Top 20 sci-fi tech additions drivers want in their cars as full list revealed

Imagine a car that never needs washing, glides effortlessly over potholes, and keeps every passenger at their ideal temperature—all while cleaning itself inside and out. According to a recent survey of 2,000 motorists, drivers are eagerly anticipating a wave of futuristic features, from self-cleaning paintwork and solar panel roofs to levitating wheels and noise-cancelling cabins.

This vision of the ultimate “dream car” of the future, brought to life in a new image, comes after 37% expect seemingly futuristic characteristics to be a reality within 10 years. A third even expect there will be flying cars in the future.

A spokesperson for XPENG UK, which commissioned the research, said: "The image of the perfect car might look out of reach, but some features are becoming a reality.

“Not so long ago, the idea of power steering or electric windows might have appeared fantastical, and now they’re the bare minimum.

“And the most cutting-edge cars today already feature futuristic cameras and sensors – our G6 model can park itself or even be driven out of a tight parking space via your phone.

“So, while people aren’t quite flying around in Jetsons-style personal spaceships yet – although we’re working on it with flying cars – we’re seeing a huge boom in automotive technology at the moment.”

The research found other futuristic tech motorists would like their cars to offer in years to come included windows that could be tinted on demand.One in ten would like to see seats that could fold out perfectly flat, in case they ever needed to sleep in their vehicle.

Seven in ten consider the tech in their car to be important, prioritising it ahead of the colour or its perception as a ‘status’ symbol. However, 35% confessed they aren’t currently able to use all the technology they’ve got in their current car.

Nearly three in 10 don’t know how to turn off the passenger airbags in their car, while 25% can’t reset the tyre pressure sensor to stop a warning light from flashing.

The spokesperson for XPENG UK added: “When people think of the future, we think of Blade Runner-style flying cars, or jetpacks whizzing people around. Some of our vehicles already feature charging in as little as 20 minutes and 18-speaker surround sound systems.

“This reality may not be coming down the track in the next year or two, but it’s very possible current cars will be seen as old-fashioned as a horse and cart in the near future.

“In the meantime, it’s all about making the driving experience as safe and enjoyable as possible, in the vehicles we do have, and tech can play a huge part in that."