Best technological advances in automotive technology in the last 10 -20 years?

[Mumbasa]

What would you say (specifically) are the best new technologies? I would say:

1) Electronic Stability Control Systems
2) Gasoline Direct Injection
3) Piezo injection technology

[Noah930]

cell phone

[Dixie]

A.B.S.

I was going to say O2 sensors, but that's outside your 20 year time frame.

[Noah930]

So are anti-lock brakes, super-technically. I can recall having them in an '85 Benz my parents had. But I understand what you mean. Now that ABS technology is pretty commonplace, it's too bad the average driver is too ignorant to even know how to use them properly.

[Shuie]

tires

[asphaltgambler]

Computer networking............with-out a doubt. Enabling a fraction of the wiring needed, the gauge of the wiring reduced, and the ability to easily diagnose complex issues, the speed of communication.

As a matter of fact the new BMW 7-series now uses a fiber optic network for the main bus (trunk line) Very efficient

[Schrup]

Ashtry delete.

[FrayAdjacent911]

I think electronic valvetrains will be a great advancement, in addition to computer/electronic control.

Electronic timing, ignition and valve control... one could spread out the torque and power curves, and get the best efficiency out of a gasoline engine.

[Steve PH]

Cup holders

[2.7RACER]

I like my GPS and 30 MPG Corvettes.

[dtw]

The little thingy that holds my gas cap while I fill up.

[cantdrv55]

Velcro
Zip ties
Flowbee

[dd74]

Have there been any advances in the last 10 to 20 years? I think getting entirely away from fossil fuels en masse for all drivers would be an advance. Otherwise, cars still go forward, turn left or right, and stop the same as they always have. They are nearly as archaic as George Washington's wooden teeth.

[kaisen]

Originally posted by Noah930
So are anti-lock brakes, super-technically. I can recall having them in an '85 Benz my parents had.

Mercedes offered ABS in 1979/1980 on the 450SEL 6.9

[Overpaid Slacker]

Hands down -- air conditioned seats.

I want not to have SatNav, or AI for cornering or traction. But being able to get out of the car after a spirited ride on a hot afternoon w/o sweaty back/ass. Priceless.

JP

[serge944]

Originally posted by 2.7RACER
I like my GPS and 30 MPG Corvettes.

No kidding! The new Z06 gets better freeway MPG than my 2.5 liter bmw. Oh, and don't forget that it's a supercar and blows almost all new porsches out of the water.

[Jims5543]

Internet Forums........

[Moneyguy1]

I agree with dd74....The automobile has "evolved" over the past century or more, with incremental "improvements" that have, in no way, replaced the original concept.... reciprocating heat pump, powered by organic combustibles, converting up and down motin to rotation through a series of gears, either manually shifted or hydraucally.

The real improvement would be the elimination of the internal combustion process and create a more thermally efficient power plant.

I have a 1931 Mark's Engineering Handbook. The diagram of the underside of the "typical" automobile (rear wheel drive) is still recognizable and applicable.

[dd74]

There are certain cars in history that I believe have made "plot points" toward where the automobile has headed toward being a tool - AWD, is one.

But no, there's been no advancement whatsoever. As an example, the Bugatti from the 1930s. That car was then as fast as most cars now. Two, three and even four-hundred horsepower engines were in vogue around the same time. Brakes were brakes, steering was steering, suspension was suspension.

Again, no advancement. Only efforts to make the automobile more liveable, like a hammer or screwdriver.

[Moneyguy1]

dd

Are you "old enough" to remember when a hammer and screwdrive were all you needed to fix a car?

Nowadays you require the services of a plubber and an electronic engineer....

Real progress.....making a simple product more and more complex.....