As the end of the year rolls around, we are left to ponder 2013’s events and their future implications in the latest issue of Megatrends magazine. Millennials’ dwindling enthusiasm for purchasing has been the topic of many a water cooler conversation, car hacking too, but is either as much of a problem as they seem? Rachel Boagey investigates on pages 18 and 26.
This issue of Megatrends revolves around one big question: who should be driving your car? From the word go, car design and development is changing. The car is no longer exclusively a product of the traditional automotive industry: consumer tech companies may be muscling in but, says Gary Shapiro, Chief Executive of the Consumer Electronics Association, now is the time for the two sectors to converge. Shapiro speaks to Martin Kahl ahead of January’s CES on page 76.
While it is clear that OEMs can incorporate smartphones into cars very well, the question still remains whether tech companies will be able to build cars themselves (page 57). Many may conclude that companies like Google and Apple would be better off working as mere suppliers to OEMs, but new manufacturing processes may give them just the boost need to build an ‘iCar’.
On page 50, Formula 1 heavyweight Gordon Murray discusses his new iStream manufacturing process which, he says,“could very, very simply make an Apple or a Google or a Sony or anything like that”. Gordon Murray Designs has “a full suite of tools, to help somebody get from an idea on a bit of paper to the cars coming off the line.” Ever the innovator, Murray speaks exclusively, revealing more than one little hint of what’s in store for the future.
Albeit from a less glamorous world than Murray, Peter Dearman, founder of the Dearman Engine Company, is no less the entrepreneur. On page 68, the company’s Chief Executive Toby Peters talks about its new liquid air engine, first developed in Dearman’s garage workshop and now set to revolutionise LCV powertrains.
But perhaps the most talked about technology of the year is that which is driving autonomous vehicles. Both the US and UK are seemingly against driverless cars being on public roads for anything other than testing at present, but the likes of Mercedes is ready to go. But there is still one matter to resolve before autonomous vehicles should be allowed on the roads: just who, or what, should be driving your car when you are taking a back seat? Frost & Sullivan’s Prana Natarajan considers the matter on page 60.
We hope you enjoy this issue of Megatrends and, as always, welcome your thoughts and suggestions. Simply email ruth.dawson@automotiveworld.com.
Ruth Dawson
Publications Editor, Automotive World
