When it comes to new cars, the latest features and car technology are always evolving. Self-driving cars, energy storing body panels and augmented reality dashboards all sound like they are from the future, but the time is here. New car tech is being tested and debuted every month, with 2014 being no different. With that in mind, we present to you the hottest car tech of 2014.
1. Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication
Consider the following scenario: you’re approaching an intersection where another car is about to run a red light. You might not see them at first, but your car receives a signal from the other car informing it that it is directly in the other car’s path, warning of the potential collision or even hitting the brakes automatically. V2V works by using wireless signals to send information back and forth between cars about their location, speed and direction. The information is then communicated to the cars around it in order to provide information on how to keep the vehicles at safe distances from each other.
2. Self-Driving Cars
As we have clearly seen in an earlier post, autonomous cars are not a new idea and are definitely here to stay as we move into the future. Using lasers, radars and cameras, self-driving cars can analyze and process information about their surroundings faster than a human can. Self-driving cars could make transportation safer for all of us by eliminating the cause of 95 percent of today’s accidents: human error. Many proponents claim self-driving cars could revolutionize the way we commute.
3. Augmented Reality Dashboards
Augmented reality may not be here yet, but it is certainly on the way. Future cars will be able to identify external objects in front of you and display information about them on the windshield. An augmented reality GPS system could highlight the actual lane you need to be in and show you where you need to turn down the road without you ever having to take your eyes off the road.
4. Airbags That Stop Cars
Mercedes is experimenting with airbags that deploy from underneath the car that will help stop a vehicle before a crash. The airbags are part of the overall active safety system and deploy when sensors determine that an impact is about to happen. The bags have a friction coating that helps slow the car down and can double the stopping power of your Mercedes-Benz ML350.
5. Energy-Storing Car Panels
In Europe, a group of nine auto manufacturers are currently researching and testing body panels that can store energy and charge faster than conventional batteries of today. The body panels being tested are made of polymer fiber and carbon resin that are strong enough to be used in vehicles such as the BMW X5 yet pliable enough to be molded into panels.
6. Mobile Wi-Fi
Automakers are planning to include Wi-Fi hotspot functionality, enabling Internet access for multiple devices from the road. If you need to work online on the go, this is a great way to get stuff done in your Audi without having to stop at a coffee shop. As long as you’ve got service, you can bring out your laptop or tablet and start working away anywhere on the road, making this tech great for road trips.
7. Camera-Based Rear-View Mirror
The 2014 Nissan Rogue debuts the Smart Rear-View Mirror. It’s a camera mounted high up on the rear window of the SUV to provide better rearward visibility, eschewing obstacles like tall passengers and cargo. The footage gets displayed on an LCD monitor in place of the regular mirror. Don’t like the view? Flip a switch on the back side and it reverts to the regular old glass mirror.
8. Wearable Tech
BMW premiered a Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch with an app that ran its “i Remote” app for use with the 2014 BMW i3 electric vehicle. The i Remote app will display information on the battery’s charge status and remaining range. The application can also inform the user whether the doors and windows are closed and allow them to adjust the climate control. Voice commands are also supported for navigation.
There you have it; the latest in car tech, helping you become a better and safer driver. Think we missed any new car technology? Let us know in the comments below.
