Cool stuff that some cars have right now—and more might have sooner than you think. 

by Joseph D. Younger

Automakers have packed their ’08 models with more sophisticated electronics than ever before.  How much of it really matters to your behind-the-wheel safety and performance? The following list includes recent breakthroughs and continually evolving technology that promise to really change your driving experience—for better or worse. 

Pedestrian detection: Last year, Lexus made a big splash with the self-parking system on its LS 460. This year, the new LS 600h L shows off a less gimmicky innovation, but one with potentially far-reaching safety implications—the Advanced Pre-Collision System, the world’s first technology to detect pedestrians.  It includes two digital mini-cameras and extra-sensitive radar aimed toward the front and a third digital camera, mounted in the steering wheel hub and aimed at the driver’s face. All three cameras and the radar feed into a computer.

When a pedestrian steps into your car’s path, the front-mounted cameras and radar detect the hazard. Meanwhile, the steering-wheel-mounted camera determines whether you’re paying attention to the road, based on the angle of your face. If the computer decides that you have your eyes on the radio or some other distraction, it triggers a warning light and chime. If you don’t respond to the warnings, the car gradually begins to brake—on its own. It also instantly reprograms the electronically controlled steering ratio, giving you quicker response when you turn the wheel.

The radar can detect certain non-metallic stuff up to 394 feet away, and it’s sensitive enough to pick up something as small as a brick. Working with the radar, the front-mounted cameras have a range longer than a football field and can “see” a medium-size dog (not squirrels or other rodents). The steering-wheel-mounted camera can learn to read the face of another driver—say, your spouse—in about 8 seconds. For now, the system comes only as an extra-cost option only on the long-wheelbase, hybrid-powered LS 600h L, which starts at a cool $104,000. 

Blind-spot protection: A few years ago, Volvo introduced U.S. drivers to its Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), which senses other vehicles to the rear on the right or left and alerts you with a warning light in the outboard mirror. Since then, blind-spot protection has spread to other makes and models, with different wrinkles.

Volvo’s system uses mirror-mounted digital cameras to detect moving vehicles (including motorcycles), whether you’ve just passed them or they’re passing you. Although the cameras work at night by discerning headlights, they have the same limitations as your eyes; they don’t work in fog or heavy snow.

Radar-based systems, such as those introduced on last year’s Audi Q7 and this year’s Cadillac STS and DTS and Buick Lucerne, work in any weather. They also detect animals, bicyclists, and pedestrians, but not lampposts, parked cars, or other stationary objects. And, unlike Volvo’s system, radar-based systems are programmed to ignore vehicles that you’re passing. With either type, you can turn off the system when you don’t want it.

Lane drift alerts: Infiniti introduced lane departure warnings in its ’06 M sedan and FX SUV. Now, similar systems come on several makes, including BMW, Buick, Cadillac, and Lexus.  They “read” lane markings and edge lines, triggering a light and audible warning when you drift too close to the next lane (or off the road) without using your turn signal. Such systems usually activate only at 35 mph or so to avoid becoming an annoyance in city driving, and you can turn them off anytime.

Voice command: For quite some time, a lot of upscale cars have offered controls that respond to spoken commands. But now you’ll find such features on more and more vehicles in every price segment.  For example, Ford’s Sync system promises to make voice command the new vox populi. Created with Microsoft, Sync works with any cell phone and any digital music player, including iPods, MP3 players, and USB storage devices. Besides offering old-fashioned voice-activated, hands-free calling, Sync also reads text messages out loud to you—translating even expressions such as “LOL.” And it lets you choose music by artist, album, genre, or song title, just by talking. (Yes, you can also choose with your thumbs on steering wheel controls if you prefer.) Ford offers Sync on a dozen ’08 models, from the Ford Focus to the Lincoln MKZ.

Smart navigation systems: In an attempt to make pricey navigation systems more practical for commuting and other everyday driving, some automakers now include so-called “real-time” traffic updates. Acura, BMW, and Chrysler now offer such features with their in-car nav systems. Independent providers gather information from a variety of sources, including scheduled road closings, police and emergency response reports, helicopter observations, traffic cams, and sensors embedded in roadways. They then beam the info to your car via FM or HD radio frequencies or satellite signals. On-screen icons identify problem areas for you. The most sophisticated systems even show prevailing traffic speed along a route.

Of course, coverage varies by the provider that the carmaker uses. Every one covers New York City and environs, and a few include mid-size cities such as Albany, Rochester, and Syracuse. Although often the info reaches your screen too late to plan an alternate route—rendering the term “real time” a bit hyperbolic—coverage is expanding, and timeliness is improving. These systems anticipate the day when in-vehicle transponders, aggregate cell phone data, or more roadway sensors will give almost instantaneous warnings of collisions or other problems ahead.