IMHO cars are not what they used to be. I remember the unreliability of the 70's and rustbuckets of the 80's and i'm not that old.

Now that we have reliability we also have amazing gadgets and more. With the advent of common rail diesels, FSI technology and DSG, what can we expect within the next five or ten years? Or more importantly, what would people like to see?

Anyone out there 'in the know' of what is being considered/tested?

Cheers,

Jon.

Good question, although I have no idea myself. Would be interesting to get an insight into future technology though.

I cant see there being a future of motoring if the petrol prices increase and oil runs out!

it's all about next gen fuel sources now!

Adaptive cruise control which we are seeing on Mercs and BMW's (I think) coupled with sensors in the road which keeps you in your lane meaning cars that can virtually drive themselves on motorways I reckon.

Fuel economy & pollution levels will become more and more of an issue.

Depending on whether the pay-as-you-go equivalent for cars comes in for real, things may go VERY different soon as I'd refuse to work in the office from that day forward, no point driving in if it's gonna cost me even more..

I'd expect more electric cars + probably some kind of infrastructure for rapid-recharge to appear over time.

More gadgets to prevent you from actually driving the car (yourself) will be introduced.

Possibly more integrated satnav etc

I think the big issue will be cost and fuel. It seems likely that big brother government will introduce charging per mile, and with the rise in oil prices/political world instability there could be a bit of bother ahead.

Unless something significant happens to reduce costs I think there could well be a serious reduction in personal mobility which will affect everything including jobs, and no doubt public transport won't be getting any cheaper. Hope it's not the case and becomes a non-event like all those peole who had nuclear war bunkers in the 80's and all that....ramble, ramble , ramble la,la la.

I dreamed, in future my car has a mini nuclear reactor in it. Producing HUGE power to wheels.............I don't think I would see it coming in my life tho. Seriously, hybrid or even higher fuel efficient engine are on their way.

Does anyone know how much longer there is still going to be oil for?

Is it the next 5 or so years? Or more like 50?

More like 50.

In fact, I've read reports that say 200 years, but it will be trickier to extract...

Rob.

well auto express had an article about tyres being rcycled to pave old tracks to ease conjestion thats a pritty good idea, aswell as that i dont think lpg will really take off- it will be more elctric powered vehicles and hybrids - the use of petrol will slowly come to a halt because there wont be enough...diesle im not to sure about but im guessing the same- we will have to get our energy from the sun, wind, water gravity and kinetic it might be ok now but in 50 years time things would have changed hell of alot! i mean look how much technology evolves...tbi i think it will be a bit late by the time they bring out all the new hybrids... they should of done it a long time ago