The Consumer Electronics Show might not be the first place you would expect to see automotive news, but it’s quickly emerging as a hotspot for upcoming vehicle technology to debut.
Next week we will be reporting live from the show floor, but these are six things we are especially excited to see in Las Vegas.
One of the biggest automotive announcements at CES is the introduction of a new autonomous car concept from Mercedes. In fact, Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche will deliver a speech on the opening day of the show where he will address the future of self-driving cars as well as unveil this new concept car.
We have seen some photos of the car being tested, but Mercedes wrapped it up nicely in camouflage and we couldn’t quite make out too many details. All will be revealed on January 5.
Audi loves to show off its cars in little bite-sized pieces, so this year it will be showcasing the tech features of the upcoming Q7 SUV’s. Specifically, you can expect to see the Q7’s controls and in-car displays.
In addition to the Q7’s high-tech interior, Audi will be showing off its Matrix Laser Technology, something they describe as having the ability to “illuminate the entire road with precision and high definition.”
BMW’s headlight design is now an iconic detail that can be easily identified in both night and day. At CES, the company is going to take those headlights to the high tech world of lasers. These new lights are actually an upgrade to the laser lights available on the i8, but can also automatically adapt to traffic, thanks to the use of sensors and cameras.
Additionally, BMW will be showing off new organic light emitting diodes (OLED) technology and how it can be used in cars, specifically tail lights. OLEDs are thinner and use less power than traditional LEDs.
The most interesting item BMW will be showing off is an i3 research vehicle that sports a 360-degree collision avoidance system and the ability to park itself in a multi-story parking complex.
The folks behind some of the best in-car technologies are bringing a new technology concept car to CES. The only information we have is about a car which features mobile connectivity, safety features, acoustics technologies and an intuitive UI to work in concert in order to create a fully integrated experience. We can’t wait to see what they’ve been working on at CES.
Ford announced that it will drop its MyFord Touch infotainment system. That’s a good thing, since critics have been complaining about the layout, speed and stability of that system for quite some time. The new Ford SYNC 3 system will be on display and free to test at CES, so expect to see and hear quite a bit about this new technology.
Ford will also take time to discuss its thoughts on connected cars, sustainability and green technology.
Hyundai is bringing its new infotainment system to CES, which will begin showing up in select 2016 model year vehicles. Arriving with the ability to support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the new system will be compatible with more smartphones on the market today.
Furthermore, the company is stripping out some of the things made redundant by smartphones. That means no CD players or embedded navigation systems. Instead you can use your handset to power its navigation and provide music.