6 Awesome New Car Features Coming to an Automotive Near You

As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Modern technology is constantly evolving. We’re seeing new features regularly being added to various devices from smartphones to TVs and beyond, so it makes sense that the tech inside our vehicles would also get some upgrades. It’s a tale as old as time, and new features have been added every year for centuries, some great, and others not so great. Did you know there was once a water-filled bumper design, for instance?

It does make you wonder, what kind of in-car features and technologies will we see in the future? In-seat refrigerators and coolers? How about gesture controls for windows and onscreen navigation? What kinds of sci-fi and futuristic features exist today if you choose the right vehicle? It seems we have a lot more questions than answers at this point, so let’s explore some of these ideas. Here are X awesome new car features coming to an automotive near you!

1. Windshield Heads-Up-Displays (HUDs)

There are a bevy of dials, monitors, and instrument clusters all over your dashboard, including a speedometer behind your steering wheel, but imagine if a lot of that information showed up in front of you, like a hologram, whether on the windshield or somewhere above the dash. Some vehicles already have this technology, from brands like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and even Cadillac.

The general goal is to provide information without being too much of a distraction, keeping your eyes on the road rather than bright instrument panels or screens. Such as your current speed projected onto the space in front of you. Basic HUDs use a single color or transparent panels. The more advanced varieties have multiple colors, several informative display options and customizable settings. It’s not difficult to imagine this technology becoming more common and more advanced — we’re likely to see it incorporated in less exotic vehicles soon, too.

2. Night Vision Monitors and Displays

A premiere feature in the Audi A8, which displays a night-vision view on the center console, relayed from an infrared camera at the front of the car, this is technology we’ll probably see incorporated elsewhere eventually. Night driving, especially in dark areas can be dangerous for obvious reasons. Not the least of which is wildlife like deer bounding into the road or pedestrians wearing dark clothing. Audi’s version uses thermal imaging to highlight potential dangers, giving drivers an advance notice.

Self-driving vehicles also use various forms of this, which help avoid collisions and accidents in low-light conditions. But it could definitely keep drivers safe on those dark country roads late at night.

3. Vehicle Safety Sensors

Advanced sensors and cameras have been a staple of modern vehicles for some time now, like your rearview camera which displays on the infotainment screen. Other common technologies include forward collision warnings, pedestrian and cross-traffic warnings, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warnings, lane-centering and lane-keep assists, even forward automatic emergency braking which is powered by sensors that detect nearby traffic and objects.

While these sensor-based technologies will likely improve and show up in more vehicles, we’re also going to see new applications, beyond what’s used in self-driving technologies. For example, driver-drowsiness and attention monitors that can sound an alert when it looks like you’re dozing off behind the wheel. Or, temperature control sensors that automatically adjust AC and indoor climate settings to match the current levels — like turning on AC full blast when it’s hot. Vehicle exit monitoring, to let you know when there are pedestrians or dangers outside the door, off-road and steering monitors to auto select the right driving modes in specific terrain or conditions. It might sound crazy but vehicle manufacturers are sure to get real wild with it, and for the most part, it’s for the better.

4. Automatic Parking

Most may be familiar with this one, albeit it’s only available in select vehicles currently and in varying forms. Some vehicles can parallel park, while the Tesla Model 3 has a “summon” mode that brings the vehicle from a parking space to your current location. While we may not see full self-driving support for years to come, automated parking will definitely become more prevalent.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe features self-parking, although it doesn’t come standard in base models, which is the same for the 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid. Other vehicles featuring the technology include the 2025 Hyundai Tucson, 2025 Genesis G90, 2025 Lucid Air, 2025 GMC Sierra EV, several Mercedes-Benz models and the 2025 RAM 1500, along with other Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles. If you really hate parking, now’s an exciting time to be alive.

5. AI and Software-Driven In-Car Experiences

Modern AI is shaping the future of the automotive industry as we speak. Sure, it’s a little weird to think about Alexa or Siri talking to you in the car, handling a variety of basic software functions. Who wants to order Amazon products or refills on their drive home? Nevertheless, more advanced forms of this technology may already be making its way to future vehicle launches. GM, for example, recently announced a focus on conversational AI for eye-off driving experiences.

Think, OnStar commands, for your vehicle but taken to the next level. GM ideates “explaining one-pedal driving in your new vehicle” or “finding the perfect place for dinner en route.” Or, doing things like telling your AI companion to adjust volume, change tracks, adjust climate controls, search for new map destinations and so on. Some people are going to love it, some are going to hate it, but it’s coming, that’s for sure.

6. Automated Maintenance and Repair Support

An engine or vehicle failure and the subsequent diagnosis required to find the source can be a nightmare. But what if your vehicle could already tell you exactly what’s wrong? Better yet, what if your vehicle could schedule a maintenance or repair appointment and set everything up for you — taking the hassle out of finding a qualified repair center.

Believe it or not, there are already cars on the road that do this, namely Tesla with limited functionality. They track regular maintenance intervals, like tire rotations and may display notifications on the primary display. Other brands, like BMW, Cadillac, Chevy and more have mobile companion apps that help set up or schedule appointments as needed. As vehicle systems grow more and more advanced, with technologies that just are not conducive to DIY repairs it’s likely we’ll see more automated added with advanced service options. In the future, you may even use your vehicle’s display or infotainment system to order new parts or repairs at local shops.

Back to Blog Academy