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Many of the features in our cars that seem so modern and hi-tech actually date back much further than you would imagine. Discover which manufacturer was the first to introduce these now standard features.
Electric windows: Buick
Electric windows only became widespread in Europe in the 1980s, and then only in luxury or top class vehicles. However, Americans had been using electric windows for years. Automatic windows were invented by GM designer Henry Earl for his own Buick Y. By the 1950s, electric windows were standard in all Cadillacs and Buicks.
Air-conditioning: Studebaker
Back in the 1930s, when few cars in Europe even had heating, the Americans were driving air-conditioned cars. The first car to have air-conditioning as standard was the Commander by Studebaker. Mercedes didn't get around to offering air-conditioning until 1961 with its 300 SE. Today, even the smart ForTwo is air-conditioned.
Direct fuel injection: Gutbrod
Mercedes would like to imagine that the 1954 300 SL was the first car to feature direct fuel injection. In fact, two small companies, Gutbrod and Goliath (Borgward), beat them to it by two years. Mitsubishi's GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) system for the Carisma sparked renewed interest in fuel injection.
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Cruise control: Chrysler
The first car to feature cruise control was the 1957 Imperial, an American car. It took almost 20 years for Europe to catch up with the Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9-which was, not surprisingly, developed for the US market.
Tinted rear view mirrors: Mercedes
Mercedes introduced the first mechanical tinted rear view mirror in the 1950s. Today, many cars feature auto-dimming mirrors.Hybrid motor: Porsche
The first hybrid motor was neither the 1997 Toyota Prius nor the 1990 Audi 100 Avant Duo but the 1902 'Mixte-Wagon' invented by a 27-year-old Ferdinand Porsche. Together with Viennese carriage maker Ludwig Lohner, Porsche added a battery, generator and electric motor to a 4-cylinder Daimler.
Turbo diesel: Mercedes
The first turbo-fired car was the 1961 Oldsmobile F85 Jetfire followed by the 1975 Porsche Turbo. The first turbocharged diesel passenger car was the 1978 Mercedes 300 D. Today, BMW's turbo systems have proven the potential of turbo power.
ABS: Jensen
The ABS system was introduced in 1967 by British automaker Jensen. Back in the 1920s, Voisin was already working on a hydraulic ABS system. ABS as we know it was developed by Bosch for Audi and BMW in 1978.
