• by Montgomery Miller
• December 8th, 2018

Hot Automotive Trends for 2019

Automotive technology is advancing and the changes seem to be coming at a faster pace than ever. From smart cars to hybrids and the latest gizmos, to major industry changes, 2019 may very well be a transformative year for the automotive industry.

On the big picture side, Ford is undertaking a major restructure and will eliminate most, if not all, of their sedans, focusing instead more on trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. That’s big news.

We know the mass-market for self-driving cars is several years in the future but the writing is on the wall. Leading the way are hi-tech advances in impact warning sensors, smart systems for the interior cabin, self-adjusting steering safety systems and other signs that vehicles are evolving to become more autonomous. Tesla, of course, has been leading the way towards the true autonomous vehicle, but there is still quite a lot work ahead.

Growth in the electric sector continues and is gradually increasing. In a September, 2018 report by Insideevs, it was reported that September 2018 marked the 36th month of consecutive year-over-year monthly sales gains for plug-in vehicles. Tesla delivered 22,250 Model 3 sedans in September alone.

According to a recent article in MoneyInc.com the top 10 electric vehicle set to hit the market in 2019 include:
The 10 Best Electric Cars Coming Out in 2019

• Audi E-tron Sportback (2019) The Audi E-tron Sportback made an initial appearance at the Shanghai motor show in 2017.
• Jaguar XJ (2019)
• Mini E (2019)
• Tesla Model 3 (2019)
• Volvo XC40 Electric (2019)
• Nissan IDS (2019) all-electric concept with various autonomous features.
• Audi Q6 e-tron quattro SUV (2019)
• Porsche Mission E (2019)

Smart technology is being integrated into vehicles at an accelerated rate with voice technology leading the way. Your state-of-the-art navigation system and seamless integration of smart phone and tablet technology into your vehicle will continue to make your driving experience more and more fun.

Clearly the competition to integrate smart technology into the automotive market has heated up considerably as manufacturers seek to lure buyers in a competitive market with cool gadgets that work. I say that because early iterations of smart technology have not always successfully interfaced with the user experience, to put it mildly. Many manufacturers are in a heated race to offer user-friendly systems that can manage infotainment and navigation systems, as well as interior environmental control systems seamlessly with voice using Google (Android Auto), Amazon’s Alexa and Apple (CarPlay). With these systems you’ll not only be able to manage the environment inside your vehicle, you’ll be able to manage your smart home devices, controlling lights, security systems, your garage door and your home heating and cooling system to name a few. One wonders who will make the first robot that can start your laundry and mix a martini for you as you’re pulling into the driveway?

According to a July 2018 Consumer Reports article, there are some really cool automotive safety systems that you should be looking for when purchasing a new vehicle in 2019. These include:

• Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): Brakes are automatically applied to prevent a collision or reduce collision speed.
• Forward-Collision Warning (FCW): Visual and/or audible warning intended alert the driver and prevent a collision.
• Blind-Spot Warning (BSW): Visual and/or audible notification of vehicle in blind spot. The system may provide an additional warning if you use your turn signal when there is a car next to you in another lane.
• Rear Cross-Traffic Warning: Visual, audible, or haptic notification of object or vehicle out of rear camera range but could be approaching or moving into it.
• Rear Automatic Emergency Braking (Rear AEB): Brakes are automatically applied to prevent backing into something behind the vehicle. This could be triggered by the rear cross-traffic system, or other sensors on the vehicle.
• Lane-Departure Warning (LDW): Visual, audible, or haptic warning to alert the driver when they are crossing lane markings.
• Lane-Keeping Assist (LKA): Automatic corrective steering input or braking provided by the vehicle when crossing lane markings.
• Lane-Centering Assist:  Continuous active steering to stay in between lanes (active steer, autosteer, etc.)
• Adaptive Cruise Control:  Adaptive cruise uses lasers, radar, cameras, or a combination of these systems to keep a constant distance between you and the car ahead, automatically maintaining a safe following distance. If highway traffic slows, some systems will bring the car to a complete stop and automatically come back to speed when traffic gets going again, allowing the driver to do little more than pay attention and steer.

Once these hi-tech safety features are featured on enough vehicles, we should be able to see some measurable impact on accident statistics. Until then, keep it safe on the road and have a safe and happy New Year in 2019.