DBX Media Launch and First Deliveries
Discussion
RE touch screens and specifically Volvo. The voice command is actually very useful if you haven’t tried it. Saying “I’m too hot” or “I’m too cold” generally works well without diving into the menus. For music I use Apple car play and that all works seamlessly via Siri so you don’t have to faff about there, it’s just “hey Siri, play dire straits” or whatever. Other than that I don’t know why you really need to touch the screens. Could do away with them altogether as far as I care.
I personally think automotive manufacturers are missing a trick and need to heavily invest (or buy in/collaborate) in voice command tech, rather than touch screen tech. Look at how far Siri/hey google/Alexa have come. An Alexa basically has two buttons?
For me though, the main gripe of the touch screen is the finger marks! A nice shiny sat nav display that pops up at pertinent points on the journey, they quickly folds away when not required, would present a far more pleasurable motoring experience!
I personally think automotive manufacturers are missing a trick and need to heavily invest (or buy in/collaborate) in voice command tech, rather than touch screen tech. Look at how far Siri/hey google/Alexa have come. An Alexa basically has two buttons?
For me though, the main gripe of the touch screen is the finger marks! A nice shiny sat nav display that pops up at pertinent points on the journey, they quickly folds away when not required, would present a far more pleasurable motoring experience!
Jon39 said:
I have never driven a car with a touch screen.
Is it really true, that you stop looking at the road ahead, then using the touch screen, scroll through a few menus to adjust the heater, change a radio station, or lower a window?
And yet it is against the law to look at a mobile phone whilst driving.
Apart from the obvious problem of taking your eyes off the road, because there is no button or switch to reach for with muscle memory, the big issue with these screens is that unless you are on a perfectly smooth road (they don't exist around here), you end up touching the damn thing somewhere other than where you started aiming.
At least BMW has retained its rotary controller for iDrive; this is all I use on my daily driver, and I never touch the screen.
These screens date so poorly too. Just look at the "state of the art" center stacks in 7 series, S class etc from 2010 or so. Looks horrible and good luck if somehow it stops working. At least with the rotary screen on the Bentleys you can get rid of it if you want or in 20 years when it quits working you can make it not been seen.
Can't wait to see DB11s in 10 years with failing pixels.... not exactly "timeless"
Can't wait to see DB11s in 10 years with failing pixels.... not exactly "timeless"
Beckson said:
These screens date so poorly too. Just look at the "state of the art" center stacks in 7 series, S class etc from 2010 or so. Looks horrible and good luck if somehow it stops working. At least with the rotary screen on the Bentleys you can get rid of it if you want or in 20 years when it quits working you can make it not been seen.
Can't wait to see DB11s in 10 years with failing pixels.... not exactly "timeless"
If the last generation cars had state of the art infotainment systems when they were new, I could understand the argument - truthfully though, they weren't. as elegantly integrated as it was on my Vanquish, the navigation didn't work properly, and the resolution and basic functionality were always several steps behind what I had in daily drivers costing substantially less, even when new. Technology just moves quickly - stuff dates quickly as a result.Can't wait to see DB11s in 10 years with failing pixels.... not exactly "timeless"
Mercedes prides itself on being the time traveler stepping into the future with the S Class, showcasing what it's going to offer on future cars. The velcro attached iPads that mainstream media swoon over, it's not something I like, they seem to be on a "bigger is better" quest, making ever larger screens that do the same thing as a mobile phone, just larger. It's where I thought the Valhalla design was a smart idea - use your smartphone as the infotainment screen. Much less clutter - and importantly, if you're replacing your phone ever few years, it's not dating the car.
The current Aston range have much better infotainment systems than what they replace, and everything works quite well IMO - they just haven't been integrated as neatly, until the DBX came along. All the talk about disliking touch screens - DBX still uses buttons and a rotary switch, so it shouldn't be an issue. I'm also of the view that tactile switches that you can feel for and not have to look at, are much easier and safer to use while driving.
Whether it's using MBUX or COMAND, there's differing stories, they're both good - the newer one being better still. We'll know soon enough.
Well I’m ordering one on Thursday, no matter what version/ make/ screen/ touch or not the DBX has... I’m not really interested in the nav. I got everywhere with maps without an issue 16 years ago or more .
Why do owners get so het up over the irrelevance of the nav screen and who cares if it comes from a Dacia so long as it’s fit for purpose...
I own the so called top of the current Aston Martin tree vehicle, and the stuck on iPod look that many moan about doesn’t bother me. It works , perfectly, every time , and so does the voice command.. better than our brand new X5M with BMW’s oh so clever navigation that looks wonderful and is woeful if there’s a traffic problem.
Buy the car..... not the nav!
Why do owners get so het up over the irrelevance of the nav screen and who cares if it comes from a Dacia so long as it’s fit for purpose...
I own the so called top of the current Aston Martin tree vehicle, and the stuck on iPod look that many moan about doesn’t bother me. It works , perfectly, every time , and so does the voice command.. better than our brand new X5M with BMW’s oh so clever navigation that looks wonderful and is woeful if there’s a traffic problem.
Buy the car..... not the nav!
for a car like the DBX, which is a utility vehicle, then a modern touch screen is spot on even though it will age terribly. These utility vehicles have much shorter product life spans that sports cars, so they dont need to be designed to be "timeless". As for the craze in new sports cars will full digital everything (like new ferraris, lambos, mclarens) i just dont get it. All these cars need are physical buttons for the volume/media, and physical HVAC controls. Then just find a way to put a screen that hides away or isnt prominent that runs Carplay/Android Auto. That basically means the car will have the most up to date maps, voice commands, media sources for ever essentially.
People always bash the previous generation vantage/vanquish infotainment, but when they became carplay/android compatible, they become absolutely perfect. Any function that affects the car is an actual physical button, so you are not at risk of being a slave to a terrible touchscreen in 10 years time to try and change the temp of the A/C, which maps etc are run from your phone via the screen. perfect!
People always bash the previous generation vantage/vanquish infotainment, but when they became carplay/android compatible, they become absolutely perfect. Any function that affects the car is an actual physical button, so you are not at risk of being a slave to a terrible touchscreen in 10 years time to try and change the temp of the A/C, which maps etc are run from your phone via the screen. perfect!
DBSSV20 said:
Well I’m ordering one on Thursday, no matter what version/ make/ screen/ touch or not the DBX has... I’m not really interested in the nav. I got everywhere with maps without an issue 16 years ago or more .
Buy the car..... not the nav!
Buy the car..... not the nav!
Quite right.
I think most of the objections on here, have been about the screen appearance and position not being an integral part of the dashboard, but seemingly 'stuck on' as an afterthought.
That aspect is solved now, because the DBX has a magnificent and sumptuous interior, with a screen properly housed within the dashboard.
Enjoy the ordering process and to help the Company, don't forget Simon, to treat yourself to many options. -
Jon39 said:
Quite right.
I think most of the objections on here, have been about the screen appearance and position not being an integral part of the dashboard, but seemingly 'stuck on' as an afterthought.
That aspect is solved now, because the DBX has a magnificent and sumptuous interior, with a screen properly housed within the dashboard.
Enjoy the ordering process and to help the Company, don't forget Simon, to treat yourself to many options. -
hornbaek said:
As a late commer AML should have put a hybrid power plant in the thing and it would have had a chance to sell. Now it’s just another big, expensive SUV.
Perhaps, but currently the Urus isn't available as a hybrid (one is due in the near future), and the Bentayga hybrid arrived 3 years after the model was first launched. Bentley's sold around 20,000 so far, the bulk of which were pre-hybrid W12. In all honesty, I'm not sure buyers of the highest tier SUV's have as strong a demand for hybrid tech as those in the sub £100k segment. Later iterations of DBX will no doubt feature electrification, but for now, it was important to just get the car to market, and they've done that very quickly all things considered.
hyphen said:
This looks kind of photoshopped. 
I am completely ignorant in trailers, is that one supposed to be luxurious? It looks pretty bland to me and badly matched with the DBX. And those wheels look like straight out of a Vauxhall dealer.
EVR said:
This looks kind of photoshopped.
I am completely ignorant in trailers, is that one supposed to be luxurious? It looks pretty bland to me and badly matched with the DBX. And those wheels look like straight out of a Vauxhall dealer.
I believe it's an Airstream Yukon - starting at £85k. That's probably a lot for a caravan; Airstream are what you might call the Rolls Royce of caravan makers...I am completely ignorant in trailers, is that one supposed to be luxurious? It looks pretty bland to me and badly matched with the DBX. And those wheels look like straight out of a Vauxhall dealer.
NFC 85 Vette said:
I believe it's an Airstream Yukon - starting at £85k. That's probably a lot for a caravan; Airstream are what you might call the Rolls Royce of caravan makers...
Ok I see, Hollywood panache and what not. Still, it does not scream cool nor vintage luxury to me as it is, like a Riva motorboat or a DB5 will do. Probably because it clashes so much with the DBX design, I would go with something like this, again, being completely ignorant about what I am saying 
Jon39 said:
I wouldn't want to own a car called a Urus.
Isn't that the name of a part which a lady has ?
Only classy thing about her, her second name is Miura.
EVR said:
Jon39 said:
I wouldn't want to own a car called a Urus.
Isn't that the name of a part which a lady has ?
Only classy thing about her, her second name is Miura.
Yes, I see what you mean.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEKcufmrb0s
I was reminded of the newspaper reports about ex-Prime Minister Berlusconi.
Jon39 said:
Yes, I see what you mean.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEKcufmrb0s
I was reminded of the newspaper reports about ex-Prime Minister Berlusconi.
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