Thanksgiving is here and we feel it’s time to chime in on the things that we appreciate every day, especially when it comes to cars.
We’ve decided on five features and trends in new cars that showcase a bright future for consumers and enthusiasts. Some of these features are just hitting the prime-time, while others will mean much more to car buyers in the future as new technology trickles down into the average car. Either way, these are some of the things that we’re thankful for when it comes to cars.
While many are saying the death of the manual transmission is on the way, other manufacturers are refusing to give up, offering improved gearboxes with up to seven gears to choose from. The latest Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvette offer these kinds of transmissions, giving drivers one more gear to play with. This helps with top speed, and even helps to improve fuel efficiency.
Both of these systems also feature the fantastic rev-matching feature, ensuring perfect rev-matching down shifts every time.
We’re thankful for those seven gates in the center console because, hopefully, other automakers will follow suit, delaying the stick-shift’s obituary.
Hybrids aren’t just for the Green Peace crowd, or those trying to save a buck at the bump. This year saw the launch of three hybrid supercars: the Porsche 918, LaFerrari and McLaren P1.
Up until now, slow, commuter focused hybrids could never be associated with car enthusiasts.
Utilizing the power of electricity, these supercars are ushering in a new era of automotive excellence. Heck, the Porsche 918 just whipped out a sub seven-minute Nurburgring lap time, whipping the butts of previous top dogs by almost ten seconds.
These supercars are only the start, with a new batch of sports cars planned, including the Acura NSX and a rumored machine co-developed by BMW and Toyota.
Who says that hybrids aren’t cool?
Due to the radical designs if vehicles these days, it may be hard to see out of your car. That’s why we’re thankful for automakers that include backup cameras as standard equipment. While it’s not standard in every car, the DOT may be making it mandatory in the future and there’s really nothing wrong with that.
Forget sensors that beep at you while parking, the backup camera is the real deal, offering you a better sense of where your car is in tight situations. Parents also can spot any toys or toddlers strolling in the path of a reversing vehicle, helping to save countless boo-boos and big-wheels.
Even better, some cars feature multiple cameras that provide different angles of the car, even stitching them together to provide a top-down view of the car for even better maneuverability. Could this spell the end of parking related scrapes and bumps?
While we love to drive, sometimes it can get a bit tedious, especially when it comes to commuting in heavy traffic. That said, we’re thankful for adaptive cruise control, that matches the speed of the car ahead of you, meaning you only have to worry about steering and singing along to the stereo. These systems relieve the stresses associated with driving home during rush hour. For that, we’re grateful.
Make no mistake though, not all adaptive cruise control systems are created equal. Vehicles that skew to the higher end of luxury offer technology that can stop the car with traffic and start it back up again when the car ahead begins to move, giving the driver even less to think about.
Heated seats are becoming commonplace these days, with even cheap cars like the Mitsubishi Mirage sporting the convenient feature. While our butts appreciate the warmth, it’s our extremities – our hands – that need some extra attention. That’s why we’re thankful for cars that feature a heated steering wheel. These tend to warm up quicker than heated seats and have just as noticeable of an impact. Some cars even automatically turn on the feature if the outside temperature is low enough.
Do you have any other features or trends that you’re thankful for, like LED headlights, or the increase of diesel offerings in the US? Let us know in the comments. From all of us here at AutoGuide.com, we’d like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.