March 23, 2012
Car fans used to get excited about simple add-ons to their favorite vehicles. Optional 6-CD stereo systems. After market navigation computers that could be mounted on the dash. But 2012 is the year when car aficionados and tech geeks will meet. Technology is more integrated than ever in our cars, and the best new vehicles of 2012 take full advantage. Here’s a look at some of the standout innovators in this year’s automotive market.
The 2012 Audi A7. Audi’s are one of the most popular luxury brands, and have been for quite a while. But Audi is putting design in the customers’ hands for 2012. You can use their website to build your own A7 model. Some of the interesting technological advances available to customize your ride are a front-and-rear parking system that employs ultrasound wave sensors to warn you of impending bumps, and the MMI Navigation plus system, featuring a high-res, full-color, 8-inch LCD screen that flips open on the dash when you start the car. The MMI system is also touch-sensitive, accepting handwritten commands. But the coolest feature may be the Audi’s transformation into a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Another tech-savvy offering for 2012 is GMC’s Terrain. It sports a mounted rear-vision camera, placed just about the license plate, with a viewscreen available on the center console. It also comes standard with USB and Blue Tooth connectivity, and a built-in 40 gigabyte hard drive, with 25% of the space sectioned off for storing music. But many of the tech-centric improvements surround the vehicle’s safety measures. The Terrain comes with six airbags, a forward collision alert sensor, a lane departure warning, rear parking assistant, and a subscription to OnStar.
The new Honda Odyssey packs in technology geared towards safety and entertainment. It comes with a graphic indicator on the side view mirror that offers potential accident alerts. It also has a navigation system linked to a satellite that works off of voice recognition, a multi-angle camera in the rearview, and memory-linked side mirrors. But for the antsy passengers, it sports a DVD Ultrawide Entertainment system with HDMI tech.
The Ford Focus is a much less expensive buy for the technology aficionado. But it comes with a touchscreen on the dash that’s a one-stop-shop for controlling entertainment, phone and navigation services. It also sports Sirius Travel Link, voice-activated of course, and a push-button start. But the craziest addition? Active Park Assist, that will have your car parking itself in under half a minute. Amazing.
Two more quick hits to keep an eye on this year. The Nissan Leaf is the most readily-available electric car. But it also comes with push button start, a trip computer, Bluetooth and USB connection for your portable devices. And the Volvo 560 has taken monitoring devices to a whole new level with their pedestrian detection system. It will actually engage the car’s breaking system for you if it detects an impending low-speed collision. It works up to 500 feet, and first offers a warning before breaking itself. With these and so many more incredible features now becoming standard on new cars, it’s sure to make your choice much more difficult when looking at which model to rent at a car hire USA.
