8 Things Back To The Future Got Right And Wrong About Future Car Tech

4 Things They Got Right

1. Smart highways

When Doc and Marty quite literally fly into the future they’re faced with an insane interactive skyway. Now, we might not have air traffic controllers warning us of our infringements, but we do have interactive signs, which display destinations, exits and weather conditions.

Unfortunately, in modern day 2015, interactive highways have now become the bane of commuters everywhere. A bit of rain, and a panicked controller immediately lowers the speed limit to 40 to keep everyone ‘safe’. But can we really complain? We were warned this was going to happen 30 years ago…

2. Innovative power sources

On Marty’s arrival in 2015, he’s almost instantly wiped out by a vehicle that looks suspiciously like a VW XL1. Perhaps he couldn’t hear it coming due to its ‘new’ electric power source.

In fact this is one of the areas where the film was incredibly accurate. Listen to the cars as they pass by and you’ll hear a nice selection of hybrids, EVs and Solar powered machines. Unfortunately we can’t yet fill our cars up with plutonium, and we can’t throw our garbage into a Mr. Fusion, but Toyota is certainly trying…..

3. Ridiculous paint schemes/vinyl

From taxi cabs and police cars, to one of the world’s most riced BMW E24, 2015 Hill Valley is chocked full of cars with some ridiculous designs. And luckily or unluckily (however you perceive it), that is pretty reflective of the world we live in today. Just walk down Sloane Street in London and we guarantee you’ll see a rose gold Lambo, a matte black GT-R or perhaps, if you’re really unlucky, a Swagon.

4. Old Tech vs New

We’re currently living in a world where the establishment is slowly creeping towards major innovations whereas the little guy, i.e. Tesla, has jumped the line and pushed the boundaries forward. Manufacturers such as BMW, Audi and Porsche have embraced the idea of the hybrid tech and some have even toyed with the idea of hydrogen power. But many of these designs have been incorporated into pre-existing cars. Tesla, on the other hand, have been designing cars from the ground up.

This was most likely a coincidence, but the movie did predict this trend. Just look at the array of modified Jeeps, Citroens and BMWs versus the innovative-looking brand new designs.

4 Things Back To The Future got wrong

1. Flying cars…"Where we’re going, we don’t need roads”

It’s pretty safe to say that flying cars have been a complete and utter failure. Certain independent companies such as AeroMobil and Terrafugia have dipped their toes in the water, but ultimately the tech isn’t currently there and neither is a demanding market. I mean, if engineering God Elon Musk isn’t interested, then R.I.P VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) cars.

2. Autonomous vehicles

When Doc Brown enters the Skyway on the wrong side of the ‘road’, he fights with the wheel to regain control. Had he been driving a Tesla he’d have been able to avoid this embarrassing ordeal. It also looks like the movie’s modern cars didn’t have this tech either. If they did, the XL1 wouldn’t have tried to kill Marty.

3. Standard wheel designs

Every car in Hill Valley, including this levitating camo Jeep, seems to have dinner plates for wheels. Unfortunately this is just another one of the things this movie didn’t predict correctly. With new technologies allowing manufacturers to produce stronger lightweight wheels, we are seeing more intricate and innovative wheel designs.

4. Helmets and auto wipers

Back to the Future managed to predict some of the more complicated inventions of the last 30 years. But they seem to have missed some of the more obvious innovations. For example, what is up with Biff’s helmet? And why does Doc have to switch his wipers on manually? I mean come on guys, it’s 2015!