We live in a technology revolution. And the way we commute, or rather, mass transportation, has been changed forever. But what does all this mean? Are we heading towards a utopia where we live in a homogenous and surreal world driven around by robotic drivers in our hover cars?

There are many visions of this technological revolution and how it is changing the face of the automobile. Hollywood has taken a stab at it, much of it based on science fiction literature. Some propose that the car does not really belong in the future and should be banned. Then there are those who say that we will see a uniform world where technology will make it very easy for us to move from one place to another without traffic or congestion ala the Star Trek trans-portal. There is also the vision of Blade Runner, where vehicles are broken down to used hardware, looking very functional and purposeful with nuclear powered fusion reactors enabling them to hover through the air. More recently, in the Minority Report, the car was simply a part of the three-dimensional super highway structure that was built onto the side of buildings. They are valid and interesting concepts but do carry some contradictions and holes.

Take a look at some of the advances in the automotive world. In many ways, the car has come of age. Maybe we are finally coming to grips with our world and our environment. And who knows, maybe Hollywood’s vision may become a reality.

So why is our reality so far from this picture? Go back twenty years from today and you could get a 128K personal computer with floppy disc and a printer the size of your mini bar fridge. Cars were more advanced than computers back in the day. Fast forward to present, and that’s not the case anymore. Computer technology has surpassed automotive technology. The answer lies in economics, it costs a lot to achieve the stuff Hollywood filmmakers envision. There also needs to be a cultural change – we have trouble driving a car with four wheels let alone trying to fly one.

Having said that, the car has come a long way – from engines to tire technology to satellite navigation, turbo rotary engines, turbo diesels, active air suspension, four wheel drive, ABS, light weight suspension, reverse sensors and blue tooth technology – the car has advanced both in function and form.

Almost all car manufacturers have had to readjust their business plans to come up with more technology driven products. The savvy and gadget minded consumers of the millennium generation want cars to look every bit as cool and functional as their iPods and Vaio notebooks. Above all, this demographic wants to be wireless, environmentally friendly, more organic, less urban and multifunctional. They see the products in their lives as capable of being all this and more.

So what are carmakers doing to heed their call and take them a step closer to that future? Well, the future is smarter with engine technology – from super efficient diesel engines, fuel cell electric engines to hybrids. The Toyota Prius is a great example of the type of hybrid available today. Hybrids start at XXXX.

Satellite communications and GPS are also playing a huge role in enhancing safety and overall driving experience. Other enhancements include a better user interface, driver dash configuration, and most of all, everything we see, touch and feel. Volkswagen and Mercedes have also introduced an on board computer that records driving habits, your favourite music stations and your own personal climate settings. Volvo takes smart technology even further by aiming to produce a car that can keep track of your stress levels and change the climate inside to suit your mood.