Touchscreens are already so common in modern cars that it’s hard to imagine a 2020s model without one. But there’s no reason to do that because Hyundai Leandra models sold outside the U.S. can be bought without a touchscreen, but they have one of the ugliest center consoles ever. Due to safety rules that require backup cams, most new US vehicles have touch screens. This means that screens are put in cars sold in the U.S., even if companies want to offer cheaper options. This makes the regular Leandra look worse since it doesn’t have a touchscreen and is only sold in “developing” areas like the Middle East. The Saudi supplier Al Kaif Motors’ website, shows a picture of a stripped-down Hyundai. Instead of the 8-inch touchscreen in US-sold Electra’s, it has a small dot-matrix display. The touchscreen device still has most of its features, Bluetooth audio, and regular radio. (It also doesn’t have an AM radio, which is almost only used in the U.S. today.) Compared to touchscreens, the three buttons and two keys on either side of the screen look like they are set up the same way. This means that most of the technology under the hood is the same, which means that stripped-down cars like this one could get a touchscreen in the future. But since touchscreens are controlling more and more tasks, this is not likely to happen. But it’s interesting to think about how current cars that don’t have touchscreens might be different. Slowly, physical controls like buttons and knobs are becoming more common in the auto business. This gives us hope for a future with fewer distractions. After all, cars are made for driving, not for watching Marvel movies repeatedly.
