The ever-evolving face of technology moves at a rapid pace – you no sooner buy the very latest piece of kit only for it to be superseded before you’ve even opened the box.
And the same goes for cars in a certain respect. Yes, manufacturers wow the industry with new-fangled ideas and gadgetry, some of which is far too overcomplicated to ever truly be appreciated. And then, in the blink of an eye, the second-generation version is on its way.
Yet, there are new innovations and some slightly older ones that still carry that same wow factor as when they first landed. So, here is a quick look at a handful of the innovative ideas that are on offer in the busy world of motoring.
The Polestar 4
The old saying that “less is more” really gets stretched to its limit with the all-new Polestar 4. We all love a super-sleek design, but ditching the entire back window for the sake of a coupe-styled rear end seems like a step too far. Or does it?
We caught up with Ola Aldensjo, Product Manager of Polestar 4, to hear the reasoning behind this brave, yet creative design step. Firstly we asked about the advantages, and he said: “There are many benefits to the design of the Polestar 4 which has replaced the rear window in favour of a rear-mounted camera feeding a digital rear view mirror. One of the major drawbacks of an SUV coupé is that in order to create a faster roofline, you need to reduce the rear window area, and this limited rear view is disliked by customers.
“With Polestar 4, we had a blank sheet of paper to work off, so instead of creating a tiny window, we assessed whether we could solve the problem with well-proven technology. Removing the rear window allows you to pull the rear safety cell backwards, allowing a much longer panoramic roof which drenches the cabin with light.
“In addition it gives you more cabin room and allows space for reclining seats in the back to give this incredible business class lounge feeling without compromising the coupe roof which is lower than a traditional SUV.”
But how does the driver see what’s going on behind them then? Ola explained that the car features a 2.5 megapixel digital rearview mirror - the clearest in existence - which provides a wider field of vision than any standard mirror can. It also delivers superb clarity at night.
And this works in tandem with a rear camera. Ola said: “The high-mounted camera never gets dirty, wet or freezes owing to a hydrophobic coating on the lens, and a shroud to protect it. The technology has been around for many years and is well-proven, but Polestar 4 is the first product to completely remove the rear screen in the UK.
“The display even tilts to the right or left when indicating and tilts down when reversing to give the driver an improved view when navigating manoeuvres. Despite the superb reliability track record of the technology, if it did happen to fail, it would be akin to driving a vehicle like a van or pulling a large trailer. You still have great vision with the side mirrors.”
We tested the Polestar 4 at launch and, while the lack of a traditional rearview mirror seemed strange at first, it was easy to adjust to after about 30 minutes. But have other would-be owners of the car experienced any issues?
Ola said: “For some it takes a couple of days to get used to it, some adapt straight away, and for a small percentage of people with corrective vision support it can take a little longer, but we aren’t finding it a barrier to ownership, and the pros far outweigh the cons. Most customers are used to looking at screens while driving, whether it’s a head-up display, a driver information cluster or indeed the main infotainment screen.”
And Ola confirmed there were no structural or safety implications, a statement backed up by the car’s maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
BYD
No matter how much the infrastructure has improved, charging an electric car is generally still quite a chore. We have experienced long waits for ultra-fast chargers at motorway service stations only to find the speed is actually quite slow due to the strain on the national grid in the area.
However, BYD (it stands for Build Your Dreams) has developed technology that will charge an electric vehicle as quickly as filling a traditional combustion-engined car at the petrol pumps.
It’s called the Super e-Platform and introduces a number of groundbreaking technologies. Its core electrical components – motor, electronic control and battery – have all been comprehensively upgraded compared with existing configurations. This results in a platform that achieves 1,000kW, the highest peak charging speed for mass produced vehicles.
And that in practical terms, means 1.2 miles of range can be added per second or 250 miles in five minutes.
But this megawatt charging battery set-up obviously needs megawatt charging stations, so BYD has developed an industry-first, full liquid-cooled megawatt flash-charging terminal system delivering a maximum output of 1,360kW.
At the launch of the Flash Charging technology in Shenzhen, China, Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD Group, said the new technology would help to wipe out the biggest remaining ‘pain point’ for electric-vehicle users. He explained: “To completely eliminate users’ charging anxiety, our goal is to make EV charging as fast as refuelling a gasoline car – achieving ‘oil-electric parity’ in charging speed.”
BYD currently outsells Tesla and when these Flash Chargers are rolled out across Europe, it will take on the American giant Tesla’s Superchargers network too.
Additionally, the ultra-fast charging set-up will be open to all EV owners, dependant, of course, on the car’s DC charging capabilities.
BYD plans to build more than 4,000 megawatt flash-charging stations across China and, from 2026, will be rolling out these facilities in Europe too.
Volvo
Last year, more than 47,000 drivers were prosecuted for drink or drug-related driving offences in the UK and that is just the number of people caught by police.
So, wouldn’t it be a good idea if a car could not be started by anyone under the influence? Well, Volvo, a company long-renowned for its safety policies, has done just that.
The system is called Alcolock, and if it has been activated, the driver needs to take and pass a breath test using an Alcoguard device before the car will start.
Drivers are advised not to eat or drink for five minutes prior to the test and avoid excessive windscreen washing as there is alcohol in the washer fluid that could impact the reading.
This sounds like an ingenious feature and it has been around for several years now, but sadly Volvo cars in the UK are not compatible with the device, and it is also a set-up that needs to be activated before it will be of any use. Bearing that in mind, it’s unlikely that anyone who regularly drives after a night on the tiles will get the system set up.
In addition, many coach and haulage companies have a similar device fitted to their vehicles, but again it is not a legal requirement.
Nissan
With rising costs for day-to-day motorists a constant worry, getting the best possible mileage out of a car is a must. With that in mind, Nissan has just launched its third-generation e-POWER system on the latest Qashqai, a technology that is unique to Nissan and helps maximise fuel efficiency.
What makes e-POWER unique is the fact that the petrol engine is used only to generate electricity, which is sent either directly to the motor or motors on four-wheel drive models. This means e-POWER delivers an electric-drive experience without the need to plug in, resulting in the best of both worlds with super-smooth acceleration and refinement akin to an EV combined with the everyday convenience of traditional combustion power.
A Nissan spokesman explained: “Unlike traditional hybrids, with e-POWER there’s no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels, so no complicated, heavy gearbox and coupling to combine petrol power and electric energy to drive the wheels. This means response is instant and the drive is always smooth, just like an EV. And like an EV, the regenerative braking system on e-POWER converts kinetic energy into electrical energy, fed back into the battery, rather than being lost as heat from the brakes.”
To test the latest version of e-POWER to its limits, engineers recently completed the epic Land’s End to John O’Groats journey on a single tank of petrol, with fuel to spare at the end. They covered 837 miles, achieving 75mpg on the road trip and still had 100 miles of fuel left at the finish line.
David Moss, Senior Vice President, Region Research & Development, Nissan AMIEO, said: “This new version of e-POWER reflects everything we’ve learned from developing electric motor drive systems for Europe. We’ve analysed what worked in our previous generations, what appealed most to customers, and re-engineered the system to deliver maximum efficiency, lower emissions and a quieter, more refined drive - all with the same performance as a diesel. We are proud that new e-POWER now offers best-in-class fuel efficiency and emissions.”
BMW
Designers and tech engineers are constantly striving to develop the most sublime luxury in their vehicles and BMW may have come up with the ultimate experience with its Theatre Mode.
Yes, the car has traditional driving modes called Sport, Efficient and Personal, alongside some more animated ones called Relax, Digital Art and Expressive. But then there is the Theatre Mode that really raises the bar.
Available only in the BMW 7 Series Plug-in Hybrid and all-electric i7, as they can accommodate the massive 32-inch fold-down rear screen, Theatre Mode delivers a cinema experience that is unmatched by rival manufacturers.
Once activated, the ambient lighting dims down, sunblinds block out light on the rear side windows and the sunroof cover closes to create the ultimate cinematic feel.
This high-end entertainment set-up can be used by back seat passengers to watch movies, TV shows or other online streaming content, all while the car is moving. Now, where’s that popcorn?
Skoda – Simply Clever
We couldn’t possibly end an intelligent technology feature without a nod in the direction of Skoda, a company that has included simple, yet practical concepts in its cars since the early 2000s.
They are called Simply Clever innovations and do just what it says on the tin, so to speak.
Open the front doors and you may find an umbrella tucked into a special compartment so you’ll never get caught out by an unexpected shower. With modern technology at the forefront in new cars, there is a special screen cleaner to get rid of those mucky fingerprints.
The driver’s door on many Skoda vehicles has a handy waste bin that can be emptied and helps keep the car clean and tidy, while the ice scraper tucked into the filler cap means you can get going on frosty mornings even if you have forgotten to stock up on de-icer.
There’s a really handy ticket holder on the A-pillar and that means parking tickets don’t blow away when you close the door. And you won’t drive off while scrambling to reach the ticket that’s dropped down the back of the dashboard.
Many rear seats have a mobile phone pocket and more modern cars may feature a tablet holder so back seat passengers can watch a movie on the go.
These are just a few of Skoda’s ingenious ideas that make the motoring day that little bit more enjoyable.
While we have covered some of the industry’s clever initiatives looking at safety, comfort, design, efficiency and entertainment, there are so many other areas to explore.
And what makes this so exciting is the ever-changing and progressing motoring arena with new ideas flooding the market at a rapid pace. All we can add is, watch this space.
