The New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) closed its doors yesterday after an amazing eleven days of showcasing fantastic new concept cars, production models and innovative ideas. While we had fun last week showcasing the weird and the wonderful, we’ve been blown away in equal measure by the phenomenal technology that has appeared at one of the motoring calendar's premier events.
A lot of car manufacturers are going above and beyond to install incredible tech in their cars. The philosophy is simple - anufacturers are looking to wow potential customers with unbeatable technology that leaves a solid imprint on people's driving experiences. We’re not sure at the moment how the amazing new tech in these cars will affect new car quotes when released, but we’re not too bothered at the moment if we’re being honest. We’re still working out how best to scoop our jaws from the floor...
Here are our five favourite technological innovations showcased at this year’s New York International Auto Show:
Nissan's NASA Seats
The most comfortable piece of technology shown off at the NYIAS (especially for those that had been standing all day)was Nissan’s NASA seats. Featured in the pre-production Altima model, these seats are very bum-pleasing and have been heavily inspired by NASA research. Pressure points within the cushions help the body to improve blood flow, which is complemented by fantastic back support to give drivers the most comfortable ride possible. And, most importantly, they’re very comfy indeed!
Chevrolet’s GogoLink
While a lot of manufacturers seem to want to jam as much technology into the dashboard as possible, Chevrolet is taking a different route by cleverly linking an in-built terminal with the GogoLink smartphone app. For Chevrolet’s smaller models, the terminal is a cloud-based system that uses a phone’s data connection system to give people traffic updates in real-time, find points of interest in the local area and stream audio.
The Lincoln MKZ Sunroof
The MKZ production model finally made an appearance at the NYIAS after Lincoln debuted its concept at the Detroit Auto Show in January. It grabbed an enormous amount of attention because of the innovative design of its sunroof, which is almost two foot long and retracts over the rear windscreen. It doesn’t hinder the driver’s view, though, and the whole thing retracts within a speedy ten seconds. It was easily one of the more aesthetic pieces of kit at the NYIAS, and will certainly be in demand when people want to buy a new car on its release.
Subaru’s EyeSight
Though the above entries appear to be entirely cosmetic, the same can’t be said of Subaru’s EyeSight technology. Available on Subaru 2013 Outback and Legacy models, EyeSight uses specially-placed cameras to detect obstacles around the driver and warn them of impending collisions [when driving below 19 mph]. It can also brake for the driver should they fail to respond in time to the threat of collision, and can also stop the car entirely in extreme circumstances. That should make Subaru leasing a mouth-watering prospect to interested parties, surely...
Cadillac CUE
Though a number of manufacturers have gone all-out to try and integrate new and eclectic dashboard displays to their models, Cadillac’s CUE system is one of the most exciting we’ve seen. CUE doesn’t mimic analogue controls – instead it’s a stylish touchscreen display system that can be as simple or as complex as the user wants it to be. It cuts down on visual distraction and clutter found in rival cars, has applications (making it more akin to an iPad than a dashboard display) alongside standard smartphone/USB/Bluetooth compatibility. People getting a Cadillac with CUE installed on an affordable PCP deal will be very lucky indeed!
What do you think of our technology picks from the NYIAS? Have we missed out your favourite? Let us know by tweeting our @Askaprice Twitter account or leaving us a message on our Facebook page.