August 2007
New car technologies
Your next car might have features you’ve never seen before. We’ll explain them to you
If it’s been a few years since you last bought a new car, it’s likely that new models you’re considering will have some features
you haven’t seen before. Technology isn’t just marching on, it’s actually broken into a run.
But not to worry; it’s all good news. Some of these features, like higher-quality audio from HD Radio, make for a more pleasurable driving experience. Others, like navigation systems with real-time traffic reporting, make it easier and less stressful to get where you’re going. Still others, like electronic stability control and curtain air bags, can help keep your family much safer on the road. Here’s a look at some of the features you might consider.
With the ongoing growth in portable audio systems, manufacturers continue to offer ways to marry their cars’ audio systems
with iPods and MP3 players. Many offer ports allowing users to plug in and play their music through the cars audio system,
and charge the player at the same time. Some, like Mercedes-Benz, go a step further and offer an iPod docking station mounted
in the glove box that not only provides power for the device but also enables the driver to use the car’s steering-wheel-mounted
audio controls to operate it.
If you’ve ever had to fumble for keys in the rain while juggling bags of groceries, you’ll appreciate keyless ignition. Available
primarily in more upscale models, the best systems include a wireless transmitter in the key fob that unlocks the doors as
you approach or touch the handle, even if the fob is in your pocket or purse. Then all you have to do is get in and push a
button on the dashboard to start the car.
Nav systems, which can guide you with audible and visual turn-by-turn directions to virtually any address in the United States
or Canada, have been around for several years. You simply key in a street address or choose from a menu of points of interest,
including gas stations or restaurants, and the system does the rest.
The latest feature is real-time traffic information, which can alert you of a traffic snarl ahead and even direct you around it. But expect to pay a monthly subscription fee for this on top of the charges for the satellite radio service.
High-definition (HD) digital radio allows AM and FM broadcasters to send digital signals over the airwaves to provide the listener with CD-quality sound. Unlike satellite radio, there are no subscription fees for HD radio since existing regional radio stations provide the content. The more than 1,500 existing HD stations across the nation can even send up to eight separate signals on their wavelength to provide alternative content to their listeners. And because HD radio operates on a larger broadcast spectrum than satellite radio, there is less data compression when sent over the airwaves. Soon, HD radio will become a means of two-way communication between a vehicle and a broadcaster. For example, a vehicle would send out a signal identifying itself and the automaker could send back service reminders and recall bulletins. Other future applications being explored are digital stock tickers and digital content storage for replay. HD radio is available on some BMW models, and soon to be offered by Jaguar and Hyundai.
Electronic stability control (ESC) has the potential to save 10,000 lives per year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This could make ESC the most important safety device since the invention of the safety belt. It works by selectively applying the brakes at different wheels when it senses a skid to help keep the car on course. And as well as it works on cars, the benefits to SUVs--with their increased tendency to roll over--are even greater. The insurance institute estimates that 80% of single-vehicle SUV crash fatalities could be avoided with ESC. It will be required on all new vehicles by 2012 but is available on many new models now. Don’t buy one without it.
Bluetooth enables electronic devices to communicate with one another without wires. Available on many new models, Bluetooth turns your cellular telephone into a hands-free unit by using the car’s speakers to hear the caller. It also automatically mutes the radio/CD when a call comes in and enables you to dial through voice recognition. You need a Bluetooth-compatible telephone to use these in car systems, but then all you have to do is say “Mom” if you want to call your mother.
Traction control helps keep two-wheel-drive vehicles moving in slippery conditions. If it detects a drive-wheel slipping, it automatically applies a slight amount of brake pressure to that wheel and, if necessary and cuts back on engine power to stop the slipping. Traction control can also send power to whichever drive wheel has the most grip. But if neither drive wheel has grip, traction-control won’t help. While ultimately not as good as AWD or 4WD in extreme conditions, traction control may be all you need in light rain or snow, and is especially helpful on rear-wheel-drive vehicles.
Cameras that send an image to a dashboard-mounted screen when you shift into reverse are becoming increasingly common. Available
on many cars, trucks and SUVs, these cameras add a measure of safety, particularly on larger vehicles with big blind spots.
Consumer Reports testing has shown that for short drivers in some of the worst vehicles, a small child can’t be seen when less than 70 feet
from the rear bumper. Cameras show what’s immediately behind the car, which also makes them handy for hooking up a trailer.
The downside is that the often bundled with navigation systems can add $2,000 or more to the sticker price.
Many models are available with headlights that turn on automatically when the ambient light level drops to a preset level. They’re handy if you sometimes forget to turn on the lights, but some can be slow to come on in tunnels and parking garages, when the sky is overcast, or at dusk. They can also be operated manually.
Tires that can maintain their shape and can be driven on for 50 miles or more with no air in them are becoming increasingly common on some new vehicles. More than just a convenience item, run-flats can add a degree of security by eliminating the need to change a tire in bad weather or dangerous roadside areas. But their stiff sidewalls can make for a harsher ride. And some owners have complained of premature wear and high replacement cost.
Starting with 2008 models, all new cars will be required to have tire-pressure monitoring systems that alert drivers with a dashboard-mounted light if the air pressure in any of the tires drops below a predetermined level. Some models equipped with run-flat tire and other higher-end cars already come with these systems, which use sensors mounted on the wheel rim to monitor pressure.
Mounted in a vehicle’s headliner above the windows, curtain airbags deploy downward in a crash to protect passengers’ heads
in both front and rear seats. They also help shield occupants from flying debris, and can keep people from being ejected during
a rollover. The better head-protection systems offer a safety-canopy system, which automatically deploys the side-curtain
bags if the system detects that the vehicle is beginning to roll over.
Offered by several automakers, adaptive cruise control takes conventional cruise control an extra step. In addition to maintaining a set speed on the highway, it automatically maintains a safe distance behind the vehicle in front by varying the speed. It does this by using radar to monitor the presence of vehicles in front and automatically eases off or tips in the throttle to slow or accelerate the car as needed.
This combination of telecommunications and computing technology is becoming more common in new cars. The widest used system is General Motors OnStar, which will soon be standard on all GM vehicles. Also marketed by Lexus, OnStar allows drivers to speak with an operator at a 24-hour call center in an emergency by simply pushing a button. If the vehicle sends a signal that it’s been involved in an accident, an operator can call to check on you. A built in microphone and the car’s stereo speakers enable the motorist to speak with the operator. Paying subscribers can also get turn-by-turn directions and other services depending on their plan.
Other manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz and Acura have their own telematics systems, able to transmit everything from service reminders to route directions.
But not to worry; it’s all good news. Some of these features, like higher-quality audio from HD Radio, make for a more pleasurable driving experience. Others, like navigation systems with real-time traffic reporting, make it easier and less stressful to get where you’re going. Still others, like electronic stability control and curtain air bags, can help keep your family much safer on the road. Here’s a look at some of the features you might consider.
MP3-player interfaces
Keyless ignition
Navigation systems & traffic information
The latest feature is real-time traffic information, which can alert you of a traffic snarl ahead and even direct you around it. But expect to pay a monthly subscription fee for this on top of the charges for the satellite radio service.
HD Radio
High-definition (HD) digital radio allows AM and FM broadcasters to send digital signals over the airwaves to provide the listener with CD-quality sound. Unlike satellite radio, there are no subscription fees for HD radio since existing regional radio stations provide the content. The more than 1,500 existing HD stations across the nation can even send up to eight separate signals on their wavelength to provide alternative content to their listeners. And because HD radio operates on a larger broadcast spectrum than satellite radio, there is less data compression when sent over the airwaves. Soon, HD radio will become a means of two-way communication between a vehicle and a broadcaster. For example, a vehicle would send out a signal identifying itself and the automaker could send back service reminders and recall bulletins. Other future applications being explored are digital stock tickers and digital content storage for replay. HD radio is available on some BMW models, and soon to be offered by Jaguar and Hyundai.
Electronic Stability Control
Electronic stability control (ESC) has the potential to save 10,000 lives per year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This could make ESC the most important safety device since the invention of the safety belt. It works by selectively applying the brakes at different wheels when it senses a skid to help keep the car on course. And as well as it works on cars, the benefits to SUVs--with their increased tendency to roll over--are even greater. The insurance institute estimates that 80% of single-vehicle SUV crash fatalities could be avoided with ESC. It will be required on all new vehicles by 2012 but is available on many new models now. Don’t buy one without it.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth enables electronic devices to communicate with one another without wires. Available on many new models, Bluetooth turns your cellular telephone into a hands-free unit by using the car’s speakers to hear the caller. It also automatically mutes the radio/CD when a call comes in and enables you to dial through voice recognition. You need a Bluetooth-compatible telephone to use these in car systems, but then all you have to do is say “Mom” if you want to call your mother.
Traction control
Traction control helps keep two-wheel-drive vehicles moving in slippery conditions. If it detects a drive-wheel slipping, it automatically applies a slight amount of brake pressure to that wheel and, if necessary and cuts back on engine power to stop the slipping. Traction control can also send power to whichever drive wheel has the most grip. But if neither drive wheel has grip, traction-control won’t help. While ultimately not as good as AWD or 4WD in extreme conditions, traction control may be all you need in light rain or snow, and is especially helpful on rear-wheel-drive vehicles.
Backup cameras
The downside is that the often bundled with navigation systems can add $2,000 or more to the sticker price.
Automatic headlights
Many models are available with headlights that turn on automatically when the ambient light level drops to a preset level. They’re handy if you sometimes forget to turn on the lights, but some can be slow to come on in tunnels and parking garages, when the sky is overcast, or at dusk. They can also be operated manually.
Run-flat tires
Tires that can maintain their shape and can be driven on for 50 miles or more with no air in them are becoming increasingly common on some new vehicles. More than just a convenience item, run-flats can add a degree of security by eliminating the need to change a tire in bad weather or dangerous roadside areas. But their stiff sidewalls can make for a harsher ride. And some owners have complained of premature wear and high replacement cost.
Tire-pressure monitoring systems
Starting with 2008 models, all new cars will be required to have tire-pressure monitoring systems that alert drivers with a dashboard-mounted light if the air pressure in any of the tires drops below a predetermined level. Some models equipped with run-flat tire and other higher-end cars already come with these systems, which use sensors mounted on the wheel rim to monitor pressure.
Curtain air bags
Adaptive cruise control
Offered by several automakers, adaptive cruise control takes conventional cruise control an extra step. In addition to maintaining a set speed on the highway, it automatically maintains a safe distance behind the vehicle in front by varying the speed. It does this by using radar to monitor the presence of vehicles in front and automatically eases off or tips in the throttle to slow or accelerate the car as needed.
Vehicle telematics
This combination of telecommunications and computing technology is becoming more common in new cars. The widest used system is General Motors OnStar, which will soon be standard on all GM vehicles. Also marketed by Lexus, OnStar allows drivers to speak with an operator at a 24-hour call center in an emergency by simply pushing a button. If the vehicle sends a signal that it’s been involved in an accident, an operator can call to check on you. A built in microphone and the car’s stereo speakers enable the motorist to speak with the operator. Paying subscribers can also get turn-by-turn directions and other services depending on their plan.
Other manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz and Acura have their own telematics systems, able to transmit everything from service reminders to route directions.
