It seems that it was just yesterday when AC was an “option” on cars. Nowadays, it’s practically impossible to find a car without it. It is also common knowledge that just about every car is controlled by computers in some fashion. It started off with EFI, and has led to complex adaptive suspensions and multimode traction control that varies depending on weather conditions or your preset mode.

These are all fine and dandy as they allow the buyers to push the car to it’s limits without all the fear of destroying the car and possibly themselves. Each mode can be catered to a specific type of driver. In addition, technology is allowing cars to have highly sophisticated crumple zones, airbags in every nook and cranny, and protective cabins that make older cars look like suicide machines. But at what point do these fancy features lead to the ultimate demise of spirited driving?

BMW just came out with a 330i that can actually drive itself. A recent episode of Top Gear clearly showed it’s success. One part of me wants to say that this is a brilliant engineering feat while the other thinks this is “absolute rubbish.” If this catches on, will BMW have to change their motto to “the ultimate computer driven machine?”

It is common knowledge that most car accidents are due to human error. The future will ultimately lean towards some sort of accident proof, super efficient transportation. At least that is what Hollywood suggests. Assuming this technology does stay, what will happen to the spirited driver, or should I say, the “human controlled vehicle?” They will probably be viewed in the same fashion as street racers, endangering the perfect form of transportation for their own pleasure. Ultimately, racing will only be done on race tracks, and the spirited driver will be… extinct.