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!