Article about useful options cars, which, however, not all motorists are aware of. At the end of the article - interesting video about 35 useful car functions.
The content of the article:
Very often you can observe how people own good, technical things, but absolutely do not know how to use them. iPhone owners use them only to make calls, and drivers of quality cars do not know a significant part of the functions of their vehicle.
On the one hand, since the car performs its main task - to transport from point A to point B, then why fill your head with unnecessary information. On the other hand, since all these mysterious buttons and levers are installed by engineers, it means that they are needed for something.
In this review, we will try to expand the knowledge of motorists regarding some interesting and useful features, the existence of which in their car they did not even suspect.
Child safety
People who are parents when choosing family car First of all, pay attention to the presence of a door lock button. As a rule, all doors are securely fixed from a single button in such a way that it is impossible to open them from the outside. But if an inquisitive child accidentally pulls the handle on the door twice, then he can fall out right on the go, especially if the parents neglected the seat belts.
To avoid the described situation, you should look for some kind of lever at the end tailgate. After switching it to another position with the central lock unlocked from the passenger compartment, the rear doors can no longer be opened.
A similar lever can be found on both rear doors, which guarantees maximum safety for passengers on rear seats. When equipping the car with keyless entry, the driver may decide that electronic key does not have a traditional folding "sting". But this opinion is erroneous, because if the battery of the car is suddenly discharged, the owner simply will not be able to get into the salon.
The situation is absurd, and therefore it is necessary to take a closer look at the chip card or the body of the electronic key. There should be either a latch from which the “sting” should be removed, or a small cap hiding it. Thus, the owner always has a way to open his car manually, and at the same time get to the back door and activate the blocker.
Power window lock
Someone will find this feature strange, but in order to protect the same children who can hang out the window and catch a cold, sometimes you need to securely block them.
On machines with power windows, the control unit on the driver's door has five buttons. Why, if there are only four windows? And after all, a rare motorist gets acquainted with the instructions in order to find the answer to this question. This "extra" button prevents passengers from lowering their windows, blocking them all, except for the driver's.
For some Korean brands, this function works partially, blocking only the rear windows. And sometimes so that even the driver then can not open them.
Chameleon Mirror
Next, we propose to study the salon mirror. If a certain LED is visible on it, passing along the edge of the surface or mounted in the case itself, such a mirror is called electrochromic. Fundamental difference of this design from mirrors with anti-reflective coating - preventing glare.
Its action can be compared with chameleon glasses for visually impaired people: if a car with bright headlights or high-beam lights is on at night, such a mirror will automatically dim.
Special photo sensors are installed inside the mirror, one of which is directed forward to assess the illumination of the road, and the second is directed back to control the light from the cars following behind. When the difference between street lighting and artificial light source in the form of other people's headlights is too great, modern electronics automatically starts the dimming process. A small button located on the mirror will disable the option if the dimming interferes with the driver. On some models, it is activated by a single press, on some - after holding it for a while.
There is also a hidden lever on classic mirrors, but in this case when it is adjusted, the angle of the mirror will change, saving from the blinding light of other people's lights.
Garage door control
These are not all the abilities that a salon mirror has. Some cars allow you to control the opening and closing with it. garage doors by simple programming, turning the mirror into a remote control.
This option is available, for example, in Mercedes and BMW, whose mirrors on the lower edge of the body have control buttons. Ideally, the owner will need to select one of the buttons and bring the included gate remote to it to read the signal. If the type and frequency range of the signals match, the remote control will bind very quickly and on their own. If the procedure does not succeed the first time, then you will have to refer to the car manual
Seat belt adjustment
Could the seat belt have some hidden features that the driver would not know about?
It turns out that not every car owner knows how to use belts at all. For example, it is desirable not to install the driver's seat in the rearmost position. In this case, a fixed belt will cause great discomfort, contribute to driver fatigue, and prevent reaching the levers and buttons. No less dangerous is the extreme forward position, in which the driver almost lies with his chest on the steering wheel, and in case of a sudden impact on the car, he will create a risk of strangulation with a belt.
The belt cannot simply be "thrown" on itself, it must be securely latched with a lock. The recommended gap between it and the human body is 25 mm, so that you can only stick your palm through. During operation, the belt can stretch, twist, so before each trip it should be brought into proper shape.
And here it turns out that drivers do not know about the possibility of adjusting the belt to the height of a person. On the middle pillar there is a special loop that moves vertically by pressing a button or a latch. Thus, the driver can adjust the height of the belt so that it lies correctly on the center of the shoulder.
Looking for a gas tank
If a person has rented a car in another city or borrowed it from a spouse/friend and is faced with the need to refuel, then at the gas station he will have to run around it in search of a gas tank. In order not to waste time and effort, there is a hint in the car. On the instrument panel, near the icon with the image of a gas station, an arrow is drawn, the direction of which shows the location of the tank.
Disabling ESP
Security control is very useful system preventing the vehicle from skidding. But situations on the road are different, and slipping can be vital, for example, to get out of a dirty hole. A radical way to solve the problem is to pull the fuse. But this option is capable of causing irreparable harm to all electronics associated with the system, and sacrificing a good option for the sake of a single problem is unwise.
A different way out of the situation depends on the model of the car. Some have a dedicated button that, while not completely disabling ESP, still provides some wiggle room. Other models respond to the intensity and duration of pressing said button to give a feedback. Finally, the third instances provide the desired result by specific manipulations with the units of the machine. So certain models Toyota brand turn off the ESP under the influence of a combination of handbrake and brake.
Useful life hacks for motorists
Finally, some more interesting tips:
- If the operation of the central lock is disabled in the car during the start of movement, you should fix the door lock button pressed for a couple of seconds. After a beep, the function is activated, it is disabled by similar actions;
- The sun can blind the driver not only in those moments when it shines directly into the eyes. Side light can also distract from the road, making you squint. In this case, the sun visor will also come to the rescue, which, it turns out, can not only be raised and lowered, but also rotated 90 degrees. At the same time, such a visor will protect the driver from uneven tanning.
To satisfy drivers, automakers are constantly improving cars in all respects.
New technologies make cars more economical, comfortable, powerful, safe and reliable.
Here are 10 features and options without which it is difficult to imagine a modern car:
1.Bluetooth
Today wireless Bluetooth connection included in standard equipment many cars. If the driver has a Windows phone or an Android smartphone, then he may not be distracted by the phone while driving. WITH via Bluetooth you can make calls or send messages (using speech recognition). Apple users use Siri Eyes Free, which performs roughly the same tasks. The advantage of having Bluetooth in the car is that the controls are displayed on the large on-board screen, and the sound plays through the audio speakers. The driver no longer has to fiddle with his portable device, distracting from driving.
2. USB connectors
Portable devices have become such an integral part of modern people's lives that most cars are now equipped with USB ports. This great way charge accessories, as well as listen to music through the speakers without using a slow wireless connection. Now all files from a smartphone, MP3 player and flash drive are available in the car.
3. Keyless entry and engine start
Function keyless entry and launch is now available for many models on the market. The touch sensor "notices" the approach of the car owner and opens the door when he approaches. When he gets into the cabin, just press one button and the engine starts. All this time, the keys to the car and the alarm key fob are in your pocket. This system is indispensable for women who no longer need to delve into their purse with the words “well, where are these keys?”
4. Application integration
App integration is becoming more common in car infotainment systems but rarely offered in basic configuration. To meet growing needs modern drivers their portable devices are connected to the on-board computer, and their favorite applications (radio, weather, browsers, social networks) are displayed on the large screen of the center console. Again, this is more convenient and safer than driving a car with a smartphone in hand.
5. Voice recognition
The first generations of voice recognition systems were often confusing for drivers. But now they have become much better: the processor does not just process the heard signal "as is", but "turns on the logic", sorting through suitable options and comparing them with previous queries.
6. Remote control of the car
With cars like Tesla Model S, drivers can experience perfectly new level connections. But the futuristic Tesla is far from the only car with such opportunities. Many companies are developing apps that allow drivers to interact with their cars through smartphones. Among available functions: open and close doors, start the engine, adjust the climate settings, while being anywhere. Drivers are informed about fuel and charge levels battery, they can also enter addresses and routes directly into the car's navigation system while sitting at home over coffee.
7. Blind Spot Monitoring
Blind spot monitoring is very useful and often comes as a basic option. modern cars. Studies show that blind spots lead to hundreds of thousands of accidents each year. To avoid this, a system has been developed that, using sensors, “sees” vehicles in the “blind” zone and informs the driver about it. It will also help on cars in a situation where the driver enters the road backwards.
8. Lane Keeping
Like the previous "assistant", the lane keeping system relies on sensors. They always look at the position of the car relative to the markings on the highway or motorway. If the driver thinks or falls asleep and leaves his lane without turning on the turn signal, the car will wake him up by turning on the sound and / or vibration of the seat, or the steering wheel will turn on its own and the car will return to the middle of the lane.
9. Adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance system
For those who regularly ride on the highways, cruise control is a great helper. Adaptive cruise control went one step further. It maintains a constant set speed and watch the car ahead. If she brakes sharply, then the car itself dumps the “gas” and slows down.
10. Interaction of cars
To reduce the cost of installing individual navigation systems per car, automakers are now connecting on-board computer to a smartphone and already through it interact with the satellite and with other machines. So the driver receives information about traffic jams and road signs next to him. The system can also be used for automatic notification of accidents, theft of a vehicle, request for assistance on the road.
If you are not going to buy yet new car, but, nevertheless, in the near future you plan to do this, then you will be interested to know what 10 new innovative and high-tech features will be present in .
It's always interesting to know what new technologies will be in soon. Indeed, in our time, many new technologies are being introduced to modern cars. High-tech developments for the level of comfort and convenience, new fuel-saving technologies and much more have already begun their implementation on new cars, which will soon be used by all global automakers.
We decided to collect for you 10 new features that will be present in the near future on almost all new cars. So, when you are about to buy a new car, some of the features and technologies will already be familiar to you, thanks to our article.
One of the 10 features that new cars will have is a proximity key.
The car key, which opens the doors and starts the car, will soon become a thing of the past. For many years it has been used on all cars without exception around the world. But progress does not stand still. New technologies and requirements for the level of comfort have made it possible to create proximity key, which does not require any extra actions to open the car doors and start the engine. A proximity key is either a key with a built-in chip that transmits a signal via a radio channel that allows you to open and close doors at a distance and identify the car owner to turn off or turn on the security alarm, or a key fob that also has a similar chip built in. The proximity key, when you approach the car, sends a special security code to the alarm system, which gives the system a signal to open the car and disarm it. You just have to open the door and get into the car and press the engine start button (now almost all new quality cars button is set). Arming the car is carried out in a similar way. You get out of the car, close the door, and your proximity key sends a signal to the car to activate the alarm.
Monitors. Displays. Screens. Lots of screens...
If you think that your home TV, computer monitor, tablet or smartphone are the only screens you will look at, then you are wrong. Already now, most new cars have a monitor installed on the center console, which displays various functions of the car, with which you can control the climate control, multimedia functions and other systems. It is no longer uncommon to have multiple monitors in a car. Moreover, the screens installed in cars have a very a high resolution screen, allowing you to watch videos in HD quality. More recently, such displays in the car were available only in expensive and luxury cars who were not very good quality. But today monitors are installed even on economy class cars.
Lots and lots of car video cameras.
Already now, on many middle-class cars (there are already economy class cars), the manufacturer installs video cameras that allow you to control the blind zones of the car, the picture from which is displayed on the central monitor in the car. Also, video cameras help to work the functions automatic parking, which has been used on many car models. There are also cameras inside the car that monitor the driver's eyes, determining the level of fatigue.
Air conditioner for car seats.
The appearance in 1990 of a separate air conditioner for the front seats of the car, which was developed by Saab company, has become an example of a demonstration of new technologies and new opportunities to increase driver comfort and front passenger. At first, this technology was used only on very expensive and luxurious cars. This technology is currently being seen in mid-range vehicles. The seat air conditioner consists of several fans built into the seat that regulate the air flow. The system will help cool the seat without switching on car air conditioner air cooling (climate control), and in a short time. For example, this function is useful when the sun's rays have heated the seat surface of a car that has been parked in direct sunlight. for a long time. The seat conditioner cools the seat and back of the chair in a short time. This feature saves the load on climate system a car that runs on a running engine, which reduces fuel consumption. This feature is already installed on the 2014 Kia Forte.
The function of automatic emergency braking when approaching an obstacle and the function of automatically reducing the speed of the car.
The use of video cameras, which are described above, as well as a special radar device, appeared in new cars. So in the event of an obstacle that could lead to a collision, the car itself is able to apply emergency braking without the participation of the driver or reduce the speed to the desired one in order to avoid convergence and an accident. Also, along with this function, it became possible to maintain a certain distance of the car with other objects in semi-automatic mode. traffic without driver involvement. Almost a year ago, more than one car did not have such functions, with the exception of some technologies in cars. Volvo. But today, such technology has begun to appear not only on luxury cars (), but also on automotive products companies such as Subaru and General Motors, whose models belong to the middle class. The only difference from expensive cars is the lack of automatic braking. In cheaper cars, the function plays the role of a collision warning, flashing a danger indication to the driver on the instrument panel.
Eight and nine speed automatic transmissions.
Despite the fact that many automakers have not yet installed 8 and having double clutch, they already have developments and technologies for their creation and subsequent installation on their serial vehicles. Nowadays, some manufacturers, especially premium brands, have already introduced such automatic transmissions on their stock cars. Very soon we will see the appearance of such boxes on middle-class cars, and then on cars of a cheaper segment. New automatic transmissions more speeds, allow you to increase the power of the car, increase acceleration from a standstill and at the same time, by unloading the engine, reduce fuel consumption.
Internet applications.
The penetration of the Internet into everyday life has not bypassed automotive environment. So in recent years, the number of Internet applications created for a car that can be installed in a multimedia automotive system used on modern vehicles. So many applications are designed for the convenience of the driver, allowing less distraction of the driver while using the car's functions. Apps such as Pandora and Spotify allow the driver to listen to music from the Internet without distraction. It is also possible to use the social short message service Facebook and the short message service Twitter. For example, Audi and Chrysler already offer such systems with Internet access.
Steering wheel rotation adjustment function.
Someone likes to turn the steering wheel with one little finger, someone, on the contrary, needs a harder sports steering wheel. It all depends on personal preferences and management style. Until recently, it was not possible to combine different steering wheel settings in one car. But today, systems have begun to appear that allow you to configure custom steering wheel rotation settings. This became possible due to the abandonment of the power steering, which was replaced by electric amplifier steering mechanism. So far, only two Korean companies are using this technology. brands Kia and Hyundai. In some models of these brands, using special buttons, you can change the factory settings for steering wheel rotation. So by pressing the corresponding button, you can select comfort mode rotation of the steering mechanism (the steering wheel can be easily turned with one finger) or sports mode(the steering wheel becomes stiffer with limited rotation).
Unusual design and style of new cars.
Now there is a steady automotive fashion trend, which is the use of black rims and the use of LEDs. We are not sure that this fashion will last very long, but, nevertheless, as in its time, when vinyl roofs and two-tone car body painting were in vogue, the beginning of the 21st century will go down in history as the widespread use of LEDs on cars. In fact, LEDs are not only beautiful. LEDs help you see other vehicles on the road more effectively than vehicles fitted with traditional light bulbs.
High-tech aerodynamic developments and their application on modern cars.
All automakers in the world have recently been trying, using various developments. Reducing the weight of the body (due to the use of aluminum and carbon fiber in the structure), suspension, the use of a smaller engine with the addition of a turbine, the introduction of a stop-start engine function (automatically turning off the engine when stopped at a traffic light) and much more are used by car manufacturers in order to though not by much, but to reduce the amount of fuel consumption by the engine. But the main developments automotive companies are to reduce aerodynamic air resistance. For example, Toyota created the ideal aerodynamic rear-view mirrors, which helped to reduce the coefficient of aerodynamic drag, reducing fuel consumption by up to 1 liter per 100 kilometers. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors have developed a technology to reduce air resistance by creating special guide plates (located in front of the cooling radiator), which, depending on the speed, are automatically adjusted and direct air flows in such a way that aerodynamic drag has the lowest rate.
So that opportunities to reduce fuel consumption traditional cars far from exhausted and this does not mean that in order to spend on fuel small funds you need to buy a Toyota Prius.
A car can keep many "secrets" in itself, the disclosure of which will bring you more comfort or benefit in use. As with any other kind modern technology, to study the instructions, or all the features of operation, the modern user spends a minimum of time or does not spend it at all, preferring to use only the most necessary. Now we will simultaneously show that this is very unprofitable and at the same time, quickly and concisely tell you what can be useful in your car.
Everyone is well aware that when blocking car doors button from the inside, there is no access from the outside, but with reverse side opening the doors is easy enough - you just need to pull the handle twice. This action is just a match for children's fun, can turn into a real disaster if it happens while driving on high speed. It is enough to protect yourself from such an outcome - at the end of any back door there should be a small lever with which you can switch the lock mode. By doing this, you will eliminate the possibility of accidentally opening the door from the inside when the central lock is locked.
Keyless entry
Another one interesting feature associated with the keyless entry function. In this case, a special electronic key is used to access the car, which outwardly differs greatly from the usual counterpart, because at first glance it may seem that it has no sting. However, not everyone knows that it still exists. This is something like insurance, in case the car battery is completely discharged, opening the door will only be possible mechanically. To gain access to the sting, it is enough to look closely at the body of the key or chip card. You will definitely find a special latch with which you can open the case in which the key is stored, or simply pull out the sting. Thus, the rear door blocker will always be under control.
Window lifters
Less dangerous, but still requiring attention, is the power window control. In automated systems, where the lift/lower functions are carried out electronically, the driver can control any window using the main control unit by pressing a special button associated with a specific window. A special crumpled button stands out in this area, which is designed to block all passenger windows. It is noteworthy that in some cars from Korea, only the rear windows are blocked, and in such a way that even the driver loses access to control.
Rearview mirror
At first glance, the saloon mirror is a very primitive component, however, it may contain a rather complicated LED mounted in the extreme part of the reflective surface. This is a feature of electrochromic glasses, which have the property of preventing glare. It feels very good in dark time days. No car with high beam will not be able to hit the brightness on your eyes, as the surface immediately adapts to the level of lighting and becomes darker.
This is possible due to the presence of special photo sensors located on two opposite sides. One is watching general level illumination, and the second catches the light from other people's headlights behind. The auto-dimming function is triggered by built-in electronics that respond to sharp drop light between the environment and the rays falling on the mirror. And if this option is present, the driver can always turn it off using the button, which should be located on the body car mirror. Owners of ordinary mirrors, in order to avoid glare, just need to adjust a simple lever located there.
Salon mirror can also have additional properties. On it, you can sometimes find a button that is responsible for controlling door systems, in other words, over the gate. To connect, you need the automated system itself, i.e. doors that open with a special remote control. Then you can try to set up a link between the button on saloon mirror and barrier management.
It happens that there can be several such buttons. It is important that the signal types of the remote control and button are compatible (radio or infrared). Radio signals have a long range, but require capturing the correct frequency range, which only the manufacturer's instructions can help with.
Seat belts
Almost everyone has the next function, but few people know about its existence - seat belt adjustment. To find a comfortable height, it is enough to use a special button or latch that allows you to move the loop on the B-pillar. Remember that the loop should go through the center of the shoulder.
And as a bonus, a little "life hack". If the central locking does not work when starting the car, you can manually set up auto-activation by holding your finger on the door lock button for a few seconds. In case of successful activation, you will hear a special sound signal. Shutdown is done in the same way.
Most modern cars have numerous hidden features that car owners are not even aware of. Many of these options will be extremely useful for every driver, so it will not be superfluous to study the instructions for your car in detail, which will allow you to successfully use such hidden functionality.
Using other people's rented cars, we can find ourselves in a situation where at the gas station we will not know which side the gas tank is located on. In fact, each car has a special gas station icon on the dashboard with an arrow next to it. It is this arrow near the gas station that shows the location fuel tank in a particular vehicle.
All drivers know how difficult it can be to drive a car in bright sunshine. If the rays of the setting or standing at the zenith of the sun fall directly into our eyes, this may affect the safety of the vehicle. In order not to squint at such sunlight, you can rotate the sun visor, which can be adjusted to an angle of 90 degrees. Many drivers are not even aware of the possibility of adjusting and rotating the sun visor, which can be easily adjusted depending on the direction of the light.
On some vehicles, you can even unfasten these sun visors by simply flipping them to side windows. Thus, blinding of the driver by the bright sun is completely eliminated, and the necessary safety of driving is ensured. Now you don’t have to squint and close from the sun, and all you need to do is simply rearrange the used sun visor to the desired angle.
ESP is special system, which monitors the location of the car on the road and, if necessary, prevents the development of a skid. However, in some cases, for example, if we need to test the car or try to get out of the slush, it is best to turn off such a skid warning system. What can you use a secret combination of actions for. For example, in Toyota cars, you can simultaneously press the brake pedal and tighten the handbrake, after which the anti-lock will be disabled.
Many ESP cars works closely with ABS and other safety systems. Therefore, it will still be impossible to manually completely disable such a skid prevention system. In case of an emergency skid, when the car may be in danger, computer brain ESP will connect the car, and automation, by increasing the gas and braking individual wheels, will be able to prevent the development of a skid, stabilize the car, and provide necessary security vehicle control.
When operating in winter time year invariably there is a need to turn on the heated mirrors. You can activate this function at the same time as heating rear windows. However, some manufacturers, for example, the company, allow the driver to separately activate the heating of the side windows, for which you need to press the corresponding button on the mirror position control.
Most cars today are equipped with electronic handbrakes, which are designed to hold the car in place while parked. However, such an electronic handbrake can also be used as a means of emergency braking when for some reason our main brakes failed.
Of course, such an electronic parking lock cannot be compared with full-fledged brakes. However, in emergency situations you can use it to stop the car. For example, if the car rolled and the car has problems with brake fluid and the brakes don't work. In this case, it will be possible to activate the electronic handbrake, which will prevent the car from rolling back.
Car owners in the winter season often face the problem of fogging windows, which could be solved correct use conditioner. Regular use of the air conditioner in the winter season will extend the service life of freon, problems with the refrigerant and the need to regular maintenance the entire system.
Due to temperature difference cold air from the air conditioner will quickly dry misted windows, which will completely eliminate fogging problems. Moreover, in the future, frost will not appear on the glasses for a long time, and the car owner will solve the problems with possible stains on the glass, which appear when we simply wipe off the fogging on the windows with a rag.
Most of us use a key fob to open and close our car. You will be surprised that with the help of such a key fob it will be possible to open and close windows. All you need is to hold down the unlock or lock button for a few seconds, which will activate the operation of all power windows. Now you do not need to constantly close the windows and the sunroof, and all this work will be done by automation, simplifying the operation of the vehicle and increasing general security car.
However, we note that not all alarms have such functionality, so you should check with the specialist who installs the alarm, or in the instructions for each specific model security complex. Also, the alarm may have other advanced functions, which can be found in more detail in the technical documentation for your specific car model.
conclusions
The use of such hidden features allows you to significantly simplify the use of the car. The car owner will be able to use the alarm key fob to raise and lower the windows, easily navigate which side the car's gas tank is located on, and be able to solve the problem of freezing side mirrors and misting the windows. We can only recommend that you study the manual for your car in more detail, where you will find various additional options, which will be invariably in demand by all car owners.
