The purpose of the car is to take us from point A to B, but we want the ride to be as convenient as possible. We desire both functionality and entertainment, and accept nothing less. Some groundbreaking technologies are just around the corner, while others might require a bit of patience. They will transform the way we drive, and our kids might laugh at us one day because we used to drive the loud gas rattletraps.
Smart move
Did you know that the self-healing car paint has been already invented, but it hasn’t found its way to the market yet? Yes, you will soon be able to watch the annoying surface scratches disappear magically in a matter of minutes. Also, if your car gets stolen, there is no need to freak out anymore. There is a technology for the remote vehicle shutdown, so no more spectacular police chases.
Smart technology isn’t the privilege of phones and gadgets, and touchpads are finding their way into cars. Audi has introduced the MMI feature which enables the drivers to input characters on a pad. Whether you want to choose the favorite song from the playlist or set the navigation options, all it takes is one finger. This comes on top of the knob and voice controls, so you can sit back and enjoy your time behind the wheel.
Is this a video game?
Today, you can put your iPhone on a dashboard and use it to display navigational information on your widescreen. This doesn’t work in all conditions, however, which is why we would like to see the augmented reality display on a car’s widescreen. Manufacturers like BMW developed a windshield that displays basic information, but let’s take it to the next level.
You could receive useful information on your widescreen head-on, and you wouldn’t have to take your eyes off the road. You could get a notification about the nearest gas station with cheap gas prices, or information about the distance to the surrounding external objects.
There is also the Vehicle-to-Vehicle technology that will soon become available. It will send the information about a car’s location, speed and direction via a wireless signal. It will warn you of potential danger and suggesting evasive measures, which will reduce the amount of accidents on the road
The old and the new
Electric and hybrid car fans can rejoice. There will be no need for those clunky batteries that take up a lot of space. Lithium-ion batteries are already making a difference, but the energy-storing body panels will reduce the car weight by 15 percent. They also charge faster than conventional batteries by capturing the energy from multiple sources including the sun. Convenient, isn’t it?
Now, who says that you need to be behind the wheel? In a several years, we are likely to see more cars that can drive anywhere without human oversight. You will be able to send your car to the drive-in to grab lunch, or pick up somebody while you are otherwise engaged.
Google engineers have already produced a self-driving car and tested it on the 200,000 miles of California and Nevada highway. Armed with lasers, sensors, and cameras this car can analyze the surroundings way faster than humans. The 95 percent of accidents are caused by human error, so imagine the impact on the safety on the roads.
Even if you are a retro and classic car lover, there is no need to overlook the cool gadgets. Some of the all-time best cars could always use high quality modern tires (here are some excellent information), and safety electronics. Blend the old with the new, and see miracles happen. Why shouldn’t you be able to control your smartphone with buttons on the wheel, or turn your car into a Wi-Fi hotspot?
Revolution on the wheels
We are all looking forward to new solutions that will surpass our expectations, and many of them are already entering the showrooms. Some are for the safety, others for the entertainment, and there are those made to be simply awesome. The revolution of human transportation is already happening. The technological upgrades will make the traffic smoother and bring about less jammed roads. There is no doubt we are and will be able to enjoy the four-wheeled transportation like never before.
