Revealed: The best ever automotive innovations

The most important automotive innovations, according to motorists, are multiple airbags, GPS satellite navigation and reversing cameras.

A study of 2,000 adults with a driving licence, commissioned by the nearly new car retailer Motorpoint to celebrate its 25th anniversary, found that three in 10 could not live without the gadgetry in their car, with other popular inventions including power steering and parking sensors.

“Cars have evolved a lot since we opened our first store 25 years ago,” said Mark Carpenter, CEO of Motorpoint.

“Back in 1998, some of the tech we take for granted wasn’t even in development. Even then, it would have been inconceivable that cars could help us park, and smartphones were several years away.”

Top 20 important driving innovations

1. Multiple airbags
2. GPS satellite navigation
3. Reversing cameras
4. Power steering
5. Parking sensors
6. Self-parking systems
7. Hybrid vehicles
8. Mass-market electric vehicles
9. Adaptive cruise control
10. In-car Bluetooth
11. Remote central locking
12. Keyless entry
13. Tyre pressure monitoring
14. Electric windows
15. Wing mirrors that tell you when someone’s in your blind spot
16. Auto-defrosting windshields
17. Autonomous cars
18. Headlights that turn on automatically in the dark
19. Smartphone integration e.g. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
20. Heated seats

 

With technological features being so important to many, the 2020s were named the decade Brits think cars look the coolest, beating the 1960s and 1970s which came second and third.

Almost three in 10 (28 per cent) drivers would love to own a classic car but would struggle without modern day gadgets such as electric windows, wing mirrors which show the blind spot and tyre pressure monitoring.

Top 5 car tech drivers can’t manage without

1. In-car Bluetooth
2. LED headlights
3. Keyless entry
4. Smartphone integration
5. Adaptive cruise control