Most of us are used to modern additions to our cars; power steering, dashboard cameras, and even automated tech are all becoming a standard part of the driving experience today – but some luxury vehicle manufacturers have taken in-car tech in a more unusual direction. We’re no strangers to unconventional vehicles – who could forget the three-wheeled Reliant of the 70’s, or the water filled car bumpers of the 60’s?
It’s fair to say that automotive innovations have come a long way since then, so let’s take a look at some of the most extraordinary and unique features in today’s luxury vehicles.
Bentley Continental GT
This model was built on the underpinnings of the Porsche Panamera, but that certainly isn’t a bad thing! 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!
Mercedes-Benz
In 2014, owners of Mercedes-Benz vehicles no longer had to purchase an air freshener to make their car smell 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.
Rolls-Royce
A year before Mercedes introduced their in-car perfume dispenser, Rolls-Royce introduced a 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.
Tesla’s Model X
We’ve all seen the Citroen advert where the transformer car breaks into a dance. 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.
Of course, there are many other weird and wonderful technologies out there for those who like to travel in luxury. 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!
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