Cars are evolving at an incredible speed these days. Driven by technology, they are revolutionizing the roadways, and changing how we think of them. The latest technology is altering the experience of the driver behind the wheel, in a ton of ways – some, they might not even realize!

Car Technology Trends at Mechanicsville Toyota in Mechanicsville, VA | Interior of a 2024 Toyota Bz4x

The Connected Car

Today’s vehicles aren’t just a way to go from Point A to Point B. They are part of our lives, and are also part of today’s Internet of Things. The IoT is what connects music, navigation, cell phones – even other vehicles! In 2022, for the first time, there were more connected cars sold than non-connected ones. Connected cars make car ownership much more convenient, and they can come in a number of ways:

Built-in Wi-Fi network for music streaming and navigation without data use.
Dedicated mobile apps to start the car, lock and unlock doors, remember where you parked, and much more.
Maintenance notification to let you know when it’s time to replace parts or conduct maintenance.
Smartphone digital key that lets your smartphone act just like a key fob.

How the connected car evolves will continue to improve the experience of all drivers!

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are suites of safety and guidance systems that help drivers navigate their environment and operate their vehicles safely. This tech might be what drivers interact with the most – even when they don’t realize it. Current tech that is standard or optional on most vehicles includes:

Adaptive Cruise Control that automatically slows down or accelerates to keep a safe distance from the car in front of you.
Lane Departure Warning and Lane-Keep Assist that detects drifting and warns the driver and then can automatically redirect the vehicle.
Blind-Spot Alert that can sense if a vehicle is in the driver blind spot where they can’t actually see.
Cross-Traffic Alerts that detects cross-traffic and warns as a vehicle is backing up, preventing collisions.
Forward Collision Warning and Avoidance that warns if you are traveling at a rate that puts you at risk of a potential collision with the vehicle ahead of you, and will warn through light, sound, and tactile change. It may also automatically emergency brake to stop the vehicle if the driver doesn’t respond.

These are only a few systems, and almost every carmaker continues to develop improvements on these systems, or even new systems using tech to make your driving experience safer and easier!

Autonomous Vehicle Evolution

Smart technology, inside and out of the vehicle, is helping vehicles to get more autonomous as time goes on. While no model has perfected autonomous driving, many manufacturers are getting closer.

Already available and in operation in Germany, this is the first Level 3 autonomous system to receive production certification. Everything else on the market today is only certified as Level 2 autonomy, meaning it still requires the driver to be alert and ready at all times.

At Level 3, autonomous driving systems uses radar, LiDAR, and cameras, along with some input from moisture detectors and ultrasound, to perform a variety of driving tasks with minimal human override. This will be initially for use in stop-and-go traffic – helping to ease traffic jam and commuting stress.

Car Technology Trends at Mechanicsville Toyota in Mechanicsville, VA | Red 2024 Toyota bz4x driving down a city street

Artificial Intelligence

Increasing safety and efficiency is a big part of evolving your driving experience – and AI is starting to be a big part of it. This includes voice-activated smart assistants like Amazon Alexa and automaker-specific versions. Heads-up displays are also another way that AI has been implemented.

However, AI isn’t just influencing how people interact with cars. AI is starting to influence the driving experience as a whole, as it is incorporated into the design and evolution process. This means tech isn’t just helping your experience, it’s building it from the ground up!

These tech trends are leading the way forward, and working to make your everyday driving experience safer, more enjoyable, and more of a seamless part of your life! It’s amazing how tech has evolved in the last few decades for cars, and the coming decades look promising for more evolution!

Search our inventory online, or stop by to test drive some of the most advanced vehicles currently in the market at Mechanicsville Toyota.