this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2025
182 points (99.5% liked)

World News

49251 readers
1334 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

German car making giant Volkswagen (VW) has introduced a subscription for UK customers wanting to increase the power of some of its electric cars.

Those who buy an eligible car in its ID.3 range can choose to pay extra if they want to unlock the full power of the engine inside the vehicle.

VW says the "optional power upgrade" will cost £16.50 per month or £165 annually - or people can choose to pay £649 for a lifetime subscription.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] scops@reddthat.com 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Tesla has also been doing this for years. My 2019 Model 3 has an upgrade option for the acceleration. It's a one time payment, but Tesla's no stranger to the subscription model. They offer monthly fees for the upgraded "self-driving" package and occasionally give me a free trial period to try it out. I've had enough phantom braking incidents with the stock version that I'll never use it.

ETA: Also, any upgrades I get for my car will not transfer if I sell it. I'm guessing that's a big incentive for Volkswagen and the like to jump on board for this shitty practice.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Good points. I do feel like I remember that the Full Self Driving was a paid upgrade and I've seen enough stories of Tesla locking people out of things via update. For something like FSD, does it throw you off any driving it after the trial ends, like do you get reliant on some of the upgraded features and then forget ever when they get turned back off? Having something as a potatnetial aid or safety feature that is potentially sometimes there and sometimes not seems a bit weird. Something like VW's speed limiter would just make you slower, but if you get used to the car steering/braking and then another day it doesn't, that seems a bit questionable. You sound like you pay attention as you dont like it especially anyway, but just for your average Joe.

[–] scops@reddthat.com 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

FSD (and stock Autopilot, for that matter) are systems you engage while driving, similar to Cruise Control. I feel like the capabilities are different enough that the average driver wouldn't get too used to FSD over a couple week period.

For me as someone who drives a decent amount of country backroads, I'm wondering whether the stock Autopilot obeys stop signs. I know it didn't when I first got the car, and I wasn't in a hurry to test if they added the functionality. I could see maybe someone renting a Tesla with FSD, getting used to it, then not realizing that the next Tesla they rented without FSD was going to blow through a stop sign.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

That makes sense. Thank you for explaining it. I've only played with Hyundai's and Subaru's smart cruise and lane assist, and it doesn't take long to know it's nothing like what I'd picture FSD to be. My car is a 2008, so I've only got basic CC.