FYI - Car features ahead of their time

Here are some inventive car features that failed in the past but are now making a comeback—often in improved, modernized forms:

1. Rear-View Cameras

Then: In the 1950s, Buick experimented with a TV-based rear-view system in the Centurion concept car. It was too expensive and unreliable.

Now: Rear-view cameras became mandatory in Canada (as of May 2018) and are standard on most new cars, with high-definition feeds and parking assist overlays.

2. Push-Button Transmission

Then: Chrysler's push-button gear selectors in the 1950s and '60s were seen as gimmicky and were phased out.

Now: Modern cars like the Honda Odyssey, Lincoln models, and even Teslas use push-button or dial-based gear selectors for sleek design and space-saving.

3. Aerodynamic Wheel Covers

Then: Used on 1980s GM EV1s and some Citroëns, they were often viewed as odd or ugly.

Now: Tesla, Hyundai, and Lucid use stylish aero wheels to improve range, making function fashionable.

4. Electric Vehicles (EVs)

Then: EVs date back to the early 1900s but fell out of favour due to limited range and charging issues.

Now: Tesla, Rivian, and legacy automakers have brought EVs back into the mainstream with vastly improved battery technology.

5. Start-Stop Engines

Then: Fiat and VW dabbled with this in the 1980s, but it annoyed drivers and wasn’t fuel-efficient enough to justify the hassle.

Now: Start-stop systems are common in vehicles for improving fuel economy and reducing emissions, especially in hybrids.

6. Diesel Cars (Sort of)

Then: Diesel passenger cars (especially in North America) gained traction in the '70s and '80s but got a bad rep for being noisy and dirty.

Now: Clean diesel tech thrived in Europe (before Dieselgate), and while fading again, its improved tech paved the way for hybrid and alternative powertrains.

7. Heads-Up Displays (HUDs)

Then: First seen in '80s fighter jets and used in limited cars like the 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Cool but expensive and hard to read in daylight.

Now: HUDs are widely used, often projecting rich colour displays with navigation and safety info onto the windshield.

8. Targa and Removable Roofs

Then: Porsche Targas and GM’s removable T-tops were popular but phased out due to leaks and structural issues.

Now: The "open-roof" trend lives on in cars like the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, and even Tesla's all-glass panoramic roofs.

9. Turbocharging

Then: Popular in the 1980s for performance cars, but turbo lag and poor fuel economy led to a decline.

Now: Downsized turbocharged engines are everywhere, balancing performance with efficiency in everything from Fords to BMWs.

10. Voice Control

Then: In the 1980s and ‘90s, systems like GM’s Delco “Voice Command” were clunky and misunderstood you half the time.

Now: Thanks to AI and natural language processing, voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa work with infotainment systems for hands-free control.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model