Auto Show gives Canadians a glimpse of the future

2589 Views 8 Comments
2016 Lamborghini Huracan Spyder, Auto Show

Canada is big, beautiful and, in most areas, best explored by car. Giving Canadians a glimpse of the future of road travel, the top automakers in the world descended upon Toronto this week to kick off the 2016 Canadian International Auto Show.

While the usual fuel economy, safety and luxury features were on prominent display, new breeds of connected vehicles are making it easier than ever to stay “plugged in” when travelling. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s to come in 2016 and beyond:

Apple CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto:
Dozens of automotive brands plan to bring Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto systems to their vehicles this year. Drivers can now use voice commands to access maps, voicemail, phone contacts and music apps while keeping their eyes on the road.

Wi-Fi-equipped cars: Thanks to GM, Audi, Chrysler and Ford, your vehicle is now part of the internet of things. While Chrysler was one of the first to debut Wi-Fi-ready cars back in 2008, the latest fleet of Wi-Fi equipped vehicles offer faster download speeds and wider ranges of connectivity. The next time you’re planning a road trip, remember to queue up a long list of must-see TV shows and movies to your Netflix playlist.

Self-driving cars: While Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, predicts his company’s cars will be able to drive themselves across the United States by 2018, many automakers are racing to offer a greater number of automated features in the near future. BMW’s driverless self-parking system, for example, was recently approved for use by the United States’ Transportation Department. This past week, Martin Sander, head of sales for Audi Americas, also announced that the next generation A8 will have self-driving technology in place and ready to use.

What features are you looking for in your next car? Are you ready to take your hands off the wheel and let your car drive itself on your next road trip?

 

8 Comments
  • bethnorman February 17, 2016, 4:29 am Reply

    Nice post. Well detailed with explanation and photos. It makes me want to purchase a new car.

    • Jon February 17, 2016, 2:36 pm

      Thanks so much Beth!

  • Holly February 16, 2016, 8:42 pm Reply

    I agree with Mario. I am definitely not ready to sit in a driver-less car…..but will certainly take advantage of all the technology that makes the trip just that much easier. I, as well, like to do the driving, so will not be giving that up anytime soon. Just wish I could keep my own car as shiny as the ones on display at the car show!!

    • Jon February 16, 2016, 9:59 pm

      Thanks for sharing! Based on what I saw at the auto show, it looks like a lot of auto companies are getting to take the steering wheel away from their customers!

  • Karen February 16, 2016, 3:10 am Reply

    Great blog! It’ll be interesting to see if Tesla does in fact build a self driving car by 2018.

    • Jon February 16, 2016, 3:40 am

      Thanks for taking the time to check out the blog Karen! Any word on when Honda will be debuting a driverless car??

  • Mario February 16, 2016, 2:21 am Reply

    Jon, I’ve always enjoyed visiting Auto Show’s but I have yet to make it to the Toronto Auto Show. Living in Sarnia it just seems easier to get to Detroit International Auto Show. It’s always exciting to see the concept vehicles. luxury vehicles and many of the production vehicles that are currently available. Our newest vehicle has most of the standard features now commonly available (heated seats, bluetooth, blind spot monitoring and rear-view camera, and electronic driver’s seat adjustment) in most cars. The features I would want in the next vehicle would include Wifi capability, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and stay in your lane monitoring. I am usually one who embrace’s new technology but having said that I’m not sure I’m ready for the driverless car. For me, and I suspect a lot of others, the joy and quite frankly the fun in driving is quite simply that; driving! So, for now I’ll pass on the driverless car; not so much because I don’t trust the technology but because I prefer to be the driver as opposed to a passenger!

    • Jon February 16, 2016, 3:44 am

      Thanks for taking the time to check out my latest post! If driverless cars really take off, what happens to driving tests? Will they become totally obsolete or will there be room for those that just love to drive? I feel like we’ll start to see a major shift very soon!

Leave a Reply