Technology in cars keeps advancing, and we get to see new min-bowing features from time to time. Automotive history has always been rich in innovative cars and features, some which were revolutionary and others which were downright miserable. Despite the setbacks and a few hiccups, automakers have never stopped trying to invent new unimagined features.
Over the past couple of decades, car features have improved exceptionally. From advanced driver-assistance systems to AI-equipped infotainment systems, automakers around the world keep working harder to offer better, more intelligent, unique, and futuristic features. While most high-tech features were only available in expensive luxury cars and sports cars, they eventually made it to mainstream models.
Today you don’t have to break the bank to get a technology-loaded car. While we saw some of the best car features in 2022, 2023 promises to be even better. Here are the 10 most advanced automotive features and innovations coming in 2023.
10 Mercedes-Benz EQG “Tank Turn” Feature
Today’s EVs boast features their gasoline-powered adversaries can only dream of. Remember GMC’s bizarre “crab mode” on the Hummer EV? Well, Mercedes Benz takes it a step further with the “tank turn” feature on the upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQG. It allows the car to spin around the same spot in a perfect circle, just like a tank.
Equipped with four electric motors, this feature will allow easier maneuverability. Interestingly, Rivian was the first automaker to popularize this feature in the Rivian R1T, only to announce they were delaying this feature in the production car. It’s now a matter of who will release the tank turn feature first. Rivian or Mercedes? Buckle up, as 2023 promises to be an exciting year.
9 Ford E-Tourneo Custom Folding Steering Wheel
Ford recently revealed the all-new Ford E-Tourneo Custom. It’s the latest addition to the automaker’s quickly growing fleet of electric vans, joining the top-selling E-Transit Custom and E-Transit. Among the car’s impressive features, the one that stands out is the flat-folding steering wheel.
In just a few steps, you can turn the steering wheel into a small working table where you can place your laptop, documents, or snacks while in the parking lot or charging station. How is this possible? The wheel’s rim tilts independently from the steering hub, letting you set it at various angles. Impressive.
8 The Offroad Supercar - Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato
Lamborghini shocked everyone when they revealed the wild Huracan Sterrato concept, a modified off-road version of the Huracan supercar…and now it’s finally here. Limited to 1,499 units, the Sterrato will be the final variant of the Huracan model and the last V10-powered Lamborghini. But unlike the regular Huracan, the Sterrato is meant to go offroad and gets a new intake system which means power drops to 602hp and 413lb-ft of torque.
To take you off-road, the Sterrato isn’t your typical Lambo. It comes with standard Bridgestone Dueler all-terrain tires, 1.7-inch ride height, improved ground clearance, suspension upgrades, reinforced sill covers, and underbody protection. At 162mph, the Sterrato will be the slowest Lamborghini since the LM002 SUV, but it is an offroad rocket that can annihilate other sports cars thanks to its 3.4-second time to 62 mph.
7 2023 Lexus Rz 450e “Steer By Wire” Steering Yoke
Tesla tried reinventing the traditional steering wheel with the steering yoke, which turned out terrible, and nobody liked it. Lexus is the latest automaker to offer the steering yoke in the all-new 2023 Lexus Rz 450e. But unlike Tesla, Lexus didn’t just reshape the conventional wheel and call it good.
Instead, the Japanese automaker created a new electric steering technology – dubbed the Steer-by-Wire in the US or One Motion Grip in other markets – that steers the front wheels electronically. There’s no physical contact between the rack and the column. It uses motors instead. This eliminates the hand-over-hand wheel winding like in the Tesla, as the steer-by wire requires only 150 degrees to rotate lock to lock.
6 2023 Fisker Ocean “Solar Sky Roof”
With the EV revolution in full swing, there is an influx of new entries in the market, and Fisker looks to make the most of it with the Ocean SUV. And like most EVs on this list, the Fisker Ocean is full of unusual features. It comes with a revolutionary SolarSky roof, making it the first production car with a full-length solar roof.
Available in the top trim Fisker Ocean, the solar roof is not just for aesthetics, as Fisker claims it can harvest the sun’s rays to supplement the battery-powered motor. When properly exposed to the sun, the SolarSky can supply between 1,500 and 2,000 miles of ranger per year. According to Fisker bills, the Ocean SUV will be the world’s most sustainable EV.
5 2023 Fisker Ocean California Mode
What does an open-air experience in an SUV sound like? That’s the Fisker Ocean for you. With the push of a button, you can turn the 2023 Fisker Ocean into a coastline cruiser. Called the California Mode, this luxurious feature rolls down all the front and rear windows, rear lift gate windows, rear doggie windows and opens the panoramic roof simultaneously.
The result is a one-of-a-kind convertible-like experience that lets drivers enjoy a cool breeze while the sun shines down on them. According to Fisker, this premium feature is available on the Fisker Ocean One, Fisker Ocean Ultra, and Fisker Ocean Extreme
4 The Shape-Shifting City Transformer CT-1 Electric Car
The innovative City Transformer CT-1 EV is the next chapter to sustainable urban driving. The two-seater, four-wheeled microcar comes with an advanced all-electric powertrain and an adjustable wheelbase that transforms its width in real time at the press of a button.
In City mode, the CT-1 isn’t much wider than a conventional motorbike – wheels set 1m (39 inches) apart – helping you squeeze through the narrowest traffic gaps or in and out of the tightest parking spaces. Hit the “Performance” button, and the car’s front and rear axles slide out by 200mm on either side to 1.4m (55 inches) track width, giving you extra stability at higher speeds. As the car’s launch date looms, it has over 2,000 pre-orders in place.
3 BMW 7-Series 31-Inch 8K Theater Screen
Several luxury cars have had rear-seat screens since the ‘90s, usually relegated to small displays behind the front seats or dated tablet setups. But a 31.3-inch Theater screen? Well, that’s what you get in the new BMW 7-Series. On top of that, it has an 8K resolution that displays media in either 16:9, 21:9, or 32:9 aspect ratios.
A 5G wireless connection and Amazon Fire TV let you stream media content in 4K UHD. To back up the massive screen is a standard 18-speaker, 655-watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system, but the one you want is the optional 36-speaker 1,965-watt 4D Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound system. The screen doesn’t come cheap, though, as it will set you off an extra $4750. But that’s the price you pay for a theater screen that puts to shame some home theater setups.
2 Ford F-150 Lightning Fold-Out Desk
As the EV pickup truck war rages on, automakers are equipping their trucks with revolutionary features. Introduced in 2022, the Ford F-150 Lightning is rich with a host of features like a trailer backup-assist system, tailgate clamps, and mobile generator capabilities that can power your home appliances.
But the most incredible feature is the brilliant secret desk space. Once parked, push a button on the center console to alter the gear shifter position, then fold out the center armrest into an impromptu office space where you can place your laptop, sign documents, or enjoy a meal.
1 Audi A6 E-Tron Projecting Headlights
Audi is always on the front line when it comes to lightning. The four-ringed automaker raised the bar even higher with the Audi A6 E-Tron. Expected to be revealed in 2023, the car’s headlights come equipped with the manufacturer’s “Digital Matrix LED” technology.
The sleek headlights can shine specific animations and shapes on the road. Additionally, they can project images on a wall such that owners can play video games while parked, waiting for the car to charge. The Audi-developed game lets players use their smartphones as game controllers.
Sources: Carwow, YouTube, Gearpatrol, Motortrend, Car And Driver