Night vision and adaptive cruise control top of car buyers wish list

Night vision and adaptive cruise control are the two pieces of technology that Britain’s drivers would most like to see on their next car, according to a survey by MSN Cars.

The poll was placed throughout pages of MSN Cars, one of the UK’s most popular motoring websites. Users were asked:

“If you could only have one of them, which of these new generation technologies would you like to see on your next car?”

Voters were given the options of:

Active high-beam: high beam dips automatically when car senses another car oncoming.

Adaptive cruise control: technology that keeps you a set distance from car in front and brakes/accelerates automatically as needed.

Internet feed: car receives constant supply of data about weather, traffic info, news etc.

Lanekeeping assistance: car senses white lines either side and turns wheel for you if necessary to keep you within them.

Night vision: car uses infra-red to 'see' things before even you do.

Self parking: find a space, press a button, car reverse parks for you.

Slow speed autobraking: if car senses a crash is imminent brakes are applied automatically.

Voice control: order your car around by talking to it.

27,506 people participated in the poll. The full results were:

Night vision – 20%
Adaptive cruise control – 20%
Self-parking – 13%
Voice control – 13%
Internet feed – 12%
Slow speed autobraking – 10%
Active high beam – 8%
Lanekeeping assistance – 4%

“It’s a challenge for car makers to incorporate more and more high technology into their cars while at the same time keeping buying costs down in fiercely competitive markets, especially in the current environment,” comments Tom Evans, Content Manager of MSN Cars. “Our poll involving a very large sample gives clear indications of the technology the bulk of potential buyers want to see in their next car.”

“It may also indicate that car manufacturers have a challenge in educating the public in terms of the benefits that some of these new technologies can offer in terms of convenience and safety.”