Horizon : Futuristic cars in the world
【明報專訊】Have you ever thought about what cars will be like in the future? With constant development in automobile technology, there are already smart self-driving cars which can drive themselves on the road. What are some other advanced vehicles which may become available in the future?
France - DS X e-tense
The DS X e-tense is a concept car produced by the French luxury carmaker DS. A concept car is used to show and test new ideas. Usually, it will not be put into production in the near future. For DS X e-tense, which is an electric car, its exterior design is mind-blowing as it looks asymmetric. It is equipped with a glass floor and scissor doors which open upwards. There is even a holographic personal assistant called Iris!
The Netherlands - Lightyear 0
The Lightyear 0 is a solar-assisted electric car, which means it uses both solar energy from the sun and electricity. It is produced by a Dutch company called Lightyear. The carmaker consists of elites who won the World Solar Challenge and former employees from famous carmakers. The car carries solar panels with it so that it can absorb solar energy. Although it uses solar energy, it still needs to be plugged in and recharged.
Germany - Vision AVTR
The Vision AVTR from Mercedes-Benz is another concept car inspired by the film Avatar. The name AVTR not only means Avatar but also stands for Advanced Vehicle Transformation. Inside the car, neither a steering wheel nor pedals can be found. There is only a dashboard and a joystick. The high-tech car is controlled by brain-computer interface which enables the driver to control the car using brain signals.
■Gear up
1. Concept cars are already available in the market. (True/False)
2. Which of the following is true about the French concept car?
A. It uses electricity. B. It looks ordinary. C. Its doors open outwards.
(Answer on next text)
■Glossary
futuristic (adj) 未來風的
asymmetric (adj) 不對稱的
elite (n) 菁英
steering wheel (n) 方向盤
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[Smarties' Power English 第370期]
