The study was undertaken by Ford. It plays on the idea of "buzz moments." These are instances of high-intensity thrills that not only are found immediately enjoyable but are shown to be beneficial to our overall well-being. The automaker measured how many buzz moments happened with driving a Ford Focus RS, a Focus ST, and a Mustang, and compared the results to other stimuli.
The results showed that driving these vehicles provided more buzz moments than things like kissing and television, only being beaten by roller coasters. Dr. Harry Witchel, discipline leader in physiology spoke on the matter.
"A roller coaster may be good for a quick thrill, but it's not great for getting you to work every day. This study shows how driving a performance car does much more than get you from A to B – it could be a valuable part of your daily wellbeing routine."
In response to this, Ford has developed a weird ride they call the Performance Buzz Car. This vehicle, based on a Focus RS, displays biofeedback and lights up when you're experiencing a buzz moment. It's a mood car.
The Buzz Car uses a combination of wearable tech and artificial intelligence in order to detect these moments in the driver. The interface then sends signals to 200,000 LEDs placed throughout the vehicle. This is one of those cool concept vehicles that I'm not actually all that keen on. I don't need everyone knowing when I get excited about my car.
