15 Futuristic Tech Advancements In Cars That Will Be Here Sooner Than You Think

The technology that goes into making cars is constantly improving. If car manufacturers from just 50 years ago got a glimpse at the air-conditioned, bluetooth-fitted, automatic cars that we drive today, they would have been floored. Well now it's your turn to be floored. Take a look at some of the groundbreaking vehicles that are currently being researched or developed.

Cars That Talk To Other Cars

Vehicle-to-vehicle communication is something that a lot of car manufacturers are waiting for, and that a lot of researchers are developing. This technology would be used to let drivers know when a nearby car is veering into your lane, or is about to make a turn. With even more development, it could also be used to communicate about road conditions or inclement weather.

Cars That Know You

With all the advances we’ve made in smartphones and laptops in recent years, it should be no surprise that the automotive industry is trying to incorporate the preference-learning capabilities of these devices. Mercedes Benz is developing technology that will begin warming your car a few minutes before you get into it each day and can tell you real-time traffic problems based on the routes you frequent. Ford is focusing the technology to track how and when the owner drives each day in order to minimize fuel use.

Air Propulsion

Pretty much every car manufacturer is dreaming up ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, but Cadillac really takes the cake by planning to eliminate the need for gasoline altogether.

Motorized Wheels

Forget about the days of just having one engine in your car; the plans for the future include cars with a motor in each wheel! This in-wheel magnetic drive system handles steering and suspension, while also lowering the weight and clunkiness of a vehicle.

Augmented Reality Dashboard

GPS systems are already a great way to navigate the roads, but even that is going to be taken further. BMW is already making use of windshield displays that present basic information, but they are working to improve the technology to identify external objects and present virtual pathways directly on your windshield that can assist in averting accidents or getting good directions.

Self-Driving Cars

Google has been working on making self-driving cars a reality for years, and now they are closer than ever. Complete with a multitude sensors, cameras, and radar systems, along with artificial intelligence, these cars will be able to perceive obstacles and make decisions on which directions to take.

Self-Parking Cars

Before cars are fully able to drive themselves, expect them to park themselves. Various car companies have already demoed self-parking systems that make finding a spot a breeze.

Organic Cars

It seems that everything is veering towards the organic side these days, and that includes our cars! Mercedes-Benz’s newest concept car has a body made from organically grown and genetically modified trees. While it’s nothing that could be fully implemented in the production line just yet, people are predicted these cars will be widespread around the middle of the century.

Driver Monitoring

Almost all of the accidents that happen on the road occur because of a negligent or unfit driver. That is why researchers are working on ways for cars to monitor the health and attention of their drivers.

Customizable Carbon Cars

Carbon fiber is not a new material in automobiles, but it is an incredibly expensive one at the moment. However, multiple companies are working on making the material more widespread in the bodies of cars. The plan is to manufacture various inter-changeable carbon fiber body panels that will allow you to easily repair or customize your car.

External Airbags

We’re used to cars having airbags in the dashboard and steering wheels to protect drivers and passengers from crashes, but the new innovation is to install airbags on the outside of vehicles. TRW Automotive is developing the technology to implement air bags on the exterior of cars, which would reduce damage to the vehicle and to pedestrians.

Solar-Powered Cars

The move away from fossil fuels has been an important effort for anyone who is environmentally-minded, but electric cars still require electrical power. Researchers have been working on a giant magnifying glass-like panel that will turn the sun’s energy into power for a car. The device being developed should turn a day’s worth of sunlight into 620 miles of driving.

Laser Headlights

Most cars use LED headlights so that drivers can see in the dark, but the newest innovation is laser headlights. These headlights promise to illuminate twice the distance as regular headlights, and using less energy. These “smart” headlights will also be able to automatically adjust their brightness and direction based on the environment.

Fuel Cells

Hydrogen fuel cells have been something in the talks for years, but now it seems that the technology will be hitting the streets as soon as this year! Toyota, Honda and Hyundai are all planning to showcase new models that are powered by fuel cells in 2015.

Oxygen Emissions

One of the biggest problems with our vehicles is that they spew harmful emissions into our atmosphere. Of course, this is a problem that researchers have been trying to solve for years, but the new Mercedes Biome offers the solution finally. The car emits pure oxygen, although it probably won’t be in production for quite some time.