2008-2009
In the past few years the automotive industry has been on fire with the production of eco-friendly, fuel-efficient, safer and more technological cars. With the rising awareness of global warming and the negative effect that carbon dioxide emissions from cars have on the environment, the industry is designing more efficient and environmental cars. New advances in technology have allowed for better safety in vehicles and the inclusion of applications such as seat-warmers, iPod outputs, etc.
Hybrid cars are the fastest-growing type of cars out on the market right now. With MPG of 50 and greater, these cars also reduce carbon dioxide emissions and are becoming readily more available to consumers in many different forms. Several of the bestselling hybrids are discussed in detail below.
Toyota Prius:
With a sticker price of less than $23,000 the Prius is the most popular hybrid on the market. It was the car that started the rage for hybrids. With an average MPG of 60 (in the city) and 51 (on the highway) this car is extremely fuel-efficient in comparison to other vehicles. Though the Prius has been around for a few years now there are constantly updates being made to the models in order to produce the most environmentally-efficient vehicle possible.
Honda Civic Hybrid:
Slightly less expensive than the Prius, the Honda Civic is another commonly seen hybrid car. The average MPG is 49 (city) and 51 (highway). This vehicle includes 6 airbags as standard, whereas an extra fee is required for more airbags in the Prius, and boasts high safety test scores.
Honda Accord Hybrid:
The Honda Accord appeals more to a car-enthusiast crowd rather than an environmentalist crowd. The Accord is promoted as a performance sedan that gets 4-cylinder gas-engine mileage. It is speedy, safe, and still more fuel efficient than the majority of other cars. The average MPG is 25 (city), 34 (highway).
Technological advances in cars have sped up in recent years and it is now standard for cars to have automatic locks and windows or air-conditioning/heating systems. Options that come with cars have also broadened to MP3 outputs, GPS navigation systems and much more. Because so many people commute to work each day and spend lots of time in their cars, it is more likely that they will opt in on some of these extra options.
Seat Heaters:
More and more companies are offering the option of seat heaters in their vehicles. Though it is an extra fee, many consumers are willing to pay the extra amount in order to reap the benefits. When the cold weather settles in the seat heaters are convenient, especially for those drivers who have long trips to make. Luxury in forms such as this are becoming increasingly more common in cars in order to cater to drivers and their demands.
MP3 Outputs:
With the introduction and eruption in popularity of the iPod and Zune earlier this century, vehicles are now offering special outputs for the installation of an MP3 player. Drivers like to listen to music while they are on the road and the radio can get frustrating with the constant commercial breaks. MP3 outputs allow drivers to pick what they listen to without interruption. Some cars even have a system where the driver can tell the car what song they want to hear and the system will play it back.
GPS Navigation:
Although the invention of MapQuest and Google Maps has made finding the way infinitely easier, car companies have also introduced in-car GPS systems to simplify the process. All a driver needs to do is plug in their current location and then their designated location and the GPS will map out and navigate the trip for them. The GPS option can either be bought with the car or bought separately and installed into any car.
Safety Features:
Due to the high rate of accidents in motor vehicles, car companies have been working on ways to reduce the mortality rate by producing safer models. Some cars now include technology that allows the driver to change speeds during cruise control or will even brake for the driver if they are too close to the car in front of them. Another added safety measure is the rising average number of airbags in a standard vehicle. Car companies are ensuring that safety is one of the top priorities in new vehicles.
2010-2012
In the next few years, cars will continue to shift towards fuel-efficiency and alternatives such as battery-power and ethanol fuel. Technological advances will remain a major factor in relation to safety, comfort, and convenience. All in all the automotive industry will continue to make advances and move in the direction that it is currently moving.
Battery and Hydrogen Fuel-Cell-Powered Vehicles:
These vehicles produce no pollution and consume no fossil fuels while driving. Battery-powered cars must be charged in order to contain energy while Hydrogen must be extracted from other chemicals. Advancements still need to be made in these areas because, as of now, the pollution from the production process seems to outweigh the benefits of the cars themselves. It is estimated, however, that developments made in the next few years in these cars will lead them to become stiff competition and eco-friendly alternatives for gasoline-fueled cars.
Ethanol Fuel:
Ethyl is the same type of alcohol in alcoholic beverages. It is a form of renewable energy that is produced from agricultural crops such as potato, corn, and sugar cane and can be used as fuel. Ethanol fuel is currently used as a biofuel additive in gasoline, however in the future it is likely that some cars will be modeled to run entirely off of ethanol. Past concerns about ethanol fuel have been the large amount of crops required and the energy used and pollution created in its production process. Recent advancements have helped solve these concerns and make ethanol fuel a more likely and eco-friendly alternative to gasoline. Although the energy per unit volume in an ethanol engine is 34% lower than gasoline, these engines give increased power output and higher fuel economy than their counterparts.
Future Car Models:
1. 2010 Lexus HS:
This model is a smaller, more-affordable luxury version of the Lexus and Prius hybrids. It offers the best fuel-economy of all Lexus models and is reasonably faster than the Prius.
2. 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost V-6:
This model employs turbo-charging and direct injection in its V-6 EcoBoost engine, using less gas. The engine is cheaper to build than a diesel and has 15-20% better mileage.
3. 2012 Toyota ‘Urban Commuter’:
Toyota plans to sell small battery-powered commuter cars by 2010 that can be recharged at electrical outlets. This model is an alternative to fuel-powered engines and would be used for traveling up to 50 miles per trip.
Posted By: Kaila Evenoff and Lindsey Jamieson
Sources:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1223725/best_new_cars_trends_for_2009.html?cat=27
http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2006/05/greenrate.html
http://autos.aol.com/article/future-car-trends
http://mb-soft.com/public/cars00.html
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/112_0910_2010_lexus_hs_250h_test/index.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aUMqD_U5PZkQ&refer=home
http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2008/112_0812_2011_ford_f_150_ecoboost_engine/index.html
In the past few years the automotive industry has been on fire with the production of eco-friendly, fuel-efficient, safer and more technological cars. With the rising awareness of global warming and the negative effect that carbon dioxide emissions from cars have on the environment, the industry is designing more efficient and environmental cars. New advances in technology have allowed for better safety in vehicles and the inclusion of applications such as seat-warmers, iPod outputs, etc.
Hybrid cars are the fastest-growing type of cars out on the market right now. With MPG of 50 and greater, these cars also reduce carbon dioxide emissions and are becoming readily more available to consumers in many different forms. Several of the bestselling hybrids are discussed in detail below.
Toyota Prius:
With a sticker price of less than $23,000 the Prius is the most popular hybrid on the market. It was the car that started the rage for hybrids. With an average MPG of 60 (in the city) and 51 (on the highway) this car is extremely fuel-efficient in comparison to other vehicles. Though the Prius has been around for a few years now there are constantly updates being made to the models in order to produce the most environmentally-efficient vehicle possible.
Honda Civic Hybrid:
Slightly less expensive than the Prius, the Honda Civic is another commonly seen hybrid car. The average MPG is 49 (city) and 51 (highway). This vehicle includes 6 airbags as standard, whereas an extra fee is required for more airbags in the Prius, and boasts high safety test scores.
Honda Accord Hybrid:
The Honda Accord appeals more to a car-enthusiast crowd rather than an environmentalist crowd. The Accord is promoted as a performance sedan that gets 4-cylinder gas-engine mileage. It is speedy, safe, and still more fuel efficient than the majority of other cars. The average MPG is 25 (city), 34 (highway).
Technological advances in cars have sped up in recent years and it is now standard for cars to have automatic locks and windows or air-conditioning/heating systems. Options that come with cars have also broadened to MP3 outputs, GPS navigation systems and much more. Because so many people commute to work each day and spend lots of time in their cars, it is more likely that they will opt in on some of these extra options.
Seat Heaters:
More and more companies are offering the option of seat heaters in their vehicles. Though it is an extra fee, many consumers are willing to pay the extra amount in order to reap the benefits. When the cold weather settles in the seat heaters are convenient, especially for those drivers who have long trips to make. Luxury in forms such as this are becoming increasingly more common in cars in order to cater to drivers and their demands.
MP3 Outputs:
With the introduction and eruption in popularity of the iPod and Zune earlier this century, vehicles are now offering special outputs for the installation of an MP3 player. Drivers like to listen to music while they are on the road and the radio can get frustrating with the constant commercial breaks. MP3 outputs allow drivers to pick what they listen to without interruption. Some cars even have a system where the driver can tell the car what song they want to hear and the system will play it back.
GPS Navigation:
Although the invention of MapQuest and Google Maps has made finding the way infinitely easier, car companies have also introduced in-car GPS systems to simplify the process. All a driver needs to do is plug in their current location and then their designated location and the GPS will map out and navigate the trip for them. The GPS option can either be bought with the car or bought separately and installed into any car.
Safety Features:
Due to the high rate of accidents in motor vehicles, car companies have been working on ways to reduce the mortality rate by producing safer models. Some cars now include technology that allows the driver to change speeds during cruise control or will even brake for the driver if they are too close to the car in front of them. Another added safety measure is the rising average number of airbags in a standard vehicle. Car companies are ensuring that safety is one of the top priorities in new vehicles.
2010-2012
In the next few years, cars will continue to shift towards fuel-efficiency and alternatives such as battery-power and ethanol fuel. Technological advances will remain a major factor in relation to safety, comfort, and convenience. All in all the automotive industry will continue to make advances and move in the direction that it is currently moving.
Battery and Hydrogen Fuel-Cell-Powered Vehicles:
These vehicles produce no pollution and consume no fossil fuels while driving. Battery-powered cars must be charged in order to contain energy while Hydrogen must be extracted from other chemicals. Advancements still need to be made in these areas because, as of now, the pollution from the production process seems to outweigh the benefits of the cars themselves. It is estimated, however, that developments made in the next few years in these cars will lead them to become stiff competition and eco-friendly alternatives for gasoline-fueled cars.
Ethanol Fuel:
Ethyl is the same type of alcohol in alcoholic beverages. It is a form of renewable energy that is produced from agricultural crops such as potato, corn, and sugar cane and can be used as fuel. Ethanol fuel is currently used as a biofuel additive in gasoline, however in the future it is likely that some cars will be modeled to run entirely off of ethanol. Past concerns about ethanol fuel have been the large amount of crops required and the energy used and pollution created in its production process. Recent advancements have helped solve these concerns and make ethanol fuel a more likely and eco-friendly alternative to gasoline. Although the energy per unit volume in an ethanol engine is 34% lower than gasoline, these engines give increased power output and higher fuel economy than their counterparts.
Future Car Models:
1. 2010 Lexus HS:
This model is a smaller, more-affordable luxury version of the Lexus and Prius hybrids. It offers the best fuel-economy of all Lexus models and is reasonably faster than the Prius.
2. 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost V-6:
This model employs turbo-charging and direct injection in its V-6 EcoBoost engine, using less gas. The engine is cheaper to build than a diesel and has 15-20% better mileage.
3. 2012 Toyota ‘Urban Commuter’:
Toyota plans to sell small battery-powered commuter cars by 2010 that can be recharged at electrical outlets. This model is an alternative to fuel-powered engines and would be used for traveling up to 50 miles per trip.
Posted By: Kaila Evenoff and Lindsey Jamieson
Sources:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1223725/best_new_cars_trends_for_2009.html?cat=27
http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2006/05/greenrate.html
http://autos.aol.com/article/future-car-trends
http://mb-soft.com/public/cars00.html
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/112_0910_2010_lexus_hs_250h_test/index.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aUMqD_U5PZkQ&refer=home
http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2008/112_0812_2011_ford_f_150_ecoboost_engine/index.html
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