Vehicle manufacturers are embracing new technology, but things have moved so fast in the past few years, some buyers have no idea what is available.
"Car shoppers are spending more time considering and evaluating the consumer electronics and technology they want in their cars and ultimately are spending more money on the technologies they really want," said Michelle Krebs of AutoTrader. "But it's like Rip Van Winkle waking up. So much new tech has been developed since a lot of buyers have shopped for a new vehicle.
"Consumers want protection, and tech helps prevent accidents and make life more convenient."
Not all tech advances are safety-related. Navigation systems have a safety benefit, but they're also a convenience feature that delight owners — as are charging ports, Bluetooth capability, remote start and keyless entry.
Robert O'Koniewski, executive vice president of the Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association, said carmakers are casting "a wide net" in exploring new tech.
"Manufacturers are all trying to come up with next big thing,' said O'Koniewski. "They're looking to find an edge to offer something useful to attract customers. For example, in the truck market, Dodge has been developing self-contained Wi-Fi for the Ram because contractors are looking for that capability. Ford and Chevy are doing the same thing."
Ron Montoya, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com, listed five relatively new car technologies that buyers might want to look into:
BMW i3 carbon fiber-reinforced plastic chassis
"BMW's i3 electric vehicle has a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic body shell and chassis that is extremely strong and lightweight," Montoya said. "There's a chance we could see more cars made of these materials if the costs come down. The fuel economy and performance benefits would be huge."
Tesla's autopilot system
"We haven't had a chance to test this, but if it works as advertised, it would be the earliest implementations of automated driving in a vehicle," said Montoya. "Tesla says the system is smart enough to read stop lights and drive in stop-and-go traffic."
Rear back-up cameras
"These aren't new," said Montoya, "but the fact that they are appearing on more cars is. In fact, they will become standard on all vehicles by 2018. These cameras are becoming a 'must have' feature as rear visibility on some newer cars can be an issue."
Front crash prevention
"This technology includes forward collision warning and autonomous braking systems. These systems will alert the inattentive driver that he is getting too close to the car in front of him and in some cases will hit the brakes for them. It's like having an extra set of eyes on the road," said Montoya.
Heads-up display
Heads-up displays give basic information (navigation directions, speed) and are widely available. "They have tremendous potential to change the way we get information in a car," Montoya said. "They were once found only on luxury cars, but now you can get it on the inexpensive Mazda 3."
The bottom line on vehicle tech remains safety enhancements, the most potentially revolutionary of which is the "smart car/smart highway" concept of self-driving and self-monitoring vehicles that reduce or eliminate human error.
"This technology is potentially game-changing with respect to traffic safety," said John Paul, senior manager of traffic safety for AAA. "This is all part of the ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems); the stepping stone to self-driving cars."
Check out the e-Edition of our Presidents Day Automotive Special Section.
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