Author: Simon Pavey

The car of the future will be “a home from home”, a place where passengers can relax and unwind in comfort, according to the latest predictions from Auto Trader.

What will cars be like by 2050? Well, Auto Trader’s design team have come up with a thought-provoking concept that does away with the traditions of motoring and embraces a new, automated future.

Full autonomy and a safe space to relax

A key design element of the car of 2050 will be the fact it is fully electric, with all remnants of the petrol/diesel era consigned to the history books.

It will also be fully automated and driverless, meaning connected systems will take over all aspects of the actual driving, meaning the vehicle’s occupants can simply sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

As a result, Auto Trader predicts the interior of the cars of tomorrow will be very different from today, with the driver’s seat completely taken out and replaced with a comfortable, expansive interior that allows all occupants to engage.

Futurologist Tom Cheesewright argues: “Tomorrow’s car takes you from A to B with minimum fuss and in maximum style. Future technologies will give designers free rein to create more space and comfort, so that we can get on with our lives while an AI takes care of the driving.

“While our cars won’t be flying any time soon, we can all benefit from cleaner, quieter, safer roads. In just 20 years, the age of the combustion engine will be well and truly over.”

Innovations in leisure and aesthetics

Another element of the future design for cars in 2050 will be the extent to which owners will be able to customise and personalise their vehicles.

Auto Trader’s Rory Reid commented: “It’s no surprise that the 2050 car will be fully electric, but it’s fascinating to think what these advancements, including driverless tech, could mean for the actual design of cars and how they could be used.”

He added that the advent of technologies like ‘digital paint’ could also prove ground-breaking in terms of vehicle design and satisfaction.

“People are increasingly using technology to express themselves and this tech would remove the need to wait for a colour of car to come into stock or fork out extra to have a car spray painted a certain colour.”

Other innovative aspects of the 2050 concept include voice-activated controls, preferred options for driving style – are you rushing to office or out for a leisurely drive? – and the widening of in-car entertainment, such as internet-connected TVs or in-car gaming.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “Trying to figure out what the cars of tomorrow will be like is no easy feat, but the boffins at Auto Trader believe we’ll all benefit from the uptake of driverless technology. It’s certainly something that appears a feasible future, but we will miss the days when the driver was truly at the heart of the driving experience.”

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With Valentine’s Day upon us, many of us will be rushing home this evening (February 14th) to spend time with loved ones, but spare a thought for the UK’s van drivers, who may be unable to do so due to work.

Research published by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has revealed how two-thirds of UK van drivers have had to miss special occasions, like Valentine’s Day, because of their job.

Busy schedules mean heartache for some

The research showed that birthday celebrations were the most common occasion to succumb to many drivers’ busy schedules, but this was closely followed by anniversaries and children’s sports days.

Across the country, the survey revealed that drivers in the north-east were the most likely to have to make these sacrifices, with 83 per cent having done this in the past.

Conversely, drivers in Scotland were at the other end of the spectrum, with 45 per cent of respondents stating they never miss a special occasion because of work.

David Hanna, head of service and parts at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “The stereotype is that people forget Valentine’s Day and have to make a late dash to the petrol station for flowers, but we know that sometimes missing out on the occasion is sometimes unavoidable.”

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “The conscientiousness of the UK’s van operators, who place work commitments ahead of their personal lives, is something to be applauded. However, we do feel for them, as these special occasions are sometimes once in a lifetime events.”

UK fleet operators are being urged by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) to review their policies in relation to upcoming changes in the WLTP standard.

Prior to the introduction of more accurate data on April 6th, businesses will have to rely on less accurate calculations for CO2 figures for their vehicles, which could impact their level of taxation when new rules come into force from April 1st.

Bridging the data gap

Due to the average lead time of between nine to 12 weeks when ordering new fleet vehicles, companies making purchases prior to the release of the new data are being asked to invest in vehicles that may become more expensive to operate in the very near future.

BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney stated: “The BVRLA and its members are working with OEMs and third-party data providers to bridge this gap, but in the meantime, we would recommend customers consult with their lease providers to assess the impact on their fleet policies and procurement.”

He added that the introduction of new WLTP-based taxation for VED and Company Car Tax means it is important that businesses have a clear understanding of the environmental impact of their fleets.

As a result, the BVRLA has stated it is now in contact with other bodies, including the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and HMRC, to support the smooth transition to new WLTP-based costs for fleets.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “With potential disparity between the expected cost to operate new vehicles and their realistic cost after new tax rules are introduced, it may be wise for businesses to hold off on any major fleet purchases until this situation is resolved.”