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The Electromobile: The Next Millennium of Automobiles 电动车：风驰电掣新世纪

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Imagine you’re driving down a long stretch of highway. It’s 3 A.M., and you’re tired. Soon, you will able to transfer the controls of the car to your passenger by simply handing him or her video game-style handgrips.

想象你正在高速公路上长途开车，时间是下午三点钟，而开车的你觉得疲倦。很快地，你只需要交给其他同车的乘员一个像打电动游戏般的握把，就能把车子的驾驶控制转给他们去负责了。

In the near future, the automotive industry is poised to make such a scenario possible by employing new technologies that will makes cars more efficient, programmable, and interactive. Driving this revolutionary automotive experience are advances in electronics and engine design. Already, conveniences such as keyless entry and start, GPS map displays, and voice command controls (for example, lights, turn signals) have found their way into high-end models. Increasingly, these handy options are being installed in less expensive vehicles because the cost of producing and equipping cars with electronic rather than mechanical systems is declining rapidly.

在未来，汽车业藉由新科技将使车子更有效率、可以输入程序、而且还具备互动能力，使得上述轻松驶的场面成为事实。而因为电子科技和引擎设计的进步带来了革命性的驾车经验。目前既有的便利，像是免车钥匙就可以登入启动、全球定位系统地图显示、和声控指示（譬如灯光、方向灯）都已经是目前高档车的配备了。这些方便的选择配件将会逐渐被安装在比较便宜的车款上，因为电子设备的制造与安装成本下降得很快，比机械系统便宜得多。

Efficiency and luxury are not the only reasons automakers are installing “driver-assistance system.” Safety will be enhanced by new computerized radar systems that actively anticipate danger and warn drivers to make the necessary driving corrections. Furthermore, cameras all around the car will eliminate drivers’ blind spots.

效率和气派不是汽车业安装「驾驶辅助系统」的唯二理由，新的计算机化雷达系统能主动进行危险侦测，并警告驾驶人做出必要的更正动作以强化安全。再者，环车摄影监控将能彻底消除驾驶人的视觉死角。

Although these new advances are tantalizing, not all drivers are willing to pay for these new gizmos. Only the market will tell which technologies will drive the future.

虽然这些先进设施很具诱惑力，但不是所有的驾驶人都愿意把钱花在它们上面。只有市场需求能决定哪些科技将得以驱动未来。

Vocabulary

单词发音

stretch [strɛtʃ] n.（土地，时间的）延亘，连绵

handgrip [ˋhænd͵grɪp] n. 手把；柄

poise [pɔɪz] v. 使作好准备

scenario [sɪˋnɛrɪ͵o] n. 可能发生的事﹐ 可能出现的情况

programmable [ˋprogræməb!] adj. 可计算机控制的﹐可过程控制的

interactive [͵ɪntɚˋæktɪv] adj. 互动的

drive [draɪv] v. 驱动;推动

handy [ˋhændɪ] adj. 便利的；便于使用的

blind spot（驾驶车辆等视力以外的）盲区

tantalizing [ˋtænt!͵aɪzɪŋ] adj. 逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的

gizmo [`gɪzmo] n.【非正式】小玩意儿﹐小东西〔忘记或不知道某物的名称时用语〕

Sentence of the Day

Pricing is taking the back seat to luxury in the latest models.

因豪华装备价格下降，新车纷纷加以采用。

take a back seat  处于次要地位

课文讲解

Scott and his wife Benda are looking at a new car together.  史考特和太太布兰达一起看一辆新车：

S: Wow, check out the futuristic features on this car!

哇，妳看看这辆车的一些先进设备！

B: It’s almost like The Jetsons. Is there any option that it doesn’t have?

几乎像是贾森家庭的车子【注】。还有什么选配项目它没有？

S: I don’t think so. It comes with a GPS navigation system, keyless entry, and cameras in the bumpers. It’s even got hybrid drive-by-wire steering!

什么都有了。它有全球定位系统的导航设施、免车钥匙、缓冲板有倒车用的摄影机，甚至还有线控驾驶的混合驾驶模式。

B: Drive-by-wire steering? So it uses an electronic, rather than a physical connection, to connect the driver to the steering system?

线控驾驶？所以它能用电子传动，而无须仰赖实际的机械传动来连结驾驶人的操作？

S: Yeah, but as a “hybrid” it also has a conventional steering system as a backup. Apparently, it’s getting cheaper to design and make cars with electronic instead of traditional mechanical systems.

没错，不过既然是「混合」模式，它也备有传统的驾驶操作方式当作备胎。很明显地，车子的设计制造改成用电子式，而不用传统机械式的系统将会愈来愈便宜了。

B: Wow, that’s really cool. So, are cars going to drive themselves soon?

哇，那可真酷。所以，不久以后车辆就是无人驾驶全自动了？

S: Probably not for a long while. Designing software allowing a car to drive itself safely in the real world has proven a tough nut to crack.

或许不久以后就是了。专家们已证实，要设计出好软件，让车辆在现实世界里能够安全地自动驾驶是项棘手的问题。

B: Whoa! You just said that electronics were cheaper. Help, I’m reeling from sticker shock!

哇！你刚才才说电子设备比较便宜。救命，看到这个标价我都快晕倒了。

S: Ouch. You’re right. I like all the bells and whistles, but this model is way out of our reach. Ready to go?

噢，妳说的对。我是很喜欢它的特殊性能和选配项目，但是这款车我实在负担不起。要走了吗？

B: Yeah. I guess it’s time to drive on. It would be a lot cooler, though, if we could fly away like the Jetsons did.

是呀。我想我们该上路了。不过，如果我们能像贾森家人一样用飞的离开，那当然更酷。

【注】：The Jetsons 贾森家庭是1960年代著名的卡通电视剧，时间是未来式，拥有一辆会飞的车子。

－by Mark Hamilton

Vocabulary

单词发音

futuristic [͵fjutʃɚˋɪstɪk] adj.〔尤指根据科学发展〕想象的; 幻想的; 未来派的

navigation [͵nævəˋgeʃən] n. 导航

bumper [ˋbʌmpɚ] n.（汽车前后的）保险杠

drive-by-wire 线控驾驶

steering [ˋstɪrɪŋ] n.〔汽车﹑船等的〕转向装置﹐操纵装置

conventional [kənˋvɛnʃən!] adj. 传统的

a tough nut to crack  难以应付的问题或情况  If something is a tough nut to crack, it is difficult to find the answer or solution.

reel [ril] v. 感到震惊; 感到心烦

sticker shock（发现价格比想象的要高得多而产生的）标价震惊；标签震惊

bells and whistles 产品附加的特色; 特殊部分或性能 Nonessential features or enhancements intended especially to add commercial appeal.

Sentence of the Day

You may have to wheel and deal to get these cars at a reasonable price.

购车或许得要钻营算计才能买在合理价位。

wheel and deal【主美】【口】(用精明的, 常指欺骗的方法)洽谈(或商量、讨价还价)