Buick has released a new suite of smartphone games that encourage fuel saving habits. Hypermilers, rejoice!
The Buick Fuel Efficiency Games app might not have the flashiest name out there, but it's a free app for Android or Apple that contains three separate games that teach about stop/start technology, regenerative braking and aerodynamic optimization. The games are promotional tie-ins with the automaker's new mild-hybrid Regal and Lacrosse eAssist, and they make maximizing miles per gallon surprisingly fun.
The first two games require players to navigate through a course on a single tank of fuel. Regeneration Road shows off the eAssist system's regenerative braking technology, forcing players to slow down for pedestrians while driving through a city. If that's a little too much like driving to work, there's also Roll and Boost - a "beautiful weekend drive through a flowing countryside" that's only less relaxing due to the lack of nearby gas stations. Cover the most distance before running out of fuel, and you'll win.
Finally, there's Wind Tunnel Tester, which lets players reshape a Regal or Lacrosse in order to optimize fuel efficiency. The moral of that game? Spoilers and roof racks will sap your mileage. We'd be lying if we said we didn't play a similar game on our Apple IIe back in our younger days. Unfortunately, with limited graphics and only four arrow keys instead of a full touchscreen, most of the cars we built back then ended up looking like Triumph TR-7s.
Currently, Buick's game only gets twelve ratings in Apple's App Store, but most of them are pretty positive. If the games prove popular, don't be surprised if other automakers release promotional software with names like "Angry Merging" and "Parallel Parking Hero."
Images: Buick
Source Wired.com
