AAA recently compiled its list of top car tech for 2009 and 2010 models

There is no doubt that cars are getting smarter and more fun with the help of new tech. Conservative manufacturers are getting quicker about moving new gadgets and systems into our autos.

“Safety on our nation’s highways has always been one of my primary concerns. With over 9 million large trucks and over 830,000 buses registered in the United States, accidents involving commercial vehicles continue to be a problem. Safety technologies can work hand in hand with regular safety enforcement in further reducing traffic fatalities and injuries. This legislation will provide the necessary incentives in installing these devices on large trucks, transit and school buses to help protect the commuting public,” said Thompson.

According to the Department of Transportation, there were more than 4,800 fatalities and 101,000 injuries in accidents involving heavy duty vehicles on U.S. highways in 2007.

Tech has become the upholder of the 21st Century, helping set models apart from each other. Wading through the many options, AAA recently compiled its list of top car tech for 2009 and 2010 models:

MyKey

Introduced by Ford, MyKey employs a computer chip in the vehicle's ignition key to limit teen drivers to a top speed of 80 mph.

Ford's MyKey programmable ignition key embeds restrictions and reminders that will likely make teens safer drivers. It replaces one noise (radio at high volume) with gentler warning noises (chimes as the car hits 45, 55 and 65 mph). Until the occupants buckle up, the radio mutes, and once underway, it's limited to half-volume. MyKey is a special key available soon on the 2010 Ford Focus to be followed by most other Ford and Lincoln cars and trucks in the 2010 model year. The key can be programmed by the car owner. MyKey also last week was honored with the 2009 Traffic Safety Achievement Award at the New York International Auto Show's World Traffic Safety Symposium.

Parents can also program the teen's key to limit audio system levels and sound a continuous alert if the driver doesn't wear a seatbelt. Another MyKey option is the ability to sound a chime if the teen driver exceeds 45, 55 or 65 mph. While this technology does not replace the need for parental involvement with teen drivers, MyKey can be a helpful tool when used in conjunction with AAA's driver training and parent-teen driving agreement.

MyKey will be introduced as a standard feature in the 2010 Ford Focus, Escape hybrid, and selected other vehicles before spreading to the entire Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup as models are updated.

Solar Roof Panels

Some hybrid models now integrate solar roof panels into their designs, making this technology one of two environmentally-friendly features on AAA's top-10 list. The Karma luxury hybrid sedan, due out in November 2009 from American sports car company Fisker Automotive, will have a solar roof partitioned into four zones with 20 solar cells in series that convert sunlight into electrical energy. The power generated can be sent to the electric motors that drive the car, used to power the climate controls or stored for future use.

The Karma, a luxury four-passenger sedan, can be recharged by plugging it in; it can then be driven on power from a battery alone for 50 miles. After that, an onboard gasoline generator kicks on to recharge the battery, extending the range by 250 miles between fill-ups. Power from optional solar cells on the roof will be used primarily to cool the car when it's parked, but they could also partially recharge the battery. The car will run on a lithium manganese oxide battery made by Advanced Lithium Power, based in Vancouver, BC. The battery is similar to the one selected for the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid due out in November of 2010.

The 2010 Toyota Prius uses a solar roof to power a fan that circulates fresh air through the interior when the vehicle is parked. It runs a fan to help cool a parked Prius while you're away; and light-emitting diode headlights, which are offered almost exclusively for big-money luxury-sport cars. This keeps the passenger compartment cooler and reduces the load on the electrically powered air conditioning system the next time the car is driven.

Lane Departure Warning Systems

Though not new for 2009, the increased availability of lane departure warning systems is an important safety feature that earns this technology a spot on the list. These systems monitor a vehicle's path of travel, typically through tracking of lane markings, and sound an audible and/or tactile (through the steering wheel) alert when the vehicle drifts outside its lane. Some systems are able to provide corrective steering input in addition to sounding an alarm.

This system monitors your car's position on the road and warns if you are crossing the lane unintentionally or drivers are about to inadvertently leave the roadway, are in danger of colliding with another vehicle while attempting a lane change or are at risk of colliding with the vehicle ahead and possibly heading into the path of danger. Also detects the vehicle drifting out of its traffic lane, the brakes engage slightly to give the car a gentle push back into its lane.

First introduced in North America by Infiniti, lane departure warning systems also are now available on selected new models from Cadillac, Lexus, BMW, Buick, Volvo, Audi and Mercedes Benz.

Blind Spot Warning Systems

A few of today's new cars offer blind spot warning systems as an added safety feature. These systems monitor the areas at the rear sides of the vehicle that are often invisible in the mirrors. The systems provide a visual indication, usually on the applicable side mirror, when an obstacle is present in the monitored area. Mercedes Benz, Mazda, Volvo, Buick, Cadillac and Lincoln are among the manufacturers offering blind spot warning systems.

It alerts you to vehicles in your blind spot. If a vehicle enters your blind spot, a light appears in the front door post of the side-view mirrors. If you activate the turn signal, the light flashes to warn you it's not safe to make a lane change. It's a simple matter to adjust the outside mirrors to eliminate blind spots. However, the need may be there because most drivers do not know or care to learn how to properly adjust their mirrors.

The system is so sensitive it'll even detect a motorcycle in your blind spot. At times, though, it's technology overload with lights flashing and buzzers sounding often. At least you can turn off most of the systems with the touch of a button.

Driver Alertness Monitors

The dangers of drowsy driving are frequently overlooked by motorists, which earns driver alertness monitors a spot on AAA's top-tech list. Mercedes Benz will introduce the Attention Assist feature on select 2010 models to combat the threat of drivers falling asleep while at the wheel. Attention Assist monitors the driver's steering and throttle inputs, and when they vary too far from normal patterns a loud voice announces, "Attention Assist! Brake!" to alert the sleepy driver. Volvo began offering similar system called Driver Alert in 2008 and has it available on several upcoming models.

These systems monitor the driver’s steering and throttle inputs, and send a warning when they vary too far from normal patterns, indicating a sleepy driver. Volvo introduced a similar system in 2008, called Driver Alert, and has it available on several upcoming models, while Mercedes-Benz will introduce its Attention Alert feature on select 2010 models.

Though a great new technology, driver alertness monitors do not replace the need for a good night's sleep and knowing when it is time to stop and rest when traveling. Motorists should not view these monitors as an excuse to test their endurance behind the wheel.

Collision Preparation Systems

If your car is going to try to keep you in your lane, it might as well stop you when you're going to run into something. These systems can tighten the seat belts, close open windows and sunroofs, lock the doors and apply the brakes. It monitors your car's position on the road and warns if you are crossing the lane unintentionally and possibly heading into the path of danger.

These systems are programmed to recognize situations that indicate an accident may be imminent, such as when the closing rate with the vehicle ahead exceeds a certain limit, the vehicle begins to skid or the driver initiates hard braking. Once triggered, collision preparation systems take steps to reduce the possibility of a collision while providing maximum protection for the vehicle occupants.

Depending on the model, a collision preparation system may: tighten the seat belts, close open windows and sunroofs, lock the doors and apply the brakes. Acura, Lexus, Toyota, Volvo and Mercedes Benz are among the manufacturers that offer collision preparation systems.

Automatic Air Recirculation with Smog Sensor

This climate-control system has a speed-sensitive control feature that automatically increases air flow when the top is down while also automatically adjusting to vehicle speed even outside snowy climates.

Some Lexus models offer a unique feature on their climate control systems that automatically switches the ventilation system to recirculate when high levels of outside pollutants are detected in the cabin. The system reverts back to fresh-air intake once detectable levels of pollutants have been reduced.

The system's ability to detect dust, pollen, smoke and carbon dioxide make it a helpful feature in both urban and rural environments.

"Green" Driving Assistance

Several new hybrid models offer drivers a choice of operating modes that can help them obtain maximum fuel efficiency. A couple of manufacturers have gone a step farther and integrated visual cues into their instrument panel displays that help "teach" motorists how to drive more efficiently. In the Ford Fusion hybrid, a plant grows branches and leaves when the car is driven in a fuel efficient manner-and withers as economy goes down.

New interactive speedometer display with changing background colors. This is used to provide real-time guidance to the driver on achieving higher fuel efficiency. It is like sitting in a cockpit with gauges that show plant-leaf graphics and a scoring function which is designed to provide feedback. The 2010 Honda Insight hybrid has a speedometer display that varies in color from blue to green as efficiency increases and offers guidance on braking techniques.

Ford Fusion Hybrid's speedometer — that show information such as average mpgs for a trip or the entire life of the car, and battery and gas levels.

Ford and Honda have taken care in designing these displays to ensure they are not too distracting for drivers. The desire to obtain maximum fuel efficiency should never take away from drivers' awareness of their surroundings and the need for safe vehicle operation.

SplitView

Mercedes Benz's 2010 S-Class cars will debut a new display technology that allows the driver and passenger to see two totally separate programs from the same display. The driver can access navigation information, receive turn-by-turn directions and monitor various vehicle systems on the eight-inch screen, while the passenger can watch a DVD on the same screen at the same time without distracting the driver. The system allows the audio program on the passenger's side to be routed through headphones to further reduce distractions.

This innovative display concept allows the driver and front passenger to view different content simultaneously on one and the same screen. While the driver uses the map-based navigation system, for example, the front passenger can be watching the latest film on DVD.

While an innovative technology, the SplitView system is most noteworthy as the first in-car video entertainment system for front-seat passengers that do not pose a distraction to the driver.

Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)

The next item on AAA's list is not one technology, but rather a group of features that began with anti-lock brakes and has evolved into a wide range of electronic suspension controls that improve ride, handling and safety. Most cars today have some form of stability control that works to offset vehicle skids by using the anti-lock components to apply the brakes at selected wheels. Rollover control extends the operation of stability control into a third dimension to counteract the tendency of tall SUVs to tip over under extreme cornering. The latest enhancement to stability controls is towing sway control that detects cyclical side loadings on the vehicle and uses the ABS components to counteract trailer sway.

The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC) – employing them collectively and seamlessly to make corrections while allowing higher dynamic capability and helps maintain vehicle stability and is responsible for controlling traction and grip when cornering.

In a related area of stability, many highline vehicles now offer some form of active suspension control that provides real-time variable shock absorber damping to improve ride and handling. This is done through computer controlled shock absorbers that have electrically switched internal valving or use a special fluid that changes viscosity (thickness) when an electrical current is passed through it. BMW offers a further enhancement called Active Roll Stabilization that can uncouple the suspension's anti-roll bars for a smooth ride in a straight line, then selectively re-couple the bars as needed for optimum cornering performance. Most active suspensions also have a control that allows the driver to select between a numbers of modes that vary from comfort to performance.

Acknowledgment:
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/daves-download/2009/04/24/top-10-in-new-car-...
http://www.gearlog.com
http://washingtontimes.com
http://www.star-telegram.com
http://www.speroforum.com
http://auto.theglobeandmail.com
http://trailer-bodybuilders.com
http://usatoday.com/
http://www.finchannel.com
http://www.deseretnews.com
http://www.benzinsider.com

As you browsed 'AAA recently compiled its list of top car tech for 2009 and 2010 models' you may find interest in following news . . .