In-car technology has ramped up massively in recent years.
Drivers today have access to some of the latest features in their cars, boosting convenience while also improving safety levels dramatically - even when compared with cars a few years old.
Knowing that all of this technology does can actually prove a little challenging. So here, we’re going to take a look at some of the features you may have heard of and some that might be completely new.
Airbags
Pretty much everyone knows about airbags, right? But did you know that this important safety feature was actually developed way back in the 1950s, but took until the 1980s to come on song into more mainstream models fully.
In fact, it wasn’t until the late 90s that airbags were available as an option on pretty much all cars on sale. These days, it’s hard to find a car that hasn’t been fitted with at least one airbag as standard.
Automatic air conditioning
Automatic air conditioning is a feature that can help make a car’s cabin as comfortable as possible. Rather than traditional air conditioning which will continually blow out one temperature, automatic systems allow you to set an in-car temperature and the car will continually adjust to make sure it’s at the right level.
These systems are also great for making sure that windscreens stay de-misted, too.
Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth connectivity is something that is commonplace in cars these days. It allows you to connect your phone to the vehicle’s in-car system, streaming music and media in the process while allowing you to take phone calls via the car’s microphone.
Even more value-oriented models have Bluetooth connectivity these days, reflecting the decreasing cost of the technology.
Satellite navigation
It’s never nice to feel lost when you’re driving and, fortunately, satellite navigation can take away a lot of that concern. It allows you to programme in a destination and the system will automatically find the best route and guide you the entire way towards it.
More recent systems factor in traffic levels along your route, too, and can even work out the most fuel-efficient path to take.
Smartphone mirroring
Recent years have seen the increased inclusion of smartphone mirroring. This allows you to ‘mirror’ your smartphone’s display and apps on the car’s main screen, giving you the option to access certain features on your phone.
Most commonly accessed via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, smartphone mirroring also allows you to access media, navigation and communication functions that are loaded onto your phone.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Cruise control is something we’ve seen included on cars for many years, but more recent models include Adaptive Cruise Control. Though it was featured on certain high-end models during the late 2000s, it’s a feature that we’re now seeing become more commonplace.
It’s a system which uses a combination of cameras and sensors to ‘see’ the car in front and will automatically adjust your speed depending on your distance to the vehicle in front. For instance, if it slows down, the system will slow you down - if it moves out of the way, the adaptive cruise control can automatically speed the car up to your desired pre-set speed.
Lane Keep Assist
Lane Keep Assist is a really cool feature that can make your car as safe as possible. Much like adaptive cruise control, it uses sensors and cameras to ‘see’ the lines of the lane you’re in. If the system feels the car straying out of a lane, it can automatically ‘steer’ it back into the middle of the lane.
Though it can’t be referred to as ‘self-driving’ as whoever is driving needs to be in full control at all times, it’s a great example of some cutting-edge tech being included on the latest models.