20 High-Tech Features You'll Want In Your Car
Let's face it; our society is being over run with technology! Not surprisingly, the automotive industry is following suite. You can ride in your car without sacrificing the comforts of your home. What do we mean? I have compiled a list of the technology must haves for your new vehicle.
1. Lane-Departure Warning/Correction
A substantial ammount of one car accidents and a vast majority of head-on collisions result from a driver veering out of his or her lane; either off the road or into oncoming traffic. Many manufacturers have began including lane-departure warning or correction on their cars; a vast improvement to drunk bumps or the horn of an oncoming automobile.
2. Parking Sensors
No more blindspots to dampen your parking spirits. There are a few types of systems used to warn drivers of approaching obstacles; some systems utilize an alarm and others a pulsing system or flashilng lights. Either way this is a must have item for a shorter driver suffering from chronic blind spot syndrome! No more dings for you, ma'am!
3. Back Up Camera
Similar to and often utlilized with the parking sensors; the back up camera takes the worry out of backing into a spot or out of one. While the fish eye view shouldn't be your only line of sight it is hard to deny the benefit it adds to any vehicle. Some of these even include a parking trajectory; which those like myself are quite thankful for!
4. Wi-fi for Your Car
So maybe it isn't as important as an anti-lock brake system or side air bags, but you have got to admit this is an awesome addition! Your kids certainly will while streaming their shows from the iPad. Also convenient for people who operate their work primarily from their vehicle; construction, law enforcement, etc. a true mobile office.
5. On-Star
If you aren't using it; you should be. Turn-by-turn navigation, hands free calling, vehicle diagnostic, and arguably the most important emergency road side assistance. On-star boasts many features and has really cornered the market for this innovative technology. In fact, the value is so great that some cars are coming with a free five year subscription!
6. Remote Start from Your Smart Phone
Keyless entry and remote start; though still highly prevelant, have been around for a while. As the technology industry continues to go "cellular" so does the automotive. You can now not only lock and unlock your car with a push of a button, but you can do so on your phone. You can also open your trunk, opperate your panic button and even start your engines! Yes, Please!
7. Heated....
Heated Wipers, Heated Seats, Heated Steering... the list goes on and on. A luxury to most, but still an undeniably cool feature for your new car. The warm comfort; adds a certain calming feeling to rush hour traffic!
8. In Dash Navigation
While the turn-by-turn featurs of OnStar are great... nothing quite beats the seemless inclusion of in dash navigation. You don't need to fidgit with "suction circles" made for your shower or worry about constantly adjusting the angle to avoid the attrocious glare of the sun. Your beautiful, colorful maps are right there for your viewing pleasures, or when you need to challenge your spouse's keen sense of direction!
9. Stop/Start Technology
A leading trend in regards to fuel economy is the stop/start feature; this will automatically turn off a car's engine when at a complete stop (redlight, stop sign, etc.) and allow the car to efortlessly restart when the brake is released!
10. In Dash Driver Command Center
The tire pressure, average fuel economy, oil life, and oh so clever-- miles to empty messages now all reside happily in your dash or if you are really fancy are projected onto your windshield. It has never been easier to maintain your car and to know exactly how long you can wait before you must fill up the tank. lol.
11. Occupant-Sensitive and Dual-Stage Airbags
As all humans are unique; the airbags have come leaps and bounds over the last few years to reduce the number of injuries sustained in accidents. Too often the air bags led to the injuries because they took a one-size fits all approach. Now, airbags have evolved to compensate for the position of the passenger (reaching to adjust radio or pick up something from the floor), height and weight specifications, and even seat belt usage.
12. Emergency Brake Assist and Collision Mitigation
This isn't your standard ABS system. The emergency brake assist will recognize the urgent swap of the driver's foot from the gas to the brake and apply additional pressure to help shorten the stopping distance.
13. Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto
Semlessley solve the phone integration shortcomings of your old car by opting for a model utilizing CarPlay or Android Auto. Use the navigation, messaging, music and phone options all from your dash. The systems differ in their display and style their goals are synonomous; reduce driver distraction.
14. Infotainment Center
Adding to the In-Dash features to look for in your car's technological capabilities are the infotainment center. More makes and models are opting for larger touch screens rather than the digitzed display many are so accustomed to. There is no reason your radio has to resemble the score board at a high school football game! The rules of the road are changing! Sync your phone, use USB or auxilary, kick it "old school" with a CD. The sky is the limit. If you are lucky enough to be driving home a newer model with the in cabin Wi-fi you can even stream music from apps like Pandora straight to your car!
15. Apps
Most makes have issued their own apps that have features like find a dealer, find a technician, find my car (parking), diagnostic and even mobile remote start.
16. Electric Capabilities
Many manufacturers have jumped on the "go green" wagon; some with no success. However, it continues to be a popular trend, rather than just a fad. More cars are unveiling their electric capabilities than ever before. Some with and electric assist to help with MPGs and others that are mostly if not fully operated on an electric charge. The 2016 Chevy Malibu for example; can drive up to 55 MPH on just one electric propulsion. Definitley something to look out for!
17. Flex Fuel
Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs), designed to run on gasoine or ethanol blends; sacrifice no performance and some even generate more torque and horsepower than when operating on gasoline. Hoever, ethanol contains less energy than gas and typically yields about 15%-30% fiewer miles per gallon when fuelled with E85... pick your battles I guess. It is cheaper than fuel for sure; but you be the judge on rather the loss of MPGs makes it worth it or not?
18. Teen Driver Function
Chevy's innovative new technology, will now allow owners to register one of the car's key fobs in the car's MyLink system to track things like maximum speed, miles, and safety features engaged. They can access the data right from their MyLink system. Read more about the Teen Driver Function in our 2016 Malibu Blog.
19. Exhaust Gas Heat Recirculation
Using the exhaust heat to warm the interior and the engine is said to increase efficiency and reduce emissions.
20. Wireless Phone Charging
If you are like me and are constantly taking your charger out of your car and forgetting to put it back.. this could be a game changer.
The only suitable farewell here must be, "Live Long and Prosper" because that is all that comes to mind!
