We are living in a brave new auto world. Still fairly early into the automobile’s second century, fuel economy and safety features of modern cars have reached levels that make automotive technology appear close to the point of quasi-perfection, where further improvements, short of reinventing the wheel, seem hardly worth the additional effort. A look at the latest auto salon, or report, by professional car testers is enough to prove the point. Up to 10 airbags, traction control and electronic anti-skid devices, on-board computers and self-diagnosing engines, all the way to rain sensors and distance alarms, manufacturers have developed more means than ever before to take the human risk out of the daily driving grind. At the same time, the choice of designs, brands, and philosophies has reached a degree of diversity against which all earlier epochs in car making pale in comparison and car dealers certainly have the means
