Today's automobiles are equipped with computers that give you directions and diagnose onboard problems. But that's just the beginning. Vehicles will soon be able to sense other cars, keep you from breaking the law, and more.
Illustration by Bryan Christie
Vehicle-to-vehicle communications Not even the most attentive driver can see around blind curves. That's why major automakers are testing vehicles that communicate with one another. When your car 'hears', say, an out-of-control drag racer careening toward the intersection you’re approaching, it can hit the brakes on its own. Multiple automotive personalities Sure, your teenagers can take out the new ride—if they keep it under 55. That kind of control is not far off. The Corvette ZR-1's valet key tranquilized the car by deactivating 16 valves and limiting fuel intake. These days, Subaru's SI-Drive switch adjusts the engine, transmission, and suspension, turning your car from sporty to sedate. Automatic navigation rerouting Many nav systems warn you of traffic jams ahead, offering detours; BMW's GPS will even guide you around major highway tolls. The next step is to factor in hills and stoplights, enabling your car to travel the most fuel-efficient route. Head-up displays Fighter pilots stay focused on the horizon by scanning instrument readouts projected into their fields of view. Several automakers have borrowed the idea. Chevy and BMW display virtual gauges on their cars' windshields. Coming soon: route guidance from nav systems. Alcohol monitors Volvo is reportedly developing ignition systems that test a driver's breath before allowing the car to start. But don't expect a seat-side sobriety test in the near term; it's a tough challenge to crack when the driver can just recruit a teetotaling friend to blow into the tube and start the car. Law-abiding cars Mash up a speed-limit map and a GPS, and you have a system that tells your car when it's breaking the law. Manitoba, Canada–based Persentech makes a dash-mounted, automatic nagging device called Otto that flashes its lights and sounds an alarm if you exceed the local speed limit. Self-dimming headlights For 50 years, automakers tried—and failed—to build self-dimming headlights that wouldn't blind oncoming traffic. Now Gentex has cracked the code with a system of cameras and image sensors called SmartBeam (available on some Chrysler vehicles), which turns your high beams on and off. Self-monitoring service alerts Many cars can already diagnose their own problems. GM's OnStar system sends owners who opt in monthly bulletins on their car's safety and emissions systems, and BMW's vehicles will email the dealer if self- diagnostic systems turn up any issues that need immediate attention. FEATURE 
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