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Comment by rootusrootus | Hacker News Reader

> does not actually provide any significant value

If that were true, it would not explain why other manufacturers are headed the same direction. The CT is not the only steer-by-wire vehicle.

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Vehicles include low-utility features for market positioning all the time.

Do buyers need a motorised hood ornament? A tiny vase built into the dashboard? A built-in champagne chiller? Gull wing doors? A spoiler and a 300-horsepower engine?

If it boosts sales by giving the vehicle a distinctive character, though, there's a place in the market for that tiny vase.

The motorized hood ornaments on Rolls Royce vehicles were a solution to the problem of people being injured by, or stealing the (Spirit of Ecstasy) ornaments.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_of_Ecstasy

How does it being motorized prevent injury?

> Today's Spirit of Ecstasy, from the 2003 Phantom model onward, stands at 3 inches (7.6 cm) and, for the safety of any person being accidentally hit, is mounted on a spring-loaded mechanism designed to retract instantly into the radiator shell if struck from any direction.

I don't think that mentions it being motorized

The motor allows you to raise it after it has been retracted.

Then why is it spring-loaded?

> For the safety of any person being accidentally hit

(the spring handles the retraction)

But if a motor is needed to counter the retracting spring, doesn't that mean any impact must overcome the motor before the spring will engage?

Presumably the motor runs once to extend it and then it locks into position (with some kind of mechanical catch that's calibrated to come loose if you hit anything), rather than being constantly running.

What other manufacturers? There's Mercedes EQS and Geely. Both are trialing it in one model each as luxury gimmicks.

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