New Car Tech

New Car Technologies for 2025

We’re a quarter of the way through 2025, and with automakers constantly trying to stay ahead of the curve, new technologies are continually emerging to provide drivers with the best driving experience possible. From things like advanced in-car infotainment systems to self-driving cars, the industry is changing and evolving to keep up with the needs of drivers. In this blog, we’ll dive into a couple of new features you might be seeing this year!

New Entertainment Technology at Your Fingertips

Automotive infotainment systems have evolved significantly, offering drivers and passengers enhanced connectivity, entertainment, and user-friendly interfaces. Stellantis’ UConnect 5 system, especially when paired with the 14-inch vertically oriented touchscreen in the Ram 1500, allows multiple apps to be displayed simultaneously. This design enables users to run Apple CarPlay or Android Auto alongside native applications without swiping between screens. With the optional passenger screen add-on, your buddy can handle the music while you focus on driving.

Uconnect 5 supports up to five user profiles. Each driver can customize and access their preferred vehicle settings, such as seat positions, mirror adjustments, and climate controls. The home screen is customizable, enabling users to easily access frequently used apps.

Built-in navigation is also changing. Gone are the days of bulky GPS systems, as UConnect 5 provides the most up-to-date information about traffic and other driving conditions. Integration with the fuel system means that your vehicle can predict gas consumption in conjunction with your trip, providing the best stops for refueling at optimal points, whether that fuel is gas or electric.

New Electric and Hybrid Tech

As people become increasingly environmentally conscious, automakers are innovating to not only provide the coolest, latest technology but also take environmental impact into consideration. Electric Vehicles (EVs) are one of the solutions manufacturers are looking to as they attempt to satisfy consumers. Combined with competition from automakers like Tesla and Rivian, the big car brands are increasingly leaning on electric vehicles to match customer demand. Ram, Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler have all jumped on the scene with electric and hybrid offerings. EVs and hybrids may be in their adolescence, but new tech can help catapult them further into the mainstream.

Volvo is pioneering this new tech right now. Breathe Battery Technologies uses smartphone-like lithium-ion tech that increases charging speeds up to 30 percent during early testing. This can be used to retrofit specific EVs and hybrids, as it works by modifying the software in the vehicle via over-the-air updates rather than the hardware. It means current and future EVs can run with increased efficiency. Soon, your car could work a little more like a smartphone, where regular software updates provide better performance for the hardware. In short, the sky’s the limit when it comes to EVs, so stay tuned.

Self-Driving Cars?

Self-driving cars used to be a thing only found in science fiction, but this technology already exists. In fact, it’s already partially available in the form of semi-autonomous driving features from brands like Jeep, Ford and Cadillac, in addition to Tesla Autopilot. With Jeep’s Active Driving Assist system, cameras around the car analyze the road and make minor adjustments, assisting with specific driving tasks like changing lanes. This system analyzes your car’s position in your lane and prevents drifting in and out of your lane. It also utilizes Curve Speed Control, which senses curves in the road and adjusts your speed to make these turns safer.

The next step is cars that require no driver at all. Uber has partnered with Waymo, the autonomous vehicle development arm of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, to provide customers with a self-driving car when using the rideshare app.

According to the PYMNTS linked above, it’s pretty different than riding in a normal Uber: for one, you open the doors with your phone. A robotic voice calls you by name and reminds you to buckle up. The car is able to “see” through an array of sensors that sit on the roof, giving the passenger a real-time view of what the car “sees” during your trip. It’ll go up to 35 miles per hour through city streets where available.

It’s currently available in Austin, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona, but there’s a planned rollout in Atlanta, Georgia. In Austin, it can operate in a 37-mile radius near downtown but not on highways. This unique offering utilizes the Jaguar I-PACE EV, marketed to consumers as an environmentally conscious alternative to conventional rideshare cars. That’s just one way that tech eliminating the need for drivers is making its way into the mainstream. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll see this available in Northwest Arkansas!

New Tech on the Lot Now

While we don’t have self-driving cars, McLarty Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat in Springdale provides you with access to vehicles with cutting-edge technology. We’ve got a selection of electric vehicles, like the Dodge Hornet, Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid, Jeep Wagoneer S and Wrangler 4xe. If you’re ready for something new in 2025, we’re your trusted auto dealer in Springdale, Arkansas.

If you want to read more, check out the blogs linked below for information on the latest tech offered in gas and EV models on the lot:

• How EVs Impact The Environment
• First Look at the Ram 1500 Ramcharger EV
• First Look at the Dodge Charger Daytona EV