Transport in a futuristic setting

Can cars still work in a more futuristic setting? Not like, super Jetsons or "average joes IN SPACE!" future-y, just a more tech-y type of future. Like "100-150 years from now" kinda future. And if so, what could make them more future-y than the Chevy in my driveway right now?

edited 17th Jul '12 8:56:20 PM by Twentington

They could run more efficiently for one, being run by electric, solar or even if they're a hyrbid or run on ethanol. They could also have more safety or security features. These could be things like "emotion responsive environments" or "fingerprint entry".

One prediction that's been known to futurists since the 1950s is self-driving cars- just punch in your destination and the car will drive itself there by following little sensor-things embedded in the roads.

A lot of automation I suppose.

It wouldn't be so big a leap from GPS satalite navigation systems telling you where you are to an Autodrive function that takes the fastest most efficient route for you (like in I ROBOT)

Then there's future materials to consider.

Steel is a good standard but in the future we'd probably have things like smart materials, ultra light composites, imbeded circuitry, really nice beanie bag chairs and passenger compartments filled with flame proof non-newtonian fluids that act as shock absorbing armor or some such.

As for "flight", it may be possible in special lanes for mag levs.

I don't even know how a MODERN car works. Engines and batteries and whatever.

You may want to research first then. If you can't understand the cars of today, talking about the cars of tomorrow will be harder.

edited 19th Jul '12 8:43:37 AM by Natasel

I think that this should actually go in World Building.

Worldbuilding can be a bit of a mess.

As in the concept, or the subforum? I've never had problems with the latter.

The subforum.

Huh.