Automotive marketplace Auto Trader has released designs for what cars in 2050 may look like, with interesting predictions including enough space to practice yoga.
The concept designs are based on the expertise of futurologist Tom Cheesewright, market trends, the rate of technological development and research into consumer demand.
Auto Trader’s 2050 concept car is fully electric, changes color, and has space for passengers to do other activities while driving. Digital paint will allow passengers to change the color and style of the car at the tap of an app, and this feature could be available as early as 2040.
Passengers can relax and unwind on the built-in mattress in the center of the cabin, with 24% of respondents saying they would catch up on much needed sleep, and 13% of men saying they would get intimate with a partner.
Among drivers, 22% say they would read a book, with another 19% saying they would watch videos on the in-built TV screen. Other activities would be playing board games (16% of respondents), doing hair or make-up (15%) and practicing yoga (4%).
The 2050 car would be fitted with windows extending over the roof in one large bubble, offering more headroom. It would also feature 360° panoramic views plus black-out functionality on the windows, activated with a quick tap.
Rory Reid of Auto Trader said, “The UK government’s recent announcement on bringing forward the ban on sales of petrol and diesel cars to 2035 is already influencing what Brits are looking for. Overnight we saw a 165% increase in searches for electric vehicles on Auto Trader. So it’s no surprise that the 2050 car will be fully electric, but it’s fascinating to think what these advances, including driverless tech, could mean for the actual design of cars and how they could be used.”
Cheesewright added, “Tomorrow’s car will take you from A to B with minimum fuss and in maximum style. Future technologies will give designers free rein to create more space and comfort so that we can get on with our lives while AI takes care of the driving. While our cars won’t be flying any time soon, we can all benefit from cleaner, quieter, safer roads. In just 20 years the age of the combustion engine will be well and truly over.”
