Major Vehicle Trends

Ah, the good ol’ days of 10 years ago, when the number of cupholders in a vehicle was actually a selling point. However, what drives consumers today is technology capable of keeping them safer on the road, providing impressive fuel economy and allowing for hands-free mobile communication.

Infotainment: 10 years ago: In Dash CD Players and cruise control systems were a luxury and are now standard. The days of packing a clumsy binder CDs are gone. For instance, satellite radio was not available in cars. Now Ford vehicles come equipped with SYNC which can stream Internet radio like Pandora or can play music from USB plugged-in digital music players or memory sticks.

The desire to have access at information at any point in time and has helped to spawn new technologies such as voice-activated controls, real-time traffic and Wi-Fi mobile hot spots.

Taking out the guesswork: New Curve Control, available on the 2011 Explorer, monitors a driver’s speed entering fast, sharp corners then corrects the vehicle. Other examples: collision warning systems, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and cross-traffic alert.

Today’s vehicles are equipped with new technologies that make driving easier, including self-parallel parking, rear back-up cameras and rain sensing wipers. Terrain management lets the driver select the type of terrain the vehicle is driving through, whether it is sand, snow or pavement. The vehicle then adjusts wheel spin, throttle inputs and other inputs accordingly.

Fuel economy: It used to be that bigger was better. Now consumers are looking more for fuel efficiency now more than ever. Hybrids, EVs, Electric have really shown us what the future might hold.

Creature comforts: Consumers today enjoy a more comfortable ride: better interior materials, sleeker interior designs, heated and cooled seats, memory seats, remote start and more storage capacity. Even a hands-free power lift gate that opens with the wave of a foot underneath the rear bumper can be found on Ford’s new C-MAX.

Security: Keyless remotes, alarms and warning systems and anti-theft systems have come a long way toward making life on the go safer for many. Ford and Lincoln offer: SYNC’s 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report, MyKey, Intelligent Access with push-button.

And what does the future hold? Expect more revolutionary change for the auto industry. Look for better lithium-ion batteries, alternative fuels, more advanced safety technologies and more connectivity such as vehicle-to-vehicle systems that will allow vehicles to “talk” to each other via wireless communications embedded into the car.