It is going to be a tough automotive year for the middle class buyer in Malaysia with higher inflation, higher car prices, tougher car financing and higher depreciation for used cars. We predict that the segment to be hit the hardest will be for cars costing below RM150,000.
Technology is an important part of our lives and automakers are racing to integrate the latest and greatest features into their vehicles to attract the new generation of buyers.
The last several years have seen great advances in automotive technology, from features that keep drivers safer to some that make the car infinitely more entertaining to drive. And in 2016, we’ll see many of these features make their way into lower priced vehicles.
Here are some ‘Auto Tech’ features coming to lower priced cars this year:
- Advanced Backup Cameras: While traditional backup cameras are being mandated on all cars in a few years, many new models use even more advanced systems. Touting multiple angles and even 360-degree views of the car, the latest crop of advanced backup cameras make it easier than ever to maneuver into tight spaces.
- Headlight Technology: LED headlights and automatic high beams are two new technologies that are emerging. LED headlights can save you money, as they will rarely burn out, which means you’ll never have to pony up for a new bulb (or drive with one headlight out). They also have the added benefit of improving your vision on the road, as LED headlights offer excellent illumination. Many modern cars also now boast automatic high beams, which automatically illuminate on dark roads and dim when necessary.
- Improved Smartphone Infotainment Integration: Many newer cars with Bluetooth enable us to connect our phones to our vehicles to make a call and maybe even stream music to the car’s audio system. Now, many cars allow a smartphone’s screen to be duplicated on a car’s infotainment screen, thanks to systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These technologies aren’t perfect, but they come as close as possible to giving us easy in-car access to our smartphone screen.
- Smartphone Vehicle Management: Imagine using your cellphone to locate your car, start it, call for roadside assistance, and even get health reports on your car’s current status. Now, you don’t have to imagine it: the futuristic-sounding technology is now available from several automakers. Few things are cooler than starting your car from your cellphone, and it doesn’t stop there. Some of the latest smartphone vehicle management systems go more in depth, offering the ability to do just about everything with your phone except actually drive the car.
- Self-Parking Systems: Self-parking systems are exactly that: systems that use sensors, cameras and other in-car technology to automatically park your car in parallel (or, sometimes, perpendicular) parking spaces without you having to ever lift a finger. While some systems are easier to use than others, all represent a major improvement for city-dwelling drivers who frequently parallel park or for suburbanites who don’t like parking in tight spaces when they come into town.
