We usually expect to find state-of-the-art technology in luxury vehicles as standard – but some manufacturers have taken this innovation to the extreme. As the driving experience continues to transform, we can expect to see more than our fair share of surprising add-ons. Here, Grange, who offer the spectacular Jaguar E-Pace, take a look at some of the most unusual technology found in high-end cars.
Rolls-Royce: In-built umbrella
Rolls Royce introduced this gadget to save us from a rainy day! How often have you left your house and been caught short-handed in a down pour without an umbrella? Well, with 2013’s umbrella-in-the-door invention in Rolls-Royce models, this wouldn’t happen again. And, of course, it wasn’t just any umbrella. This fashion accessory was worth almost £1,000 and, when placed in the umbrella holder, would be dry within minutes.
In the very near future, we can also expect to see all-electric models of our favourite luxury cars. Aston Martin recently introduced their very first all-electric full production car the Aston Martin Rapide E. Aston have reportedly said that the 800V system, designed in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering, is better at charging and offers “greatly improved thermal characteristics” than other electrical systems.
Of course, there are many other weird and wonderful technologies out there for those who like to travel in luxury. Technology has completely transformed the driving experience over the past few years, with sat-nav systems, Bluetooth, and dashboard cameras (like this one from Ring Automotive) all becoming commonplace.
Bentley Continental GT: Infotainment system:
The Bentley Continental GT’s majestic interior helps to make it stand out from its rivals, following the inspiration taken from the wings of the Bentley badge. However, it is the infotainment system that entices drivers to fully appreciate the Bentley experience. This hi-tech device is less ‘weird’ than Tesla’s Model X addition, but it certainly is wonderful!
Tesla’s Model X: Celebration mode:
Most of us will be familiar with the Citroen ad with the dancing Transformers car. Even in the Disney animation Cars, Lightning McQueen dances in one scene. However, in reality, when have you seen a car dance? The probability is that the answer is never — unless you’ve been in the presence of Tesla’s Model X. The model, known for its high calibre of safety and performance, can dance along to a holiday rhyme and flash its lights while opening and closing its falcon wing-type doors. This, titled the ‘Celebration Mode’ makes it look like the vehicle is dancing! The hidden feature was introduced by Tesla owner Elon Musk.
Mercedes-Benz: Perfume dispenser
In 2014, Mercedes-Benz made sure that customers would never have to purchase in-car air freshener to keep their vehicle smelling sweet. In fact, the company created a perfume dispenser that would be kept in the glove compartment and be hooked up to the air balance system of the car. It was then up to the driver to set the dispenser to fragrance the vehicle as often as they’d like by turning on the heat or air conditioning unit, allowing the scent to travel through the vent. If this wasn’t enough, the scent was a Mercedes-Benz original which Sabine Engelhardt and her team developed especially for the device.
The German automotive manufacturers have also included the PreSafe Sound feature which pumps a sound of a particular frequency into the cabin of the vehicle just before a collision to help protect the inner ear.
With the likes of gesture control allowing you to simply wave your hand to operate your sound system, car technology will never cease to amaze — and that’s before mentioning the self-driving cars that are on the horizon!