Ypulse reader Jeff sent me this link to Seth Godin's (who is revered as a marketing guru in some circles) blog post asking the Detroit auto makers to design a concept car for teens (or really their parents). In his post, Seth lists some features he thinks parents will definitely dig like:

"Requires breathalyzer test to start
Easy to set, hard to hack speed limiter
Constant GPS reporting via wimax or cellphone, allowing the owner of the car to see where it is Constant speed reporting via wimax or cellphone, with easy to set alerts by cell phone
Location lock out, making it easy for the owner to set the range of the vehicle or the roads traveled

All this technology is easy to sync by computer or phone"

He also throws a bone to teens by suggesting features like:

"Funky looking
Allows easy attachment/customization of side panels
Not embarrassing!"

I know that car accidents kill lots of teenagers every year and that teen drinking and driving is a huge issue. But is designing a car that makes parents into Big Brother and treats teenagers like inmates the answer? Will it replace the essential communication and quality relationship between teens and parents that should prevent their teens from making stupid mistakes behind the wheel? Getting your driver's is a rite of passage that for many teens is their first step towards independence. Do we really want to squelch that completely?

Update: I'm curious to know what teens think of his idea…

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