Gallery: I Rode 500 Miles in a Self-Driving Car and Saw the Future. It's Delightfully Dull

  • Image may contain Vehicle Transportation Automobile Car Sports Car Tire Coupe Wheel Machine Spoke and Car Wheel
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    01

    audi-jack-gallery-01

    We spent two days driving in an autonomous Audi A7, from Palo Alto to Las Vegas, for CES.
  • Image may contain Human Person Cushion Sunglasses Accessories Accessory Vehicle Transportation Driving and Car
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    02

    audi-jack-gallery-04

    The interface for autonomous mode is easy to understand. To hand over control, hit those two buttons on the steering wheel at the same time.
  • Image may contain Electronics Hardware Router and Modem
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    03

    audi-jack-gallery-03

    When the car's in piloted mode, a bar of LED lights below the windshield turns blue-green. It turns yellow, then red, when it's set to shut off.
  • Image may contain Electronics GPS Screen Monitor and Display
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    04

    audi-jack-gallery-08

    Google Maps is standard in Audi cars, but the autonomous A7 concept uses enhanced maps with extra info about things like turn radii.
  • Image may contain Vehicle Transportation Automobile Car Tire Wheel Machine Car Wheel Spoke and Alloy Wheel
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    05

    audi-jack-gallery-02

    Apart from the special paint job, it's hard to tell 'Jack' apart from a conventional Audi A7 on the road.
  • Image may contain Wheel Machine Tire Car Wheel Spoke and Alloy Wheel
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    06

    audi-jack-gallery-09

    It's powered by a 3.0-liter engine that produces 310 horsepower, and sits on 19-inch wheels.
  • Image may contain Transportation Vehicle Automobile Car Tire Wheel Machine Alloy Wheel Spoke and Car Wheel
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    07

    audi-jack-gallery-06

    Radars are tucked behind the body panels at each of the car's corners.
  • Image may contain Vehicle Transportation Automobile Car Road Adventure Leisure Activities Freeway and Highway
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    08

    audi-jack-gallery-10

    Audi's 30-car convoy into Las Vegas was accompanied by a helicopter.
Read More
The Best Ski Clothes for Staying Warm and Having Fun
From weatherproof jackets and pants to puffers, gloves, and socks, WIRED’s winter sports experts have you covered.
Chris Haslam
The Best Fitness Trackers Check Your Sleep, Heart Rate, or Even Your Blood
With almost ten years of hands-on testing, WIRED knows what separates the best fitness trackers from the rest.
Adrienne So
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
The Best Apple Watch Accessories
You finally caved and bought an Apple Watch. These are our favorite bands, screen protectors, and chargers to go with your new smartwatch.
Adrienne So
These Are Our Favorite Standing Desks to Liven Up Your Workstation
Take your home office to new heights with our favorite motorized standing desks.
Nicole Kinning
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
Death to Dry Skin. These Humidifiers Are Better Than Chapstick
From models for traveling to humidifiers that double as planters or air purifiers, we've tested a dozen of them.
Matthew Korfhage
The Best Game Controller for Every Kind of Player
A great gamepad instantly levels up your play. These are our top picks for Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.
Brad Bourque
The Best iPhone 17 Cases and Accessories—We’ve Tested More Than 100
Protect your expensive iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone Pro, or iPhone 17e with our favorite cases and screen protectors.
Julian Chokkattu
The Best MagSafe Grips for Getting a Handle on Things
Keep your phone firmly in hand and add some personality with these comfortable, durable, and nifty smartphone grips.
Louryn Strampe
The 11 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride
I tested the best electric bikes in every category, from commuters and mountain bikes to foldables and cruisers.
Adrienne So
The Best Heart Rate Monitors Check Your Cardiac Health
These chest straps and watches will help you keep your finger on your pulse—and many other heart-related metrics.
Michael Sawh