[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/car-software-more-appealing-than-performance-and-style\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/car-software-more-appealing-than-performance-and-style\/","headline":"Is Car Software More Appealing Than Performance and Style?","name":"Is Car Software More Appealing Than Performance and Style?","description":"Is software slowly taking over the automotive industry, with cars becoming more like glorified computers on wheels? What do you find to be the most important thing in a car? Is it the high-tech features, the voice assistant, the Apple CarPlay, keyless entry, preconditioning, the ability to park or even partially or fully drive itself? Or, is it more important that your car looks the part and has a high-powered engine with a sports exhaust, painted callipers with performance brake […]","datePublished":"2021-07-23","dateModified":"2021-07-23","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Car-Software-More-Appealing-Than-Performance-and-Style-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Car-Software-More-Appealing-Than-Performance-and-Style-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/car-software-more-appealing-than-performance-and-style\/","about":["BLOG","Cars","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":529,"keywords":["Car Software","performance","Styling"],"articleBody":"Is software slowly taking over the automotive industry, with cars becoming more like glorified computers on wheels?What do you find to be the most important thing in a car? Is it the high-tech features, the voice assistant, the Apple CarPlay, keyless entry, preconditioning, the ability to park or even partially or fully drive itself? Or, is it more important that your car looks the part and has a high-powered engine with a sports exhaust, painted callipers with performance brake discs, limited-slip differential, launch control, be rear or all-wheel drive and have an engine that\u2019s turbo or supercharged?This isn\u2019t a question of whether you prefer sports cars or more luxurious and comfortable cars, but rather a question of is good software becoming more in demand than good hardware. As the world moves towards electric cars, the focus on advanced software features in cars seems to be stealing more and more of the spotlight that good car hardware used to have.The Tesla Model 3, for example, was the UK\u2019s best selling car model in June this year and with a price tag that starts from \u00a341,000 and ranges all the way up to \u00a360,000, it can make one wonder if the world has lost its mind. Why wouldn\u2019t you get an M3 or a Porsche Macan or even an E-Class Estate for those looking for something more sensible?Well, the world hasn\u2019t lost its mind because the Model 3 is actually still incredibly fast, one of the safest cars you can buy, costs little in running costs and can even drive itself. The only thing it\u2019s really lacking is style.Volvo has announced that they will be taking the development of their cars\u2019 operating systems in-house. In other words, they\u2019re investing in their tech and many other manufacturers are doing the same. Nowadays it matters less and less whether the car has a V6 or a V8 or if it\u2019s turbocharged or supercharged.In their press release, Volvo states that software development will be taken in-house as \u201ca car\u2019s appeal increasingly becomes more defined by software-driven functions and features, rather than traditional automotive attributes.\u201dWill the automotive industry have more programmers than mechanical engineers in ten years time? Volvo even go as far as to compare their future cars to smartphones by saying \u201cJust like on your smartphone or computer, new software and features can be rolled out swiftly through over-the-air updates\u201d.Tesla appears to have set a precedent for tech-based cars and just like many things in life, the software is becoming an increasingly important part of what makes it. At the moment cars can be described as cars with computers in them but in the near future, will they become computers with wheels? We\u2019re already swapping out the engine for a battery it would seem that there are only a few more steps to go!So, what\u2019s more important? The ability to watch Netflix in your car or the way your car feels to drive?Let us know what you think, in the comments below.If you enjoyed this, you may also like: \u2018Thoughts On The New BMW iX\u2019"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Is Car Software More Appealing Than Performance and Style?","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/car-software-more-appealing-than-performance-and-style\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]