In case you hadn’t noticed, the year is 2016, people, and it’s high time we get this whole technology thing kicked into high gear. Yeah, I know you can post cat videos and catch virtual pocket monsters, but I’m talking about real tech, stuff that can actually change the world in a profound way. Not that that video of Mr. Snowball chasing the laser pointer isn’t worthwhile, I’m just saying we can do better. Thankfully, there’s at least a few automakers out there pushing the limits of what’s possible on four wheels, and we’re all a whole lot better for it.
In this list, we’ve compiled the top five high-tech cars you can go buy right now. You know, with money. And while they might not be powered by trilithium extract or be made from carbonized uranium, these five vehicles represent the bleeding edge of transportation. Is your ride among them?
Continue reading to learn more about TopSpeed’s Top 5 High-Tech Cars.
Number 5 – Volvo XC90
Volvo has been quietly killing it lately, bringing the heat with a slew of new products that combine good looks, lots of luxury, and most importantly, a good deal of technology. And while it’s definitely the most conventional car on this list, the XC90 is still one of the most futuristic rides on the road today.
It all starts in the interior, where we find a large central touchscreen handling all the various infotainment controls, plus full digital instrumentation behind the steering wheel. There are also features like Park Assist Pilot and Cross Traffic Alert to up the safety and convenience.
If that wasn’t enough, the XC90 is powered by a huge range of powerplants, the most techy of which is the T8 Hybrid, which combines a 2.0-liter gas unit (turbocharged and supercharged, mind you) with a 60-kW electric motor, netting 400 horsepower and 427 pound-feet of torque.
Read the full review here.
Number 4 – Tesla Model X
Well, you just know we had to include at least one example from the California-based automaker’s stable. The Tesla Model X is the EV producer’s premium SUV, which comes packed to the brim with sci-fi sounding features. One of the coolest of these is Bioweapon Defense Mode, which employs a medical-grade HEPA filter to get rid of any airborne nastiness flowing through the cabin. Then there are the uber-sweet falcon doors, which open with more flair than a DeLorean, plus the high-powered all-electric drivetrain capable of propelling the SUV to 60 mph in as little as 3.2 seconds.
Of course, I also have to mention Autopilot, Tesla’s autonomous drive system. Autopilot has seen quite a bit of controversy in the past few months, but it’s still a major selling point for early adopters.
Read the full review here.
Number 3 – BMW i8
Now we’re talking. The i8 is the kind of car that would be perfectly at home in some movie set 50 year in the future, with striking geometric lines and proportions the look like they should be whisking Will Smith off to battle aliens at some intergalactic launch pad. The materials are a good fit too, with lots of aluminum and carbon fiber-reinforced plastic in place to keep the curb weight appropriately low for its sporting intentions.
Speaking of which, there’s a 1.5-liter three-cylinder gas engine in back to power the rear axle, while up front is an electric motor to power the forward axle. The whole shebang blesses the i8 with 362 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, which is good enough for a low-four-second 0-to-60 time and 155-mph top speed, not to mention 22 miles of emissions-free motoring.
Read the full review here.
Number 2 – Acura NSX
When it was first released in 1990, the NSX blew people away thanks to its all-aluminum body (a world first) and mid-engine handling prowess. Now, Acura has released the second generation, and it takes the same forward-thinking approach as the first to all-new heights.
There’s still lots of aluminum, but this time around, its joined by copious amounts of carbon fiber. Mounted in the middle is a twin-turbo V-6 supported by no less than three electric motors. The internal-combustion grunt is routed through a dual-clutch semi-automatic nine-speed gearbox, while advanced torque vectoring blesses it with superb AWD handling.
Read the full review here.
Number 1 – Toyota Mirai
This whacky-looking four-door is called the Mirai, which means “future” in Japanese, and while it won’t protect you from bioweapons like the Model X or take any wins at Pikes Peak like the NSX, it will carry you 300 miles on hydrogen power alone.
That’s right – the Mirai is the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen car. By combining hydrogen fuel with oxygen pulled from the surrounding air, the Mirai produces two things – electricity to power the drive wheels, and water vapor out the tailpipe. What’s more, Toyota is offering customers three years of complimentary hydrogen fuel fill ups, so anyone willing to try it first won’t have to worry about paying at the pump.
Read the full review here.
Bonus – AeroMobil 3.0
What’s that? There’s no such thing as flying cars? That’s where you’re wrong, kiddo. It might not look like the flying saucers you saw in the Jetsons, but this is the real deal. It might look kinda funny, but no one will be laughing when you’re at cruising altitude above the traffic jam.