Precision driving : Automotive world continues to amaze

Today’s auto manufacturers offer us vehicles with unprecedented quality and exciting innovations. The import influence has created a “race” for market share among automakers in which there is a clear winner: drivers.

In the 1950s, American manufacturers enjoyed market supremacy, and had basically only one minor competitor — the German VW “Bug.” But now, with viable marketing efforts from Germany, Korea, and especially Japan, U.S. car builders are undergoing a concerted effort to keep up. This fierce competition is creating a rapid improvement level in various vehicle product lines, both import and domestic.

The U.S. government and independent advisory groups now rate vehicles in many categories, from crash testing, to consumer satisfaction, to quality indices. Since results of these reports affect market share, they also help fuel the quest for product superiority. Everything that a carmaker does in the current market is more scrutinized these days, and that is good for us in our consumer/driver roles.

The companies are listening to our feedback, and those who don’t listen well may not be around long. This is fierce competition — our American manufacturers are literally in a fight for their lives, with imports nipping at their rear bumpers.

With all car builders trying harder, we are the recipients of vehicles that are safer, more stylish, and contain more “goodies” than ever. Automotive News recently listed 10 popular features found in 2007 automobiles:

“Retractable hard tops. This is really an old idea now perfected. The concept offers an owner two cars in one — a hardtop coupe when the roof is up, and a convertible when it’s down. This cool feature is reborn on the Mazda MX-5, Volvo C70, Pontiac G6, and Chrysler Sebring, among others.

“MP3 compatibility. Automakers are working quickly to get hookups in place for customers to plug in their digital music players, such as the Apple Ipod. We’ve come a long way from 4-track, 8-track, and cassette tapes.

“Blind spot detection. Bumper mounted sensors detect moving vehicles on both sides of a vehicle and warn the driver. Debuted on the Volvo S80.

“Smart keys. This feature has migrated from luxury cars down to standard vehicles. A radio signal in the key fob enables the car to be started with the press of a button — no key! Available on the Nissan versa, among others.

“CVTs. Constant Variable Transmissions are shiftless, and keep an engine running at its most efficient power band. Useful for fuel-economy gains — mainly in economy cars at this time.

“Lane-departure warning. Cameras read the lines on the road and sense when the driver is allowing the car to veer from its lane. Now appearing on a few luxury cars, the feature will be widely available in the near future.

“Navigation systems. These high-tech, satellite-aided systems were originally confined to luxury cars. Typically, as costs for the technology come down, they are showing up on cheaper models.

“Flex-fuel compatibility. The jury is still out on this one, since there are only about 1000 filling stations nationwide for E85 fuel (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline). Manufacturers, however, are making millions of vehicles that can run on the blended concoction.

“Clean diesels. This is the alternative I favor. High-pressure fuel injection, low sulfur fuel, and exhaust filters to cut down on soot, will make diesels run nearly as cleanly as gasoline engines. Offerings will begin in about a year.

“Rear-seat DVD players. A great feature for entertaining kids, or anyone else, on those long road trips.

While there is plenty of nostalgia for the “simple” cars of yesteryear, the safety and convenience advantages of the newer models have a mighty strong appeal — especially for daily use. Some relatively simple cars are still offered today, but with standard features like air bags, disc brakes, radial tires and fuel injection, they are safer and run better than their vintage counterparts.

Concept models with future production potential were unveiled earlier this month at the International Auto Show in Detroit. Some of the auto-stars of the gala event were those that featured alternative fuels, such as GM’s Volt, an electric/gas hybrid, or Ford’s Airstream, a hydrogen fuel-cell/electric hybrid. Only time will tell if these vehicles make it to production, but I’m certain that the subject of alternative fuel technology will remain in the news.

We currently take certain safety items, like anti-lock brakes, for granted. Before long, however, we’ll have cars equipped with stability control (a computer-blend of anti-lock brakes and traction control). In little time, many of us could be “plugging in” instead of “filling up,” as electric vehicles make a comeback.

I am amazed at the evolving automotive world, and how the cars we drive reflect the changes. It is quite a feat for automakers to plan and shift production to accommodate the ever-changing market, but competition, fossil fuel costs, and other factors demand that they do. We are the beneficiaries.