10 Best Automotive Technologies of 2018 that increases craze of
automobiles even more are discussed in the article. The powertrain matters
though, but more important is how the driver and vehicle occupants get an
exposure of today’s increasingly sophisticated automobiles.
These are the things to look for when buying a new car this
year. Some People may not find them all useful (differs from choice and
priority of person to person), but regardless of price point it shouldn't be
too difficult to find a vehicle that has most of them.
1. Connected Mobile Apps
It's no exaggeration to say that the smartphone has changed
everything, including how we interact with our cars. Most carmakers offer some
sort of connected smartphone app, but some are better than others. Look for one
that lets you remotely lock and unlock the doors, check the status of things
like fuel and tire pressure, and even remotely start the car to warm things up
on a cold winter's morning.
2. Teen Driver Technology
Handing over the keys to your teenager can be a nerve-wracking
experience, but some clever new tech might ease your mind a little bit. Several
cars have some kind of teen driver limitations built in that can notify you if
the car is driven over a certain speed, disable the stereo if seatbelts aren't
used, and even keep the stereo from being turned up past 7 — never mind full
blast!
Chevrolet's Teen Driver feature also offers a Report Card that
will tell parents if safety systems like ABS or forward collision alert have
been triggered while Junior was behind the wheel.
3. Adaptive Cruise Control
Commuting is no fun. But advanced driver assist systems like
adaptive cruise control can take a lot of the stress out of the experience. By
using an array of sensors built into the car, adaptive cruise control can match
the speed of the car in front of you, meaning you don't need to be constantly
hitting the gas and brake in highway traffic.
Some systems even allow the car to be brought to a complete halt
and then resume automatically, making stop-and-go traffic considerably less
frustrating.
4. LED/Xenon Headlights
Headlights are the only thing between you and a crash when
driving at night, so we think better headlight tech is essential. Whether it's
LED bulbs that never need replacing or older but still-excellent xenon systems,
illuminating the road is the best way to avoid nighttime collisions.
Many luxury cars have "swiveling" bulbs that turn with
the road to illuminate around corners, while auto-high beam systems will keep
you from blinding other drivers but maximizing your view of your surroundings.
A nighttime test-drive to check out the headlights may be worth considering
before making final buying decision.
5. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Though they loathe to admit it, many manufacturer infotainment
systems, the do-it-all screens that control stereo, navigation, and climate
control, aren't very user-friendly. That's why we like Apple's CarPlay and
Google's Android Auto. Plug in your smart phone and it takes over that big
screen, replacing it with something that looks a lot more familiar and easy to
use.
You'll get a simplified control scheme to access your music,
maps, and your phone's built-in voice-control features while avoiding the
unnecessarily complicated system that comes with the car. Basically all
manufacturer (except Toyota/Lexus) has promised support for at least one or
both Apple and Google's systems, but not all trim levels will support them.
6.
USB Ports
7.
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
Parking
lots are extremely common places for low-speed—but pricey—car crashes. Backing
out of a parking spot, even with a rear-view backup camera, can be a perilous
exercise. That's why rear-cross traffic alert is so useful.
Thanks
to sensors built into the rear of the car, the system can alert you to
approaching vehicles, shopping carts, or pedestrians who might wander behind
your car without you noticing. Loud beeps are standard with these systems, but
some cars can even automatically brake before a collision occurs.
8.
Lane Departure Warning
Distracted
driving happens. Whether it's a quick glance at the stereo to change the
channel or a child urgently asking for your attention, sometimes we pay a
little less attention to the road than we should.
Lane
departure warning systems use cameras to determine if a car has drifted across
a marked lane line, giving a visual or audible notification (or even a
vibration through the seat or steering wheel) that you've moved too far out of
your lane. The system turns itself off when you use a directional, so there's
no fear of accidental engagement.
More
advanced tech, sometimes called Lane Keeping Assist, can even help nudge you
back into the proper lane, which can be a literal life-saver if you were
heading into opposing traffic.
9.
Automatic Emergency Braking
Automatic
Emergency Braking or AEB uses a variety of sensors to determine if a forward
collision crash is imminent and automatically applies the brakes to diminish
the severity or avoid a crash entirely.
The
auto industry agreed to make AEB standard in cars by 2022, but many vehicles
have it available today. The systems are extremely good, though you absolutely
shouldn't rely on it to stop you—it's meant as a last resort for when the
driver isn't paying attention, and it's extremely alarming when the system does
engage. While USB ports and smartphone apps are important, this one could save
your life, so it's worth making this one a high priority.
10.
360-degree Camera
Insurance
claims from low-speed crashes are some of the most common in the industry.
Usually occurring during parking, a 360-degree camera system can make life a
lot easier for folks who might not realize just how big the new car is.
By
combining cameras on every side of the car with some clever computing power,
your car's display can show a virtual top-down view of your surroundings. It
can show the sides of your garage, whether you're lined up in the parking spot
at the grocery store, or provide invaluable assistance while parallel parking.
The
systems are getting cheaper and cheaper, and are available on even moderately
priced cars these days.
credits: KBB.com Editors , The economic times