12 Auto Features Ensuring A Better Future

The future is coming, and it has your back. You know what they say: It’s the journey, not the destination — and the journey is about to get much safer and a whole lot better thanks to these emerging auto technologies. Brought to you by Exxon and Mobil Fuels and Lubricants, committed to technology and innovation for today and tomorrow.

1. Vehicle-to-vehicle communications (V2V):

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V2V, in essence, is technology that lets your car chat with other cars. By using a wireless exchange of data, vehicle-to-vehicle communications let vehicles talk to each other about how far away they are, how fast they're traveling and more. They then calculate possible risks and issue warnings to drivers to prevent crashes!

2. Carbon fiber bodies:

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How can we increase fuel efficiency in cars? Simple — by making cars lighter. Currently, cars are almost entirely made of steel, which is super heavy, but durable and reliable. Replacing steel with carbon fiber composites provides structural advantages while reducing the weight by half. Yes!

3. Automatic high-beam control:

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Gone are the days of flicking your high-beams on and off. A new feature automatically controls your vehicle's high-beams and optimizes their usage depending on your current surroundings. Just one less thing you have to think about in terms of safety.

4. Rear-mounted radar:

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We've all been there: having a panic attack while trying to back out of a parking space, or trying parallel style at ALL. While rear radar technology has been around for a few years (telling us when things are behind our cars) the new developments enable the radar to search for approaching cross traffic, so you don't get side-swiped by a minivan.

5. Parental control:

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Just like putting a lock on your TV, except so much better. Parental control technology means that parents can limit the top speed of the car to 60 mph, set warning beeps to go off at specific speeds and restrict the car's volume so that their teenager can't disturb the entire neighborhood. There's also a seat belt warning system that mutes the radio until seat belts are fastened. Some adolescents may be aggravated, but they will be safe!

6. Night vision:

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Ever wanted to wear night-vision goggles? Now you can. Well, your car can. In-dash night vision technology allows your car to register images based on body heat. In short: the car picks up the heat of pedestrians or animals and displays them as a bright image on your dash, so that you're aware of what's going on around your car. It has a range of 980 feet, so you're way ahead of the curve. (There is also another, more active version of night-vision tech that illuminates the area with projected infrared light.)

7. Self-driving cars:

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They’re finally (almost) here. Self-driving cars are currently in the testing stages — but already they can record images of the road, view road signs, find alternative routes and see traffic lights way before a person could. Basically, they’re better at driving than any human. Some people believe that we’ll see self-driving cars in showrooms within the next decade.

8. Active cornering headlight system:

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This little improvement means a lot of added safety. The active cornering headlight system uses smart headlamps that turn toward the road, so that if you're taking a sharp turn, the headlights will predict that and move with you. Doesn't sound like much, but the ability to see things you couldn't see before will save lives.

9. Systems that monitor the driver:

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So many accidents would be avoided if we just had somebody to check in on us while we're driving. In the works right now is a technology that would use sensors to monitor drivers' vitals such as heart rate, eye movements and brain activity to predict and detect anything from sleepiness to a heart attack. Also in development is technology to detect drunken driving, and one that will sound an alarm and slow down the car if a driver looks away from the road for too long.

10. Personal assistance safety service:

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Ever wanted your own PA who travels everywhere with you? You got it! Personal assistance programs give new vehicle owners 'round-the-clock access to a team of real people who can help with roadside assistance, weather forecasts, directions, sports scores — you name it. Your PA is accessible primarily by cell phone, which is synced to hands-free Bluetooth system so that you don’t have to take your focus off the road to get assistance.

11. Augmented reality dashboards:

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Dashboards are cool, but these are cooler. In development right now are systems which would identify objects in front of your vehicle and then overlay information over what you’re seeing in real life to show you how far they are. If you’re approaching a car too quickly, a red box may appear on the car with arrows showing you how to avoid colliding with them. The augmented reality dashboard could also show you which lane you need to be in and where you need to turn, so you never have to take your eyes off the road.

12. Car-stopping airbags:

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You’ve heard of airbags that protect your body in the case of a crash, but have you heard of airbags that actually prevent the crash from even happening? These airbags would deploy from underneath a car, when sensors determine that an impact is inevitable. They are coated in friction coating that slows the vehicle down and doubles the brake power of the vehicle, as well as lifting the vehicle off the ground to prevent passengers from sliding under their seat belts. This one is promising.