John Simcox

This has been discussed before. In most of Europe it is illegal to leave a car unattended with the engine running so it is not possible to do this. If you have the 4 zone AC (digital temp display on the control rather than *****) there is a button sequence (a search on here should give you the info as I cannot recall it) where you can switch the AC back on after the car is turned off so it continues to cool the car for a period of time with the engine off

snagitseven

Auto shut off fan; if you press the the fan button for a a few seconds after you turn the car off, the fan will continue to run to keep the warm or cool air circulating for a few minutes before shutting off. (Press fan button until temp readout appears then after 5 seconds or so the fans will operate); uses residual air in the system to blow cool or warm air. (Note that the heater or a/c does not turn back on, just the fans circulating the air already in the car).

spoon2000

That statement is mostly true but it's a bit broad. In some jurisdictions, the law simply says that it's illegal to leave a vehicle running while unattended. In other places it's illegal to leave a vehicle without securing it properly. This latter regulation allows a driver to, for example, leave a vehicle running with the doors locked as an impediment to a thief driving it away. YMMV.

lnferno

Correct. I'm fully aware of this. My comments still stand.

John Simcox

I think Audi is totally paranoid over the unintended acceleration issue in the US from a few years back that they would be very unlikely to allow any car to be left with the engine running and no one in charge. They used to offer a remote start option for cars in very cold climates (eg Nordics) to allow pre-heating using the engine but that does not seem to be the case with the C7

DB22

I understand your POV, the software is very basic in fact it may be written in it! If your autonomous car had this crude software then there would be even more carnage than there is now.
The big advantage of ACC/AC however, is that it reduces the number of idiots slowing down at the sight of the sun, a hill, a freeway intersection etc..

Steve95628

Interesting. But if the car is running with no key present can it even be shifted out of park? Seems like an easy way to prevent any kind of unintended operation.

atlanta A6

Just tested something that works and may be a solution. Close the door, pop the key from the fob and lock the door from the outside manually. Keeps car running and locked. Not as easy as using the remote like in my other car but seems to work.

John Simcox

How far did you go from the vehicle. Despite a personal situation where it did not happen (my wife drove off and I had the key in my pocket!) my understanding is that the car should detect that the key is missing and turn off. If you have the smart key then I sure it is even more clever.

2008A6

Yes it is rather clever - once the car realizes it's being driven without the key, navigation automation takes over and forces the car to drive right back home to daddy where it left without the key. Works great if god-forbid you get carjacked..just keep the key and give up the car.