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The year 2013 is set to be another exciting and innovative year for the motoring industry with plenty of new models and concept cars getting ready to make their debut over the next 12 months.
As technology continues to grow and develop, it is important that car manufacturers embrace the latest trends to hit the market. Below are some of the key car trends which the team at Cars on Demand has identified as the ones to watch out for in 2013.
Engine Downsizing
Until recently, turbo-charged cars were few and far between. Models were expensive and turbo chargers were not as capable of handling the daily grind. However, the latest turbo and supercharged engines are helping car buyers to find a sensible balance between the need to conserve on fuel costs and the desire to drive a fun, fast car. Consumers can now benefit from smaller fuel consumption with a larger output from cars such as the EcoBoost motor on the Ford Fusion and the turbocharger engine on the Hyundai Genesis which both include a 2.0-litre engine capable of delivering around 135hp per litre.
Hybrid Revolution
Almost every car company is now offering a hybrid version of its most popular models to compete against the current trends in the market, but there are a few manufacturers who are already one step ahead of the competition. The new BMW i8 set to make its debut later this year is a futuristic sports car which outperforms all the other existing hybrids as well as most other cars in its class. The Toyota Prius hybrid remains one of the most popular hybrid cars currently on the market. It is now in its third generation and uses ‘Hybrid Synergy Drive’ technology to produce a highly economic car. If you can’t afford to actually own one of these popular new hybrid models, a flexible alternative is to invest in hiring cars for a long term period. Cars on Demand is a long term car rental specialist offering contract periods of one to six months for motorists who are looking for cost-effective, hassle-free automotive solutions.
Cars That 'Run' On Android
You might not initially think that a Smartphone and a car have much in common, but they are actually more similar than you think. Some of the latest trends for 2013 include self-drive technology, parking guidance and better entertainment and information systems (known in the industry as ‘infotainment’ systems), and many carmakers are beginning to recognise the similarities between the two and are subsequently creating new systems with wireless capability, which are essentially mobile devices that move at speed. For example, the new Renault Clio features the Android-based R-LINK which is simultaneously connected to your vehicle, your Smartphone and the cloud, automatically linking motorists to the digital world from behind the wheel.