9 Amazing Things That Cars of the Future Will Be Able to Do

Cars are predicted to change more in the next 10 years than they did over the course of the last century. Automobiles have changed almost beyond recognition in the last 100 years, but to date, the way that we drive them has remained fundamentally unchanged.

Over the next 10 years, cars are likely to change in several ways, including not only how they are wired and powered, but also how we operate them, with power shifting from human control to automation and AI. In this article, we look at 9 capabilities predicted for future generations of passenger cars.

1. Facial Recognition

Integrated into numerous technological spheres today, biometry presents particular promise in the car industry, preventing theft and monitoring facial expressions, head movements, and eye blinking, to recognize when the driver is tired, distracted, and generally not paying attention. Cars of the future could be programmed to pull over automatically if warnings are repeatedly ignored.

2. Vehicle-to-Vehicle Connectivity

Radar and light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors positioned at various points around the chassis could provide your future car’s computer with crucial data on weather and road conditions, enabling it not only to adjust accordingly, but also to pass this information on to other cars nearby. Tires that analyze road surface and temperature, facilitating vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity, are already being developed by major tire and car manufacturers.

3. Enhanced Fuel Efficiency

With ever-increasing pressure to transition from fossil fuels to electric vehicles, you could be forgiven for expecting hybrid cars to fade away. In reality, with increasing fuel economy demands, hybrids are likely to hit the market for years to come as people continue to search for ways to improve fuel economy.

Pundits anticipate that the market for “mild hybrids” will expand. This new breed of automobiles may not increase efficiency as much as regular hybrids, but by incorporating smaller, less efficient batteries, they cost significantly less. The batteries and electric motors used in mild hybrids may not be strong enough to carry the weight of the car on their own, but they will provide a valuable power boost, enabling the engine to work more efficiently, saving fuel.

4. Holographic Sunroofs

Appearing just like regular sunroofs, holographic sunroofs can project holographs to entertain passengers with TV shows, movies, and low light displays. WayRay is currently working on a system that integrates smart glass where the sunroof would normally be, providing widescreen, high-tech displays, projecting crystal-clear images in HD.

5. Parking Assistance

Many motorists dread parallel parking. Fortunately, automakers have come up with the solution. Many of today’s manufacturers provide parallel parking functions, guiding drivers into tight spots. However, some carmakers, including BMW and Tesla, have taken it a step further, developing automated parking solutions that do not even require the driver to be in the car.

6. Blindspot Sensor Technology

The pillars just behind the driver’s door provide vital support for the roof, strengthening the car’s structure, and protecting the driver and passengers in the event of a roll.

On the downside, these pillars significantly inhibit the driver’s view of their surroundings, creating dangerous blind spots. Sensor technology, incorporating intelligent cameras and mirrors that react to the driver’s head position, could effectively make blind spots a thing of the past.

7. Shapeshifting Cars

Just as airplanes adapt their wings in response to the weather, cars of the future could be built with intelligent panels and advanced composites that change in response to the car’s speed, environment, and weather conditions. Adaptive tires that change shape according to use and conditions have already been tested in prototypes; in the wet, for example, the tire pressure increases, reducing the risk of hydroplaning.

8. Personalized Dashboards

Car cabins of the future will integrate the dashboard, steering, pedals, and infotainment within a single console. As we move toward self-driving cars, drivers will be free to make video calls while the car is in self-driving mode, with further technological advancements enabling owners to select their own themes and designs for the dashboard in the same way that we select “skins” for mobile platforms today.­ Buttons are expected to be phased out over time, with drivers using their words and movements to relay instructions to their vehicles.

9. Autonomous Driving

Although many drivers have significant concerns as to the safety of self-driving cars, automakers are increasingly rolling out innovative features that offer motorists a glimpse of the future.

Tesla provides consumers with a taste of autonomous driving through its automatic emergency braking and auto-steering facilities. The car is capable of identifying lane markers on some roads, steering the vehicle to stay in its lane. If a driver fails to spot a pedestrian or other hazard, automatic emergency braking kicks in, bringing the car to a standstill. Guided by 12 ultrasonic sensors, eight cameras, and radar technology commonly used in ships and airplanes, the car is able to identify the direction and distance of objects. High-end models from Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, and General Motors also incorporate similar features.