It’s 2021, and we still don’t have hoverboards because “Back to the Future” lied to us. But you can definitely make your inner child giddy with much more than a touchscreen console here in 2021. These 10 cool upgrades to your ride will have you saying, “James Bond who? Hold up — let me show you something.”
Your car may be smart, but does it look like it? Speaking of which, if you’re thinking of upgrading to a smart car, you may be wondering, “Are smart cars cheap to insure?” It depends on the features you add, as some cool upgrades can give you a discount on insurance while others increase your insurance rates.
However, if you’re most concerned about looking cool, keep reading and we can help you pick the right features to make your car the coolest one on the road.
#1 – Infrared Dash Mount
You may already have a cell phone mount in your car. However, I doubt it can sense your phone and open automatically when your car starts up. I’m also sure that it doesn’t open when you wave your hand over it. If you can afford it, get yourself a matching futuristic car as well.
More often than not, these cool upgrades gadgets double as a wireless phone charger. So not only is it holding your phone, but it’s also charging it. Imagine getting into your car with a client and having them hook up their phone’s GPS with the directions for the restaurant to a device like this.
#2 – The Hudway Drive
This cool upgrade is a augmented reality device sits on the dashboard of your car and projects information like your current speed, directions, who’s calling you, text messages, what’s on your playlist, how much gas money your trip has cost you, and so much more. I wonder if this works with a magnetic phone holder for car?
It displays all of this onto a clear display right where you’re looking at the road. Even the information you’re looking at is clear, so it doesn’t get in the way of your driving. This is not only cool but it’s also safer than looking to the right at your cell phone (or mounted in-dash GPS display if you’re fancy).
You’ll never have to take your eyes off the road to get directions again. Picture this: You’re in your car with that friend or family member that always has the directions loaded in their phone or plugged into Waze, and you say to them, “You still use your phone GPS. That’s so twenty-teens.”
#3 – Mirror-Projected Dashcam
Dashcams are not new at all. In some countries, they are even required. Here in the hoverboard-less future, they come with a rearview mirror display. Some even have voice-activated features like GPS.
Dashcams are important features to have in your car to protect you in case of an accident. Accidents are stressful enough. Having a recorded dashcam video to support your case to the insurance company will make the claims process much easier.
You may even want one with a rearview camera for parking assistance. If you still love your older model car and want to bring it into the present, you can easily do this with the help of a rearview camera. Parallel parking is so much easier with the rear camera and is a really cool upgrades.
#4 – Door Welcome Lights
This one is totally for show, has zero utility, but it’s one of the coolest things on this list. Here in the future, you can open up your door and have a light projected with the brand of your car.
You spent all that money on a Mercedes-Benz, and if just driving it isn’t enough of a flex for you, then try opening up your door and shine the logo onto the ground you walk on to get in the car.
#5 – Heated and Massaging Seats
A lot of luxury cars have had heated seats for years, and you can now even get heated seats for economy cars straight out of the dealership. But what about a massage? Imagine getting into your car after a hard day’s work and turning on your heated massage chair while the car warms up. Now this is a really cool upgrades.
#6 – Neon Lights, Inside and Out
Every futuristic cartoon from the 90s had tons of neon colors. This is another thing television and movies lied to us about. Neon did not become the big trend it was supposed to be, but it does look really cool on your car.
You can get neon below your car as you drive. You can put neon LEDs in the interior. You can put a few of them in select spots or deck out the whole interior lining of the car with them. This can create a really cool look. We don’t recommend getting neons for your headlights, but there are some interesting headlight options if you go that route.
#7 – Automatic Sliding Car Doors
Family vans have been able to do this for years. Now you can even upgrade your economy car (or luxury car) to do it. Imagine picking up your hot date and pushing a button on your keyring to open up your front and rear doors automatically, and they slide open.
#8 – Moving Spoiler
This one is for the sports car people. Here in the future, your spoiler can automatically pop up as you turn on your car. Some can even move as you drive. Some of the Formula 1 concept cars have spoilers that move to increase aerodynamics as the car turns left or right.
#9 – Amazon Echo Auto
“Alexa, get in the car. We’re going for a ride.” That’s right, there is a voice assistant for your car. If you want to feel like Nightrider and talk to your car on your much less violent adventures to target you totally can do that now.
This thing does it all. It finds directions and loads GPS on your phone. It can tell you how bad the traffic is on your route home. It plays music via Bluetooth or aux from your phone on your car stereo. It won’t pick up your dry-cleaning though.
#10 – Mini Fridge
Cars can have refrigerators now in case you didn’t know. The AstroAI mini-fridge is the perfect option for Uber Eats and Doordash drivers. It can cool drinks and keep that takeout warm. It gets as cold as 32°F (0°C) or ash hot as 150°F (66°C).
It’s the perfect option to keep those hot lunches warm on the family road trip. Sure the kids will want McDonald’s instead, but they can get McDonald’s when they get some Mcdonald’s money. Besides that theme park food is expensive.
Be Cool While You Drive
You don’t have to add all of these features to your car to make your driving experience a cooler one. Any one of these options can help make you be cooler while you’re out on the road, so pick your favorite and get out there.
Marquis Ealy writes and researches for the car insurance resource and quote comparison site, CarInsurance101.com.
Marquis is an entrepreneur in the independent media space.
