car tech

Attending CES and the Detroit auto show over the past two weeks has my brain awash in future technology. Mercedes-Benz showed off its fully autonomous F015 Luxury in Motion concept car in Las Vegas, while Buick,Chevrolet , Hyundai, Infiniti and Volkswagen all had concepts sporting advanced features in Motown. Many of these technologies are a ways off, but others are just around the corner, or even entering showrooms right now. The rate at which technology is changing personal transportation accelerates every year, which can make predicting the arrival of future car tech a dicey proposition. Even more compelling is the increasing priority we’re seeing consumers place on automotive technology during their shopping process at Kelley Blue Book. This had me wondering — what automotive technologies will go from science fiction to commonplace in just the next 5 years. I’ve listed these below in an effort to identify the top 10 advanced car technologies we’ll see in showrooms by 2020.

1. Autonomous Vehicle — Let’s just get this one out of the way. Note I didn’t say fully autonomous vehicle. Why? Because it will take more than 5 years before a car can drive anywhere, at all times, without human oversight. But by 2020 we’ll have cars capable of being fully autonomous in certain circumstances, most likely rural interstates with minimal variables (and no inclement weather). Think early days of cruise control.

2. Driver Override Systems — This relates to autonomous technology, but it’s different because it’s the car actively disregarding your commands and making its own decisions. We’ve already got cars that will stop if you fail to apply the brakes. But by 2020 cars will apply the brakes even if the driver has the gas pedal floored. The rapid increase in sensor technology will force a shift in priority, giving the car final say — not you.

3. Biometric Vehicle Access — The switch we’ve seen in recent years from keys to keyless entry and start will be followed by a switch to key-fob-less entry and start. You’ll be able to unlock and start your car without anything more than your fingerprint (or maybe your eyeball, but fingerprint readers are more likely than retina scanners). Sound a lot like the latest form of cell phone security? It should, because it’s exactly the same concept.

4. Comprehensive Vehicle Tracking — Insurance companies, and some state governments, are already talking about fees based on how many miles a person drives. By 2020 insurance companies will offer a reduced rate for drivers that agree to full tracking of their behavior. I’m hopeful this technology remains voluntary, but do I foresee a likely future where insurance companies will require comprehensive driver tracking? Sadly, yes.