Cars.com Offers Car Innovations of the Future
August 02 2006 - 11:36AM
PR Newswire (US)
CHICAGO, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Cars.com has looked into its
automotive crystal ball and examined industry trends and news
reports to come up with 15 innovations we predict will be available
in cars sometime in the next 10 years. "You can find some of these
innovations on the market today, and the technology exists to
incorporate many of these innovations in the near future," said
Patrick Olsen, Cars.com's managing editor. "Cost and consumer
demand will help determine whether these innovations become
standard, become options for select luxury vehicles -- or never
make it out of development." Cool Stuff That's Been Talked About in
the Automotive Community Advanced Flexible Fuel Systems In addition
to widely available hydrogen-powered cars and clean diesel cars,
Cars.com envisions a car that could run on all types of fuel
interchangeably. You could have one car that could run on gas,
diesel, hydrogen, E85 and electric power. Your mileage would
increase and you could use whatever fuel was cheapest -- or
available. Research into hydrogen fuel cells has been in the works
for years, and there are already cars that can run on E85 and gas,
as well as hybrids that can run on gas and battery power. Now we
just need to figure out how to combine all the technologies into
one car. Active Tires Airless tires would be great, but wouldn't it
be even cooler to have tires made from some sort of synthetic
compound that could change to handle different road conditions with
the push of a button? One set of tires could take you from summer
to winter or, better yet, handle an unexpected rainstorm. True
Autopilot In some ways, we're still far from the cars most of us
thought we'd be driving by now. True autopilot -- where the
navigation system guides the car to its destination while the
driver sits back and relaxes -- is a huge, futuristic step in the
right direction. Whether through an extension of GPS or with the
aid of magnets in the road, research into this technology is
already under way. Down the Road (Coming in 3-5 years) Lane Changer
Warning Time frame: Three years Cars would monitor traffic in
adjacent lanes to let the driver know when it's safe to change
lanes. The 2007 Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 already offer similar
technology on a limited basis. Camless Engines Time frame: Three
years Like the human body, engines demand airflow based on
workload. A complex array of tubes, valves and camshafts
facilitates this process, but it has nowhere near the flexibility
of our lungs. Camless technology bridges the gap, better
controlling the amount of air that's drawn into the engine. The
result: More power, less pollution and better mileage. The 2008
Mercedes-Benz C-Class will likely be one of the first cars to have
this gas-saving technology. Self-Repairing, Self-Cleaning Paint
Time frame: Three years Imagine paint that can better resist and
repair minor scratches and withstand marks from things like greasy
fingers and tree sap. Nissan has already developed a topcoat made
from an elastic resin that prevents some scratches -- unfortunately
it only lasts three years. Navigation Systems With Real-Time
Traffic Information Time frame: Three years All cars with
navigation systems would be able to integrate real-time traffic
data in order to alert drivers to road construction issues or
traffic snarls while providing alternate routes. Similar systems
are already available on handheld devices and in some luxury cars,
like the Acura RL and Cadillac CTS. Self-Parking Cars Time frame:
Four years Self-parking cars would utilize a system that parks a
car with either minimal or no help from the driver. Toyota
introduced a system in Japan in which the driver keeps his foot on
the brake while the car parallel parks itself. BMW recently created
a version the driver can operate from outside the car for squeezing
into those tight garage spots. Electric Window Tinting Time frame:
Five years Electric window tinting could take windows or a moonroof
from clear to tinted to even opaque with the push of a button.
Maybach already offers a panoramic glass roof that can be switched
from opaque to transparent, but not many of us can afford a
Maybach. Around the Corner (Here now, or within 2 years) Keyless
Entry and Ignition Time frame: One year A number of cars already
offer keyless entry and ignition, but their use isn't widespread.
Combine that with biotechnology access (like the fingerprint
scanners at grocery stores and on some laptop computers) and the
key chain is on the road to obsolescence. Adaptive Brake Lights
Time frame: Two years Adaptive brake lights get brighter or larger
depending on how hard the brake pedal is depressed, telling the
driver behind you how quickly you are stopping. Mercedes-Benz has
already experimented with adaptive braking on a limited number of
U.S. models, but safety regulations prohibit wide implementation.
Computer Center Time frame: Two years Computers used for the
operation of your car have been around for some time, but this is a
master in-dash computer that can manage navigation, phones, email,
CDs, a PDA and every other new techno-gadget we come up with. Some
Chrysler models are slated to have a system called MyGig with
Bluetooth capability and a built-in hard drive that can rip CDs
like your home computer. Collision Mitigation Systems Time frame:
Two years Already available on the Acura RL, collision mitigation
systems prepare the car for an accident when one is deemed
unavoidable. Brakes are applied and seat belts are tightened to
prevent injury. Automotive Black Box Time frame: Two years
Airplanes have the ability to record trip details, so why not cars?
An automotive black box could be invaluable in an accident, keep
tabs on a new driver, help frequent speeders monitor their
miles-per-hour -- or it could be a big invasion of privacy. Reports
indicate that two-thirds of models built by General Motors and Ford
already have data recorders, but accessing the information isn't
easy. Economy Mode Time frame: Two years If drivers can't change
their driving behavior to increase gas mileage, cars may do it for
them. In economy mode, a car turns off non-essential systems, turns
down the A/C and even engages cruise control to conserve fuel. The
2007 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid features an economy mode that
limits A/C use, and several models (such as the Honda Odyssey) can
deactivate cylinders depending on driver demand. About Cars.com
Partnered with more than 200 leading metro newspapers, television
stations and their websites, Cars.com is the most comprehensive
destination for those looking to buy or sell a new or used car. The
site lists more than 1.8 million vehicles from 12,000 dealer
customers, classified advertisers and private parties to offer
consumers the best selection of new and used cars online, as well
as the content, tools and advice to support their shopping
experience. Recently selected by Forbes.com as a Best of the Web
site for car shopping, Cars.com combines powerful inventory search
tools and new-car configuration with pricing information, photo
galleries, buying guides, side- by-side comparison tools, original
editorial content and reviews to help millions of car shoppers
connect with sellers each month. Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is
a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, (
http://classifiedventures.com/ ), which is owned by leading media
companies, including Belo (NYSE:BLC), Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI),
The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI), Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB) and
The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO). DATASOURCE: Cars.com
CONTACT: Steve Nolan, Public Relations Manager of Cars.com,
+1-312-601-5163 (direct), +1-630-310-2468 (mobile), Web site:
http://www.cars.com/
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