Among the more bizarre displays we found in various automakers’ booths at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show were autonomous-driving simulators. After all, what’s there to simulate" In both real life and the re-creation, the “driver” merely sits there while stuff happens. Which is why we have to tip our hat to Kia for its jarring twist on this otherwise bland theme. To showcase its autonomous technology (being researched by its new “Drive Wise” sub-brand), Kia created a virtual-reality, um, experience during which you ride in a self-driving Soul EV hatchback while engaging in a gun battle.
In Kia’s booth, we are handed virtual-reality goggles and headphones and are warned to put on our seatbelt before the experience begins. The action starts and the seats vibrate and jostle us around as we “awake” tied to a chair while a woman frantically frees us and hands our virtual character a gun. Loud bangs break out and?as we imagine most owners of future autonomous Kias will do?we found ourselves in a firefight with masked SWAT-looking types. The woman shouts something about getting Soul!, and after taking out what appear to be two police officers, we’re in an autonomous Soul speeding down an alley with two Kia Borrego SUVs in pursuit, shooting at us.
Few things are more embarrassing than wearing these. Although blindly taking a selfie while wearing these would be one.
It’s at this point that Kia begins to i...