Car Innovations

1. Gesture Control In the  2016 BMW 7 Series , your finger becomes a magic wand. When you place your hand above the shifter, an infrared camera detects your movements, allowing you to control certain features. Answer a Bluetooth call by pointing at the screen, or adjust the music volume by twirling your finger. Warning : Don’t flip off other drivers, or you might accidentally switch the radio to smooth jazz. When does to much technology become unsafe for driving? autosmithcar.com

1. Zero emissions 2. 400-600 mile range on single battery charge 3.Automated driving mode from 2025 4. Can receive parcels if the owner isn¹t at home through a new delivery service 5. It looks pretty cool When I read the article the key point was the distance the car could travel on a single charge if you remember back to Saturn and the Ev-1 it had capabilities of only 150 miles when at the time an average commuter was driving over 300 a week.  Everyone understands you can plug in the Chevy Volt but with how fast the world moves the batteries simply need to last longer in my opinion in order for then to truly hit the market in force.  Maybe VW has the answer. autosmithcar.com

Known as a “concept automated EV vehicle,” the much-buzzed-about NeuV offers a glimpse at what a commuter car of the near future might look like. Fueled by artificial intelligence, or the “emotion engine,” the boxy shape first and foremost suggests function over form, with a user-friendly, computer-infused interior designed to react to occupants. Honda has hinted that the NeuV would address traffic congestion, possibly through vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems. The Japanese automaker is also unveiling a concept motorcycle to showcase its robotics advancements as part of its theme of “Cooperative Mobility Ecosystem.” Artificial Intelligence is really not a new concept, think of smart phones and their location services when you use a mapping application.  I did research the motorcycle Honda is releasing that is mentioned in the article but not much gathered yet.  The vehicle still integrates with the driver so control is never lost but maybe focus if you don't always ...

Mercedes' Vision Van  is part of a $562 million investment over the next five years to create a network of all-electric vans and drones for a rapid delivery service. The van has a fully automated cargo space that loads packages and alerts the driver when approaching a drop-off location for one of them. It will then push that package through a hatch on the roof so a drone can grab it and fly it to the right location. It's still unclear when we'll see the van in use, but it's an interesting step showing Mercedes' intent to revolutionize the logistics of package delivery. This article is not kidding, there is a mass push to have this done to improve logistics and speed of deliveries as speed equals more money, more deliveries, larger cash flow, numerous sources have pointed out the ability to do this.  Think about it, we have drones you can buy in a toy store had the manufacturing power and money of a automotive monster and it just might work.   a...

 Nissan unveiled a steering wheel that transforms into a tablet. Business Insider has the actual video of how it works, it is insane, but it is designed for cars that will no longer need a driver so if we actually ever see one will remain the mystery.  They have tried to have a version of the same thing on the passenger side but no real evidence we will see it. autosmithcar.com

Italian design house Pininfarina first unveiled the concept car in March, but production models are slated to arrive in 12 to 14 months. Called  the H2 , the car has a killer acceleration time of 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 186 mph. Hydrogen cars are interesting because they have perks EVs still don't have, like longer ranges and a faster refuel time. But without a real network of hydrogen stations to support them, hydrogen cars will have a difficult time going mainstream.  Still, the H2 entering production shows some promise for seeing more of these cars in the future, even if just in a limited capacity. They made a hydrogen car and people have wanted them for cleaner energy but the problem faced from what I have read is how to turn gas pumps over to be able to handle multiple fuels..maybe they might have a plan. autosmithcar.com

Lexus recently leaked a photo of its UX concept SUV, and it shows that the sideview mirrors have been replaced with cameras. This isn't the first time we've seen a concept car without mirrors, but it's worth paying some extra attention to the feature showing up on a Lexus. Japanese automakers got the OK in June to  make and sell mirrorless cars , making it one of the first countries to embrace the technology. Considering Lexus is owned by Japanese automaker Toyota, we're likely to see more of this tech in use going forward. Now that we have covered the past a bit i decided to jump to the future.  It is being reported that this may become standard but I always believed to trust your own eyes and not a machines. autosmithcar.com

Barrett-Jackson auctioning Shelby GT500 Super Snake for Las Vegas first responders Las Vegas EMTs, police, fire departments will get all proceeds from the Mandalay Bay auction sale. Love to see good news, when all you read is such horrible things happening.

The first car was invented in  1886 . The tricycle-like car may have used gasoline and been able to move at a maximum speed of 10mph, but it sure wasn't covered with car insurance. The first recorded auto insurance policy was sold in  1898  from Travelers Insurance and cost only $12.25. A sideways approach to innovations as I like to call it.  Insurance in general became key to helping consumers in troubled times.  With vehicles being new to the world and replacing a horse that usually did not crash, insurance became crucial to give consumers a sense of comfort in their "big" purchase which was also a big venture for a consumer at the time. autosmithcar.com

1934, The First One-Piece All-Steel Roof Fisher Body developed the industry’s first one-piece all-steel roof, called the Turret Top, and introduced it on all GM cars built in the U.S., beginning with the 1935 model year Chevrolet lineup. Previously, car roofs had been built around a wooden frame covered with canvas, limiting both the vehicle’s structural integrity and its design potential. The second photo is a unique testimony to the turret top’s strength. An innovation that was based more on the design side of things in the auto industry which led to engineering the body of a vehicle not simply based on what the factory produced. autosmithcar.com

Modern  cruise control  (also known as a speedostat or tempomat) was  invented  in 1948 by the  inventor  and mechanical engineer Ralph Teetor. His idea was born out of the frustration of riding in a car driven by his lawyer, who kept speeding up and slowing down as he talked. I remember first starting in the business cruise control was asked about by customers regularly, now it is bluetooth.   autosmithcar.com