Top Technological Improvements in New Cars and Trucks
Technology has earned an important role in the evolution of automotive
safety features more than any single sector of our fast paced modern
world. It is an important consideration which is embedded into literally
every design change we make, no matter how simple and mundane that
particular feature may be.
So it is not surprising to see how much
technology is doing to improve everything about the vehicles we drive or
ride in every day. You can't go far without hearing of some creative
new option that one of the automotive companies has developed for
inclusion into the newest model vehicles. This list is just the tip of a
growing iceberg which is made up of technology based improvements that
we are seeing in newer cars.
1) All Wheel Drive
This technology is not new but it has certainly been improved! Once upon
a time there were only a handful of cars that offered this and Subaru
was one of the big players to utilize this technology. It is similar to
four wheel drive but a lot easier to operate and much more reliable over
the long run. I am a huge fan of AWD and would have either this or true
Four Wheel Drive on my cars and trucks. Look for this option on your
next new car!
2) Gas Electric Hybrid Technology
This is a fairly new field on the automotive front, but thanks to
technological advancements being made every day, we are seeing more and
better Hybrid vehicles hit the streets. I was literally shocked to see a
Hybrid Chevy Tahoe at the Auto Show! The advances being made in this
area of automotive technology is nothing short of miraculous! Watch as
more models are introduced that have some form of a Hybrid power system.
3) Touch Screen Display Technology
This was one of the more popular items on display at the 2010 car show
in Cleveland Ohio. In one model the display handled all of the on-board
systems like the navigation and the stereo with multi CD changer
technology. This component is going to be used in more models as the
price drops and technology vendors begin to incorporate this into their
equipment.
4) All crash avoidance equipment including backup cameras
The proper implementation of these crash avoidance systems suggests
the promise of many lives saved by automated accident prevention! This
is a huge topic which is fast becoming the most talked about feature to
come along in a very long time. My only fear is that some drivers will
become too complacent with the assumption that the car will just do it
for me so I do not have to pay as much attention as I used to. This
would be a huge mistake and this critical point should be stressed with
every driver of any car that has this technology.
5) Advanced Engine Controls to Save Fuel
Some Automotive manufacturers are working on improving the electronic
engine controls which manage everything that is going on under the hood
from ignition timing to fuel air ratio and exhaust gas recirculation
flows. The newest trend here is in the area of variable valve timing and
this combined with selective cylinder control called "Cylinder
Deactivation" where the computer basically disables certain cylinders to
improve fuel economy when the extra power is not needed. The variable
valve timing system combined with active cylinder control can improve
fuel economy by 5% to 25% depending on the engine size and other
operating conditions. Watch for these enhancements in your next newer
car purchase!
6) Tires have evolved into a high tech energy transfer device
Once upon a time you bought tires based on how they fit on your car
and how great they looked on your custom rims. But now we look at the
price tag of a 40 or 50,000 mile tire and we wonder what the heck
happened here? Not too many years ago we used to pay around $25 a tire
for 14 inch rubber, and $3 each to mount and balance them, now the same
tire would easily cost over $60 plus $7 for mounting and $3 for
balancing. Plus tax! Now it is true that the newer tires are engineered
with high tech additives to create a more robust tire with better speed
and load ratings plus they offer less rolling resistance thereby
increasing fuel mileage. Include in the list of advancements the "Run
Flat" versions and it is easy to see that this one item has evolved
tremendously.
7) Last but not least is the advancements made in on board entertainment systems.
I do not have one but it seems to me that the video systems that are
popping up in cars and vans all over the place have made my driving on
the highways and byways just a little bit easier by allowing mom and dad
the peace and quiet that it takes to safely operate a motor vehicle
with kids on board! The accident data that is collected off highway
accident reports every day clearly shows a correlation between drivers
being distracted and accidents. Distractions are usually self induced
but other times they are 3 feet tall wearing ice cream stained shirts
inside out and a cute smile. The video systems seem to have made the car
ride thing into a fun little time out. This is good for everyone since
the distraction levels are much lower when a Disney film is playing in
that minivan right in front of you.
I believe that without the
ever growing investment which we are making into technological
improvements in the vehicles we love, our cars and trucks would be
struggling to meet safety guidelines that we began taking for granted
shortly after the seat belt was made mandatory in our cars and trucks!