Tech of the future at the Boston auto show

Notice anything missing where a shifter might? Chrysler

By Kelly O'Brien

January 15, 2015

3 minutes to read

Safety sensors

The race to the autonomous car continues, but a lot of half-way-there safety features have made their way into 2015 lineups. Mazda’s new models have radar sensors “in every-which direction,’’ according to regional sales manager Charlie Teale.

The sensors enable a lot of features beyond the usual “parking assistance’’ or “rear collision warning.’’ Mazda’s cruise control system will automatically slow down the car as it closes in on other vehicles on the highway, then bring you back to your original speed when the road is clear.

On the other hand, if you’re in bumper-to-bumper traffic and lose focus for a moment, the car will stop itself before you get in a fender bender. And if you’re driving on a dark, windy road with your brights on, the car will automatically dim them when another vehicle approaches from the opposite direction.

Disconnectable All-Wheel Drive

All-Wheel Drive cars are great during snowy New England winters, but they sap energy and waste fuel during easy summer drives. Several carmakers are featuring next-generation AWD systems in 2015 that will fix that problem.

The Fiat 500X is the company’s first car with All-Wheel Drive. The system will be “disconnectable,’’ which means it will automatically shut off the rear power train when it’s not needed. “If you don’t need All-Wheel Drive in whatever conditions you’re in, you get the fuel economy of front wheel drive,’’ said Fiat’s head of product Matt Davis. The new Chrysler 300 features a similar system.

Infotainment

Infotainment systems are getting better and better. Full-color touchscreens are pretty much standard and displays seem to be settling in at around 7-inches (though some carmakers are offering bigger options, like the Chrysler 300’s 8.4-inch screen).

Chevy’s MyLink system was a standout at the Boston Auto Show, which makes sense because the company is aiming their 2015 small car lineup toward young, “adventurous’’ urban dwellers. MyLink lets you turn your car into a WiFi hot spot, which they claim can connect up to seven devices. You have to pay for a data plan, but Chevy offers packages that let you purchase just enough data for a weekend road trip, according to reps at the show.

Chevy is also rolling out “Siri Eyes-Free capability’’ that will let iPhone users text verbally by pressing a button on the steering wheel. Ford’s new SYNC 3 system has similar features, and automatically recognizes smartphone apps compatible with the cars entertainment system, like Spotify and Pandora.

Dials as shifter

Chrysler is taking a leap forward in driver interface design by removing any sticks or levers from their shifter. In the 2015 300 series, drivers will switch from park to drive to reverse with a rotary knob, similar to the one some cars now use for the entertainment system. Some people will undoubtedly hate the move, but it opens up a lot space in the console area and adds to a sleek design.

Fiat is also taking advantage of people’s increasing familiarity with rotary interfaces, though they haven’t abandoned the shifting lever yet. What they have done is add a “dynamic selector’’ knob that lets drivers switch between three modes to customize their driving experience. A standard mode is best for comfort and fuel economy. Sport mode increases Electronic Stability and leads to a more responsive driving experience. And Traction Plus mode gives an extra boost in slow start conditions.

Pop-up display

If you regret throwing away your Google Glass (which you don’t), Mazda has a minor fix for your heads-up display craving. It’s a simple little toy that projects your speed and a few other diagnostics onto a glass pane that pops-up above the steering wheel.

The feature probably won’t be a game-changer, but it actually does solve the problem of having to constantly move your hands out of the way to check your speed. The pop-up display is available on the newest Mazda 6 model.