Technology is an essential tool in any automakers' arsenal today. With a greater push towards electric cars and squeezing out every last drop of efficiency and performance from the internal combustion engine, the industry and consumers turn towards modern technology to get the absolute maximum from our beloved machines. Sports Cars are the perfect test bed for the industry to try out the absolute cutting-edge in automotive tech. Here is a list of amazing technologies that are collectively redefining the driving experience and making the future of sports cars more efficient, connected, and exhilarating.

Related : Awesome Electric Sports Cars We'd Love To Drive

10 Alternative Battery Technologies

Audi e-tron batteyr pack
Audi

The lithium-ion battery rules the EV market today. It is a well-developed, easy to manufacture and reliable battery technology that has driven the rapid growth of electric mobility in the last decade or so. But it has one major flaw — Lithium mining is a resource intensive and harmful extraction process, vastly increasing the net carbon footprint of an EV. To offset this problem, there are many new technologies coming that may make it easier to own and run a true zero-emission vehicle.

Rapid research and development are underway into alternative materials for batteries like graphene, sodium-ion and even sand! These materials promise to provide stable, non-flammable battery tech that can also give far greater range per charge and overall life of the battery module. For sports cars, the likes of the world record smashing Rimac Nevera and the Formula E championship are leading the charge with innovative wireless power boost tech and hot swap battery units, promising an exciting electrified future.

9 Synthetic Fuels

Synthetic Fuel porsche fuel can
Porsche

The Rimac Nevera, Porsche Taycan and Tesla Plaid models, are just some of the cars striving hard to bring driving pleasure and excitement to the EV world, and they're doing a pretty good job of it. But a true enthusiast knows that nothing will ever match the sound, feeling and sheer joy of an internal combustion engined vehicle. Companies like Toyota, Porsche and Bosch agree, and have wholeheartedly thrown their weight behind the development of fully sustainable and clean synthetic fuels.

Porsche, in partnership with ExxonMobil, has already started using a co-developed e-fuel for the Porsche SuperCup series. The German automaker has also recently inaugurated a synthetic fuel pilot plant in Chile, with HIF Global, a synthetic fuel pioneer, to explore manufacturing at scale and to fulfill their promise that the 911 will be the last to go electric, much to the collective relief of the enthusiast.

Related : Why Toyota's Low Carbon Fuel Is A Better Bet Than Porsche's Synthetic Fuel

8 Advances In Material Sciences

Carbon composite chassis concept by Gordon Murray Design
Gordon Murray Design

Advanced materials are playing a pivotal role in future car development. Lightweight and robust materials like carbon fiber composites, aluminum alloys, and high-strength steels are being increasingly utilized. These materials offer excellent strength-to-weight ratios, enhancing performance, agility, and fuel efficiency. They enable sports cars to achieve higher speeds, improved handling, and better overall dynamics.

Additionally, advanced materials contribute to the structural integrity and safety of cars. By reducing the vehicle's weight, these materials also extend the range and optimize energy efficiency. Moreover, advancements in material science are paving the way for the development of innovative materials with properties like enhanced crash absorption, shape memory, and self-healing, like on Lamborghini's Terzo Millenio Concept, make for exciting times to look forward to.

7 Autonomous Driving Technology

Autonomous Driving Technology (TUM Germany - Indy Autonomous Challenge)
TUM Germany - Indy Autonomous Challenge

Tesla's Autopilot and Cadillac's Super Cruise are just a couple of the suites of autonomous driving technology making their way to a car near you, effectively taking the steering wheel out of the driver's hands (sort of). But the enthusiast isn't interested in letting a computer drive them around, especially if they're out for a fun cruise in their "special occasion" car.

The folks over at IndyCar have a slight difference of opinion. In partnership with the Technical University of Munich, they have created the Indy Autonomous Challenge, a special racing series, using IndyCar chassis and some real trick technology to create self-racing race cars. The partnership aims to provide data that will enhance the reaction time, accuracy and decision-making ability of existing autonomous driving systems under high-stress situations, in a bid to improve safety. This series could also give birth to track coaching technology, that would make track days enjoyable and build on skill at the same time.

6 Augmented Reality Displays

Augmented Reality Displays
Porsche

Any enthusiast who has spent a reasonable amount of time on Grand Turismo, Forza Motorsports or any other racing sim game, knows that the driving line is a super useful way to ensure that they stay on track the right way, and get to those milestones faster. Ever wondered how much better your track day would be if you could have a racing line and even a ghost racer projected right on your car's windshield, in the middle of the action? You aren't alone.

Hyundai and Porsche have made investments in WayRay, an augmented reality company from Zurich, who are developing technology that will take the average Head Up Display and turn it into a more immersive and useful experience. On the road, the system will be able to show navigation directions as graphics on the road and give you speed limit warnings you can't miss. On track, it will put your racing simulator to shame, making it a true gamification of the driving experience. With more automakers testing their own systems, the future of automotive AR is bright.

5 Enhanced Performance Tuning

Jaguar TCS Racing formula E race car and crew working
Jaguar TCS Racing

The world of performance tuning has gone through a drastic transformation since the introduction of computer based engine management systems. Consistent reliance on ECUs and development of tuning software and customizable driving modes, has allowed for car tuning to become more customized and targeted than it has ever been before. Advanced software algorithms and machine learning techniques are being employed to optimize the performance of these vehicles. By analyzing various factors such as engine performance, suspension settings, aerodynamics, and driving conditions, performance tuning can be customized to deliver optimal results. This technology allows enthusiasts to extract maximum performance from their vehicles.

With the future of the performance car looking increasingly electrified, racing series' like Formula E and Extreme E are leading the charge in developing technology to fine tune the experience of performance EVs and code back into these vehicles the raw feel of driving a mechanical beast hard.

4 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

ADAS Tech render
ZinetroN via Adobe Stock

Just like autonomous driving, the real enthusiast seldom enjoys letting a computer dictate which lane to drive on and how far to follow a car ahead safely. But there is no point in denying the effectiveness and enhanced safety that a properly developed and implemented ADAS system on a car can provide.

These technologies continuously evolve, incorporating advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence, further improving their accuracy and reliability. As the technology progresses, future sports cars will likely feature more advanced ADAS systems, with features that could allow a beginner to push harder on track days, while avoiding expensive mistakes and allowing the focus to be on enjoying the exhilaration of the track.

3 Biometric Integration

Biometric Integration example picture
Bayometrics

Biometric integration is poised to transform future cars by providing personalized experiences and enhancing driver well-being. By incorporating biometric sensors, such as heart rate monitors and stress level detectors, cars can gather real-time data about the driver's physiological state. This information enables the vehicle to dynamically adjust various parameters, including seat comfort, climate control, and ambient lighting, to optimize driver comfort and minimize fatigue.

It offers a new, more personalized way to interact with your car and greatly enhancing the connected car experience. Manufacturers like Jeep have already announced plans to integrate biometrics in their next generation of cars. For the enthusiast, the next favorite sports car could have biometrics that read the body's vitals and customize the dynamics to maximize comfort or performance driving, on the fly.

2 Connected Car Technology And IoT

Connected Car Tech and IoT Qualcomm concept car
Qualcomm

Connected car technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) are set to revolutionize future cars. By integrating vehicles with the internet, cars become part of a larger network, offering a multitude of benefits. Connected cars can gather and transmit real-time data that can be leveraged to optimize vehicle performance, maintenance, and efficiency.

For the track day enthusiast, connected car tech provides a new way for track and performance data shared by other cars of different types to be used to achieve the optimum setup for your car and experience every time. The automatic logging and sharing of data from the track spells tough times for your buddy who just won't accept that your tricked out Nissan Z beat their beloved C8 Corvette.

1 3D Printing Enabled Manufacturing

Czinger 21c 3D Printing Enabled Manufacturing
MrWalkr via WikiMedia Commons

The ability to print a 3D object out of thin air (with a printer and printing material), is a revolutionary technology in its own right. It's on its way to transforming the automotive industry too. Car manufacturers can use 3D printing to create complex parts, customize designs, and reduce production costs. This technology enables greater personalization options for enthusiasts.

Manufacturers are quickly embracing this technology, with brands like Bentley, Aston Martin and Cadillac using 3D printed components in recent models. But no carmaker has embraced the technology like Czinger. The LA based company has created the 12C, a tandem-seater hypercar that showcases the breadth of ability that 3D printing and AI design has while pushing boundaries in sustainability and efficiency just as much as in performance, handling, and top speed.