| The future car, lets say a 2025 model will be a | | | | head snapping back quite so far and reducing the |
| very different machine to its present day | | | | chance of spinal injury (whiplash.It has been found |
| Grandfather. They will be packed with computers | | | | that a vehicles bumper and frame height is a very |
| and safety devices ensuring that not even a stunt | | | | important factor when it comes to safety during |
| driver can crash, and they will run on carbon | | | | a collision, if a vehicle has bumper which is too |
| dioxide and emit strawberry scented oxygen. Well | | | | high it can override the bumper of the other |
| they might.Predictions of future vehicles are | | | | vehicle and plough directly into the passenger |
| usually wildly inaccurate, by now we should all | | | | compartment putting the occupants at severe |
| have space programs to rival NASA based out of | | | | risk. Accidents like this usually occur when a |
| our backyard. However some of the automobile | | | | average size car collides with a truck or SUV, this |
| related cutting edge technology emerging now | | | | mismatch can be avoided by having adjustable |
| may well make it into production models of the | | | | ride heights on the larger vehicles, when they are |
| future. But how much of this technology will be | | | | on a smooth road lowering the vehicle to a |
| needed or even wanted? Car design of the | | | | suitable height would reduce the dangers normally |
| present is already influenced by politicians, | | | | associated with these sorts of collision, as a by |
| bureaucrats, health and safety regulations and | | | | product this would also reduce the top heavy |
| emissions regulations and the stunning concept | | | | nature of trucks and SUVs and rollover accidents |
| seen at the motorshow emerges into the world | | | | could be avoided.Sensors will be increasingly |
| as a 1.0 litre shopping cart, but at least its | | | | responsible for predicting and safeguarding against |
| legal.Personally I like the idea of fuel efficient | | | | avoidable accidents. Sensors will monitor the road |
| hybrid cars, and fuel cell cars emitting nothing but | | | | surface scanning for black ice and hazardous |
| water. However, like most enthusiasts I also like | | | | conditions, this information will then be displayed to |
| powerful loud convertibles with with the ability to | | | | the driver and the vehicle may take appropriate |
| snap a vertabrae at 10 paces. A sensible mix | | | | steps to improve traction thus reducing the |
| therefore is required and this will be the job | | | | chance of an accident. The information gathered |
| entrusted to car designers and engineers of the | | | | may also be relayed to a central road monitoring |
| future, to make a politically correct car that is also | | | | network which can inform other motorists of |
| desirable.Another immenent problem facing | | | | changing weather conditions, in effect every |
| designers of the future is coming up with styling | | | | vehicle would become a roving weather |
| ideas that are fresh and new. Some of the more | | | | station.Sensors will also monitor the cars position |
| recent concepts are certainly striking but not | | | | on the road and if the vehicle is found to be |
| necessarily beautiful in the classic sense of the | | | | straying from the road or traffic lane an alarm |
| word. But if there is one thing the automobile | | | | would sound this feature is already found on the |
| industry is good at that is innovation, and I for | | | | Citroen C4 amongst others. Sensors could also |
| one am confident that radical and extreme | | | | monitor the drivers well-being, imaging sensors |
| concepts never before imagined will continue to | | | | would track eye movement and if the eyes close |
| appear at motorshows around the | | | | for more than a few seconds an alarm would |
| world.Computer technology has already taken a | | | | sound to alert the driver. Audi uses sensors on its |
| firm hold of the automobile and the modern driver | | | | new A6 which monitor for wet conditions, if |
| is less and less responsible for the actions of their | | | | found the BOSCH brakes are applied |
| vehicle, soon crash victims will try to sue the | | | | intermittently to wipe off the water and ensure |
| electronics companies for accidents they caused | | | | good contact when they are needed, the |
| because their computer system failed to brake | | | | pressure applied in this process is so slight the |
| the car even though they were fast asleep at the | | | | driver does not notice. Improved night vision and |
| wheel on a three lane highway. Until you have | | | | spatial awareness would help cut down on night |
| automation of every single vehicle on every single | | | | time crashes which account for half the road |
| road computer driven cars are just not feasible, in | | | | related fatalities each year even though only a |
| my mind there are just far too many on-the-road | | | | quarter of all driving occurs at night. Cadillac |
| variables, with all the logic in the world you cannot | | | | already includes infrared night vision as an option |
| beat a brain. Now computer assisted driving is | | | | on some of its more desirable models, infrared |
| already available in certain Mercedes models which | | | | vision does not see light it sees heat and the |
| brake for you if your not looking where your | | | | warmer an object is the more it stand out on the |
| going and your too close to the car in front, but | | | | screen. The screen is a heads up display |
| there is still a driver in control of the car, or is | | | | projected onto the windscreen infront of the |
| there. What if for some reason you wanted to | | | | drivers line of sight allowing the driver to see the |
| get closer to the car in front, you needed to get | | | | real world and also the digital projection. Honda |
| closer to the car, if you didn't get closer to the | | | | has a similar system with the added ability to |
| car something terrible would happen to civilization. | | | | identify objects and pick out pedestrians and |
| Where do you draw the line with vehicle | | | | digitally highlight those which are likely to step into |
| automation?In advanced cities of the future | | | | the vehicles path and then emit an audible |
| CCTV will be so prevalent that visible crimes such | | | | warning.New materials are constantly brought into |
| as car theft are all but wiped out, but that still | | | | the automotive field, in 2005 Chrysler Daimler |
| won't stop the determined thief. GPS (Global | | | | began using biological composite materials made |
| Positioning System) units fitted as standard to all | | | | from coconut, sisal, jute and other plants. This |
| new automobiles will be able to track any vehicle | | | | biological material is used mostly on the interior of |
| at anytime anywhere, this technology is already | | | | the car and finds its way into seat cushions, seat |
| common but more widespread use is inevitable. In | | | | backs, underfloor body panels and interior door |
| the UK the government is already talking about | | | | panels. One of the benefits of using these |
| fitting GPS to charge motorists depending on | | | | biological compounds is that they can be recycled |
| what road they travel on and at what times to | | | | and reused and the manufacturing process |
| cut spiraling congestion. This technology coupled | | | | involved is far more environmentally friendly than |
| with an improved mobile phone and bluetooth | | | | that of conventional synthetic compounds. |
| network can be used to track and recover stolen | | | | Ceramics first used in braking by Porsche are |
| vehicles. When the vehicle is found to be stolen a | | | | becoming increasingly popular, although still very |
| call can be made which shuts down the engine of | | | | expensive limiting them to exclusive vehicles. The |
| the car. At the same time a call is sent out which | | | | benefits of using ceramics is their high tolerance |
| alerts available nearby police, by using the GPS | | | | to intense heat making them suitable for high |
| installed in both the stolen car and the police car | | | | performance vehicles, and where the heavy use |
| officers can track the car even if they cannot | | | | of the brakes is needed regularly. Their ability to |
| see it. The police will also have much more insight | | | | perform under these extremes help reduce the |
| into a vehicles record when out on patrol, using | | | | brake fade associated with exessive use and high |
| bluetooth technology a police car can tail a vehicle | | | | temperatures. Materials first such as carbon fibre |
| and receive information on the owner, the current | | | | and carbon kevlar first used on race cars and |
| driver and their driving history, and even find out | | | | famed for their high strength and lightweight |
| recent top speed and acceleration figures. Of | | | | properties have now filtered down to the |
| course who wants that, you think you've just had | | | | production car level, mainly in high-end vehicles but |
| a fun little blast on your favorite bit of road you | | | | in due time these composites will begin to appear |
| get pulled over five miles later and the officer | | | | in the average car, cutting weight and increasing |
| gives you a speeding ticket for something he | | | | fuel economy whilst maintaining structural rigidity.In |
| didn't see. But if this technology is mandatory | | | | the future car designers will have to explore new |
| then what choice do you have.Access to future | | | | themes and find alternative influences for their |
| automobiles may be very different to the keys | | | | designs. In an effort to catch peoples eye the |
| of today, push button code entry and keycard | | | | designs will have to be increasingly bold and brash |
| systems where the key doesn't even leave you | | | | often sacrificing the aesthetic balance of the |
| pocket, already available, will become common | | | | design in attempt to be different in an increasingly |
| place. You hear the term keyless entry but it still | | | | 'done before' market. This is not to say all designs |
| uses a remote control attached to a key which is | | | | are going to be hideous, just some. Another |
| then used to start the car. Biometrics which are | | | | influence to exterior design will be made by law as |
| available on some computer systems and use | | | | stricter pedestrian protection laws are enforced |
| fingerprinting as a password could be an effective | | | | requiring the front ends of cars to be 'softer', this |
| alternative to the key, you could even program it | | | | thinking has already been introduced on some |
| for members of your family deciding between | | | | models, overall though it is difficult to project how |
| access only for the children or access and drive | | | | this will ultimately affect the face of car design. |
| functions for those with licenses. However I belive | | | | With the increased use of alternative fuel sources |
| it will be some time before this is the only means | | | | such as the hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen |
| of vehicle entry or start up, what if you are | | | | combustion engine, vehicle bodies may begin |
| lending your car to a friend and you cannot be | | | | reflect the green nature of their power. However |
| present to allow start up.Multimedia systems will | | | | I belive this to be a mistake. The Honda Insight |
| continue to develop in cars until the point where | | | | Hybrid might have been more of a success had it |
| the "are we there yet" phrase develops into "can | | | | not been utterly repulsive, people were already |
| we stay here". Manufacturers are continuing to | | | | wary of its power source and to then make |
| cram more and more video screens into | | | | them vomit in disgust at its styling is just not |
| increasingly ingenious places providing a rolling | | | | intelligent. Why do all the eco-friendly cars look like |
| cinematic Dolby 7.0 surround sound experience. | | | | a 60's psychedelic nightmare, why can't they just |
| DVDs are going to go the way of the VCR with | | | | look like a decent concept car with an alternative |
| hard disk recording of video being the dominant | | | | engine. Things seem to be improving however and |
| power much as MP3s are killing off CDs. This MP4 | | | | BMW's H2R is an undeniably stunning vehicle if |
| technology will save space in the car and allow for | | | | somewhat impractical. And hybrid technology is |
| far more footage to be kept on board. | | | | finding its way into mainstream prodution vehicles |
| Improvements in wireless Internet connections | | | | as an optional power source.The interior of |
| could mean that the larger roads can support | | | | vehicles will also change, becoming more user |
| Internet capable vehicles and constantly inform | | | | friendly and personalised. Ergonomically positioned |
| the driver with up to date relevant road | | | | controls and lumbar support seats with adjustable |
| information. A screen in the dash can display live | | | | everything will come as standard to increase |
| images to show traffic reports and also predict | | | | driver and passenger comfort and reduce chronic |
| traffic jams by using the GPS systems in all | | | | pain and discomfort. Customisable and |
| vehicles to show areas where vehicles have been | | | | personalised interior space will also become |
| stopped or are congested, and then supply | | | | desirable features on the future automobile. Just |
| alternate routes. The sound systems of cars will | | | | as you swap mobile phone covers an entire dash |
| also improve and become more personalised for | | | | could be swapped to match your mood, if your a |
| the various passengers, with headphone sockets | | | | little bigger than average why not fit an XXL seat |
| and multiple sound outlets, there might be four | | | | in two easy steps, the possibilities will be endless |
| different radio stations that can be played at once | | | | in order to cater for an increasingly demanding |
| through the different jacks, and a variety of | | | | consumer.Alternative power sources for vehicles |
| MP3s that can be played at once.Passenger | | | | are becoming ever more popular. Government |
| safety is already a priority for modern day car | | | | incentives will eventually force all but the super |
| manufacturers and this will only increase in | | | | rich into environmentally friendly cars, no problem, |
| importance into the future. The widespread use | | | | by then fuel cell cars will be just as rapid as their |
| of airbags will increase, the side impact protection | | | | fossil fuel counterparts but with none of the mess |
| airbags featured in some models have proved to | | | | or stench. However it may take some convincing |
| be extremely effective in saving lives, more | | | | to get a 'petrol head' to put down his piston and |
| research and better positioning will continue to | | | | pick up a proton exchange membrane cathode, its |
| improve their performance and reliability. Airbags | | | | just not the same is it. Eventually common |
| at the moment can only be deployed once so in a | | | | conventional fuel cars will become classics and |
| multiple collision crash their effectiveness is voided | | | | extremely sought after by collectors, but not for |
| after the first impact, future airbag systems | | | | a long long time.The author, Jeff Darling studied |
| however may take this into consideration and | | | | transport design at Coventry University and |
| incorporate multiple single use airbags in one | | | | currently works as a design consultant for small |
| position or reusable airbags which can be inflated | | | | engineering companies. |
| several times. Some manufacturers use a | | | | Jeff also writes for a site covering the latest in |
| dynamic headrest in some high-spec models, | | | | concept vehicles. |
| these move forward during a collision to stop the | | | | |