2004 New Car Buyer's Guide

Read New Car News   Read Brand Reviews   Read Car-Truck Test Reviews   Return to Guide's Homepage

Cars get 'smart' with electronics
By Bob Plunkett

Vehicles that are "smart" represent a significant trend evident in the Class of 2004. Smart vehicles get that way through the use of sophisticated electronics and on-board computers that make decisions regarding performance, safety and comfort without direct response from a driver.

Some new models pack vehicle skid control devices that combine anti-lock brakes with an electronic brake force distributor and a traction controller to block lateral slippage of the wheels and keep the chassis pointed in the intended safe path.

Others carry smart air bags set with two stages of force and inflate with lower energy during a lesser crash but maximize force for an intense incident.

Computers in some cars also manage the adaptive restraint system as seat sensors figure out who sits where, then switch off air bags and seatbelt pretensioners for unoccupied seats. Electronic gear delivers important information in contemporary cars, entertains us with car theater systems and fancy digital radio equipment, or keeps us comfortable by maintaining the cabin at a desired temperature setting.

On-board navigation systems, now available optionally on many vehicles, draw from DVD technology in computers and satellite-based navigation to plot out the vehicle's precise earthly position and display it on a map of a dashboard video screen to help guide a driver in the right direction. Some of these devices also integrate a hands-free telephone and audio controls. The driver can converse verbally with the intelligent system and use it to control the audio, dial phone numbers or figure out where to go.