Exciting innovations in automotive technology are introduced every year: from new safety features to the latest in in-car entertainment amenities. The model year 2009 presents an exciting array of new car technologies that aim to enhance how our automotive experience. Even with a crisis facing the automotive industry, the demand for new technologies that will enhance safety, entertainment, comfort and connectivity will has nowhere to go but up. Here’s a rundown of the top new car technologies for the 2009 model year.

Adaptive Cruise Control – also known as active or intelligent cruise control, ACC uses radar and/or laser sensors usually located behind the grille to determine the speed and distance of the vehicle in front. It maintains the vehicle’s pre-set speed and adjusts it accordingly to maintain the proper distance between vehicles in the same lane. For instance, if the vehicle in front slows down, the system sends a signal to the engine or braking system to decelerate. The system accelerates to the last speeds setting when it detects that the distance is safe again.

Traffic and Weather Alert Navigation – Future drivers will be more informed about weather and traffic conditions with real-time information superimposed on GPS-based navigation systems. The weather/traffic information is scaled and customized for the driver’s location and route. The service provides alerts about severe traffic and weather conditions that can help drivers avoid a massive traffic jam or a storm brewing on the road ahead.

Adaptive Headlamps – A vehicle’s headlamps can now follow wherever the driver turns the steering wheel to illuminate where the driver is looking instead of the car’s front end only. The adaptive headlamps system involves processing of information about the location of the steering wheel and the speed of the vehicle which then signals electric motors behind the headlamps to turn left or right accordingly.
Portable Nav Device Integration – As portable navigation devices become even more popular, automakers are now equipping their vehicles with interfaces and storage compartments for these gadgets.

Portable Nav Device Integration – As portable navigation devices become even more popular, automakers are now equipping their vehicles with interfaces and storage compartments for these gadgets.

Collision Avoidance – This system monitors the distance and closing rate between the vehicle equipped with the system and the vehicle or an object ahead on the road. If the system thinks that the driver is not braking enough, it alerts the driver with tools such as flashing lights, vibrating seats, tugging seatbelts and more. In some collision avoidance systems, the brake is applied automatically at the last moment if these alerts don’t work.

Source: MSN Autos