From the airplane-inspired designs of the 1920s, the bright and bold vehicles in the post-war era, and the aggressive styling of the 1980s, to today’s vehicles that scream modern luxury—automotive design has come a long way.
How vehicle interiors look has also changed drastically over the last few decades. As we enter a new age of powerful yet sustainable vehicles, let’s take a look at what changes we can expect inside the passenger cabin.
Automotive Interior Trends to Watch Out For
Smart Functions
The integration of smart functions in vehicles is a lot like the development of smartphones一lesser buttons and more screens.
Vehicle manufacturers are quick to hop on the minimalist trend, and touchscreen monitors are one way of introducing the trend to various models.
Gone are the days when you have to turn the knobs to blast the air conditioning unit or find the right radio station一today, everything is being digitized.
Smart functions also go beyond the screens and voice commands. Back in 2023, German luxury brand Mercedes-Benz announced its partnership with Microsoft, which aims to bring ChatGPT into the world of cars.
The manufacturer aims to develop an advanced “Hey Mercedes” voice command system for a more personal driving experience.
Today’s world is all about connectivity, and the automotive industry isn’t one to fall behind this norm.
About 91% of new vehicles that are being sold in America already have in-cabin Wi-Fi capabilities, and interconnectivity with other networks will only get stronger with the development of 5G and 6G technology.
Luxury Features
Ambient Lighting
Aside from being a practical element in vehicles, lighting systems are now used to improve car aesthetics.
LED technology is widely used in vehicles today, with some manufacturers using it to emphasize their models’ overall style. This might not seem like a great innovation, but those who are into visuals are sure to appreciate the subtle accents.
Adjustable lighting systems let drivers customize their vehicles, too. Car owners can change the lighting displays according to their preferred intensity, color, and hue for a personal touch in the cabin.
Virtual and Augmented Reality Technology
Virtual technology is slowly making its way into the world of cars as well. In the next few years or so, in-car entertainment won’t be limited to music, videos, or mobile games.
Passengers will no longer have to endure traffic by staring at the long lines of red tail lights.
For Volvo, augmented reality is a feature that might become available in their models in a few years.
The automaker’s idea is to incorporate augmented reality technology into the window glass, letting passengers change the scenery or landscape according to their preferences.
Advanced Passenger Display
Don’t be surprised if the glove box gets repositioned with the arrival of another touchscreen. This is a feature that Porsche is looking into, with the automaker injecting another screen for the front passenger to tinker with.
This feature can already be seen in the 2024 Porsche Cayenne.
The feature lets the user control the video display and other commands, with the bonus of enjoying some privacy thanks to the protective filter that prevents the driver from seeing the screen.
Maximum Comfort
Carriage Seating and Swivel Chairs
Carriage seating is one trend that might catch on in the near future一especially for autonomous vehicles.
Carriage seating is an arrangement where everybody is facing the center instead of the usual setup where all the seats are facing in front.
This feature creates more legroom and accommodates wheelchairs without taking too much space.
The idea of having swivel chairs is one that was welcomed in the Hyundai IONIQ concept. This feature lets passengers move their chairs so they can sit face to face and have a more meaningful interaction while on the road.
Sleep Car Configuration
A “sleep car” configuration is in the works for the future. Vehicles that will be sporting this feature will let drivers and passengers turn the cabin into a comfortable bedroom that rivals a business-class accommodation.
Enhanced Safety Features
Safety features are expected to level up the same way interior features do.
Airbags have been around for a long time, and automakers also sought to include airbags in the side door panels to minimize the risk of injury.
Expanded polypropylene elements are being integrated into the airbags, which have energy-absorbing properties that can also reduce damages caused by collisions.
Driver assistance features like forward collision and lane departure warnings have also been standardized in most modern vehicles.
Sustainability
The transition to electrified vehicles is definitely a huge step toward sustainability, but a lot of automakers don’t seem to be stopping there.
Today, manufacturers are prioritizing the development of sustainable seating made from eco-friendly materials.
Leather upholstery made from olive tree seedling extract is one example of sustainable seating. Another one would be interior trims made from recycled PET bottles.
Where Are We Now?
We’ve already seen a handful of innovations that have made driving better than before, and manufacturers are still on the hunt for more improvements.
Right now, comfort, connectivity, and luxury are at the forefront of interior design. Automakers are constantly coming up with ways to turn vehicles into secondary homes with the introduction of infotainment systems and comfortable seating.
Manufacturers also have connectivity on top of their list, bridging network gaps with Wi-Fi-ready vehicles.
The forecasted trends for car interiors might take a couple more years to catch on, and the list will only get longer from here.
Shopping for Interior Accessories for Your Vehicle
A big part of what makes a “modern” vehicle so modern is the accessories and features it comes with. This is largely due to advancements in technology, making it easier to install smart systems and other luxury features to enhance your driving experience.
If you’re keen on finding interior accessories to make life easier for yourself when driving, CarParts.com is here to help.
The best part? Getting your hands on new accessories is easier than ever, and you won’t even have to take one step outside your door. Simply use your mobile device or computer to visit our website. Use our vehicle selector and input your vehicle’s details. Make sure to input the exact year, make, model, and engine. This way, you can easily find accessories designed to work with your vehicle.
We source our accessories from some of the most trusted manufacturers in the industry. Each item in our catalog is carefully vetted by a team of professionals to guarantee both quality and longevity. You won’t have to worry about any of your orders failing you any time soon.
On top of that, our warehouses are located all over the US, meaning you can receive your order within days. You can also save a lot of money since every item in our collection is available at competitive prices.
Check out our collection of high-quality interior accessories now at CarParts.com.
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