The art of the possible

Systems integration, mix-and-match materials for advanced bodyshells, burgeoning information and communication sophistication for the driver-there seems almost no limit to how “smart” the European car can become. But is all this technology a good investment in terms of cash and intellectual application, or is there a danger of too much technology?

There is one overriding priority for success in the motor industry in the decade ahead: technology integration. For the first time, technology has reached the point where it can be expected to provide consistently, reliably, and cost-effectively the systems and software that will allow a level of cohesive, networked communication throughout a vehicle, benefiting safety, performance, emissions reduction, and comfort. Much of it is about electronics, or mechatronics, but it is also about integration of materials and manufacturing systems.

The European automotive industry has long appreciated the potential of such integration, but it is only now, with 21st century advances, that technology can realistically achieve the wide-ranging possibilities that were once in the realm of science fiction and comic book fancy.