TOKYO — Honda has introduced a new PC-based auto driving simulator, complete with a steering wheel and pedals, and said it is aiming for a wide audience for the setup in Japan. No word yet on when the hardware will be available in the U.S.
The simulator is designed to help drivers learn fuel-efficient driving techniques and key points of safe driving. Honda said this is the first time it has developed software for an auto simulator, which helps users to learn eco-driving. The simulator is priced at the equivalent of $2,226-$3,160.
"Users learn simply by following the on-screen and audio instructions, making an instructor unnecessary," Honda said in a statement.
The setup can be customized for beginners or advanced drivers, the automaker said.
Inside Line says: You get everything but a turbocharger with this simulator — but U.S. drivers get shut out of the initial rollout. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent