Car Features that have become Obsolete in the 21st Century
Since the inception of motorized travel in the earth 20th century, the designs of cars have dramatically changed through the decades.
Crank engines made way for fuel-powered engines and, over time, features and gadgets have been added or removed as car models developed.
In the 21st century, there are several car features that have become obsolete. Some of the removals are perhaps surprising, while others are likely totally predictable. Either way, chances are you have used some of these features throughout the course of your time driving.
Some features you won't be seeing much in cars in the future:
• Manual transmissions
Did anyone ever think that manual transmissions would become obsolete? A few decades ago, probably not, as this feature was still very much an option when purchasing a new car. As technology progressed, however, most parts of cars have gone to automation.
Today's drivers primarily use automatic transmissions and learning "how to drive a stick shift" is not going to be a phrase future generations will understand.Yahoo!reports (via Edmunds.com), the number of manual transmission-based cars have already significantly shrunk in the past decade.
• Windows with handles
Those who were driving in earlier decades likely remember car windows with a crank. Drivers and passengers wanting to open the window had to manually roll their windows up and down before power windows became an option. Over time power windows became the norm, rather than a pricey add-on when buying a car. These days, there are very few cars that still have crank windows handles.
• Small cup holders
In the age of grande Starbucks or supersized drinks, small cup holders are rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Modern cars can still hold smaller-sized cups, but have been redesigned to hold larger drinks as well.
• Long antennas
As car radios became standard on cars, so did antennas that enabled the radios to get reception for local radio stations. These antennas were static and were very long. Located either on the hood area or the roof, these antennas once made it tricky to go through a car wash.
However, as technology evolved, modern antennas either retract or are embedded into the design of the car. Other models have the even newer shark fin-shaped set atop the vehicle for a sleek and futuristic look.
• Cassettes/CD players
Cassettes were quite popular in the 1980s and carmakers quickly found ways to adapt radios to allow drivers to play their favorite tunes on the very portable cassettes. It wasn't long before the CD found its way onto store shelves in the later part of the decade, which subsequently meant car manufacturers were including them in cars.
While the cassette remained on the market for several more years, you'd be hard-pressed to find a player in any new car today. Even CD players are being replaced by MP3 and other digital ways to connect to music, asBoston.comnotes.
• Keys
They're not quite obsolete, but keys are steadily on the way out, being replaced by fobs. Keys have been the traditional way to lock and unlock car doors, but over time this function too has gone electronic with 'hybrid' versions, a fob and a keyhole. However, many cars today no longer even have a keyhole. Some cars operate with a touchpad and drivers lock their keys in the car. According to media reports, sometime in the future it's very possible cars will be able to work in conjunction with smartphones.
Other former standards in cars include cigarette lighters and bench seats. But nowadays these features are only in older cars, some classics and others doomed to the junkyard.
As technology progresses, it's amazing how different cars have become. While these features are gone with the 21st century, newer attributes replace them. In the 21st century, consumers will see features only previously dreamed about asdriverless carsand evenflying carsbecome a reality.
