Shift to fancy gear knobs in cars draws ire of Consumer Reports

Automakers have been replacing traditional gear shifts with buttons, knobs and wheels to spruce up vehicle interiors but that is confusing motorists and diminishing safety, Consumer Reports says.

By Ryan Beene | Updated on March 01, 2017

(Bloomberg) – Automakers have been replacing traditional gear shifts with buttons, knobs and wheels to spruce up vehicle interiors — but that is confusing motorists and diminishing safety, Consumer Reports says.

The Yonkers, New York-based magazine docked scores of 50 vehicles evaluated as part of its 2017 annual auto brand rankings, which were released Tuesday. It flagged designs on Honda Motor Co.’s Acura brand, General Motors Co.’s Cadillac and Ford Motor Co.’s Lincoln as potentially confusing. Certain shift designs from Chrysler, Jaguar, Audi and other brands lack countermeasures to prevent rollaway accidents, the magazine said.

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