It wouldn't be wrong to say that cars of the future are already here. Although most of  tend to unrealistically dream of futuristic cars as those that can fly and hover, one has to keep in mind that many vehicle concepts that had only been dreamt of as recent as just ten years ago are now a reality. For example, one can now watch a movie, play games as well as surf the Internet right inside a moving vehicle. Nowadays, these vehicle features are as common as windshield wipers and rear view mirrors.  

Some of the advanced features of the so-far called 'concept' cars, can now be found right in the local car showroom. Let's get to know about some of them:

1. Global Positioning System (GPS):

Earlier, we had the notion that GPS on cars was meant either for James Bond or for other high-profile personalities. However, nowadays, a GPS is quite a common feature found in many cars. The market today features a number of hand operated equipments as well as ready to be installed GPS systems on automobiles.

With a GPS on-board, driving can be an extremely convenient exercise. The process of navigation relies heavily on this gadget and most of the GPS systems allow maps and directions to be updated to the system.

However, the biggest advantage is that GPS can be used to locate the vehicle in case it is stolen. Nowadays, police officers use GPS systems to track down or chase down criminals. As a result of GPS systems in automobiles even kidnapping statistics have lowered significantly. The GPS system can be easily activated through either a centralized or a paid monitoring system.

2. Computerized Vehicle Maintenance Systems:

Many manufacturers have started the process of installing computerized systems in vehicles in order to enable the user to keep a check on the condition of the vehicle without requiring to take it to a garage for a check-up. This ingenious feature uses a computer system within the automobile. For instance, the General Motors OnStar systems allow a vehicle owner to carry out a vehicles "on-the-spot diagnostic". This would give the owner details with respect to gasoline consumption, mileage, oil level, etc.

The comfort offered is also an important consideration for designing the computer system on the vehicle. This is simply called computer climate control. For example, the 'Jeep Grand Cherokee', uses an advanced infrared sensor meant to scan the temperature of the vehicle. Not only this, but it also creates the right temperature for the passengers by mixing hot and cold air. Exclusive climate controls are now also available on cars, such as the Mercedes Benz S-Class series and the the Jaguar's S-Type models.

3. Car Safety Features:

Many cars today come out with advanced safety features, such as an effective anti-lock brake systems that allow an unbelievable amount of control over the vehicle even under heavy braking. A lock brake system can prevent the vehicle from tipping over even in extreme braking situations since the car does not skid. Another vital safety feature in most modern cars is the quality of airbags. Over the years, the quality of airbags functionality has drastically improved. This includes improvement in sensors and activation speed, which prevent any form of serious injury to the passengers  of the vehicle during an impact or any form of collision.

Manufacturers, such as Mercedes Benz have also started providing a collision control system in their cars. Radar beams are also a new concept in vehicle safety. Under heavy fog or rain, the car sends them out in order to detect other cars or objects that are placed within a certain distance in front of the car. Then it automatically adjusts the speed of the vehicle as per the beams.