Every year has its own new car trend. Whether cars are getting bigger or smaller, more or less technological, they are always at the whim of fashion. Some new trends tend to go down better than others. Sometimes you wish that car companies would stick to what people want from them. With that in mind, here are some of our favourite car trends of recent months.
Automation everywhere
Perhaps the single most dominant car trend of the last few years, automated vehicles have become a hot issue at every trade event. Toyota’s latest entry into the market is the automated box on wheels known as the e-Palette. This is intended to replace goods delivery vehicles, taxis and even pizza guys. The e-Palette is customisable, and adaptable to different situations. It is hard not to be excited over what Toyota can do with the e-Palette in the future.
Electric Dreams
Electric cars are moving from a novelty to a regular appearance on the road. It is no longer particularly unusual to see an electric car charging point being used at a garage or service station. This is one car trend that will continue to build. Electric cars will grow to be as regularly used as petrol and diesel. The cars themselves will become nearly indistinguishable from regular cars on the road. The UK will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2040, so electric cars are essential for the future.
Screen Displays
Everyone’s car already has some element of display – speedometer, clock etc. However, cars are now starting to receive much more data than just speed and revs. Digital data displays now need to inform drivers of directions, fuel efficiency and song choices. Electric cars need larger screens to display their fuel levels and efficiency with more detail. This has caused a natural growth in the size of screen displays to adjust. The information you receive in your car will become increasingly digital, and screens will take up more of your car in turn.
All Wheel Drive
While Four Wheel Drive (4WD) has existed for years, a new car trend is growing in popularity – All Wheel Drive (AWD). The difference between the two ideas is not purely a semantic one, although it is a little complex. Generally, 4WD refers to off road vehicles, where AWD is for road only vehicles. In function however, AWD engines send power to all wheels with the aim of gaining the most possible traction. This allows AWD vehicles to stay stable on the road in any weather condition.