Auto Trends

Push Button Starter-

As the summer rolls through we should predictively see more and more cars using push button starter systems. Besides looking and feeling cool using them, consumers will actually receive better personal attention from their cars.

By this we are referring to the smart cards that will go along with the push button start. The driver will simply slide into the drivers seat, immediately have their smart card recognized, push the “start” button, and not only will the car start, but the card will have programed the seat setting, steering wheel, mirrors, preferred air temperature, and favorite radio presets.

Once you get to where you want to go, all you need to do is push the button once more and the car shuts off. Recent consumer poles show that one of the top features that they are asking for in their next cars are keyless ignition, and most car manufacturers are beginning to listen.

It wasn’t long ago that this luxury was considered just that, only a feature for such luxury lines as Bentley, Jaguar, and Maybach. But this summer we will be seeing a glimpse of these popping up in more and more Chevrolet’s, Toyota’s, Mazda’s, Nissan’s, etc.

Here is the current list of vehicles using this technology according to Edmunds.com:

Acura RL, Audi (A6, A8, Q7, S6, S8), Bentley (Continental GT, GTC, Flying Spur), BMW (3, 5, 6, 7, B7, M5, M6, X5), Cadillac (STS, STS-V, XLR, XLR-V), Chevrolet Corvette, Infiniti (FX35, FX45, G35, M35, M45), Jaguar XK, Lexus (ES 350, GS 350, GS 430, IS 250, IS 350, LS 460), Maybach (57, 62), Mazda (CX-7, CX-9, Mazdaspeed 6, RX-8), Mercedes-Benz (CL, CLK, CLS, E, GL, M, R, S, SL), Mini Cooper, S, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan (Altima, Altima Hybrid, Maxima, Murano, Sentra, Versa), Suzuki (Grand Vitara, SX4), Toyota (Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius), Volkswagen Touareg, and Volvo (S40, S80, V50).

Oh, The Sweet Smell of Burning “Lavender”-

While one of the coolest gadgets for tires coming down the pike for the next five years should be either self-inflating tires or non-inflatable tires, this summer we have fragrance tires to look forward to. Kumho has taken it upon themselves to create a tire that once warm, gives off the aroma of either lavender, neroli (orange) or jasmine.

These tires go under the code name ECSTA DX, and have been being sold through Tire Rack for a number of months. While the muscle car crowd may try to pass these off to the local law enforcement as friendly incense burning while smoking their tires through local neighborhoods, the real targeted consumer according to Kumho is the luxury sedan driver.

Let’s face it, tires do get warm after being on the pavement all day, so when we pull into out garage it may small a bit like warm rubber. Well, now for $80 to $120, you can get out of your car to the sweet essence of man made fragrance…

What are they going to think of next?