Visitors at this year’s Chicago
Auto Show will see plenty of inter-
esting technology inside the cabin
and under the hood of cars, trucks,
and SUVs on the show floor. From
concept cars to driveway-ready
production rides, there’s plenty of
innovation to see – and even more are on the way.
For example, take Infiniti’s steer-by-wire system,
available in the Q50. There’s no mechanical or hy-
draulic linkage between the steering wheel and front
wheels; it’s all done by electronics. This is done to
save weight and allow drivers to select from various
steering modes.
Or how about Ford’s C-MAX Solar Energi Con-
cept, a plug-in hybrid concept that uses solar panels
to help recharge its batteries. Automakers have tried
to use solar power in alternative-fuel vehicles for
years, and the Solar Energi Concept might be the
first vehicle to truly use solar energy for recharging.
Nissan’s Leaf and Toyota’s Prius V use available
solar panels to harness energy to power accessories.
Self-driving cars are still a ways off, but cars that
can park themselves, steer around obstacles, and
keep you in your lane are already here on the show
floor at McCormick Place.
Safety is a major trend for 2014, as evidenced by
the plethora of driver-aid devices on the market.
There are lane-departure warning systems that alert
drivers that they’re about to veer out of their lane;
lane-keeping-assist systems that can actively push a
wandering car back into the correct lane; rear cross-
traffic alert systems that will alert drivers to mean-
dering shopping carts and rogue pedestrians before
they back out of a parking space; and blind-spot
monitoring systems that alert drivers to other vehi-
cles lurking where they can’t be seen. There are even
systems that can detect if you’re driving drowsy,
such as Mercedes’Attention Assist.
Safety isn’t the only top tech of 2014. Infotainment
systems continue to grow more and more impor-
tant, as consumers continue to think of their cars
as mobile extensions of their connected homes and
offices. General Motors already offers hands-free
integration with Apple’s Siri personal assistant app,
and the company has announced that by the 2015
model year, most of its Chevrolet vehicles will be
rolling 4G LTE hot spots. Android operating systems
will also have a presence in cars in the very near
future. Audi, GM, Honda, and Hyundai are working
with chip manufacturer Nvidia and Google to bring
Android and associated apps to cars.
Google isn’t stopping with operating systems. The
2015 Hyundai Genesis will offer functionality with
Google Glass, the software giant’s wearable com-
puter. Wearers can access apps that will be vehicle
specific, such as service notifications, remote lock-
ing, and an app that allows wearers who are walking
around town to mark the coordinates of retail estab-
lishments and send them to their car for later use.
Performance enthusiasts shouldn’t feel left out of
the tech rush. The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette offers
a performance data recorder that uses a 720p video
camera, an in-cabin microphone, and a GPS receiver
to record
a weekend
warrior’s
track-day
laps for
posterity.
Whether
you love to
drive fast,
save gas,
or stay connected on the road, you’ll find the right
type of tech for you somewhere on the show floor.
Gee Wiz: Top Automotive Tech for 2014
By Tim Healey
Senior Writer Web2Carz.com, LTD.
More Than100,000 Veh i c l es Jus t A Cl i ck Away…Dr i veCh i cago. com
CHICAGO AUTO SHOW 2014
18