Posted on 07/19/2011 12:07:09 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
We’ve seen a lot of advancements in automotive design and technology in the past 14 years, so what’s to come in the next 14 years? We’ve all heard of autonomous cars in the making, and we’ve seen the evolution of hybrids, electrics, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and advanced safety features that are capable of stopping a vehicle in its tracks.
Imajerk17 asks us to look into the future to 2025, and debate what things automotive will be phased out in the cars of the future. He thinks steering wheels will be phased out and may possibly be replaced with a joystick, and with the development of aluminum and carbon-fiber-bodied cars, will steel-bodied cars make it to see 2025? Other forum posters are scared manual transmissions will a long-lost memory. What do you think? What things automotive will likely be gone by 2025? Would you go as far to say that human drivers will no longer be needed?
When did they stop equipping cars with turn signals?
carburetors - almost gone now from most road vehicles.
performance - the new ridiculous CAFE standards will make performance a thing of the past.
Ashtrays - By Goverment mandate.
To conserve gas, you will also be required to have at least 1 passenger.
Obama/Biden bumperstickers.
They are well built and easy to maintain if you know how.
If you don't , find a neighbor who can, mine helped me do new rotors, calipers & pads for $120 (I bought the parts.....
I think I could do it myself next time.
So for a pittance I got a job done & learned how to do it myself!
You’re right! My 67 Camaro has one, but they are becoming quite rare.
Gauges will be eliminated, replaced by displays that can be configured to look like anything you want.
You want the layout to look like a 1952 Corvette dash? Fine
You want the layout to look like the Starship Enterprise? Fine
If you can visualize it, you can have it.
Auto auto!
The 2004 Toyota Prius will come with an automatic parallel parking option that costs $1980. After a 40-minute commute in the DFW area, should you choose to parallel park, this option might have some value. Of course, the delays, accidents, stress and hoarseness from shouting at your fellow commuters has not been ameliorated!
Suppose we enlist the support of the high tech industries and schools in the DFW area. We ask them to deliver a system for $1980, which would address the whole commute issue. I’m not a traffic engineer but isn’t routing packets on the Internet and automobiles on North Central the same thing? Could the likes of Texas Instruments, Cisco Systems, Alcatel, Northern Telecom and other Telecom corridor enterprises build the necessary control system for the automobiles and design the network architecture for the DFW highway network? Would the same GPS that provides precision guidance for bombs, deliver our cars to our work destination? Would the MapQuest driving instructions be the basis for automatic automobile control systems? Would our Engineering schools at SMU, TCU, UTD and all those other characters, (no not the engineers!), lead the way?
The cell phone system already tracks our cell phones. GPS location finding capabilities are existent. A fully automated traffic light system with school zones and other situations properly addressed would speed up our commutes. If the DFW area decided to produce such a system and test and debug it in the local area would we create jobs? When successful, would we own a system that could be sold to other cities around the world? Would we create additional jobs and wealth for the Metroplex? I repeat, the Metroplex has the engineering, communications and aerospace companies which can produce a real 21st Century transportation system. It would be efficient and effective! Heck, we might also build a Metroplex commute vehicle which carries two people, the minimum of cargo and gets extraordinary gas mileage. It might look like a 1960 MG Midget and we would export that vehicle along with the transportation control system. I have been accused of being a dreamer! But I can dream can’t I?
If Barry gets his way in raising the debt ceiling, the most notable thing gone on cars will be buyers.
LOL.
When the PWed and abused realized they could give the finger to the rest of the driving public by NOT using them. They’ll fix us - still afraid of their spouses, bosses etc. though.
Obama-Biden bumper stickers.
Your labor is TAX FREE!
Here in Minnesota, I'm sure we will still find WELLSTONE bumper stickers.
They didn't. Some women drivers just think if they turn them on, they can turn without checking to see if anyone is in their way.... ;-)
Mark
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