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Were in the middle of a transformational moment for the automobile.
What will the car of the futurelooklike?
We set out to find out, documenting 10 trends incar design and technologyalong the way.
We hope the change in perspective this piece offers will help inspire you.
We envisioned a car that wasnt just transformational, but accessible.
Link was created to be the kind of vehicle every driver could take pride in driving.
Link is a 5-door vehicle that is somewhere between a crossover and a sportback.
Its lower to the ground than a typical crossover, and its wider and more spacious than a sportback.
Some solutions are in the works, but they remain several technological generations away.
A combination plug-in electric and turbodiesel hybrid is a new concept, one recently announced by bothVolvoandSubarufor forthcoming vehicles.
These points of emphasis are not new they represent a growing trend in automotive design.
We played with the idea of a panoramic roofline for Link, as shown in the early sketch above.
In recent years, however, glass technologies have evolved quickly.
Recent city cars like the all-electric BMW i3 and the Honda Element featured similar swing-out double doors.
This gives Link four-door access without taking up the body space and additional weight of a traditional four-door vehicle.
Design Trend High Efficiency, Aggressive Headlights
An aggressive headlight design is the mark of a well-designed sports car.
Some brands like Audi have connected this trend with an emphasis on efficient, high-output lighting technology.
In the past, engineers have discovered ways of harvesting this kinetic energy and storing it for reuse.
Technology Trend Exterior Camera/Sensor Array
Driverless cars cannot operate on software alone.
We mentioned the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe above, and it features this trend too.
Designing the Car of the Future: Interior Technology
8.
This isnt distant-future technology there are systems in place today to provide such information.
Link is designed to feature a HUD system for both active driving and passive, driverless parameters.
Technology Trend Voice-Activated Car OS
This year, Apple revealed CarPlay for next-gen car operating systems.
By 2020, such systems will be designed to do more heavy lifting.
In the case of Link, voice-activated systems will control most of the cars functionality.
A driver will have verbal control of the vehicle for all non-basic functions.
Technology Trend Fully Driverless Automation Technology
Driverless technology is closer than most of us realize.
In fact, many vehicles that are available today have drive-assist systems built in.
Many manufacturers are already building sensor arrays and cameras into their vehicles for the 2015 model year.
By 2020, such sensor arrays might be standard for the majority of new vehicles produces in the US.
Yet the interior is not designed for the driver to turn his or her back to the road.
Cars in the distant future may be built without traditional windshields and steering wheels.
What do you hope to see in the car of the future?
These 10 trends represent a clear shot toward the cars we might be driving in 2020. we hope the change in perspective this piece offers will help inspire you.
