By Sarah Painell

So you thought people behind the James Bond series went overboard when they conceptualised vehicles that would read an important E-mail message aloud to its occupant or slam emergency brakes on its own? Perhaps not.

Experts say that in a decade or so, the modern automobile will be packed with more electronics than the average helicopter.

The intelligent car of the future will revolutionize driving and be a marvel of modern technology.

Most leading auto manufacturers agree that future cars will incorporate space-age features including a fast-acting electronic system to stiffen shock-absorbers under cornering and braking.

There will also be boost-powered steering [unlike the normal power steering] which will progressively increase boost as the speed increases.

The result will be a rock-steady feel with facilities for tight parking.

Designers also foresee a lot more use of glass to increase visibility and give a more open feeling inside a car.

The specially fortified glass will be moulded like steel and will meet most roll-over requirements.

Automobile majors like Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Jaguar are churning out cars which would warn drivers if they took a wrong turn or unintentionally drifted into another lane and offer either a refreshing sonic blast or a reminder to pull over and take a nap at the first sign of droopy eyelids.

Be ready to step into an era where driving would not only be pleasurable but also a lot more comfortable and secure.

At the centre of this revolution is the marriage between two of the greatest inventions of the 20th century-automobile and the Internet.

Revolutionary Design German giant Audi will have a completely revolutionary design in the future.

The main characteristics of the design are the way its surface shapes are formed with a continuous flow from the front end until the back of the car.

The main inspiration, says an Audi spokesperson, is Nature: "We usually do not realize that everything in nature has its specific curves and flowing lines and it is very rare to spot perfectly straight lines.

The main goal was to implement this design aspect into a car which creates a relaxing, energetic and vibrant feeling." In a decade Toyota will grab the attention of people with its unique spaceship styling that's both futuristic and aerodynamic.

It would be one of the most efficient vehicles on the road and would deliver mind-boggling fuel economy.

French car manufacturer Citroen's future designs will reflect the quest for outstanding aerodynamics, delivering improved fuel economy and lower pollutant emissions while also integrating the latest technological developments.

The idea is to have the best of both the worlds-pleasure of driving and top performance.

Honda's future cars will incorporate fuel-cell technology and a breathtaking design - that continues its tradition of fresh ideas, true safety and exciting drives.

Because, as a spokes person puts it, "Honda isn't about changing the look of a car, it's about changing the world of the automobile." The Lamborghini brand has come a long way since its roots as a manufacturer of farm tractors and air conditioners in the small Northern Italian village of Sant'Agata during the sixties.

Today the super car is among the costliest in the world.

And its future version will be the dream of every connoisseur.

The Peugeot future car will be retro in design.

It's stunning features will include an aerodynamic body, a super cool look and high fuel efficiency.

It will be powered by hydrogen and made with plastic panels, polyurethane seats and lightweight aluminium mechanical and chassis components.

Futuristic Controls Technology will change the look and feel of car controls.

Dashboards would gradually resemble computer screens.

Conventional gauges will be tossed aside in favour of flat-panel screens where drivers can arrange the controls of their desire.

As with all things that make our lives far too comfortable, the moot question that arises here is: Will drivers run the risk of concentration lapses if their screens serve everything from traffic reports and street directions to E-mail and video games? The auto industry has an answer to this problem.

Many future cars will have voice controls for everything from switching on the air conditioner to opening the doors.

ATX Technologies, which runs call centres for Mercedes-Benz has developed a voice recognition system using IBM's technology where a driver can ask for directions.

Experts say while smart cars will offer ease-of-use and all possible facilities at a press of the button, they will also qualify as safe vehicles.

A host of technologies contribute to what analysts now call cocooning.

The idea is to protect people inside the car with smart air bags while filtering out distractions for drivers.

Sensor technologies are leading the way and adaptive cruise control is already available on high-end cars from BMW and Jaguar.

Using radar (Mercedes Benz) or lasers (Toyota) cruise control systems detect when a driver in front of you pulls into your lane.

The systems automatically slow your vehicle.

Sensors and radars will play a key role in collision-avoidance systems.

The Lane Departure Warning System uses a camera and computer to monitor lane markings while tracking them to your vehicle's speed.

The computer then predicts when you are unintentionally drifting into another lane and emits a warning to the driver.

If all this makes you feel you'll soon be sidestepped as a driver, well, you are.

In the times to come state-of-the-art technology will do the real driving and humans can as well be locked up in a glass case with the message-Break in case of emergency!.