From innovations to practical solutions
CARMAKERS often compete to ensure that their products remain technically superior to their rivals. This technological muscle is usually showcased in each brand’s “halo” products.
The idea is to use these high-end proving grounds to introduce innovative technology before applying it to the rest of the range, right down to entry-level cars.
If you have purchased a car in the last 12 months, you might have noticed that it features some forms of technology that, a decade ago, were reserved for cars in the seven-figure price bracket.
As the rate of innovation increases day by day, so does its implementation across the range.
So how have you benefited from all these innovations? Here’s a rundown on some of the major innovations and technological upgrades that have made modern cars more practical than ever.
Automatic gearbox
At the dawn of the 21st century, the automatic gearbox was seen as an expensive option of convenience and nothing else. A decade later, the automatic transmission has become a whole lot more efficient, often providing better acceleration and fuel consumption figures than their manual counterparts.
Brands such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and even Mazda feature gearboxes with more than five forward gears. In fact, most high-performance cars feature some form of automated gearboxes.
Along with better performance, these gearboxes provide remarkable fuel consumption figures in the right circumstances. With the number of gears climbing all the way to eight speeds and, in some case, even 10 speeds, less engine effort is required to move the car – and without having to use the clutch pedal too.
Turbocharging and direct injection
In the 1980s, turbocharging was seen as a way to go really fast for a brief moment at the cost of huge maintenance and fuel bills. Fast forward to the 21st century, force induction is a way to bring down engine emission and reduce fuel consumption.
Direct injection further helps you enjoy better consumption figures without having to resort to an engine with the might of a hamster.
Since fuel is introduced directly into the combustion chamber, the computer governing the engine fuel system can meter the intake precisely, allowing for a cleaner burn and higher efficiency.
Driving aids
Once upon a time, anti-lock braking systems were considered the pinnacle of driving aids for cars. Today, however, features such as traction control, electronic stability programme, lane-keeping assist, blind spot monitor and even autonomous braking are just some of the things a car has to optimise safety.
With increasingly stringent safety regulations and advanced computing, cars of today can drive you and your passengers safely even in the most adverse weather conditions.
Emergency manoeuvres that could result in the vehicle losing control in the past can now be safely done with the aid of such clever electronics.
Even powerful vehicles become practical commuting tools with the electronics governing them. This gives you much peace of mind when ferrying your loved ones.
Parking aids
Having a camera on the car with a screen in the dashboard was something one would only see in a James Bond movie. These days, however, reverse cameras come standard across many cars.
Going beyond reverse sensors, today’s parking aids include a 360° camera view and proximity sensor to alert you of close obstacles from all directions.
Little conveniences such as these take away the stress of driving, making even big cars manoeuvrable in the smallest of spaces.
Besides being able to squeeze in and out of tight spaces, you can avoid the embarrassment of having to explain to your body and paint service advisor why your car’s side panel sports a different body colour and a huge dent.
Infotainment system
Back then, the number of buttons on your car was directly proportional to your speculative bank balance.
These days, touchscreen interfaces allow you to perform more functions than the myriads of buttons of the bygone era could ever do.
Besides helping you find your music of choice, the contemporary infotainment system brings you up to speed with everything from traffic reports to your reply of choice if you were to miss a phone call, as featured in the Peugeot 3008.
Since the modern daily life revolves around the smartphone, cars have adapted to integrate the smartphone with the multimedia interface.
Applications such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay allow drivers to use functions from their smartphones, including Spotify and Waze, via the car’s screen, without having to depend on Bluetooth pairing. This makes for a clutter-free and safer user experience.
Big cars are no longer hard to park, powerful cars are no longer hideously thirsty for fuel, and navigation functions are no longer a novelty. Thanks to countless
With increasingly stringent safety regulations and advanced computing, cars of today can drive you and your passengers safely even in the most adverse weather conditions.
innovations, the modern car is more practical and safer than ever.
So when you hop out to buy your next vehicle during the tax holiday, ensure that these features are present to make your motoring experience easy and your car of choice practical.