New and Old Ford Cars: Top 10 Ways Your Car Has Changed in 10 Years

According to an article on TheFordStory.com, 10 years ago, a key feature on a car that consumers looked for was the number of cup holders it had. However, today the market is a little different. People in the market for new cars now want technology that will keep them safe and connected as well as vehicles that won't have them spending a ton of money on gas.

Throughout the last 10 years there have been many changes in automobiles. This is due to several factors including: people are constantly evolving, technology is becoming more sophisticated and peoples' expectations are becoming higher. Nowadays people use mobile devices and the Internet more than ever to communicate, gain information and even work. According to TheFordStory.com, the UN agency said that about 5 billion people use cell phones today and weekly Internet usage is up to 560 percent. Consumers today want to stay connected and since the time Americans spend in cars has nearly doubled in the last 10 years, they expect their cars to accommodate their everyday lives.

Here are the top 10 new technologies that have come about in the last 10 years.

1. Easier Driving: Nowadays, vehicles are well-equipped with new technologies that make driving easier. This includes self-parallel parking, rear back-up camera and rain-sensing wipers. The new 2011 Ford Explorer even has terrain management, which lets the driver choose the type of terrain the vehicle is driving through, which allows the SUV to adjust wheel spin, throttle inputs and other parts accordingly. What's next? Cars that drive themselves?

2. Infotainment: 10 years ago, vehicle options included in-dash compact disc players and speed control systems. Now consumers have options to receive information through voice-activated controls. Real-time traffic and Wi-Fi mobile hot spots are now found on many 2011 new Ford cars and trucks as well.

3. Accident Prevention: One thing consumers agree on is that safe driving is important. That is why automotive safety has increased drastically in the past decade. According to TheFordStory.com article, in 2000, the average car had at least two airbags. Today most cars have at least four, with some that contain as many as 10. The airbag technology has improved as well. In fact, Ford was the first automaker to introduce inflatable second row safety belts to the auto market. There is also a new Curve Control which monitors a driver's speed entering fast, sharp corners then corrects the vehicle to avoid losing control or crashing. Blind Spot Information System is also another valuable safety feature offered in some new vehicles. It lets the driver know when approaching vehicles enter the blind spot area as well as alerts the driver of any cross-traffic when the driver is backing out of a parking spot.

4. Entertainment: Today consumers have a variety of compact ways to be entertained while on the road. Ten years ago, satellite radio was unheard of in a car; however, today more than half of new passenger cars have satellite. Most new Ford models also come with SYNC, which can stream Internet radio such as Pandora or play music from an iPod or other digital music players through a USB cord. The cassette tapes of yesteryear are clearly behind us.

5. Fuel Economy: Thirty years ago people wanted large vehicles to transport a lot of passengers and cargo. However, those days are over.  Today consumers want fuel efficient vehicles that won’t cost them an arm and a leg every time they pull up to the gas station. The EPA revealed that fuel economy between 2000 and 2010 improved from 19.8 mpg to 22.5 mpg. The auto industry also began constructing more fuel efficient cars to satisfy consumers' requests. Nowadays, the most popular vehicles are the ones with smaller, fuel efficient engines.

6. Customization: There's an increase in demand for the personalization of cars today, such as ambient lighting colors that can be changed to fit the driver's mood. Other features include driver's seats with customizable settings and even cool personalized decal kits and colored piping in the seats.

7. Built-in Navigation: The first auto navigation system became available in the late 1990s, however, now they are extremely advanced and more common in newer models. Almost every new car comes equipped with built in navigation and if they don't, many consumers buy GPS systems or use their smart phones for navigation purposes.

8. Security: Security is a major concern of drivers today, thus the market has responded with keyless remotes, alarms, warning systems and anti-theft systems. Many vehicles also have features that allow parents to restrict vehicle speeds when a teen driver is behind the wheel.

9. Car Colors: The exterior color of new cars have become more vibrant and creative and people love the various choices available. The traditional tan, silver, and black of decades past are being replaced with Kiwi green, Screaming yellow, Kona or Mediterranean blue metallic, white suede and more.

10. Comfortable Ride: Today people care more about how comfortable the inside of their vehicle is. The vehicles manufactured in the 2000's have sleeker interior designs, better quality materials, heat controlled seats and automatically adjust to a driver's position. Remote starters are becoming more popular as well.

It's hard to imagine what the cars of tomorrow will look like, but at the rate automakers are going, who knows, we may all be travelling around in electric flying vehicles in another 10 years from now.