The Best In-car Technologies For 2013

In-car technology advances at an incredibly fast pace, and car makers always try to integrate some of the latest technological innovations into their vehicles, so that they can offer greater in-car connectivity, make their vehicles safer, and more comfortable. The most innovative high-tech features in 2013, in addition to safety and connectivity, had to do with autonomous driving, an area the likes of Volvo, Ford and Audi have been especially successful in.

Infiniti Back-up Collision Intervention

Back-up collisions are pretty common, and they mostly occur because of inattentional blindness, or because the rear-view mirrors are not helpful enough for drivers to notice a vehicle or a smaller object behind their car. That's what Infiniti's Back-up Collision Intervention system is for, to help reduce these types of accidents, and prevent your car from sustaining damage that can be pretty costly, as well as pedestrians from getting injured.

The system can detect crossing traffic when a driver starts backing up, as well as stationary objects and pedestrians, and sends visual and audible alerts to warn the driver that they need to react and swerve, brake or slow down to avoid a collision. A series of sensors monitor the area behind the car, and the minute they detect another vehicle or some other object, the system sends several warnings, starting with flashing lights in your side-view mirrors, followed by three beeps and a warning light on the car's display mounted on its dashboard. If the driver does not react accordingly, by slowing down or pressing the brake pedal, the system applies the brakes immediately. If the driver continues to ignore the alerts, and keeps on backing up, the system pushes back the gas pedal.

Volvo Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection

Most car safety systems are intended to protect passengers inside a car, but Volvo, a leader in automobile safety, has decided to develop a technology that is supposed to improve pedestrian safety. The Swedish car maker introduced a technology that allows a car to stop automatically in case a pedestrian or a cyclist gets in the way. It employs a radar mounted on the car's grille, along with a high-speed camera that helps determine how big the objects in front of the car are. If the system detects that a collision with a cyclist or a pedestrian is imminent, it alerts the driver by displaying a red warning light on the car's dashboard, and if the driver doesn't do anything to avoid the collision, the brakes are automatically applied. This way, the risk of hitting a pedestrian or a cyclist is considerably reduced.

In-vehicle Wireless Charging

Charging a mobile device while on the road is always a bit of a hassle, as you have to bring cables with you wherever you go and plug them into your car, and in most cars, you can only charge one device at a time. With Mopar's wireless charging feature, charging a mobile device in your car will be much easier. It includes a special charging mat that is mounted on the car's center console tray, and can charge every smartphone or an MP3 player that is equipped with the special case provided by Mopar Parts. The device starts charging as soon as it is placed on the mat, which means you don't need any cables or wires or special attachments. This is a much faster and more convenient way of charging a mobile device in a car, and you can charge more than one device at the same time.