10 Best Car Features Introduced in 2007

In the automotive world, a new technology is born almost every day to give additional safety, comfort and great driving experience to the consumers. 2007 gave birth to lots of car technologies and Cars.com listed the ten coolest innovations in the auto realm.

"We're impressed every year with the new features that show up in cars, but this year the 2008 Infiniti EX35, which goes on sale at the end of December, definitely offered the most," said Cars.com managing editor Patrick Olsen. "It has our favorite new feature, Lane Departure Prevention."

The Top 10 new car features according to Cars.com include:

1. Lane Departure Prevention
Where you can find it: Infiniti EX35

Infiniti's Lane Departure Prevention builds on conventional lane-departure warning systems, which detect lane markings and sound a chime if you drift astray. LDP goes one step further by gently applying the brakes to certain wheels to nudge you back on course.

2. Scratch Shield Paint
Where you can find it: Infiniti EX35

The crusade for city-friendly transportation began years ago with plastic bumpers and dent-resistant doors. It reaches new heights with Infiniti's Scratch Shield paint. On the EX35, Scratch Shield combines a highly elastic resin with the clearcoat finish. The resulting surface is said to maintain a glossy appearance over the years, and it can actually undo minor damage in the course of a few days.

3. Around View Monitor
Where you can find it: Infiniti EX35

Let's be clear on one thing: Infiniti's Around View Monitor isn't pretty. With cameras mounted on each side of the car, its fish-eye, top-down view distorts any three-dimensional object nearby. But is it effective? You bet. With a 360-degree view of exactly what's around your car, it reduces getting into narrow parking spots and crowded alleys to a science. Even the best front-and-rear sonar systems can't replicate this. You have to see it -- and park it -- to believe it.

4. Full-Size Hybrid SUVs/Trucks
Where you can find it: Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chrysler Aspen, Dodge Durango, GMC Yukon

To date, hybrid technology has graced only compact and midsize SUVs Sharing a new 2-Mode Hybrid system, several GM and Chrysler Group full size SUVs and a pickup truck deliver significant mileage gains -- if early estimates prove accurate. Some environmentalists cry heresy over this development, but Cars.com can't see how fuel economy improvement in the vehicles that need it most could be a bad thing.

5. Integrated Booster Seats
Where you can find it: Volvo V70

This is one of those simple features that make so much sense you wonder why they're not present on more cars. In the new V70, the cushions of the outboard rear seats can easily be raised to one of two levels to better accommodate children, which means no more fumbling around with aftermarket booster seats

6. Heartbeat Sensor
Where you can find it: Volvo S80

Cars.com is dubious about the usefulness of a heartbeat sensor, but we were won over by the fact that such a futuristic feature is available in today's cars. The heartbeat sensor, which Volvo says can help you determine if someone is lying in wait inside your car, is part of the S80 sedan's Personal Car Communicator fob that can also do other things, like tell you if your car is locked or unlocked up to about 300 feet away.

7. Easy Third-Row Access
Where you can find it: Hyundai Veracruz

Getting into the third row in SUVs has gotten progressively easier in recent years, but the Veracruz has a three-step system that outshines the competition. Each part individually doesn't seem like much, but put all together it's a wonder no one else has thought of it.
8. Sirius Satellite TV
Where you can find it: Chrysler minivans

Any parent can tell you that one of the big drags about taking kids on long trips is all the stuff you've got to carry with you. Chrysler's new Sirius Satellite TV makes this a bit easier by removing your DVD collection from the list. Your kids can watch one of three channels (the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network) on one or both of the rear swing-down screens; if it's just one.

9. Sync Hands-Free System
Where you can find it: Various Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models

Ford has addressed driver distraction with a voice activation system that takes the fumbling out of using cell phones and digital music players. Sync allows drivers to control Bluetooth phones and MP3 players and storage devices that have a USB input using simple voice commands -- it even reads text messages from compatible phones

10. Volvo Blind Spot Information System
Where you can find it: C30, S40, S80, V50, V70, XC70, XC90

Volvo prides itself on safety innovations, and this is the latest. The new S80, V70 and XC70 have an optional blind spot information system that alerts drivers to cars that are hard to spot using mirrors.