Don’t you just hate it when Waze, Google Maps or whatever your smartphone sat nav of choice is punts you off a blissful stretch of tarmac in the name of saving a few minutes? Well, Porsche has you covered. It has developed an app that says ‘sod it’ to the fastest route, allowing you to uncork your flat-six with a more scenic alternative.
The Roads by Porsche app has actually been around for a few years now, and is said to have amassed 180,000 avid users who share their favourite routes for others to drive on. There’s also a feature that lets users organise gatherings with other enthusiasts (sounds familiar), using some of the world’s greatest driving roads as their meeting point. It functions a bit like a social network, minus the unsolicited messages and dodgy political views from a distant uncle.
Now, Porsche has announced a major overhaul for the app that now means anyone can pick up the app in search of a decent driving road. The firm has used the past few years to gather data on what makes a great drive, which it feeds into a trick bit of software that crunches the numbers and finds the ideal route to match your needs. You’re able to choose from a selection of routes based on length, how twisty the roads are, and even the topography. These can either be A to B routes, or a full loop. Some have even tried to replicate grand prix circuits in their local towns and cities, which looks cool - but are probably a bit rubbish to actually drive.
Robert Adar, Porsche’s marketing chief, said the app “allows driving fans to find their own individual dream route with just a few clicks. AI works out a suitable route based on various parameters such as the curves of the road, the topography, landscape features, or exciting points of interest. From their starting point, the user can plan a circuit route or navigate to a specific destination – no matter where in the world they are.”
Or what car they're driving, we might add. The only requirement being that you have a smartphone (sorry Nokia 3310 users) to bung the app on, where it’ll essentially turn into a sat nav when you start your route. It’s completely free, too, though can show your gratitude to Porsche by letting them take a peek at your data. Hard to say no to that if it lets the AI conjure up better driving roads.
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