Seems to me that you are looking for cars for idiots. Hardly something to ask the auto industry to aspire to, right?
1. I want to call my car and tell it to start, defrost, heat seats or a/c or open sun roof.
2. I want my car to call me when something needs attention. I want my car to call the dealer shop when something serious needs attention.
3. Get rid of petroleum based lubricants
4. Loose the rubber tires, replace with with something synthetic.
5. More choice of colors.
6. We still have windshield wipers?
7. Swivel front seats
8. Plastic that doesn't give off fumes to crud up windshield.
Ah, it's hopeless. Auto innovation is non existent because of gummit controls and crappy highways.

10. Cars that won't turn unless you use a blinker

Being from a state with a lot of curvy, rural roads and mountain pass roads, I can say that that would make driving those roads impossible

What is this? Is this a woman's forum blog?

Okay, these things are great for the future. However, there are some features I'd like to see sooner. Most of them are completely feasible, and some are in place right now in a limited sense...

1. Auto-tire inflation. This is a system in place today with some military vehicles. They have a device called CTIS (Computerized Tire Inflation System) in which the tire pressure in all wheels is constantly monitored and adjusted. Even more, CTIS can change the tire pressure for existing terrain or conditions (sand, ice, rocky, etc.) The military can get away with this because they use air power for some of their systems, like improved brake compression. It would seem to me that this could easily be implemented into everyday vehicles also.
2. Emergency Vehicle Monitoring. Everyone's been stuck at a light so that a police car, fire truck or ambulance can go by. What about on the open road, where you can hear the siren but not necessarily see where their coming from? Even limited information (forward, behind, left, right and distance) can help people get out of the way better.
3. Better Security Systems. Some companies are trying to implement some convenience features, but let's go one further. Fingerprint scanners on the inside door handles, maybe? Voice activated commands for things like starting the car, instead of choosing our favorite songs? How about automatic notification to you (and to 911) if someone tries to unlock your car with a Slim Jim tool?

Just thoughts out there...

Rofl at Zermatt.

I agree with Scorpius, the blinker thing would be outrageously silly especially with all the curvy roads everywhere. I would like to see HUDs soon, along with cars that drive themselves for those idiots on the road who have too much money (you know the kind, the one's in their Yukon on their cell phone)

I think we need to expand the functionality of the horn. "Being loud for 1-2 seconds" will hardly show a 17 year old that their POS Civic with the model airplane wing glued to the trunk shouldn't be going over 40mph, let alone 90.
Lets get that heads-up display into cars and combine it with a 360 degree IR camera that can identify other cars on the road and combine that with a traffic network using uniqe RFID's in each car (hang with me for a second here). So now a central system knows where each car is and can identify each. Now you install OnStar's system that disables the accelerator of a stolen car.
With all of this in place, there are a bunch of safety and convenience features that could be implemented. But front and center would be a feature of the HUD that would allow you to "vote off" a driver who is "misbehaving" in traffic. Accumulate enough votes in a short period of time and bingo - it's 5mph on the shoulder for you.

I'd like to see a RFID chip that you keep on your person. Either a card in your wallet or even in your watch. This chip will be tied to your car and if you're not in your car it won't start. Also if you're carjacked, it'll shutdown after just a few feet.

Surely number 6 should be number 1 (and 2, 3, 4 & 5).

Alternative fuels and better economy has to be the highest priority of all. Sure all the nice *fast* cars are great, but when stuck in traffic, a Ferrari is going the same speed as a Pinto.

Surely number 6 should be number 1 (and 2, 3, 4 & 5).

Alternative fuels and better economy has to be the highest priority of all. Sure all the nice *fast* cars are great, but when stuck in traffic, a Ferrari is going the same speed as a Pinto.

Or maybe cars that automatically change the color or the design like fender.

Or maybe cars that automatically change the color or the design like fender.

Some of those ideas sound nice, but I personally fell a little wary about stepping into a car that thinks its smarter then me. Heck, the last time I rented a car I got infuriated at the sensitivity of the rain sensing wipers. That doesn’t give me much confidence in handing over the rest of the car’s systems to a computer.
Computers are limited to the extent of their programming. If the programmer forgot to foresee a specific situation and write a code for it, then a self driving car could drive you off a cliff or something similar. Computers can only do what they are told, they can’t learn from mistakes, or find solutions to problems they weren’t programmed for. How many of you would have wanted to sit shotgun in any one of the entries for the 2004 DARPA Grand Challenge?

Also some of these ideas for theft protection seem a little scary too. A car that stops it self when stolen, what happens if the car doesn’t realize or receive the signal that it’s stolen until it is in the middle lane of a 5 lane LA freeway? Sure, I’ll get my car back, but not after it gets pancaked by a big rig and screws up rush hour for three hours. What if instead of being stolen, I loaned my car to a friend?
What about the ability for OnStar, the police, or any one else to take remote control of my car? That’s just asking to be hacked. Just a few weeks ago a 14 year old in Poland injured 12 people when he hacked a transit system with a TV remote. Imagine the carnage if someone hacked the OnStar system and randomly sent cars to a screeching halt during rush hour?
Fingerprint scanners? RIFD tags? Again, what if I loaned my car to a friend? Do I have to enter their finger print into the car’s computer or order a new RIFD tag? Once I do, what keeps them from barrowing my car when ever they want now that they have access?

Cars that don’t turn with out the blinker activated? Ya, besides the curvy road problem, what if I’m in an empty parking structure after pulling overtime? Do I have to signal every time I turn a corner to go down to the next floor just to prevent my car from doing a swan dive off the building? Yes, blinker etiquette is a sad state these days, but there are some things you just can’t force others to do, we just have to remember to use our blinkers how we would like others to use theirs.

More info for the driver? How much info do you really need? At some point the driver is going to get information overload, and get distracted from actually driving. Do you really need a computer to tell you there is a crosswind? I can tell that just by the force feed back through my steering wheel. Do you really need to know the exact speed of the car behind you? I just look in my mirror, if the car is getting bigger (or already takes up the entire mirror) its time to change lanes to the right.

Voting people off the roads “Survivor” style? Oh dear god! I can just see people who are late to work or whatever voting on people left and right.

As for flying cars, well since everyone things thinks that we need computers to make up for the shortcomings of all those horrible drivers out there, why in the heck would you want to go putting all of those people up in the air? There is a reason why it takes people an average of 75 flight hours, a similar amount of ground school, and thousands of dollars just to get the most basic of pilot’s licenses. Also would you want to live in a world where some people maintain their flying cars as poorly as they currently maintain their normal cars?

Basically, beyond systems that keep me out of an accident when human reaction times just don’t cut the mustard, I prefer to be in the driver’s seat. Thank you very much.

That all being said, I would now like to indulge in a few moments of hypocrisy:
1. Cars that block out all cell phone signals inside the car, so you actually have to focus on driving, and not talking on the phone.
2. SUV’s that won’t allow themselves to be sold to people who never go off road, or to the snow, and will just use them as glorified minivans.

An unsafe idea to not let your car turn unless the blinkers are activated. Better parking ability is becoming a neccesity in our crowded cities. I agree with the previous comment about windshield wipers - improve them - or better yet hurry up research to improve cheap and safe water repellant glass (this is needed inside and outside the vehicle as water and mist are major impediments to seeing clearly. Modular components to cheaply fix your dinged car are an obvious items - which could receive funding from the insurance industry as it would save them loads of money in the long run.

1. Cars that block out all cell phone signals inside the car, so you actually have to focus on driving, and not talking on the phone.

Bull... this is a totally stupid Idea... want to know why...
1) I have kids, and I need to keep in touch with them either them call me and or I call them.
2) I have KIDS I need to call in an emergency for them or they call me.
3) I will have to PULL off to the side of the ROAD get OUT... and subject myself to a mugging, or drive by, or some one RAPE me, Kidnap me. BullFriggin Shit dumb ass.
4) I will HAVE to PULL off to the side of road period, and GET OUT, ever time I need to make a phone call period, I work on the road, I drive over 200+ miles a day for my work, there is NO time to pull off to the side of the road and talk to my suppliers, my service people, and my consumers.
5) If you are to damn stupid to talk on the phone period, then you should NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER!!! And i mean this you moron, EVER drive with anyone in the car. You can NEVER talk to anyone at all, because in your f-ed up mind you cannot concentrate at all and having 1 person in the car period will 'distract you' at all. NO radio, no notithin.
Thoes are 5 reasons, I have more but I will not show you up and make you feel like a HEEL that you are.

Actually YOU cannot drive at all, because everything will distract YOU.
1) Braking, and Gas pedals will distact YOU.
2) SC WILL Distract you
3) Radio will DISTRACT YOU
4) The Cig Lighter will distract you.
5) The windshield will distract you(yes because it will get to dirty)
6) The windshield wipers will distract you.
etc... need I go on.. no I dont.

Flat out get a Bluetooth, or get a car that has Bluetooth capable abilities to have your phone hook up, and be hands free. If you cannot do this then you are to damn stupid to be driving period.

I guess it needs to be clarified. This:

"That all being said, I would now like to indulge in a few moments of hypocrisy:
1. Cars that block out all cell phone signals inside the car, so you actually have to focus on driving, and not talking on the phone.
2. SUV’s that won’t allow themselves to be sold to people who never go off road, or to the snow, and will just use them as glorified minivans."

was sarcasm.

The were suggestions of totally infeasible solutions to things that annoy me. In the same vain as the car that won't turn unless you have the blinker on.

1. Sliding Doors: When you approach your car, the doors should slide open automatically.
2. Sense, See and Sniff: I want my car to sense, see and sniff things for me.
3. Talk: I want my car to talk to me and/or other passengers and assist me as well with troubles.
4. Mood: I want my car to sense my mood.
5. Connectivity: I want my car to connect to the internet, my home pc, my office pc, etc.
6. Auto-Drive: I want my car to auto-drive me around if I don’t feel like driving.
7. Auto Tinting Glass: I want my car’s windows to be transparent and black when I want.
8. Prevention: I want my car to sense and take appropriate action if another car is about to hit mine.
9. Security: I want my car to take picture or record a video if someone tries to approach my car.
10. Front Seat 180 Degree : I want my car to have an option of front seats 180 Degree rotation option.

I was a substitute school bus driver for almost 10 years off and on, and have been a delivery truck driver over 3 states for the past 3 years, driving anywhere, in any thing under any conditions. I offer my advice.
Sometimes our delivery runs start or finish 3 or 4 hours away from the warehouse, and a self driving vehicle would come in handy at the end of a 12-14 hour day. Wouldnt want to use it constantly, but would help on those long drives.
One imrovement would be if all vehicles had all wheel drive and stability control.
One idea: combine a remote starter with an alarm clock so you could have the heat/air/defogger work 15 minutes before you leave for work or get off work automatically.
I want a car that will completely diagnose itself and tell me what part to replace instead of a "check engine" light that might not give an accurate code.
Around here, we dont have much problem with speeders, instead, we have 1 car doing 30 in a 55 zone for miles down the two lane road with no passing zones, 10-20 cars lined up behind it, and it never reaches the speed limit, and never pulls over to let traffic around. Therfore, I want a "horn" that will cause sonic pain and nausea and have the driver not want to be in front of a long line of traffic.
Here's another idea: 3 horns. One for a friendly greeting, one for that road hog in front, and a panic sound for that kid or driver getting ready to step right in front of you by not looking. And now for some replies:
"Get rid of petroleum based lubricants." By now, they have fully synthetic lubricants to replace almost all oil based fluids in your car: transmission fluid, motor oil, brake fluid, gear oil, etc. Check out Royal Purple brands.
"We still have windshield wipers?" Although the recent years have shown some improvements like frameless wipers, visibility is still a huge problem all around. At times you can't even see to change lanes from all the mud and rain on the side mirrors and side windows, the fog and grime on inside and outside of glass, and I hate driving on wet roads at night when all you can see is a pair of headlights approaching you and you gotta guess where the lines in the road are for a second or two.
"Swivel front seats." My parents 1975 Chevy Monte Carlo had these. They were kinda neat and would make it easier to get in an out at times.
"Emergency Vehicle Monitoring." I think if you have a Valentine One radar detector it has something like this. It has displays to show if a radar signal is coming from the front, rear, or sides, and combine that with the "strobe alert" or whatever that some radar detectors have to alert you to some approaching emergency vehicles.
"Cars that block out all cell phone signals inside the car, so you actually have to focus on driving, and not talking on the phone." I think this was mostly in humor, and besides, cell phone blockers are illegal. Sure, we've seen people driving badly with a cell phone stuck to their ear, or also trying to light a cigarette but there's not much we can do with people too stupid to walk and chew gum at the same time...
"Sliding Doors: When you approach your car, the doors should slide open automatically." Some minivans have motorized doors that will open with the remote.
"Prevention: I want my car to sense and take appropriate action if another car is about to hit mine." Unless its croming from a blind side, I would rather take care of it myself.
"Front Seat 180 Degree : I want my car to have an option of front seats 180 Degree rotation option." Some Dodge minivans have that as an option now for the middle seats.
Overall, we've got a lot of great ideas here if only half would see production.

I want a car that drives itself. That would sell trillions. I want to be half robot too.