Hooplah or the Future?
The Detriot Autoshow has shown many concept vehicles boasting newer "greener" technology. My question is whether or not this actually is the future of the automotive industry. For instnace General Motors brought to the show one of the most technilogically advanced concept hybrids; more advanced even than Toyotas Hybrid. This definately gives GM the edge on the market if they can actually proceed with thte development of this platform. Right now the technology is not advanced enough for the car to be good enough for mass production. The car has a very sleek design and a naming that is fitting to an electric hybrid, Volt. The car is said to have a range of 40 miles on the batteries at normal speeds around 30-40 mph. After the batteries get drained a unique system kicks in. There is a gasoline engine, which does not drive the wheels at all. The gas is only used to generate energy to put into the batteries. Currently the batteries used get very hot with extended use and are't as effecient as needed for an economically viable alternative to the internal combustion engine. This car shows a lot of promise for the future.
There are many other campanies that have come to the show with revolutionary cars, which are still in the concept stage. The question is how many of them will be available to the public for sale? In the past the auto industry has used such innovative concept cars to win over buyers and legislators, but could this time be for real? I sure hope so. These cars are what the American public needs and generally wants. There need to be many innovations and advancements in the technology, but this is where we need to be headed. Plug and go hybrids are one of the most promising of all the automotive technology currently in concepts along with fuel cells.
There are also a number of cars that honestly make me worry. Audi brough a new Q7 that has a 500 horsepower Diesel. Why would anyone need a luxury SUV with a 500 hp engine. Its ridiculous, the only thing about it is that its diesel and is quite a feat for a diesel engine. Its quiet and clean, in that category it is impressive. I just hope vehicles like this aren't simply to blind people from what they do and don't need.
I really hope the auto industry is truly making an attempt to push this technology forward and not creating a bunch of hooplah to keep us from progress.
I went to the Detroit Auto Show when I was in 7th grade. About 6 years later, I have yet to see any of their "concept cars" go anywhere or do anything. The only vehicles that were ever really put into production were the norms, the trucks, the new jeeps, the new normals cars. Any of the great new inventions they came up with, were not realistic. They were for show and money.