向「霹靂遊俠」致敬
If you could travel back in time and tell people living in the late 19th century that vehicles would one day be able to talk, you’d probably be ridiculed for being a daydreamer, if not a lunatic.
如果你回到過去，並且跟19世紀的人說車子會講話，他們大概會嘲笑你是瘋子，或是覺得你成天只會幻想。
ridicule(v.)嘲笑、戲弄=laugh at=mockridicule(n.)嘲笑、奚落an object of ridicule笑柄、嘲笑的對象ridiculous(adj.)荒唐的、可笑的=absurdlunatic(n.)(adj.)瘋子、瘋癲的
However, thanks to Tesla CEO Elon Musk and new safety regulations, such a vehicle is no longer a fantasy.
然而，因為特斯拉執行長馬斯克的決策以及新的安全法規，會說話的汽車已經不再只是想像而已。
thanks to由於=owing to=as a result of
In a Tweet on January 11, Musk said Teslas will soon be able to talk.
在1月11日的一則推特貼文，馬斯克說特斯拉汽車很快就可以說話了。
He attached a video clip in which a moving Tesla Model 3 has its window rolled down and is saying, “Well, don’t just stand there staring. Hop in.”
他也在貼文中附上影片，一輛特斯拉Model 3搖下車窗，並說道：「別光是站在那，上車吧。」
attach... to...使 ...附著於…attach(v.)作為附件stare(v.)注視、盯著看 at sb.
One might wonder whether the car can only play a prerecorded message, or if it can actually interact with people more intelligently.
有人可能會猜想，車子是播放預先錄好的音檔，還是真的可以有智慧地和人類互動呢？
interact(v.)交流、（化學）相互作用interactive(adj.)互動式的interaction(n.)互動、交流
Either way, it will surely draw everyone’s attention everywhere it goes.
無論是哪種方式，這輛車絕對到哪都會吸引眾人目光。
catch sb’s interest引起誰的興趣catch sb’s eye吸引誰的目光
While the unnamed feature might be taken as a tribute to the 1980s TV series Knight Rider, it is designed to meet new US and EU safety regulations.
這個還沒正式命名的功能被認為是向1980電視節目「霹靂遊俠」致敬，但同時也是為了符合美國和歐洲最新安全規章而設計。
pay tribute to讚揚、稱頌=to honor and praisetribute(n.)表達敬意的事物floral tribute葬禮用花束regulate(v.)控管、調節traffic regulations交通法規
Starting this year, electric vehicles traveling under 18.6 mph are required to make artificial noises to alert nearby pedestrians to their presence.
從今年開始，所有時速18.6英里以下的電動車輛要會發出警示音，讓附近的行人可以注意到，
it is required by law to V法律規定requirement(n.)規定、要求minimum requirement最低限制dietary requirement飲食需求alert(adj.)警覺的、敏捷的
The alert tone can act as a gentle reminder when a car is backing out of a space in a parking lot.
像是從停車位倒車的時候，警示音就能提醒周遭的人要小心。
It could prevent up to 2,400 injuries a year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
根據美國國家公路交通安全管理局的說法，警示音的功能一年可以避免2千4百起事故發生。
casualty(n.)傷亡
Better yet, the feature could serve a profitable purpose.
更厲害的是，車輛會說話的功能還能發展商業用途。
a highly profitable business, investmentprofit from sth.從…獲利lucrative(adj.)有利潤的
Musk has long envisioned a driverless Tesla roaming the streets as a taxi, earning money for its owner.
馬斯克時常想像無人駕駛的特斯拉能當作計程車在街上四處遊走載客，自動替車主賺錢。
envision(v.)預想、展望=picture=envisagevisionary(adj.)有遠見的=insightful
Phrases like “Well, don’t just stand there staring. Hop in” would signal to prospective passengers that the car is available for hire.
「別光是站在那，上車吧。」這句話就能夠讓客人知道有台空車在等著他搭乘。
prospect(n.)（好事的）可能性、前景career prospects事業前景prospective(adj.)潛在的、可能的=potential