How will cars look in the foreseeable future?

Valerie Raskovic

Jul 30, 2024

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As technology progresses and environmental issues take stage the automotive industry is poised for changes. As the modern consumers needs and wants evolve the cars of the future are expected to undergo transformations in both their appearance and functionality. Everything from the vehicles fuel to the materials used to manufacturing the vehicles individual components are all set to transform. Based on what we know today, let's take a sneak peek into what lies in the upcoming decade.

1. New Sleek Car Design

Undoubtfully aerodynamics has had a big impact on sculpting the cars of today however, the advancement of this technology will help further transform the design language of future vehicles. With a growing emphasis on fuel efficiency and electric vehicle capabilities manufacturers will prioritize enhancing efficiency to reduce drag. This translates to cars sporting sleeker contoured exteriors with fewer sharp angles and protrusions. Anticipate an increase in vehicles sporting teardrop shapes and incorporating features like covered wheels that aid in minimizing air resistance.

With breakthroughs in manufacturing, active aero features will no longer be reserved exclusively for supercars and hyper cars. These clever systems dynamically adjust aerodynamic features such as panels, bumpers, vents and spoilers to optimize airflow over the body of the vehicle increasing performance, stability and efficiency. Active aero features help provide varying levels of downforce or increasing or decreasing drag depending on the driving conditions. So, expect to see more vehicles with body panels that move and change shape. This technology is becoming increasingly popular in both consumer vehicles and motorsports, including Formula 1, where regulations around active aero are evolving to balance performance benefits with competition fairness.

Advancements in safety and driving technology will also lead to cars being equipped with a larger variety of sensors and cameras seamlessly integrated into the vehicles structure to maintain an appearance.

As the focus on sustainability grows future vehicles will increasingly utilize eco-friendly recyclable materials such as plant-based composites and even unconventional options like hemp or bamboo. As manufacturers strive to minimize waste and carbon emissions, we should see vehicles with exterior body panels and interiors made of new high-tech composites and recyclable plastics. 

2. Minimalistic High-Tech Interiors

The car interior is where most owners spend the majority of their time as they commute to and from home. As the world embraces minimalistic styles such as shaved/minimalist door handles more and more car manufacturers will continue to embrace aesthetics that prioritize functionality and comfort.

As the world transitions to high tech alternative fuels such as electric vehicles the space occupied by the engine in traditional internal combustion engine cars may be used to increase vehicles interior space.  Autonomous driving technologies are continuously advancing, with fully autonomous vehicles expected to reach the mass market by the end of the decade traditional controls such as steering wheels and pedals may be changing, transforming car interiors. Future car interiors could be reconfigured to transition from seating layouts, to lounge style settings catering to passenger needs and activities.

In the future, cars may come with new interior features that can be customized according to preferences through software inputs and updates giving the owner greater freedom to personalize their vehicles.

Connectivity and integration are aspects of car development. Vehicles will be interconnected within a network communicating with each other and infrastructure to improve traffic flow and safety. This connectivity will also enable in car entertainment systems, remote diagnostics and over the air updates to keep vehicles updated with the latest software, driving conditions, automated route guidance and safety warnings.

3. Enhanced Lighting and communicative display

The evolution of lighting technologies will bring forth cars equipped with LED and OLED lighting systems. New lighting technology will not just save energy, it will also offer owners more options for customization enabling different lighting effects and personalized settings. Moreover, incorporating virtual reality displays into windshields and dashboards will give drivers access to real time information, navigation assistance and entertainment choices making driving safer and more enjoyable.

The future of car design is a fusion of technology, sustainability and innovative aesthetics. With the shift towards autonomous vehicles the very essence of what defines a car and its appearance is poised to undergo transformation. These advancements aim to make driving safer, more efficient, enjoyable while also being environmentally friendly.