Mercedes-Benz Announces Subscription-Based ‘Acceleration On-Demand’

[SWO]

The Mach E GT has 562 hp available from the already installed motors. I would gladly pay $2-3k or more to unlock it.

I gladly paid $500 to unlock the extra horsepower that was “already there” on my last car when I tuned my Chevy SS.

People have been paying extra for more power for as long as cars have existed.

But to get 80 hp for $3k AND have it fully covered under factory warranty? Sign me up!

But if you don’t want it, don’t pay. I just don’t understand how “having the option” is a bad thing.

And the subscription? Totally optional too. It’s cheaper if you don’t keep the car long.

You paid $500 for someone to develop a tune, probably the tuner as well. If it was a good tune, you also paid for some datalogging.

I think everyone agrees the GT is limited because Ford wasn't willing to risk giving it more power.

This is literally just Mercedes putting a restriction on the power that's already been engineered for the vehicle. No different than BMW's heated seat subscription. What's next, a subscription for faster charging?

Sponsored

 

[snowy_91]

So, in a place like South Dakota I would only need to buy it 3 months out of the year...

 

[Keeperofthe7keys]

utterly ridiculous. yet people will still fall for this concept. pretty soon life itself will be a subscription.

We call that health insurance.

 

[Socalsp3]

Does anyone actually READ what it said before expressing outrage??

• You can pay $60/month or $600/year to unlock up to 80 extra horsepower and a 1-second quicker 0-60 time, or a one-time fee between $1,950 and $2,950 is another option.
• 
  
  I actually LOVE this idea. I would pay $2-3k for a horsepower upgrade. And if you’re keeping the car less than 3 years…… go with the subscription model. Your choice!
• 
  
  
• How is this a bad thing???
• 
  

I can't tell if this is sarcasm.

I wouldn't pay for a subscription for use of my car out of principle

 

[DevSecOps]

People Ranting: "I would never buy a car with a subscription"
Me Thinking: "This is a MachE Forum right?"

Ford Streaming
Blue Oval Charge Network (Fast Charging)
Navigation
BlueCruise
Alexa
WiFi Hotspot
Sirus XM

Do you guys even read the nonsense you type?

 

[mdolan92869]

People Ranting: "I would never buy a car with a subscription"
Me Thinking: "This is a MachE Forum right?"

Ford Streaming
Blue Oval Charge Network (Fast Charging)
Navigation
BlueCruise
Alexa
WiFi Hotspot
Sirus XM

Do you guys even read the nonsense you type?

Do people read the nonsense they type? Of course not, this is the internet.

 

[Mach1E]

I can't tell if this is sarcasm.

I wouldn't pay for a subscription for use of my car out of principle

Not sarcasm.

Why are people so hung up on the subscription part? That’s just one option. You can pay the one time $2k or $3k.

It’s the same thing Tesla did with the $2k power boost.

Volvo also did the same thing with Polestar. https://www.polestar.com/us/polestar-2/performance-software-upgrade/

I WISH Ford would offer something like this.

 

[Mach1E]

You paid $500 for someone to develop a tune, probably the tuner as well. If it was a good tune, you also paid for some datalogging.

I think everyone agrees the GT is limited because Ford wasn't willing to risk giving it more power.

This is literally just Mercedes putting a restriction on the power that's already been engineered for the vehicle. No different than BMW's heated seat subscription. What's next, a subscription for faster charging?

This is the same as EVERY manufacturer with a turbo car that has less boost on some models and more boost (and horsepower) on others for more money.

Why charge more $$ for more horsepower? Because they can.

And I for one would gladly pay.

Not sure where people get the idea that software should be free.

 

[DevSecOps]

Not sure where people get the idea that software should be free.

This is the key to your argument. In traditional vehicles you got what you bought, end of story. If you wanted something else you went with a 3rd party and you paid for it.

People assume because they have a connected vehicle that they are entitled to everything developed new, for free. These subscriptions actually help keep the car fresh. Some things I think are a bit petty, like heated seat subscriptions, but I think subscriptions in general are gonna become the norm.

 

[Socalsp3]

This is the key to your argument. In traditional vehicles you got what you bought, end of story. If you wanted something else you went with a 3rd party and you paid for it.

People assume because they have a connected vehicle that they are entitled to everything developed new, for free. These subscriptions actually help keep the car fresh. Some things I think are a bit petty, like heated seat subscriptions, but I think subscriptions in general are gonna become the norm.

Do you pay for software updates for your phone?
Nevermind paying subscription to use seat heater, windshield wiper, engine power, how about extra braking power while you're at it

 

[leehinde]

People Ranting: "I would never buy a car with a subscription"
Me Thinking: "This is a MachE Forum right?"

Ford Streaming
Blue Oval Charge Network (Fast Charging)
Navigation
BlueCruise
Alexa
WiFi Hotspot
Sirus XM

Do you guys even read the nonsense you type?

To date I haven’t paid for any of those things. And, those services have legitimate ongoing expenses to maintain quality. They’re not existing hardware that you’re paying to turn on.

 

[DevSecOps]

Do you pay for software updates for your phone?

No, because I can read. When I buy a phone that says, "comes with 4 years of updates" I expect 4 years of updates. If you buy a car that doesn't afford you updates then don't expect them.

And, those services have legitimate ongoing expenses to maintain quality.

Connecting to a charger has to be maintained? Navigation, which is free from Google or Waze needs to be maintained when it's just using an API? Regardless, if Ford were to come out with a 5 second limit remover for 3k it would be something new, not something shipped with the car. It would be like buying the next trim up.

And yes, it is existing hardware you're paying to turn on. I paid for BC when I purchased the car. There's a subscription in the original purchase. Just because other things say "trial" doesn't mean you didn't subscribe. So yes, you did buy a car with subscriptions.

For future vehicles, most options in an order sheet will likely become a subscription or one time purchase. Mark my words.

I believe in the freedom to purchase whatever you want. If you don't want it, don't buy it, but it's silly for anyone to say they won't buy a car with subscriptions on this forum.

 

[carbonizedbrett]

Think if it as paying for a warranty that covers more extreme usage.

It's like an extended warranty but not extended in time, extended along the performance axis. The manufacturer is covering more risk when they unlock that extra power.

As for the BMW heated seat subscription, if BMW saves money by streamlining their parts and manufacturing processes, that's how they win even when they install a software-disabled heated seat. How do buyers win? When they pay less over the duration of ownership for a warm tuchus only when they need it. When they move to a colder climate or when they sell or trade in their car. They're "Florida" care can be easily upgraded, relatively cheaply to warm their own buttocks or the buttocks of a bigger market. People who don't want heated seats don't lose because they're not paying for them. People who pay up front for permanent heated seats don't lose because it doesn't cost any more than the option.

Your sensibilities may be highly offended but the concept makes no less sense that paying BMW's industry leading profit margins. Corporate profits don't warm your tush, make your car go faster, or even tickle your aesthetic pickle with fancy paint colors and matte finishes.

 

[Socalsp3]

No, because I can read. When I buy a phone that says, "comes with 4 years of updates" I expect 4 years of updates. If you buy a car that doesn't afford you updates then don't expect them.



Connecting to a charger has to be maintained? Navigation, which is free from Google or Waze needs to be maintained when it's just using an API? Regardless, if Ford were to come out with a 5 second limit remover for 3k it would be something new, not something shipped with the car. It would be like buying the next trim up.

And yes, it is existing hardware you're paying to turn on. I paid for BC when I purchased the car. There's a subscription in the original purchase. Just because other things say "trial" doesn't mean you didn't subscribe. So yes, you did buy a car with subscriptions.

For future vehicles, most options in an order sheet will likely become a subscription or one time purchase. Mark my words.

I believe in the freedom to purchase whatever you want. If you don't want it, don't buy it, but it's silly for anyone to say they won't buy a car with subscriptions on this forum.

I just expect a car's basic functions to work. Updates should be be free for bug fixes. Im fine with subscription for advanced features like BC that require resources to maintained. Not so much for basic stuff like seat heating that require nothing on the part of the manufacturer to maintain.

 

[SWO]

This is the same as EVERY manufacturer with a turbo car that has less boost on some models and more boost (and horsepower) on others for more money.

Can you give me an example of two vehicle models with significantly different horsepower and the same part number for the long block? I'm drawing a blank.

Sponsored