Volvo has created an all-female design team to create a woman-friendly concept car. What do you they think women want in a car:
- No hood: The front end is designed as one large section, meant to be lifted only by the mechanic. The reasoning is women don’t want to be bothered with maintenance, and the car is designed to be virtually maintenance free (oil change every 30,000 miles).
- Storage space. The car has wide, gull-wing doors that allow easy access to the space behind the driver’s seat
- Easy to park. The car has a sensor to tell the driver if the car will fit in a parking space. It also can take over the steering to parallel park.
- Also, run-flat tires, pedals that collapse to the floor during a crash to prevent leg injuries, and a headrest with a valley down the center for women who wear their hair in ponytails.
Because, as we know, every Swedish woman keeps her hair in a ponytail. I jest, but it kind of seems like that. Regardless, I applaud this endeavour, but I’m not sure how important–outside of the Volvo organization–it is. These days, women are more often the principal car buyer than men. So, in theory, the automotive industry should increasingly be changing to respond to a female demographic.
Bonus link: While searching for photos of Swedish hair, I found this curious Swedish hand game. The image looks like an orgy, but it’s just a bunch of clothed people holding hands in Bali. It has a great Socialist sentiment: “Don’t let go until you succeed as a group, or give up as a group.”
DarrenBarefoot.com 
Well I think it is just stupid! I mean now any time something goes wrong with the car they have made it so you HAVE to take time out of your busy schedule and go to the mechanic. One thing I HATE more than a broken car is a mechanic…..and I think I can park just as well as any man! DON”T ARGUE WITH ME ON THIS ONE. I didn’t realize depth perception was a pre-req to being a male…more muscles yes….but parking a car no….. and why don’t men need their legs protected in a crash…. you people made of rubber?
I do like the pony tail slot. Way to go Volvo
I appear to have touched a (another) nerve. I’m totally with you on the mechanic. They’re probably taking a Swedish approach, where they want to ensure that the mechanic has plenty of work.
Actually, Julie’s a way, way better parallel-parker (and, frankly, driver generally) than I am. She’s a parallel-parking machine. She could compete at an international level.
My dad has a ponytail (sigh, I know). It’s not just for women.
Made of rubber…hee hee, good one Lyns.
ah ha….took me a while to figure out it was you chan.
see you soon
dunno -that parking thing just sounds good to me -let’s you know when you’ve hit the other car.
That reminds me of this story about a girl who went on vacation to America and hit a car. Then told the lady whose car she hit that it was her fault. (?!?) The beepy thing would have come in handy then.
I’m watching About a Boy and the baby’s name is Imogene.