New Car Technologies to Be Aware Of

Car technology is changing all of the time, and over the last few years, there have been some significant milestones passed in terms of what we can expect to find in our vehicles. Here at Eden, we’ve got cars with some of the very latest in-car technology, so if you’d like to experience it first-hand, get in touch to find out more.

But with all of this new technology arriving, keeping track of it all can be tricky. It’s why we’ve put together a list of all the key new car technologies to be aware of today.

Driver assistance systems

Some of the greatest advancements in technology have come in the world of driver assistance systems. Many of these use autonomous technology to ‘sense’ oncoming dangers, such as a vehicle crossing or a pedestrian stepping out into the road. Through this, the car can then automatically apply the brakes far more quickly than a human driver could.

There are other types of assistance systems, too, such as lane-keep assist, which can ‘guide’ a car automatically into a lane if it senses the vehicle veering off to one side, and speed assist, which can warn a driver if they’re travelling over the speed limit - though it can still be overridden by the driver.

In-car streaming

As electric vehicles have become more popular, so have options for people to remain entertained while charging. One such feature is in-car streaming, which allows drivers and passengers to watch popular streaming services such as Netflix or YouTube while they’re parked.

While these can’t be used when on the move, streaming services mean you can kick back and relax while your car is charging up.

Remote accessibility

Remote accessibility is something which has become more commonplace as greater numbers of electric vehicles have been produced. With it, drivers can remotely control various functions of their cars; you can activate the lights, for instance, or even lock and unlock the vehicle.

But most importantly, this feature allows you to preheat or pre-cool a car, depending on the conditions. It’s great for icy mornings as it allows you to de-ice a car from the comfort of your own home while still ensuring that the car is safely locked.

Driver awareness monitors

Many of the latest technologies focus on improving driver safety, and awareness monitors play a big part in this. They work by ‘scanning’ a driver’s face and can detect when they’re showing signs of fatigue. These could include yawning or blinking more slowly.

If it senses these occurring, the car will automatically display an alert on the screen ahead of the driver, suggesting that they take a break.

Self-driving systems

Self-driving cars are a hot topic at the moment as the technology gains momentum. While it still may bit a little way until we see mass-produced self-driving cars, the technology behind them is developing fast, with Nissan most recently finishing a three-stage testing process to see how the technology could be used on the UK’s roads - though these trials were conducted with a supervising person in the passenger seat.

Especially common in electric cars is steering assistance, which can ‘guide’ a car through bends by using a combination of cameras and sensors - but we’re yet to see a fully self-driving car that is available for the public to buy.

Wireless smartphone charging

Nearly everyone travels with a smartphone in the car, and keeping them charged up when you’re on the move has proven tricky in the past. Things have become a whole lot easier with wireless smartphone charging, which enables drivers and passengers to top up their phones wirelessly by placing them on a special ‘pad’ which is usually located underneath the main infotainment screen.

But on many new cars, this charging technology has been helped by cooling fans, which enable a smartphone to remain at a level temperature. It also means that they’re able to charge for longer without overheating.

The good news is that though many of these technologies seem futuristic, you’ll find several of them in the latest cars that we have on offer here at our Eden Motor Group. To find out more, browse our current stock of new and used vehicles, or get in touch to speak to a member of the team.