Confession time: I own a little vehicle bolted together back in the early 1970s. It was my first car and faithfully served as my daily drive for around eight years.
But despite the fact that itâ€
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And, even more interestingly, despite the vehicleâ€
But there are a number of features of the modern vehicle – likely found on your current runabout – that are nearing their sell-by dates. Yes, sooner rather than later, a handful of common elements that we take for granted will likely go extinct.
And itâ€
1. Mechanical handbrake
Image: Ballista via Wikipedia
If youâ€
But, it seems, the mechanical handbrake is going the way of the dodo. Many modern vehicles (and no longer just luxury models) now feature electronic parking brakes, mounted on the centre console or even on the dashboard. Thereâ€
2. Drum brakes
Image: bblhed via Flickr.
Buy a new car today and chances are itâ€
These days, some super-cheap entry-level vehicles utilise self-adjusting drums on the rear axle, although they are starting to disappear. One reason rear drum brakes have lasted this long involves the first point above: the humble handbrake. In what way? Well, cable-activated drums are far better suited to mechanical handbrakes than hydraulic-only discs.
3. CD changer
A little bizarrely, compact disc changers are still offered on many high-end vehicles (traditionally marketed at older consumers), despite the fact that many motorists now access their music via auxiliary jacks, USB ports and Bluetooth connections. That said, a number of manufacturers have opted to omit the CD player from their newest models, favouring touchscreen-based audio systems that pull beats from external devices instead.
Is the CD changer on the way out? Ultimately, consumer feedback will decide its fate (which means itâ€
4. Side-mirrors
Wing mirrors, fender mirrors, doors mirror, or side-mirrors. Whatever you choose to call them, theyâ€
But, with automakers incorporating more and more cameras into their vehicles (as well as driver assistance systems such as blind-spot monitoring and lane-change warnings), itâ€
5. Traditional ignition key
The typical car key of old was nothing more than a crudely shaped chunk of metal. But over time, various elements were added to create fully electronic key fobs that have all but spelled the end of traditional tumbler ignition cylinders. These days, modern fobs (which are hideously expensive to replace) facilitate functions such as keyless entry and push-to-start – all without even removing the “keys†from your pocket.
So, traditional ignition keys are clearly nearing the end of the line. But word is that electronic fobs wonâ€
6. Halogen headlights
Image: Duk via Wikipedia
Halogen headlights have been the go-to lighting solution for automakers for a number of years. In fact, the majority of vehicles on the road today still utilise this method of focusing light on the road surface. But although halogen bulbs are relatively inexpensive and boast decent expected lifespans, theyâ€
High intensity discharge (HID) headlights are rapidly increasing in popularity since they are brighter, require less energy and generally last longer than halogens. LED headlamps are even more efficient as they convert most of the supplied energy into light (and not heat), while laser headlights – as seen on the BMW i8 – take things a step further.
7. Windscreen wipers
Image: Spurzem via Wikipedia.
Imagine life without windscreen wipers. Anything more than a smidgen of rain and youâ€
The companyâ€
8. Manual gearbox
Image: Zirguezi via Wikipedia.
Okay, so people have been predicting the extinction of the manual gearbox for an eternity. Will it ever really happen? Well, as with many items on this list, that all depends on the consumer. And, in the United States at least, the message from the consumer couldnâ€
Of course, not every country is as auto-centric as the US. That said, modern self-shifters have improved in efficiency (some are now even more efficient than manuals), have dropped in cost, and are far more user-friendly than manuals in increasingly congested cities. But, as massive fans of the manual transmission, we dearly hope weâ€
Featured image: Mary Anne Enriquez via Flickr.