Most are in the realm of safety, but some are pure convenience. Typically, innovative features from the manufacturers are offered on higher-end cars as options and eventually trickle down to less expensive vehicles as cost declines, awareness increases and demand grows.
Equipment and features the public takes for granted today -- electric ignition, automatic windshield wipers, power steering, airbags, cruise control and many more -- began life as unexpected advances that dazzled the public. When GM introduced the first automatic transmission -- its Hydra-Matic Drive -- in the 1940 Oldsmobile, it was a $57 option and more of a curiosity than a "gotta-have" feature. Today automatic transmissions have advanced to the point of providing as many as eight forward gears, driver-shift options, computerized driver-adaptable shifting and different shifting modes, such as "sport," "touring" and "snow." But in 1940, not stirring the transmission yourself was a radical concept and only well-heeled risk takers ponied up the extra cash for the new technology.
Today's "cutting edge" is tomorrow's "commonplace." Here is a collection of technologies already offered that could be mainstream just a year or two from now.