What Will We Be Driving in 50 Years?
Many believe the future is now – but people in the 1850’s thought this as well. We’ve only really begun to strike at the heart of alternative energy. In the years to come we shall see the introduction of fully electric vehicles, hydrogen powered cars and perhaps even vessels powered by electromagnetic waves. Anything is possible, as long as these automotive companies get the funds to produce results.
Lincoln C Concept
Lincoln hopes to corner a market with smaller, high quality and eco-friendly vehicles that still produce a good amount of horse power. This Ford product will contain a 1.6-liter Ford EcoBoost engine along with a dual-clutch PowerShift six-speed transmission. The Lincoln C is expected to reach 180 horsepower and 180 ft.-lbs. of torque.
2+1 Seated Cars
Acura’s 2+1 concept doesn’t bother with all that silly 7 passenger seating rubbish, cutting down your occupant capacity to only three – a driver and copilot in the front, with a buddy in the rear. Other vehicles, like the SMART Car, have only room for two, and just enough speed and safety to get you between New York and Philadelphia. These smaller cars may become the new urban vehicle, taking a hint from the vehicles of European cities.
Honda Hydrogen Vehicles
Honda’s FCX Clarity has already grabbed headlines as the first consumer ready hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. For $600/a month per lease you better be packing some serious poundage in your wallet. The boys at Top Gear have said this vehicle is the most important car for the next 100 years, but is the same chemical that powered Zeppelins really a viable car fuel?
Renault Alpine Concept
Smaller engine sports cars with better gas mileage are a logical approach if we are to continue heading down the road of gasoline powered vehicles. Future Renault roadsters will contain small turbo engines rather than a large V6 block, cutting down on weight and emissions.
Pagani Zonda R
The new bodywork of automobiles, like the Pagani Zonda, is (aside from Toyota’s Prius) one of the most aerodynamic vehicle designs. Now cars can offer elevated down force, even in low speed corners. According to World Car Fans, “The longer front bonnet with flaps, closed under body and the rear overhang with the adjustable rear wing and race derived diffuser translate into shattering aerodynamic efficiency and will let you experience cornering speeds beyond imagination.”
“Volt” Electric Vehicles
General Motors is hoping to pick up where Tesla left off, after bankruptcy that is. Chevrolet teased their Volt electric car for weeks before it was finally unveiled. Electric cars seem to be the easiest transition for the general public to make, and electric recharge stations have already popped up throughout Southern California. Electric cars provide us with an easily accessible, renewable form of energy, but at what cost? You can charge at home, but be afraid when the bill comes in. Also, tons of coal is burned in order to produce the electricity in our homes. Until windmill electric becomes standard the coal mines and smoke stacks will continue billowing much into our atmosphere.
“Soft” Vehicles
What if the car you drive one day drives itself, connected by a satellite network? In theory, the automobile accident will become extinct, as the idea of human error will no longer be viable. How trustworthy is a car without a human behind the wheel? Do we really want a car controlled by the same satellites that broadcast Opie & Anthony or Ron & Fez (Noon till Three)? With car collisions an event of the past “Soft” vehicles, made of foam and completely customizable, may become commonplace.
Sky Cars
Where is my flying car? We are one spin around the Sun closer to 2015 – and if Doc Brown can have a flying DeLoreon than we want a flying vehicle to work. This does bring up a few issues. First off, the state of New Jersey would need to stop handing out licenses to every single person who walks into the DMV. And we see how people in drive all over the world, it’s probably not a good idea to start flying lessons. It is reasonable to believe ground travel will become a thing of the past – so get your helmets on people.
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