Voice Recognition. Voice Activation. Intelligent Personal Assist. Call it what you will, but AI is fast-tracking it into our automotive lives. In the new Mini Cooper the ones and zeroes come disguised as a cartoon avatar called Spike. Simply say “Hey Mini” – ‘hey’ being the universally agreed salutation – and this cartoon canine enters stage right on the central OLED screen and awaits your command.
“Choose go-kart mode,” I proclaim. There’s a short pause, before he mutters indignantly, “Well, that’s not very nice.” Huh?
Fortunately, the new Mini’s myriad functionality doesn’t yet solely depend on voice software. The transition to full electrification means that, where we would once have focused on a car’s dynamics, the 2024 user experience places boldface emphasis on the interior and connectivity. The new Minis – Cooper and Countryman with more to come – strain every sinew to surmount this challenge, inject palpable character into every nook and cranny while the electrons go about their silent, seamless, ever so slightly
