Five New Technologies to Make Driving Easier

By JOSEPH B. WHITE

February 13, 2013

There's a technology revolution in the auto business, and it involves more than streaming radio apps and voice-activated Facebook updates. Joseph White joins the News Hub. Photo: BMW.

There's a technology revolution in the auto business, and it involves more than streaming radio apps and voice-activated Facebook updates.

Consumers who haven't shopped for a new car for five or more years—and that's a lot of people, since the average U.S. vehicle has been on the road for just over a decade—may encounter some exotic new advances.

To attract safety-conscious drivers, some car makers are revisiting the question, "Is there anywhere else we can stash an air bag?" Night-vision systems not unlike what the military uses to spot enemies in the dark are appearing at the upper reaches of the luxury market. And to meet tougher fuel-economy standards, car makers are installing transmissions with up to nine speeds.

Only a few customers might order such novel features. But what starts out as a costly, brand-burnishing option in a luxury sedan often migrates into wider use as technology prices invariably drop. Here's a sample of new technology hitting showrooms this year.

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