Top 10 Dream Car Features

If cars could speak what would they say, and how would they say it? Motorists can be quite a vocal bunch, so why not turn cars into audio extensions of their drivers? In our dream world, a horn-tone would surpass the idea of customizable songs and noises for your car’s horn. So, when someone gives way there’d be a “thank you” message or when someone’s too close, speakers by the brake lights would tell the tailgater to ‘back off!’ Your steering wheel could become a sort of audible emoji center… Or, in the interest of safety, the car could recognize what the driver says, before amplifying the sentiment for its intended target. Just be careful that it doesn’t pick up your in-car singing!

Road trips are thirsty work and although almost every car since the ‘80s includes a cup holder of some sort, we’ve yet to see the mass market flooded with in-car espresso machines. Or, better yet, in-built snack bars. A mid-morning latte with a slice of cake is one of life’s little luxuries, and we shouldn’t be denied it just because we’re driving. This way you can pull up, switch off and serve up a feast. We’re thinking pastries, candy bars, and cookies (or even pre-prepared salads as a healthier option!), all washed down with a warm cup o’ caffeine! And maybe one day, we’ll even be able to install a replicator to suit all our snacking needs!

All-weather tire technology has progressed admirably, but Mother Nature can still render our wheels useless. A little bit of rain or snow is manageable for some models, but as of now you can never drive with absolute confidence once a light shower evolves into an all-out storm. Oh, you might think your all-seasons are legit, but seriously, come live in Canada and tell us the tires you use on a dry, hot road will serve you in a blizzard. If the powers that be could invent a super-adaptable tire that functioned equally well on all surfaces – and still make it affordable for the average driver! – there’d be fewer accidents, and fewer reasons to just wait until the weather ‘blows over.’ In our dream car, the slippery, slidey scariness of aquaplaning would be a thing of the past!

Some people love washing the car; it’s a weekly ritual best enjoyed on a sleepy Sunday morning. But most people hate doing the job, only to watch their ride get messy within minutes of leaving home! A super non-stick coating would solve all our problems, as dirt would just glide off the paintwork. Or, why not go one-step further and invent some sort of self-cleaning system? Admittedly we’re not entirely sure how this would work yet, but isn’t the idea just fantastic?? Dust, sand, dirty puddle water and bird poo – none of it would cause you to curse again. But please remember; if super non-stick coating does arrive, definitely don’t put it on your tires – that would not end well!

Let’s face it: not many of us are huge fans of vehicle maintenance in general, and when the car starts to splutter is how big a bill it’s gonna demand. But just imagine if your engine could somehow sort itself out, or at least self-diagnose? Dashboard warning lights are advancing, but we need more than a measly ‘low oil’ indicator. We want to be told precisely when our transmission is failing, our starter is broken, or when our exhaust is officially exhausted! Only then can we head to the garage and at least pretend to know what we’re talking about! Or better yet, let’s build our engines out of self-healing, smart materials so we never have to take them in at all!

We’ve all done the magnet experiment at some point in our lives… The one where we realize that the opposite ends of a magnet attract, but identical ends repel. So why not apply that basic rule of physics to the auto industry? Yes, we currently see collision avoidance systems in different forms on many cars. But what if we fitted the bumpers of every car with magnets of the same polarization? Voila! No more vehicle collisions – or at the very least, we’d reduce the number significantly. It’s second grade science, but it could start a revolution on the road. There are some downsides though… Close parking could become even more nightmarish than it already is!

Hybrid and full electric cars are all the rage in today’s consumer automobiles. But even though there are tons of pros, these technologies still present a lot of cons. Limited range, long charging times and batteries that are extremely hazardous to the environment are all signs that we can’t get past gasoline just yet. Our dream cars, however, would use some kind of easily renewable, self-sustaining power source. Imagine a small solar panel on the roof that could operate more than just the car’s accessories and store enough energy to take you across the country, all with some kind of non-chemical battery that never needs to be tossed into a junkyard. It’s sure to be a delicate equation between the laws of physics and energy but hey, in the context of this countdown, we can dream!

Anyone who’s ever played a driving sim or video game has dreamed of this. In the games, before your race, you navigate a series of menus to choose the car you like, and there’s usually an option to spray paint it the color of your choice. If only something similar were available in the real world! In our dream world, a digitally-enhanced body could turn your car into your easel, allowing you to upload colors and designs, which are then accessible at the touch of a button. You could change car color with the days of the week, or even mimic the look of famous vehicles, forcing you to answer the age-old question – “which Batmobile do I like best??”

No matter how advanced dashboard tech gets, we won’t be truly satisfied until there’s in-car AI on a level with “Knight Rider”’s KITT. Knight Industries Two Thousand looked like a spaceship, thought like a human and surpassed any road trip buddy you could ever wish for. We want a computer that not only tells us how to get places, but that comments on the scenery too; something that warns you when you need to fill up, and then complains about the price of gas. Basically, we’d like a robot car that drives for us, talks to us and cares about us. Is that so much to ask??

Is it a bird? A plane? No, it’s a car that doubles as a flying vehicle and it’s the most amazing thing in the world ever! At least in theory. Flight capabilities have long been the thing that mankind most wants in a car. Regardless of how much we love being on the road, to be off of it would just be insanely cool! Traffic jams; not a problem. Confusing country roads; easily avoided. Rivers, lakes and oceans; no longer a concern. With the flick of a switch or the yank of a gearshift we’d be airborne and the possibilities would be endless. Flying cars would probably necessitate an upgrade to our driver's license, but it’s surely something we’d all be willing to learn. After that, the sky really is the limit!

Do you agree with our list? Which dream feature did we forget? For more king of the road top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.