Switches and Knobs?

[Benthor]

With so many EV's these days having a screen interface for most controls, I wonder what the chances are that the new Scout will come with actual buttons, toggle switches and knobs? Nearly ?% of new electric vehicles gets written off right out of the gate because they have a large screen and not much else. I bought a MINI Cooper E based largely on the fact that it came with buttons and switches (the under $30 grand was also a major factor). It has been great for a commuter car, although less than ideal in dealing with Minnesota winters. I've been holding out hope for a new electric Bronco but with Ford pulling back on the EV offerings and the whopper flat screen in the current Mustang, I am less than optimistic that anything good will be on offer in future. The Scout may be our only hope.

 

[THil08]

With so many EV's these days having a screen interface for most controls, I wonder what the chances are that the new Scout will come with actual buttons, toggle switches and knobs? Nearly ?% of new electric vehicles gets written off right out of the gate because they have a large screen and not much else. I bought a MINI Cooper E based largely on the fact that it came with buttons and switches (the under $30 grand was also a major factor). It has been great for a commuter car, although less than ideal in dealing with Minnesota winters. I've been holding out hope for a new electric Bronco but with Ford pulling back on the EV offerings and the whopper flat screen in the current Mustang, I am less than optimistic that anything good will be on offer in future. The Scout may be our only hope.

#MiniGang i own a 2019 Countryman s all4. Im hoping everything in the new scout is tactile like the Ineos Grenadier. Thats what the world needs. Or as on what Elon Musk has said the world will eventually go through another Technology Revolution and it will set us back 50years. Which will probably happen with on how fast everything is advancing. We’ll eventually mess up and say we need a redo.

 

[Cranky Canuck]

I find Hyundai has struck a nice balance. My Ioniq 5 has switches and knobs for the things that make sense and a touchscreen for everything else. It's a pretty conventional modern car inside compared to most EVs and it does really well in Canadian winters here so I've been extremely happy with it for the past two years. It's a great roadtripper!

 

[J Alynn]

Been stated multiple times that knobs, switches-toggles will be a priority. I’d like to think that’s from the grass roots efforts of this forum ?

 

[Jamie@ScoutMotors]

Been stated multiple times that knobs, switches-toggles will be a priority. I’d like to think that’s from the grass roots efforts of this forum ?

A combination of both. One of our goals was to do our best to provide a variety of ways to interact with the vehicle, not just through screens.

 

[Benthor]

I find Hyundai has struck a nice balance. My Ioniq 5 has switches and knobs for the things that make sense and a touchscreen for everything else. It's a pretty conventional modern car inside compared to most EVs and it does really well in Canadian winters here so I've been extremely happy with it for the past two years. It's a great roadtripper!

My last several vehicles were Elantra's and I do like the Ioniq5, especially the angular accents. My dad has one and has been happy with it.

 

[Rally94]

I have had the new Toyota LC for the past 3 months and I love that they went with buttons and switches. I was a 3x Jeep owner before switching to the LC. I hope that Scout stays with the switches and knobs in the production version. Will be watching the progress of the Scout. I put down a deposit, will see if I am ready to get ready of the LC when the Scouts roll off the production line.

 

[J Alynn]

I have had the new Toyota LC for the past 3 months and I love that they went with buttons and switches. I was a 3x Jeep owner before switching to the LC. I hope that Scout stays with the switches and knobs in the production version. Will be watching the progress of the Scout. I put down a deposit, will see if I am ready to get ready of the LC when the Scouts roll off the production line.

They are keeping. It’s been a huge push over past 2 years and Scott Keogh has stated that nearly a dozen times in speeches and articles. Going back on that now would certainly look bad for SM

 

[MountainDad]

A combination of both. One of our goals was to do our best to provide a variety of ways to interact with the vehicle, not just through screens.

Some things need tactile controls so you can use them without taking your eyes off the road and know exactly what you are doing. HVAC, basic media controls, lights (including aux), windows/doors, seats, etc.

Other things like detailed drive modes/behaviors and "set and forget" things that people do once when they set up their vehicle and touch rarely if ever, or which are better done when sitting still like engaging transmission/drive modes ahead of an obstacle - those can be on a touchscreen, but UX design must ensure you don't need to tap through six layers of menus to get there for things that are used sometimes but not all the time.

I was initially intrigued by Ineos's "full analog" approach with the Grenadier, but after sitting in one and test driving one, it feels too much like a 1980s commuter airplane, never mind its utterly unlivable driving dynamics with recirculating ball steering (I felt like Toonces the Driving Cat trying to keep it centered in just a mild cross breeze on the Interstate). Switches and toggles do wear out - contacts get dirty, attachments and housings and springs loosen, and plastic peels and warps. Anodized metal switchgear and dials would be great, but you're trying to keep cost down so not holding out hope there.

 

[J Alynn]

Some things need tactile controls so you can use them without taking your eyes off the road and know exactly what you are doing. HVAC, basic media controls, lights (including aux), windows/doors, seats, etc.

Other things like detailed drive modes/behaviors and "set and forget" things that people do once when they set up their vehicle and touch rarely if ever, or which are better done when sitting still like engaging transmission/drive modes ahead of an obstacle - those can be on a touchscreen, but UX design must ensure you don't need to tap through six layers of menus to get there for things that are used sometimes but not all the time.

I was initially intrigued by Ineos's "full analog" approach with the Grenadier, but after sitting in one and test driving one, it feels too much like a 1980s commuter airplane, never mind its utterly unlivable driving dynamics with recirculating ball steering (I felt like Toonces the Driving Cat trying to keep it centered in just a mild cross breeze on the Interstate). Switches and toggles do wear out - contacts get dirty, attachments and housings and springs loosen, and plastic peels and warps. Anodized metal switchgear and dials would be great, but you're trying to keep cost down so not holding out hope there.

The concepts were metal. I did get to feel them briefly. Truly hope they stay metal and don’t cut to plastic because they were very nice and substantial

 

[nolen]

Do the current systems with touchscreens let you customize where the apps are? So we can decide what’s most important to us to be able to get to quickly?

 

[Albal]

It’d be nice to have some user-assignable buttons too. So you can be one button press away from any function the system has. For example, I’d probably use one button to put the suspension into comfort mode, and another button to put it into sport mode.

 

[eherlihy]

I will add that my wife and I had a Kupra as rental car in Italy last month. I was happy that it featured Android Auto, because I was a stranger, driving a strange car, in a strange land. Google Maps was a godsend.

I was driving to a wedding (the reason for the trip) with her cousin in the passenger seat. All was good until my wife, who was riding in the back seat, complained that she was too hot, and asked me to turn up the A/C. I had to take my eyes from the road as I was driving and interact with a UI that I was not familiar with to find the HVAC control screen. This caused me to lose the Android Auto display, and I was once again lost. I finally had to pull over and futz with the damn display for 5 minutes to get Android Auto restarted and the screen to display the map. The soundtrack to that 5 minute stop was my wife repeatedly telling me to "hurry up - we are going to be late." (we made it to the church in plenty of time)

PLEASE keep the HVAC controls OUT of the display screen!

 

[MountainDad]

PLEASE keep the HVAC controls OUT of the display screen!

So much this. I cannot second this enough. I will not buy the car.

 

[Harris005]

Do the current systems with touchscreens let you customize where the apps are? So we can decide what’s most important to us to be able to get to quickly?

Their display of the touch screen did show you being able to move things around as you see fit.

 

[Harris005]

So much this. I cannot second this enough. I will not buy the car.

I spoke with the Chief Interior Designer for a bit to get some clarification on buttons/knobs.

Picture #1

• The knob on the right is your HVAC temp control (don't have to worry about it being touch screen). The desired temp is displayed just above it on the screen and adjust as the knob is turned.
• Note: the lever on the right side of the steering wheel is your typical Park/Drive/Reverse lever. No dial gear selection!
  

Picture #2

• Take note of the knob on the side of the touch screen. This is the passengers volume control. The driver radio controls are located on the steering wheel

Picture #3

• The circular button on the bottom right of the horn is the push button to start it. It also has a dial on the bottom half of it that will allow you to select between drive modes (off road, beach, etc.)
• Dial on left side of the horn toggles through cruise control functions
• Dial on right side of the horn toggles through radio control functions
• Scout Motors listened to us yet again! Buttons on the dash, to the left of the steering wheel, are auxiliary buttons intended for plug and play aftermarket type accessories.

DAMN THAT DASH IS SEXY!!!

 

[Albal]

The circular button on the bottom right of the horn is the push button to start it. It also has a dial on the bottom half of it that will allow you to select between drive modes (off road, beach, etc.)

I hope it’s not easy to accidentally turn it off while you’re bumping around and fiddling with the drive modes.

 

[OleScout]

I spoke with the Chief Interior Designer for a bit to get some clarification on buttons/knobs.

Picture #1

• The knob on the right is your HVAC temp control (don't have to worry about it being touch screen). The desired temp is displayed just above it on the screen and adjust as the knob is turned.
• Note: the lever on the right side of the steering wheel is your typical Park/Drive/Reverse lever. No dial gear selection!

View attachment 3259


Picture #2

• Take note of the knob on the side of the touch screen. This is the passengers volume control. The driver radio controls are located on the steering wheel

View attachment 3260

Picture #3

• The circular button on the bottom right of the horn is the push button to start it. It also has a dial on the bottom half of it that will allow you to select between drive modes (off road, beach, etc.)
• Dial on left side of the horn toggles through cruise control functions
• Dial on right side of the horn toggles through radio control functions
• Scout Motors listened to us yet again! Buttons on the dash, to the left of the steering wheel, are auxiliary buttons intended for plug and play aftermarket type accessories.

View attachment 3261

DAMN THAT DASH IS SEXY!!!

A nice nod to the Scout II is having the AC vents in the lower section of the dash like the one pictured in the center.

Also, I think the center console may fold forward to create a flat working surface. Also, a slide out tray is located on the passengers side which is nice too.

 

[shutthefrontdoor]

I honestly don't get the desire for physical buttons but I won't let that detract me from buying. Give me AI assisted voice controls for virtually everything. Then I'll put up with the buttons as a retro cool look .

 

[Jamie@ScoutMotors]

I honestly don't get the desire for physical buttons but I won't let that detract me from buying. Give me AI assisted voice controls for virtually everything. Then I'll put up with the buttons as a retro cool look .

You can use just the screen if you like. The main point is to offer both.