What will they think of next?

How you can benefit from advances in automotive technology.

Each year, cars roll off the assembly line with myriad new technologies. They can be subtle, such as microchips designed to fine tune the fuel-injection system, or obvious, like a satellite-navigation device in the dashboard. While you might not want every possible innovation in your vehicle, a few recent advancements could provide new conveniences for you and even enhance your clients’ comfort.

Before you scoff at the notion of shelling out for extras like a DVD player or voice-activated controls, remember that many standard features on today’s cars–AM/FM radios, power windows, air conditioning–were once considered options.

Find your voice

Admit it–you talk to your car. Whether yelling at it when it doesn’t start or encouraging it when trying to pass a truck, you have spoken to your car. And with voice-recognition systems, your new car can understand what you’re saying and even talk back.

Vehicles from Hondas to Jaguars come equipped with voice-activated controls that can distinguish among more than 150 commands to operate a variety of systems, like climate controls, navigation systems, and communication tools.

These voice controls may seem extravagant, but consider all the things you do while driving that take your hands off the wheel. Instead of punching buttons on your cell phone, flipping the switch to adjust the air conditioner, and turning the volume knob on the radio, call out those commands, keep your eyes on the road, and leave your hands on the steering wheel.

Get lost

You may know your city, but can you find every address? You don’t have to invest in expensive voice-recognition software to enjoy the benefits of a navigation system, although many such systems offer hands-free operation. A simple GPS (global positioning satellite) transmitter can map your position and provide directions to enable you to find houses faster without pulling over to consult a map.

Still prefer your atlas? A full-service concierge option available on high-end navigation systems–offered by high-end carmakers like Cadillac–recommends restaurants, shopping, and other services near your location. If your client wants to know what’s near a property, consult your navigation system.

Eyes in the back of your bumper

No matter how many times you check your mirrors before backing up, sometimes you don’t see a curb, car, or bike. Whether backing out of a driveway in a busy subdivision or parallel parking in front of a downtown loft, few things can dampen the mood while showing properties to clients more than running over an object or hitting another vehicle.

Most SUV makers offer features to assist you when in reverse. The basic devices combine an ultrasonic sensor on the rear of the vehicle with an alert system that emits beeps with increasing frequency as the car approaches an obstacle. More-advanced–and expensive–cars can include a remote camera that enables you to watch what’s happening behind you on a small screen in the dashboard.

Video to go

Of course, video screens in a car can do more than display what’s behind you. VCRs began creeping into minivans years ago, and DVD screens continue that trend in today’s vehicles.

Even if you don’t have kids, your clients who bring theirs along when you show properties will appreciate having the children entertained. If you deal with a lot of relocating clients, show them a promotional video touting your city–available from most chambers of commerce–while you drive them between properties.

Maybe you don’t need every available gadget on your next new car, but consider how certain ones can help your business before you dismiss them. Years from now, you might climb into your talking SUV that drives itself and wonder how you ever lived without such standard features.

Illustration © Digital Vision.

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