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