Have you ever taken an IQ test? Mensa International is the largest and oldest “high-IQ” society in the world. Membership requires a 98th-percentile score on a standardized test. The society’s three main goals are to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity, to encourage research into intelligence, and to provide a stimulating social environment.
Back in 1996, Car and Driver took a look at a vehicle that it called the “Mensa-Mobile.” Editors used that title because of the vehicle’s advanced, cutting-edge technology for its time. Looking at the photos, the SUV’s silhouette screamed “Chevrolet Blazer,” although the story didn’t talk about the donor vehicle.
The vehicle was developed by Delco Electronics, and its official name was the “SSC” (an acronym that stood for Safety, Security, and Communications). The main focus of the build was to showcase aerospace and defense-industry technology in an automotive application.
A few of the vehicle’s noteworthy features included:
- “Telepath” GPS system for navigation and stolen-vehicle tracking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Collision warning system called “Forewarn”
- Front and side airbags (with a passenger-seat weight sensor)
- Hands-free communication link for cell phone, pager, and road condition notifications
- Head-up display (cleverly named “EyeCue”)
- HID headlights with perimeter illumination
- Keyless, hands-free entry with a transponder small enough to fit in a ring or wristwatch
- LCD screen in place of a traditional instrument cluster
- LED third brake lamp that could adjust illumination based on the severity of braking
- Night vision system with infrared front camera
- Short-range radar system on the sides and rear to warn of objects in blind spots
- Voice command
It’s interesting to note that 30 years later, many of these features are now common. The Delco Electronics SSC definitely paved the way with some of these technologies. And with the advent of self-driving vehicles from Waymo and other companies, we are now living in a time when autonomous vehicles are commonplace.
It’s just too bad that modern cars don’t have hands-free communication for my pager like the SSC did.
