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Aug 27, 2023

Drivers are just realizing there's a car 'speed' feature now long discontinued

DRIVERS are finally realizing there's a car "speed" feature that has been discontinued for a while now and it's something younger generations may find funny. Cars have transformed dramatically since

DRIVERS are finally realizing there's a car "speed" feature that has been discontinued for a while now and it's something younger generations may find funny.

Cars have transformed dramatically since the first car was invented in 1886, which is understandable, but it's interesting to think that just decades ago some basic features that existed in cars no longer exist.

In an article titled "13 Features That No Longer Exist," Interesting Engineering offered a list of features that are no longer seen in modern-day cars.

The features listed were floor-mounted dimmer switches, rear-hinged doors, hardtop convertibles, full-size spare tires, horn rings, vent window for ventilation, bench seats, ashtrays and lighters, long radio antennas, hand-cranked windows, audible turn indicator signals, and keys to start the car.

Additionally, 85 mph speedometers were on the list.

"Hearing of 85 mph speedometers might sound funny to this generation," Interesting Engineering explains. "But, during the 1970s cars were allowed to reach only a maximum of 55 mph, as a measure of safety and low fuel consumption."

The article added: "The federal law was passed on this and the cars during that time came with an 85 mph speedometer.

"Modern cars now have speedometers up to 160 mph, which is twice of what was allowed in the 70s."

According to an automotive journalist with Yahoo! news, Cameron Aubernon, "Every vehicle manufactured and sold in the United States during the 1980s had a speed cap.

"No matter the car, the needle on the speedometer couldn’t be pegged any further right than 85 mph.

"The reason for this had very little to do with speed, and everything to do with energy conservation, sparked by a shortage of oil in the 1970s."

Classic Cars History explains that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) enacted a regulation in September 1979 that required speedometers in car, motorcycles, and pickup trucks to show a max speed of 85mph.

However, the mandate had "little impact on the driving habits of most Americans," according to Classic Cars History.

"In fact, the actual savings in gasoline consumption fell well below the anticipated 2.2 percent reduction, averaging less than 1 percent," it adds.

Although the max 85mph speedometer is no longer a feature, speed limits are always in effect.

In fact, drivers will be aware that straying over the speed limit may lead to financial penalties or worse.

Also, with just a single solar-powered charge, a new electric vehicle beat the world record time for an epic journey of 1,000 kilometers, 621 miles.