Siri, Take The Wheel

The Mercedes Touchpad is one of the slickest touch input devices out on cars
today. It also features a "wheel" for those more used to their old system.

New technology often tries to make our lives more simple, usually by making things more convenient for us. Unfortunately, it can also distract us from paying attention to what we’re doing. Welcome to the world of distracted driving. Nearly all of us carry our phone with us wherever we go, which means we’re always connected to others, even while driving.

Audi was one of the first manufacturers to introduce a
touch input for their MMI (multimedia) system.

Fortunately, automakers have come up with numerous ways to integrate our own gadgets to our cars in a safe way. With navigation/multimedia screens becoming increasingly more common in cars, many automakers including Audi, Lexus, and Mercedes have re-tooled their input systems so that you can get to the information you want in a much more intuitive way.

Gone are the days of having to press directional arrow keys to select what you want on the screen. Instead, it’s been replaced by something that’s far more simple to use – a touchpad. Now with the literal wave of a finger, you can write out your destination, or use it to scroll through phone contacts or dial a number on your phone via Bluetooth.

Terrible writing or not, Audi's touchpad knows exactly
which letter you're trying to draw.

If using physical inputs isn’t your cup of tea, you can always use voice controls to do your bidding. Voice control has come a long way over the years, even if my dad still insists on yelling commands because he doesn’t think the system can hear him. iPhone users have gotten used to giving orders to Siri, and it’s nice to see that this technology is following suit to certain new vehicles. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are two operating systems coming to a dashboard near you, that transform your car’s display to a similar layout of the main screen on your phone.

This means that you can then send a text with voice controls as you would with Siri, and have any new texts read out loud by the same system. Chevy has recently launched a new “Teen Driver” monitoring system in their 2016 Malibu, which mutes the radio until all seatbelts are fastened, enables all safety measures (traction control, ABS, etc.), and can even report back to parents if the driver exceeds a pre-determined range of speed, or if they happen to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision.

That’s probably a teen’s worst nightmare, but if it helps keep our roads safer then I’m all for it. It’s important for technology to enrich our lives, but also equally important that it doesn’t distract us from what matters the most. With these new systems, you’ll be able to enjoy these innovations and still keep your eyes on the road.     

Electric Avenue

Tesla's Model S offers an ideal blend of luxury and performance from its electric motors.

Like hybrids, electric cars are gaining in popularity amongst today’s car buyers. Normally I focus on a new innovative technology, but this week I’d like to put the spotlight on one manufacturer in particular – Tesla Motors.

In my opinion, Tesla is the most innovative auto manufacturer out there today. Co-founded in 2003 by current CEO Elon Musk (who co-founded PayPal, and also founded the space-exploration company SpaceX), Tesla has released three different models of cars to-date: their Roadster, Model S, and Model X. A fourth, the Model 3 is expected to be released in 2017.

Tesla's interiors feature a surprising lack of buttons, as
most options are controlled via a giant 17" touchscreen.

The Model S has been their most successful vehicle thus far, as it sold just over 50,000 units last year and was named the best-selling plug-in vehicle of 2015. And if you thought that electric cars weren’t built for high-performance, you’re in for a real surprise. The performance model of Tesla’s Model S is called the P90D, and as of now, it’s the fastest sedan in the world. With a 0-60 time of only 2.8 seconds, the P90D uses all-wheel drive to put its 762 hp and earth-shattering 687 lb-ft of torque to the pavement. This car is so quick to launch that it matches the performance figures of Lamborghinis and Ferraris. I’ll give you a moment to let that sink in.

The new Model X received plenty of attention at this year's
Canadian International Auto Show, thanks in part to its
stylized "falcon-wing" rear doors.

While the Model S represents luxury and performance, Tesla’s new Model X is a crossover that features seating for up to seven passengers. It’ll feature a performance model as well, and its rear doors are “falcon-wings” that open upwards and allow passengers to get in and out easily. Tesla is aiming to sell the smaller Model 3 for only $35,000 when it launches in 2017, easily making it their most affordable vehicle to date.

In addition to their innovative vehicles, Tesla has established a network of supercharger stations worldwide to quickly charge its vehicles, opened up its patents to the public in the hopes that they’ll improve their designs, avoided operating expensive dealerships in many U.S. states by setting up “stores” and “galleries” in malls, and marketed their own batteries for home use.

Even if cars and technology aren’t your cup of tea, I hope that you’ll at least follow Tesla’s developments in the coming years. They’re making waves in the auto industry, and they’re providing us all with an incredible amount of innovations.

The Best Of Both Worlds

The BMW i8 is a hybrid car, but you probably wouldn't guess that from its appearance.

Over a decade ago, hybrids slowly started to emerge in the auto industry. To say that they weren’t a hit amongst auto enthusiasts would be an understatement. Despite this, most people with even the slightest interest in cars could probably tell you that the Toyota Prius was the first hybrid car on the road.

The Fisker Karma features solar panels on its roof which
provide extra power for the car's tech accessories. 

But what if I told you that this wasn't true? The first ever gasoline-electric hybrid car was invented in by Prof. Ferdinand Porsche, who unveiled his Lohner Porsche to the public in 1900. While hybrids and their various technologies have changed greatly over the years, I’m only going to focus on their evolution following the introduction of the Prius. Love it or loathe it, the Prius has been the poster car for the hybrid movement. But first, it’s important to understand how these cars work.

Simply put, all gasoline-electric hybrids have a gas tank just as traditional cars do, but they also have large capacity (or a series of) batteries that’s able to store electricity that gets generated from when the car’s brakes are applied while driving. Then, at certain speeds or range of distances, the car is able to use its electric motor to start driving from a stop, before the gas engine kicks in at a higher speed. The Atlantic has a great infographic to better explain how hybrids work.

Porsche's Cayenne S E-Hybrid caters to enthusiasts 
looking for both performance and decent mileage.

Years ago, hybrid technology was confined to cars that looked rather boring, or were downright hideous in appearance. Luckily nowadays, luxury manufacturers are honing in on the popularity of hybrids. Porsche recently unveiled a plug-in hybrid model of their popular Cayenne SUV, which produces a whopping 416 hp when combining its gas and electric powertrains. BMW created an entirely new i series of cars, including its i8 sports car, which features a three-cylinder gas engine with a plug-in electric motor.

As a car enthusiast, older hybrids like the Prius really got to me. I could appreciate the technology behind them and how they were more environmentally friendly, but they were sluggish to drive and dull to look at. Fortunately, this new breed of hybrids has a variety of vehicles available to those looking for a cheaper commuter vehicle, to supercars that can be raced on the track. Looking at the latest hybrid supercars produced by Porsche, Ferrari, and McLaren gives me faith in hybrid technology after all.

Smile For The Camera

The majestic Chevy Tahoe in its natural environment.

When the topic of cameras comes to mind, I always think back to 2007, when my dad ordered a new, fully loaded Chevy Tahoe. It was by far the largest vehicle my family had ever owned, but most excitingly, it was the first vehicle I’d ever come across that had one of the biggest tech innovations at the time – a backup camera. According to Edmunds, it weighed in at just under 2.5 metric tonnes and over 5 metres in length. If any vehicle needed a backup camera, it was this one.

Overhead views makes parking in tight spaces a breeze.

To say that backup cameras were a great innovation would be an understatement. While they make life easier for motorists that dislike looking over their shoulder while reversing, they most importantly provide an unprecedented level of safety for preventing rearward collisions.

Did you know that on average, over 200 people die each year after being struck by reversing cars, in addition to 15,000 others being injured? That number is staggering, which is why thanks to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, backup cameras will become standard by law in 2018.

New front-facing cameras help give drivers a 360° view.

I’m really happy to see this become a standard piece of equipment on new cars, considering that nearly a decade ago, this was a “luxury option” that cost thousands of dollars. Now, automakers are expanding from including only a backup camera, to including a system of (at least) four cameras that produce a 360° image. This of course means that you’ll be able to see what’s in front, behind, and on both sides of you.

I’ve had the chance to drive a new Mercedes with the 360° camera system on it, and I think it’s fantastic. One day, I’m sure this feature will come standard on all cars, and it’ll help not only those among us that "park by braille", but will also lead to fewer avoidable injuries and deaths. So next time you see someone reversing towards you, be sure to smile for the camera.