Entertainment and, safety features designed to ease family travels
Cars and trucks are now expected to do more than ever before, and consumers expect more performance, increased utility and unparalleled safety for their families.
More and more features to meet these needs are making their way to mainstream vehicles. Here's a look at some of the more common options you'll probably be presented with next time you go out looking for a family vehicle.
Backup Safety System: Reverse Sensing Systems see objects in the vehicle's path when slowly backing up, allowing drivers to make it out of a bike-filled driveway with ease. Ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper are used to create an audible alert when objects are behind the vehicle. Other carmakers even use a camera mounted in the rear near the license plate, which displays its image on the navigation screen for more peace of mind.
Infiniti is even creating an "All Around View" camera on a prototype model which would allow drivers to see 180 degrees around their vehicle from a single screen.
IPOD Jack / Adapter: Now standard on most vehicles is an auxiliary jack allowing an IPOD or other portable MP3 player to feed its sound into the vehicle's stereo system. One step further than a jack is an adapter, allowing the IPod to remain out of sight, its playback controlled by the head-unit in the car. Stay tuned to learn about new systems allowing drivers to plug in a USB drive and upload their own tunes, movies and photos to the car's entertainment system.
Keyless Access: Mazda is one of the first affordable carmakers to offer a unique way to access your vehicle. Rather than fumbling around in your pocket or purse for a set of keys at night, the driver is only required to carry the key fob with them--be it in their briefcase, pack-sack or otherwise.
When approaching the vehicle, the key sends a signal to the car's computer identifying the driver, which allows them to unlock the doors or pop the trunk by simply touching a button on the door handle, or giving it a gentle tug. Once on board, the engine is started with the push of a button--the key can stay pocketed the entire time!
Cars and trucks are now expected to do more than ever before, and consumers expect more performance, increased utility and unparalleled safety for their families.
More and more features to meet these needs are making their way to mainstream vehicles. Here's a look at some of the more common options you'll probably be presented with next time you go out looking for a family vehicle.
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| Backup Safety System |
Backup Safety System: Reverse Sensing Systems see objects in the vehicle's path when slowly backing up, allowing drivers to make it out of a bike-filled driveway with ease. Ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper are used to create an audible alert when objects are behind the vehicle. Other carmakers even use a camera mounted in the rear near the license plate, which displays its image on the navigation screen for more peace of mind.
Infiniti is even creating an "All Around View" camera on a prototype model which would allow drivers to see 180 degrees around their vehicle from a single screen.
IPOD Jack / Adapter: Now standard on most vehicles is an auxiliary jack allowing an IPOD or other portable MP3 player to feed its sound into the vehicle's stereo system. One step further than a jack is an adapter, allowing the IPod to remain out of sight, its playback controlled by the head-unit in the car. Stay tuned to learn about new systems allowing drivers to plug in a USB drive and upload their own tunes, movies and photos to the car's entertainment system.
Keyless Access: Mazda is one of the first affordable carmakers to offer a unique way to access your vehicle. Rather than fumbling around in your pocket or purse for a set of keys at night, the driver is only required to carry the key fob with them--be it in their briefcase, pack-sack or otherwise.
When approaching the vehicle, the key sends a signal to the car's computer identifying the driver, which allows them to unlock the doors or pop the trunk by simply touching a button on the door handle, or giving it a gentle tug. Once on board, the engine is started with the push of a button--the key can stay pocketed the entire time!
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| Keyless Access |