Cars of the future unveiled at CES

Описание: (7 Jan 2016) LEAD IN:
200mph electric supercars and cars that park themselves with just a swish of their owner's wrist are just some of the latest hi-tech motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The auto industry is increasingly using the technology show to demonstrate its latest gadgets and advances.
STORY-LINE:
This futuristic looking electric supercar can reach speeds of up to 200mph according to its maker Faraday.
The single-seater Faraday FFZero1 features all of the latest hi-tech gadgetry expected in a car making its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Page Beermann, Exterior Design Chief of Faraday Future says: "This car is a technology test bed for us. We're exploring things like aerodynamics, chassis development, materials, as well as the design language."
For example, a smartphone can be embedded in the steering wheel to give the driver real-time data and can even be used to tune and alter the way the car is set-up.
The FFZero1 is the brainchild of California-based car maker Faraday Future and is strictly a concept for now... and even if it ever does go into production then you're unlikely to ever see one on the road.
"I envisage this as much more of like a track enthusiast's car. You know, someone that would probably not even drive it on the road," says Beermann.
The modular chassis design can be converted to make it longer or shorter - so various configurations can enable more battery packs to be added for greater range.
Although the FFZero1 might be a concept, Faraday is planning to build its first production cars within two years and is already being tipped as a rival for local electric car makers Tesla.
If 200mph supercars are a bit too much for your needs, then Chevrolet's new Bolt might make a more practical electric alternative.
The 2017 production model was also unveiled at CES - which is fast becoming an important platform for car makers to reinforce their technological credentials.
The Bolt is designed as an affordable long-range electric vehicle and the successor to Chevrolet's Volt. Chevrolet claims the Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles.
Josh Tavel, the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Bolt EV, says: "With every step we've made at Chevrolet - from the Volt EV to the Spark EV to the second gen Volt and now the Bolt EV - we've really built a good heritage and we keep increasing that pedigree. We know what the customers want, more importantly we know how the customers use the vehicles and everything that we've learnt is going into these vehicles."
The Bolt was first introduced as a concept a year ago and production could begin by the end of 2016.
The car could come with an app that will make car sharing easier and also include advanced GPS route mapping which can predict precise range based on driving habits, weather conditions and the number of hills on the planned route.
But is range anxiety and the worry about being an early adopter of a relatively new technology still putting off motorists from going electric in 2016.
"There'll always be some people that still have fear, right? Until it's a completely mainstream product perhaps that won't happen. My biggest thing is going to be about getting the people in the vehicles, letting them experience all the good things that electrification brings to a vehicle, it's a completely different driving experience," says Tavel.
Outside the show hall BMW is demonstrating its self-parking cars.
Volkswagen's old Microbus is getting a major update and could be in a garage near you in around three years.
VW says it's likely that the Budd-e will become a production model.

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