Have you ever stopped to think about how comfortable your car is? Considering that the earliest automobiles were open-air vehicles, we’ve come a long way. Today, we’re taking a look at how automotive comfort has changed over time. Here we can go over how the comfort has changed in the auto industry.
The early 1900s
Open-air vehicles presented many challenges to drivers. They got exposed to all sorts of poor weather. However, in 1910, Cadillac saw a need to address this problem. They came out with the first closed body car, which protected drivers from the weather. Automakers worked to make their interior spaces as comfortable as possible.
Over the next few years, several inventions made notable improvements to auto interiors. In addition, in 1912, Cadillac installed electronic self-starters, lighting, and ignitions in their vehicles. The next development came from Scripps-Booth in 1914, when they started installing power door locks. These additions have made driving more comfortable and enjoyable.
Climate control
Since early automobiles didn’t have temperature controls like we do today, they were often too hot or too cold. The first interior heating system was introduced by Ford in 1929. In 1940, the Packard Motor Car Company created the first in-car air conditioners and power windows. With these inventions, cars now had heating and cooling. In 1960, Cadillac made an automatic climate control system. This allowed drivers to select an interior temperature for their cars. By 1980, Cadillac released a fully electronic version of this system. This is what is used in the vehicles made today to help you stay comfortable.
Seat improvements
Seating in vehicles has gotten more and more comfortable over the years. In 1966, Cadillac came out with the first heated seats. Similarly, in 1998, Saab came with ventilated seats, which cool you down when sitting in them. Therefore, in the early 2000s, Mercedes added a massage addition in their luxury vehicles. Driving now is comfortable as well as safe for you. Each make and model of vehicle is slightly different, so remember to check the features.
Music innovations
Vehicle sound systems have gone through major changes throughout the years. Audio’s introduction occurred in the 1920s, with the first in-car AM radios. These were standard features by the 1930s. In 1950, the first AM/FM radios were introduced. This was followed briefly with in-car record players. These often malfunctioned and were difficult to use.
The next thing came with the Ford Mustang’s 8-track player in the 1960s. These were eventually superseded by cassette players, which were more functional and compact. In the 1980s, car CD players were invented and took off. These stayed popular until the shift toward compact digital storage media in the early 2000s. These days, there is the ability to stream music from our devices to our cars.
Modern technology and human-machine interfaces
Modern cars are designed with smart ways to interact for technology. This technology is called human-machine interface, or HMI for short. HMI lets you integrate your smartphone with your car for easy control. You can customize a wide range of interior features like Advanced lighting and sound systems, Interior temperature and seat comfort, or Internet and cloud connectivity. There is also the option for Wireless communication, Touch interfaces, and GPS.
HMI technology gives drivers easy access to all these things with the tap of a screen. Auto convenience and comfort has certainly come a long way. Do you have questions about your car’s interior features? Our experienced technicians at Lloyd’s Automotive have answers. Give us a call today at (651) 228-1316. We can inspect your vehicle to help ensure safety and reliability when on the road this year.