The technology used in cars and other road vehicles evolves at a rapid pace. As such, even the biggest driving enthusiast can often feel like they’ve missed something in the blink of an eye.
However, this quick guide will update you on some of the key tech features to look out for over the coming months. It covers some of the best updates in recent years as well as the hotly anticipated new launches.
Driverless Cars
It has been hard to discuss car technology in recent times without mentioning driverless vehicles. While the concept has existed for many years, the progress made over the past two years or so has been incredible. It is now possible to hail a driverless car through Waymo when visiting several U.S. cities. As a subsidiary of Google, it probably won’t be long before the service is available in other countries including Australia.
Furthermore, the road towards autonomous cars for everyday car owners is getting closer. Tesla already has autopilot and self-driving capabilities. Many other companies are developing their tech too. As with electric vehicles, the tech should become more affordable over time. Now is the time to keep an eye on it.
Garmin ZUMO
Satellite navigation devices are hardly anything new and now come as standard on most cars. However, motorbike riders will find that the dedicated motorcycle GPS tools from Garmin are ideal. The ZUMO range is specifically designed for bikers, even allowing them to find hilly routes with the Adventurous mode. The rugged housing is far better suited to weather exposure than the majority of car GPS systems on the market too.
The benefits for riders are clear. It can encourage you to find more adventures, find the best route to places, and avoid getting lost. This allows you to keep your eyes on the road. In turn, this can reduce the threat of crashes or the need for a motorcycle attorney. Maintaining safety and enjoyment never looked better.
Samsung Digital Key
It doesn’t seem that long ago that a manual key was the only way to enter a vehicle. Electric car keys changed the landscape, growing in huge popularity throughout the first decade of the 21st century. They soon became the norm. Further innovations have emerged over the past few years but, right now, Samsung’s Digital Key stands out as the best. Designed to work with BMW vehicles, it allows drivers to open their car through their Galaxy Smartphone.
Given the omnipresence of smartphones in our daily lives, this is a very convenient upgrade. It seems almost inevitable that similar solutions will appear on the market for Apple phones and owners of other Androids. Likewise, BMW will be joined by a host of other car manufacturers. This will be the future of car entry.
Apple CarPlay 2.0
CarPlay launched in 2014 and has seen major upgrades through iOS 9 to 17. However, the biggest update is set to arrive later this year when CarPlay 2.0 hits the market. The infotainment service already offers everything from co-pilot capabilities to simplified Apps. However, 2.0 is set to take over the vehicle’s entertainment systems rather than simply working alongside existing features. It will deliver a far more immersive experience.
Will there be teething problems? Problem. However, anyone with a compatible vehicle that already uses CarPlay will want to make the switch to 2.0. After all, the tech giant is pretty rapid with adding patches and software updates. There is no doubt that it will dominate the market in 2024 and beyond.
Ford Steering Wheel Table
To unleash the full potential of a vehicle, it’s important to look beyond the driving experience alone. When sitting stationary in a parked car, perhaps to eat or quickly pull over to buy gig tickets, you want to be comfy. Sadly, steering wheels often get in the way. Until now. The new steering wheel table from Ford allows the driver to move it into three positions. This includes a horizontal (table) mode and tilted mode as well as the traditional position.
The innovative steering wheel will be available later this year on the new Ford Transit Custom. It’s set to be a gamechanger for the E-version too, providing convenience when waiting for the vehicle to charge. The device has already received a lot of praise and is sure to find its way into other Ford vehicles in the future.
The Mercedes E-Class Selfie Camera
Selfie cameras have played a key role in our lives over the last decade or so. Therefore it should come as nos surprise that they are set to enter our vehicles. The 2024 Mercedes E-Class will sport a dash-mounted selfie camera. It is primarily designed with social media streaming in mind but can also be used for video conferencing and other practical tasks. It’s probably not essential, but does highlight how car tech is adapting to our needs.
The camera isn’t designed to pose a distraction, which is why it is just a camera and not a screen too. However, anyone that makes content from their vehicle will find that this is a masterpiece. it is safer and more organised than planting a plug-in camera on the dashboard. It looks a whole lot better too.
GM’s Teen Driver Suite
If you are a parent of a new teen driver, GM’s Teen Driver suite should be at the top of your checklist. Technically, it isn’t new, as the product was first introduced in 2016 with Chevrolet’s Malibu Sedan. Since then, it has been added to many other models under the GM umbrella. New features were launched in 2022 while this year’s version has seen the Buckle To Drive feature extended to the passenger seat.
In short, you can’t drive the vehicle until driver and passenger are buckled up. This is combined with other features like top speed limits and sound system restrictions. Any parent that is worried about their child’s safety should look into this if they’re child is about to take their driving exam. If kids can’t be responsible, they don’t deserve to drive.
