Anti-lock brakes. Airbags. Cellular connectivity. There was even a time when aluminum wheels were an exotic amenity reserved for only the most premium vehicles in the world. Economies of scale and emerging social trends ensure today's top-tier technology is tomorrow's showroom staple.
At the 2015 New York International Auto Show, several key features appear to creep into mainstream models. Here's our first look at these features-as-trends, beginning with turbocharging.
Add a turbo, drop two cylinders: at the turn of the decade, automakers used this formula to replace optional V6 engines in their top-trim midsize sedans and crossovers. Soon, a similar formula will be applied to base engines as well. Turbocharging allows the use of smaller displacement engines while generating enough torque to maintain a satisfactory level of acceleration and smoothness.
The result is an almost shocking decline in base engine size, previewed by the entry-level 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the redesigned Chevrolet Malibu. The engine generates 160 horsepower and pound-feet of torque -- modest numbers made more practical with the adoption of a six-speed automatic transmission and a 300-pound chassis weight reduction.
Auto World News is on the ground and covering the 2015 New York International Auto Show. Stay with us this throughout the show for up-to-the-minute coverage of all the action in New York City, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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