Now it is true that we are an unusually hearty crew here braving, as most staffers do, the radically unpredictable and inhospitable climate of Santa Monica, California. Once tiny pellets of water actually rained down from the sky, slightly dampening freshly washed Porsches and freshly groomed small dogs. It was like a lawn sprinkler, but it came from the sky!
So you can see why we'd be so excited about Ford Motor Company's announcement today that it would begin offering heated steering wheels on some models (first on the 2011 Lincoln MKX). Because cold hands suck.
Also, the company announced that it would begin selling a factory-installed remote starter, which has got to be one of the all-time finest inventions known to man. Now, it is true that General Motors and little-known "carmaker" Chrysler have previously produced such items. But owners of Ford Motor Company vehicles had to either start their cars while in the vehicle or have some dude with face tattoos cut into their car's wiring to install an aftermarket unit. And, like other factory systems, Ford's is integrated with the vehicle's available automatic climate control system and heated/cooled seats and, yes, heated steering wheel to bring the cabin to a comfortable temp.
The system will eventually be offered for every Ford Motor Company vehicle (Yes, even for Mercury). It will debut on the 2011 Ford Super Duty pickup.
Oh, and Ford doesn't want to hear your whining about letting a cold engine idle and increased emissions, etc. Ford says its engineers estimate that the remote start could reduce hydrocarbon, CO and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 75 percent because it preheats the catalytic converter on cold starts before those first few emissions-rich accelerations.
Update: Chevrolet just sent us a press release that says just about exactly the same thing as the Ford press release sent a couple hours earlier. Difference is, Chevrolet got to point out that it has offered factory remote start since 2004. Maybe it's just a cold day in Detroit today or maybe this is just good old cross-town bickering. Whatever. Can't you two just get along and get to work on the electro-shawl that Detroit Editor Daniel Pund has been asking for?
jederino says:
02:30 PM, 12/ 3/09
This is a big deal. REALLY. My wife would favor any car that had a heated steering wheel. She would not consider an American car, otherwise. However, this is such a smart feature for slender, freezing women, they would think the rest of the car MUST be engineered well. And fortunately, I think Ford and GM are there.
tom1908 says:
03:54 PM, 12/ 3/09
From Tom Wilkinson at GM: Pund can visit any decent motorcycle shop and get all kinds of electric undies. All he needs is a 12 volt battery under his desk. Living in Michigan, I wouldn't be without remote start or my electic vest and heated grips.
danielpund says:
06:38 PM, 12/ 3/09
Tom,
Good points all. And I already have 12V under my desk. But maybe we could grab lunch soon and I'll let you in on a few of my other winter-weather ideas such as shearling-covered, heated massage pedals and a coffee radiator/dispenser. (Those two are free).
Have been enjoying remote start for some number of years now and have proof: http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2009/01/2008-cadillac-cts-v6-di-increasingly-remote.html
Daniel
roadburner says:
08:22 PM, 12/ 3/09
Welcome to last week, Dearborn; my wife's 1997 E39 5er had a heated wheel, as does her 2004 X3 2.5.
bimmerjay says:
09:49 PM, 12/ 3/09
I think a 'welcome to last century' is in order. What will they trot out next, 3-point seatbelts?