I’ve ranted about stuff new cars come with that seem over-the-top, unnecessary – stupid, even. The obnoxious back-up buzzer in the Toyota Prius hybrid, for instance. Headlights that stay on all the time, even in bright July daylight – and which you can’t turn off.
But how about stuff cars ought to have – or at least, offer?
* Ceramic electric warm-up heaters –
One of the things that makes winter miserable is a cold car. It takes a few minutes, at least, for the engine to produce enough heat to warm up the car’s interior (and de-ice the exterior glass). How about an auxiliary ceramic-electric heater to bridge the gap? Instant-on heat! It works in the bathroom – why not in the car?
[amazon asin=B00008RW9U&template=*lrc ad (left)]You can already buy one of these small/portable units and – using the cigarette lighter outlet – get some warmth in your car right now… instead of 5-10 minutes from now. But why hasn’t any car company thought to offer one in the car, integrated and ready to provide some BTUs at the touch of a button? It ought to be doable. Modern cars have powerful electric systems and running an electric heater for the couple of minutes it takes before the engine is warmed up and can take over ought not to stress the system much.
So why not? At least, not yet? Probably because no one’s thought about it much. Here’s to hoping they will.[amazon asin=B004HCOE72&template=*lrc ad (right)]
Soon.
* Mini-microwave –
[amazon asin=B000E9QF0Q&template=*lrc ad (left)]Cupholders have become one of the single most important design aspects of new cars to many people – because so many people spend so much time in their cars.
Drinking coffee – and eating.
But coffee – and food – gets cold. The solution? A small microwave, built into the car. Why not? Several new cars already come with factory-installed ‘fridges. The fact is cars have become less about driving than enduring a long drive. The focus is less and less about how aggressively a car can corner and more and more about how quiet and comfortable it is. The autonomous, self-driving car is on the cusp of mass-market reality. Many new cars already have built-in Wi-Fi. The next logical step is a way to nuke your coffee in between A and B.
Cue Captain Picard. Make it so!
