British drivers predict the car of the future

In a survey of 100 car enthusiasts by the UK car leasing comparison site, Leasing.com, motorists prioritised their own safety and the safety of their passengers above creature comforts when designing their perfect vehicle.

Over half of the respondents prioritised safety, with 55% listing it as the most important feature in ‘tomorrow’s car’. The measures include full internal cabin airbags as well as car-to-car communication to warn drivers of accidents or issues ahead, a system that is already in use, though in its infancy stage, with high-end models such as Teslas.

Enhanced steering wheel functionality such as live data of vital signs, as well as fingerprint car access, is also in high demand. This is a sign that functionality available on other products, such as smartphones, is increasingly expected to be transferred into other products such as cars.

In terms of entertainment, 60% selected augmented reality screens and dashboards as the feature they would most like to see, while a coffee machine came second with more than a quarter (28%) of the vote. Interestingly, the likelihood of both features breaking their way into the mainstream depends largely on the adoption of driverless cars.

Outside of the cockpit, solar roofs are proving to be a popular choice, especially as electric vehicles (EVs) become more prominent. Hyundai is leading the way in this area, with the recently released Ioniq 5 electric SUV one of the first to hit the market with a solar panel roof. If an EV’s batteries can be charged renewably on the move, they are likely to draw even more converts.

Dave Timmis, Managing Director of Leasing.com, says, “Technological developments are unlocking new possibilities when it comes to the automotive world. With features such as health monitoring, smart technologies and fingerprint access available in personal devices such as smart phones and smart watches, consumers are looking to have these integrated into their future vehicles.

“Leasing has always been an ideal way for early adopters to gain access to all the latest technology on the hottest new cars. The car of the future is likely to be packed full of cool tech and paid for monthly via leasing or subscription.”

Source: www.dpaonthenet.net