| Exciting Future Of Automobiles | | | | cameras that watch for danger. "We've put airbags |
| New technologies will improve fuel efficiency, increase | | | | just about every place you can." Says Toyota |
| safety, aid navigation and repair. | | | | Product-planning Manager, John Weiner, "Within the |
| Bend Bohn, of the German auto components | | | | next five years the car will use algorithms to anticipate |
| company, Robert Bosch Corporation, recently | | | | hazards and intervene or warn the driver. |
| predicted that internal combustion engines will continue | | | | 2) Keyless entry has already been implemented on |
| to dominate the automotive market well into the 21st | | | | certain Cadillac, Infinity and BMW models and will be |
| Century. Automotive manufacturers have invested | | | | introduced to approximately 40 different vehicles in the |
| considerable time and effort in attempt to improve fuel | | | | next three years. Credit card style systems will |
| efficiency in these engines, and they have been | | | | replace car keys. |
| successful. In fact the U.S.A. Environmental Protection | | | | 3) Navigation systems such as computer-like screens |
| Agency (EPA), estimates engines have become 30 | | | | on the dash, displaying navigation systems that employ |
| percent more fuel-efficient over the past 15 years than | | | | global positioning satellite and onboard DVD's to |
| previously. However the gains have been offset by | | | | provide the driver with distractions, maps, and |
| the introduction of increasingly bigger and more | | | | information on businesses such as hotels, hospitals and |
| powerful engines. The average engine in the present | | | | restaurants. The video screens will also have the |
| industry is 63 percent more powerful than 20 years | | | | capability to connect to PDA's and cellular phones. |
| ago. | | | | 4) Wi-Fi hook-ups in almost every vehicle will provide |
| John Heywood, Director of the Sloan Automotive | | | | weather, news, and other information. "We're going to |
| Laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, | | | | see hot spots in places like gas stations and |
| estimates new technology will reduce fuel consumption | | | | restaurants," says Peter Wengert, marketing manager |
| by a third by 2020 and a half by 2030. | | | | for automotive products at Microsoft. |
| Gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles and modern diesel | | | | 5) Data collection will give vehicles the capability to |
| engines are significantly more fuel efficient than their | | | | collect pertinent data that can be shared with dealers, |
| gasoline counterparts, but new technology in gasoline | | | | manufacturers, and other vehicles helping service |
| engines is also expected to reduce fuel consumption. | | | | personnel perform remote diagnostics and help |
| Next year, General Motors will begin introducing | | | | troubleshoot for a broken down motorist. |
| "displacement on demand" technology in their engines, | | | | 6) Onboard cameras will help detect blind spots, while |
| reducing fuel consumption by eight percent by using | | | | helping parents watch their kids. Many recreational |
| only half their cylinders during most normal driving. GM | | | | vehicles already have this technology at the rear and |
| predicts another 7 to 11 percent in fuel savings can be | | | | in front to "see" around corners. |
| achieved through use of continuously variable | | | | 7) 40 Volt Electrical Systems will become standard to |
| automatic transmissions. | | | | accommodate the many new electric devices. |
| More advanced variable valve controls, already in the | | | | 8) Voice commands are already in certain BMW's, |
| works at BMW, are expected to further increase fuel | | | | Jaguar and Lexus models and will become common |
| savings, while Bosch has recently developed it | | | | and necessary in order to operate the various |
| Direct-Start system. The system allows the engine to | | | | functions in cars. |
| shut off while idling, but it instantly restarts as soon as | | | | 9) Electronic pedals already in use in Mercedes, Chevy |
| the driver touches the gas pedal, igniting the | | | | Corvette and all recent Audi vehicles, brake-by-wire |
| combustion mixture in the fuel injections system | | | | and accelerate by wire pedals send an electronic |
| without engaging the starter motor. Bosch predicts fuel | | | | signal rather than activating a physical connection to |
| savings of 5 percent with the Direct-Start system. | | | | the engine and brakes. Emergency brake handles will |
| New and exciting automotive technology goes far | | | | also be replaced by electronic controls. |
| beyond fuel economy improvements. "'I've been | | | | 10) Programmable vehicles will let you use electronics |
| involved [with auto research] for more than 30 years, | | | | to express your choice of vehicle you wish to drive, |
| and there's more action and more promise for | | | | says Stanford professor of mechanical engineering |
| improvement now than I've ever seen," says | | | | Chris Gerdes. "You can have it be as sporty or |
| Heywood. | | | | luxurious, as you choose." Drivers of the new Audi A8, |
| New technology expected to hit the marketplace | | | | for example can change the car's ride by raising and |
| within the next decade: | | | | lowering road clearance. |
| 1) Active safety systems will include radar and | | | | |