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 >> Continue to Page 2 INTRODUCTION The future car - say a 2025 model - will be a very different beast to its present day grandfather. It will be packed with computers and safety devices, ensuring that not even a stunt driver could crash. It will run on carbon dioxide. And it will emit strawberry-scented oxygen (or perhaps not). Predictions of future vehicles are usually wildly inaccurate. By now we should all have space programs to rival NASA based out of our backyard. However some of the automobile-related cutting-edge technology emerging now may well make it into production models of the future. But how much of this technology will be needed or even wanted? Car design of the present is already influenced by politicians, bureaucrats, health and safety regulations and emissions regulations, and the stunning concept seen at the motorshow emerges into the world as a 1.0 litre shopping cart — but at least its legal. Personally I like the idea of fuel-efficient hybrid cars and fuel cell cars emitting nothing but water. However, like most enthusiasts, I also like powerful, loud convertibles with warp-speed capabilities. A sensible mix therefore is required and this will be the job entrusted to car designers and engineers of the future — to make a politically correct car that is also desirable. Another problem facing designers of the future is coming up with styling ideas that are fresh and new. Some of the more recent concepts are certainly striking but not necessarily beautiful in the classic sense of the word. However if there is one thing the automobile industry is good at, it's innovation, and I for one am confident that radical and extreme concepts never before imagined will continue to appear at motorshows around the world. COMPUTERS IN CARS Computer technology has already taken a firm hold of the automobile and the driver is less and less responsible for the actions of his or her vehicle. Soon crash victims will be trying to sue the electronics companies for accidents caused because their computer system failed to brake the car — even though the driver was fast asleep at the wheel on a three-lane highway. Until you have automation of every single vehicle on every single road, computer-driven cars are just not feasible. To my mind there are just too many on-the-road variables: with all the logic in the world, you cannot beat a brain. Computer-assisted driving is already available in certain Mercedes models which brake for you if you're not looking where you're going and are too close to the car in front; but there is still a driver in control of the car. Or is there? What if, for some reason, you wanted to get closer to the car in front, you needed to get closer to the car, if you didn't get closer to the car something terrible would happen to civilization? Where do you draw the line with vehicle automation? ANTI-THEFT In advanced cities of the future, CCTV will be so prevalent that visible crimes such as car theft will be all but wiped out. Yet that still won't stop the determined thief. GPS (Global Positioning System) units fitted as standard to all new automobiles will be able to track any vehicle, anytime, anywhere. In England, the government is already talking about fitting GPS to charge motorists depending on what road they travel on and at what times, to cut spiraling congestion. This technology, coupled with an improved mobile phone and bluetooth network, can be used to track and recover stolen vehicles. When the vehicle is found to be stolen, a call can be made which shuts down the engine of the car. At the same time, a call is sent out that alerts available nearby police. By using the GPS installed in both the stolen car and the police car, officers can track the car even if they cannot see it. The police will also have much more insight into a vehicle's record when out on patrol. Using bluetooth technology, a police car can tail a vehicle and receive information on the owner, the current driver and their driving history, and can even find out recent top speed and acceleration figures. Of course, who really wants that? You think you've just had a fun little blast on your favorite bit of road, you get pulled over five miles later, and the officer gives you a speeding ticket for something he didn't see. But if this technology is mandatory then what choice do you have? ENTRY Access to future automobiles may be very different to the keys of today. Push-button code entry and keycard systems, where the key doesn't even leave your pocket, could become commonplace. You hear the term "keyless entry" but it still uses a remote control attached to a key which is then used to start the car. Biometrics, which are available on some computer systems and use fingerprinting as a password, could be an effective alternative to the key. You could even program it for members of your family, deciding between access only for the children or access and drive functions for those with licenses. However, I believe it will be some time before this is the only means of vehicle entry or start up. What if you are lending your car to a friend and you cannot be present to allow start up? MEDIA SYSTEMS Multimedia systems will continue to develop in cars until the point where the "are we there yet?" phrase develops into "can we stay here?". Manufacturers are continuing to stuff more and more video screens into increasingly ingenious places, providing a rolling cinematic Dolby 5.0 surround-sound experience. DVDs are going to go the way of the VCR with hard disk recording of video being the dominant power, much as MP3s are killing off CDs. This MP4 technology will save space in the car and allow for far more footage to be kept on board. Improvements in wireless Internet connections could mean that the larger roads can support Internet capable vehicles and constantly inform the driver with up to date relevant road information. A screen in the dash could display live images to show traffic reports and also predict traffic jams by using the GPS systems in all vehicles to show areas where vehicles have been stopped or are congested, and then supply alternate routes. The sound systems of cars will also improve and become more personalised for the various passengers, with headphone sockets and multiple sound outlets. There might be four different radio stations that can be played at once through the different jacks, and a variety of MP3s that can be played at once. Contine on to page 2 >> SAFETY - NEW COMPOSITES - INTERIOR - EXTERIOR - ENGINE   Furthur Information on: sports cars and supercars rare and classic sports cars more concept cars Read about the future of the automobile |