The past year alone we have seen an increase in futuristic features brought forth to vehicles. From infotainment systems to autopilot, vehicles have certainly come a long way. Many new drivers are learning in vehicles that do a substantial amount of work for them through features such as assisted lane changing, back up cameras, parking assistance, etc. Although this may sound like a lot, it’s only the beginning. Many new cars rolling out in Canada next year are jam-packed with features that are changing the way we as humans drive. If you are looking to get your hands on a vehicle of the future whilst simultaneously getting the best deal possible on said vehicle, you’re in luck. Our dealer invoice report can help you save money on your new 2019 vehicle. So, what exactly should you look out for in 2019?

Electric vehicles

Surprisingly enough, electric cars have been around for quite some time, with the first one being manufactured in 1884. It wasn’t until the 2000s, however, that electric cars began making waves in the automobile industry. Tesla was one of the first to revolutionize the electric vehicle and since then, a surplus of makers have been diving into the electric vehicle route. Consumers have been happily on board as well, with over 4 million all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road as of September 2018. This number is only set to skyrocket in 2019 and for good reason; electric vehicles are not only better from an environmental standpoint, but they also save owners money as well, with charges costing less than a tank of gas.

Automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and BMW (to name a few) have also dabbled in the electric/hybrid vehicle world, making there own environmentally friendly vehicles. Due to the increase in electric/hybrid vehicles being made, they are being increasingly more affordable to consumers looking for an economical day to day vehicle, hence, why their presence on the road is projected to double. Of course, if you are looking for luxury, there are several makes out there, including BMW’s i8 hybrid which boasts speed, power, and luxury.

 

Infotainment Systems

Take a look inside any 2019 vehicle and you will more likely than not see an impressive infotainment system. Although infotainment systems have been around for quite some time, their features keep on expanding. What was once just an on-screen radio for your vehicle has now become a hub for performing a plethora of features. From GPS to Bluetooth to temperature control to a fully-functional camera, infotainment systems have essentially become mini computers for your vehicle.

In recent years, Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto have been unveiled, allowing you to utilize several functionalities from your phone through your vehicle including Google Maps, text messages, video, audiobooks, and many more. In 2019, it would come as no surprise that nearly every vehicle comes equipt with an infotainment system that handles a vast variety of vehicle capabilities and features that benefit both the driver and the passengers. With that being said, it’s important to keep in mind that as a driver, use of these whilst driving is still illegal, so we suggest utilizing “talk-to-text” or Bluetooth functions, should you need to utilize your infotainment system.

 

Safety Features

Before we look ahead, let’s look back. A decade ago, learning how to drive a vehicle required was seemingly a more difficult task. There was no backup camera to help you reverse, no lane-assist to cover your blind spots when you forgot, no park assist to help you ace that parallel park every time. Fast forward to the current day and age and vehicles offer assistance for virtually everything. Many 2019 models are coming equipt with or offering packages containing a wide range of features that will aid the driver in performing typical tasks such as parking, changing lanes, reversing, etc. These features are expected to be fine-tuned come 2019 and it will come as no shock if more are revealed. The big ones to look out for are parking assist and lane change assist. With more fine-tuning in the future, these features may eliminate new drivers need for learning how to perform tasks such as parking or the steps they take prior to changing lanes.

 

Self-Driving Vehicles

More and more automakers are looking into designing the perfect self-driving vehicle. Referring back to Tesla, they were one of the first to introduce this new wave of technology with their autopilot feature. Since then, a plethora of automakers have followed in suit, creating vehicles that function without the need for a driver. Of course, most vehicles are still in beta and many still require a drivers presence. Tesla, for example, requires drivers to have their hands on the steering wheel for a certain period of time. With all this being said, many companies are testing out vehicles where the driver isn’t required to do anything and in some cases, these vehicles do not even have a steering wheel! Creating a self-driving vehicle takes a lot of time due to the many safety features they must factor in on top of standard vehicle safety features. 2019 could see the wake of the self-driving vehicle era.

 

Bonus: What We Most Likely WON’T See in 2019

While we have come a long way in the automotive industry, there are still some features and ideas that are still years away from becoming reality. Here are just a few features that we will probably not see in 2019 or perhaps, even a few years after:

  • Flying cars. When you think of a vehicle of the future, you think flying cars. Sadly, we are not there just yet and there are no plans from automakers to turn this into reality just yet.
  • All cars will be tiny cars. Some thought that cars of the future would all be compact, however, this is far from reality. The Smart Car is the closest we have to a very compact vehicle and has been the only true competitor for quite some time.
  • No more cars. Others predicted that cars would be obsolete at some point. This seems like a far stretch considering the automotive industry is constantly growing.

 

Ready to own your own “car of the future”? Contact us today and we will help you save money on your new vehicle purchase!