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First of all, this thing's really comfortable! It reclines you to a sort of slouching-on-the-couch position that may just put you to sleep. Good trick the autopilot is capable of detecting your alertness and taking over for you in a millisecond's notice. Starting it up is as simple as pressing this amber button. Hear that? Yup, it's silence... the sign of a properly-tuned electric motor at work! ...heh...
So, let's get going... I'll just get us out of the neighborhood by saying: "Take me to the nearest Starbucks." Now it should--
Umph! Wow, it really bolted out of my driveway... I hit my head on the canopy when it took that turn. Not so fast, okay?
"I'm sorry. I assumed you were really thirsty."
No, not that thirsty, Penelope. Just keep it below the speed limit, okay?
"I am pre-programmed to respect speed limit regulations, except in extreme conditions. Estimated time to Starbucks: Six minutes."
As you can see, it is very intelligent, and even polite. As it turns onto the main roadway, you can see the lean that makes this ride so cool. The controls are sophisticated, with a minimum of buttons or levers, and everything within easy reach. There are three pedals on the floor... but I admit I haven't figured out what one of them is for, since this vehicle does not have a manual shifting capacity at all, so I know it's not a clutch. Maybe by the time the test-ride is over, I'll have a better idea about that last one.
As you've noticed, I'm speaking in a normal conversational tone. The vehicle is wonderfully sound-proofed, with built-in sonic counter-noise speakers that broadcast at the exact frequency of the noises in the outside environment, cancelling them out completely. That makes it easy to speak to your passenger, or to make a cellphone call, without having to yell.
Okay, we've reached the Starbucks. I'll just take us through the drive-through... now. watch this:
"Welcome to Starbucks drive-through. Can I help you?"
See that? It uses the latest tightcast tech to connect directly with the radio in the V-One! Gotta love Starbucks! Uh, yes... I'd like a grande mocha frapuccino, extra mocha, no whip, please.
"Thank you! Please pull up to the delivery window."
Okay, we're... uh... huh. Okay, here's a slight drawback to the V-One: It's a bit low compared to the drive-in window. About three feet too low, in fact. Most drive-in windows in America were set at SUV-height years ago, and so far very few have been lowered for the newer generation of cars. So, I've got to fully open the canopy and stand up to get... okay... thank you very much. Oh, can I get a tall straw, please? Thanks. And back in... all right. Let's go!
"Where?"
Never mind, Penny, i'll drive.
"With a drink in your hand? Don't be silly. I'll drive."
No, it's okay, I've got it.
"But you'll spill it all over you! I'd hate to see you spill it and ruin those lovely chinos."
No big... see? It's in the cupholder now. I'm good.
"You're sure?"
I'm sure. Okay... let's get onto the highway. Penny, display GPS map and activate traffic monitoring.
"Traffic monitoring activated. Warning: Do not get onto the highway."
What?
"Traffic is backed up on I-270 due to an accident at Falls road involving a car and a low-flying Pelican. Take alternate route 355."
Well, how about that? Works pretty good. So I'll just... hey! I'm passing over the highway now, and there's no traffic! I guess the traffic system doesn't update very quickly. So I'm just going to turn around and get on the highway anyway.
"Warning: Traffic is backed up--"
Disregard, Penny. We're going in.
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