Cars of tomorrow

Already, cars of today are so highly technologically advanced that there has been a lot of speculation going around in the international media on what a car would be like 20 years from now. People are talking about cars that are powered by human waste, with a world-famous Indian company developing the technology to implement the conversion. They, of course, would not have been able to perfect the technology and hence there would be a problem of smell! Monkeys driving Formula 1 cars is an old joke now but driverless cars on the track—perfectly feasible! Before we move on to the future, I think what we need to talk about are the technologies that already exist and which will play a crucial role in shaping the cars of the future.

For the exteriors, BMW has already demonstrated how fabric can be used to replace the metal skin of a car. The BMW Gina concept demonstrates how fabric can easily be used to shape and then reshape a car when you are bored of its looks or need to change its utility. Space-frame body shells mean that panels can easily be switched, and cars like the Fiat 500 are built with snap-on panels that can be used to change the look of a car. With future technologies like fuel cells, cars could be made on a flat platform with a snap-on body, and with a few deft touches, you could be owning an SUV, a limo or a sports car, all at one time. But the major advances that have already happened are in terms of driver aid.

I sat through two hours of slow-moving traffic outside New York in a BMW 5-series, with my legs folded under me on the seat as the BMW maintained a steady distance from the car in the front, braking and coming to a stop when required and accelerating at other times, thanks to its adaptive cruise control. I have also cruised down the New Jersey turnpike at the top legal speed without once touching the accelerator or brake in over two hours, but, of course, I was too scared to fold my legs! And then, I have driven a Volkswagen Passat CC that follows the white markings on the road to stay in the lane—it even manages to turn the steering if the road has a gentle turn but also gives you a warning in case your hands are unresponsive or off the steering wheel.

So, it’s not a substitute for the driver as yet but could very soon be with a little more help from the road builders and better guidance systems. And, of course, there are parking systems developed by Toyota as well as Volkswagen that I have experienced. Drive through a parking lot, and the system will pick out empty parking slots for you—get out of the car and press the parking button on the key fob, and the car will expertly park itself in the slot, complete with a few back and front movements and lock-to-lock turns of the steering wheel. And when you want to get back into the car but find that the car next to it is parked too close, all you need to do is to press that same button on the key fob, and the car will start itself, slip into first gear and drive out a few yards for you to get in comfortably.

This system works with automatics only, of course. So, are you beginning to get a feel of the car of tomorrow? Are you getting ideas in your head on how it will drive, what it will look like? Well, I am not finished yet and next time around I will add to the list of technologies that will make the car of the future. You will be very surprised to see what is possible today and where it could take us tomorrow!