There can be little doubt that technology in cars has evolved quite dramatically over the last decade or two and you only have to think back to cars of your childhood and compare them to now to see the difference. It is actually quite exciting to then try to predict where all of this is going, but perhaps we can get some kind of idea by looking at what we have changed in recent times.
The Executive Brands Are Paving The Way.
When it comes to technology, then it is usually the case that brands such as BMW and Mercedes Benz lead the way in its development. It can often be argued that technological advances tend to emerge in the world of motor racing as safety features, although not always, before being developed further by these brands in order to turn it into something that is useful for a road car. Why do they tend to do it? Simply because they have the required budget to take an idea and develop it to a standard where it will make a difference to the driver as this can often cost millions of dollars and not every company has that money to spend.
What this means is that you can often look towards just a few companies to predict what will often become standard in lower priced cars in the next few years.
The Rise Of Computers Running Your Vehicle.
Back in the 1970’s and 1980’s you could walk along a street in the cold winter weather and all that you would hear were car engines failing to start. People would have to keep trying and would mess around with the engine just to get things fixed. Now look at the present day. Cars are far more reliable and repairing them yourself is so much harder than before, and why? Simply because of the use of on board computers that end up controlling so much of the vehicle that it is now a case of plugging the engine into a computer and so many issues are then diagnosed in an instant making it easier to then repair it.
Adaptation Of New Technology Has Become More Prominent.
If you think back to even just the 1980’s, you used to think that having electric windows was the height of technology and how things have changed. People then thought that advances such as air bags were a wonderful invention as they saved so many lives, but looking back at those models now makes you feel as if the technology was just completely inadequate compared to what is available now. If you thought a car being an automatic was impressive, then how do you feel about the prospect of driverless cars that will do absolutely everything for you?
How Times Have Changed
If we look at some of the new executive cars that are on the market, we can see that there are some gadgets and additions that will blow your mind. Think about sat nav for example. It has taken the humble map and pulled it into the modern world and now it is almost impossible to get lost.
With safety, there are executive Mercedes models that will slow the car down for you to a safe distance and even bring the car to a complete halt. This can reduce the chances of you having a crash and make driving safer. When you then add in the motoring equivalent of night vision allowing you to see several times further at night and anti stray devices that stop you from moving over into another lane when you do not mean to do so. This technology is just unreal and you can expect a number of these devices to appear on lower end models in the near future.
Driving aids are a big thing and several years ago Lexus produced a system where the car can reverse parallel park for you and without you doing anything yourself. All you do is set the computer and let it do its job. This technology is now available via Ford and us a perfect example of how things filter down through manufacturers.
Where Is It Going?
Technology has pushed the boundaries in the last decade or so and it is interesting to see where all of this is going. As was said earlier, there are driverless cars being trialled and the technology is certainly there that will allow this to be done safely. Perhaps the main area where technology will continue to evolve will be in the mechanical side as there are only certain aids and safety devices that can be installed in your average car. However, making cars more efficient, better for the environment, more reliable, and improving the driving experience will keep people coming back to upgrade their vehicle on a regular basis.
