1. Easier Driving: Nowadays, vehicles are well-equipped with new technologies that make driving easier. This includes self-parallel parking, rear back-up camera and rain-sensing wipers. The new 2011 Ford Explorer even has terrain management, which lets the driver choose the type of terrain the vehicle is driving through, which allows the SUV to adjust wheel spin, throttle inputs and other parts accordingly. What’s next? Cars that drive themselves?

2. Infotainment: 10 years ago, vehicle options included in-dash compact disc players and speed control systems. Now consumers have options to receive information through voice-activated controls. Real-time traffic and Wi-Fi mobile hot spots are now found on many 2011 new Ford cars and trucks as well.

3. Accident Prevention: One thing consumers agree on is that safe driving is important. That is why automotive safety has increased drastically in the past decade. According to TheFordStory.com article, in 2000, the average car had at least two airbags. Today most cars have at least four, with some that contain as many as 10. The airbag technology has improved as well. In fact, Ford was the first automaker to introduce inflatable second row safety belts to the auto market. There is also a new Curve Control which monitors a driver’s speed entering fast, sharp corners then corrects the vehicle to avoid losing control or crashing. Blind Spot Information System is also another valuable safety feature offered in some new vehicles. It lets the driver know when approaching vehicles enter the blind spot area as well as alerts the driver of any cross-traffic when the driver is backing out of a parking spot.

4. Entertainment: Today consumers have a variety of compact ways to be entertained while on the road. Ten years ago, satellite radio was unheard of in a car; however, today more than half of new passenger cars have satellite. Most new Ford models also come with SYNC, which can stream Internet radio such as Pandora or play music from an iPod or other digital music players through a USB cord. The cassette tapes of yesteryear are clearly behind us.

5. Fuel Economy: Thirty years ago people wanted large vehicles to transport a lot of passengers and cargo. However, those days are over.  Today consumers want fuel efficient vehicles that won’t cost them an arm and a leg every time they pull up to the gas station. The EPA revealed that fuel economy between 2000 and 2010 improved from 19.8 mpg to 22.5 mpg. The auto industry also began constructing more fuel efficient cars to satisfy consumers’ requests. Nowadays, the most popular vehicles are the ones with smaller, fuel efficient engines. Read the rest of this entry »