sometimes.
This conveniently skirts the small issue that nearly all Renaults change their badge to LOTUS at exactly 3 years or 60,000 miles.
LOTUS in the contect of Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious.
-
Thursday 25th October 2012 12:47 GMT Anonymous Coward
No thanks
I'm OK with Android on some people's mobile, but I do not want it anywhere near my car. Never.
It is rather entertaining that Renault doesn't really want to take about the real reason for the subscription: Android shipping data back to Google. There is no way on this planet I will allow a permanent uplink from what I'm doing to an untrusted 3rd party, period. Especially not if they "do no evil".
-
Thursday 25th October 2012 12:53 GMT Gordon861
Still fail.
Why not develop an interface for a Nexus that could be dropped right into the a bracket in the car?
So you can use your personal Nexus as an interface to the car audio if you want. The controls for the Renault system could just be an app that you can install on any Nexus tablet.
Although I think the worry is that someone will develop a head unit replacement that will do just that and the car companies will start to lose all the nice ICE upgrade fees because all the units will be hidden and modular like they used to be with DIN and 2DIN radios.
-
Thursday 25th October 2012 13:06 GMT Anonymous Coward
Still still fail
Why would you develop it for one type of device only? Talk about locking it in. So anyone who wants to use it has to also buy the Nexus, or do you propose a Nexus should come as a complimentary accessory.
Either way, making it a remote interface to all compatible android (and other platform) based phones would be a much better idea.
-
Thursday 25th October 2012 13:29 GMT Gordon861
Re: Still still fail
Why not just build a new system using an existing and fairly cheap tablet at its core?
You have to supply some form of control when you sell the car, the Nexus is a good/cheap to build the system around so the initial unit would come with the Nexus.
Totally remote interfaces aren't as good or responsive, much better to have it hard wired into the system. You need to have it wired to power anyways. There would be nothing to stop you producing different front ends to fit whichever tablet you want as well though.
-
-
-
Thursday 25th October 2012 13:28 GMT Malcolm 1
MirrorLink
What I really want is MirrorLink (or similar) to become a standard. Keep the intelligence in the phone and use the car as a dumb terminal. Built in data connection, personal apps, music etc and available in any car suporting the standard.
-
Thursday 25th October 2012 20:28 GMT Anonymous Coward
And is this like OnStar?
And is this system like OnStar, where it can remotely:
Lock and unlock your vehicle ("OK officer, go ahead and search....")
Reprogram any part of your car, including critical systems like the drive train ("Don't worry about him running off - he can't do more than 15MPH now")
Shut down your car remotely ("OK, he won't be going anywhere now")
Listen to the interior ("Oh, you want to hear what they are discussing but can't be bothered to slip a bug in?")
Download all the information from the car's "black box" ("He managed to be out of cell range for a bit - but we know where he was and how fast he was going....")
Of course, OnStar swears - PINKY SWEARS FOR EVARS! - that they would NEVER do any of those things without a warrant (or some other form of paperwork, maybe greenish colored cotton paper?) from the police....
Is this system similarly capable?
One reason why I am not really interested in GM vehicles - it is getting harder and harder to NOT have OnStar rammed down your throat.
-
Friday 26th October 2012 08:24 GMT Chz
FWIW, I think it's hideous. Though I find that notion that it's nice and solid (unlike previous Clios) hysterically funny now that half the parts come from India. (Same platform as the Nissan Micra, which is entirely built in the same factory)
It is nice to see Nissan's little 3-cylinder supercharged Miller-cycle engine get use from Renault. But why not the 1.2L version as well?
-
-
Friday 26th October 2012 09:09 GMT Chz
Re: Engine
Ah you're right, it's not the nifty little thing from the Micra. It is still a Nissan HR engine at least. Renault, petrol, and head gaskets still give me the willies. Personally, I think letting Renault design the diesels, Nissan design the petrols, and letting both of them make their own minor customizations is the most genius thing about their unholy alliance. That and when they sent a load of senior management over from Japan to tell Renault how to run a factory - the defect rate nosedived after that.
-
-
-
Friday 26th October 2012 09:06 GMT Anonymous Coward
build quality
as someone who actually ran a Renault Laguna from 2008 to 2010 (company wagon) I think the opinion of Renault's as unreliable rust buckets is a decade or more out of date. Despite being hammered the Laguna was faultless and very well bolted together. A colleague has a four year old fully loaded Espace (bought new) and swears by it. My eldest boy drives a Megane Coupe. It's less than two years old and so far prefect.
Would I recommend a second hand 2002 Clio to anyone? No. But the new stuff? Every bit as good as the equivalent from Ford, GM etc. And as I say, this is an opinion based on actual first hand experience. Racism aside I struggle to see what the fact that some parts of the car come from a factory in India (assuming that's even true) has got to do with anything.
As for the looks of the Clio, I'm with the reviewer - nice looking car and distinctive too.