Best high-tech cars for 2021 – Roadshow [CNET]

Porsche

The modern Porsche 911 is always a fascinating mix of electronic and good ol’ fashioned mechanical engineering. It’s an exercise in bending physics to your will and it’s also a flagship vehicle for one of the most engineering-focused car companies out there. In short, it’s a tech-geek’s playground.

The 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 is mechanically fascinating in a number of ways, but it’s hard to get around its unbelievable 4.0-liter flat-six engine that revs to 9,000 rpm while making well over 100 horsepower per liter. It does this while offering a warranty and meeting emissions requirements. Also amazing is the inclusion of tech that just a decade ago would have seemed almost like science fiction. This includes stuff like four-wheel steering that operates almost transparently, insanely quick-shifting PDK dual-clutch gearbox and more. This Porsche is as carefully considered and finely fettled as a Swiss watch, and there are few cars that come close to it.

From an electronics standpoint, the 992-generation 911 doesn’t disappoint, either. It offers a gorgeous interior where its large infotainment screen is beautifully integrated. The screen is sharp, and the system running on it is many-layered and granular, yet easy to use and very responsive. Beyond that, the instrument cluster does a brilliant job of taking the 911’s iconic five-dial gauge and bringing it thoughtfully and cleanly into 2021. This is done by keeping the massive, central analog tachometer — something that provides a visceral connection to the car’s drivetrain and surrounding it with multi-information displays. I could go on and on about Porsche Active Suspension Management and this car’s electronically controlled engine mounts and the like, but you get the idea. The 911 GT3 is a true treat for the technologically inclined.

-Kyle Hyatt, news and features editor

Daniel Golson/Roadshow

I had to pick an EV for this one, because they’re just inherently more appealing to those who like to be on tech’s cutting edge. But which one? There are actually a lot to choose from right now, and more will be on the market by the end of the year. But, when it comes to the features I want in a car, Android Automotive is a big one, and the 2021 Polestar 2 is one of the few places to get it.

Android Automotive takes Android Auto to the next level by baking Android right into the car. Now, instead of your phone driving the experience, everything runs natively, relying on the car’s data connection. Google Maps is built right in, as are things like YouTube Music and a bunch of other apps — not enough yet, but it’ll get there. It makes for an intuitive, seamless experience in this Polestar. That is, at least, assuming you’re an Android user. Apple CarPlay support is coming, I’ve been promised.

But it goes beyond infotainment. The Polestar 2 has the modern look and feel that resonates with me. It drives as sharply as an EV should and can even be configured with adjustable Ohlins suspension. Love fiddling with things? It’s perfect.

-Tim Stevens, editor in chief

Steven Ewing/Roadshow

General Motors is hell-bent on democratizing electric cars in the US, and while the first Chevrolet Bolt EV felt like a half-step, the new-for-2022 Bolt EUV feels like it strikes the target far better. And tech? The Bolt EUV is chock full of it.

The highlight of it all is Super Cruise — the first time the hands-free highway driving assistant will be offered in a Chevrolet. So far, the technology that actually lets you take your hands off the steering wheel has been a Cadillac-only ordeal. A lot of attention focuses on Tesla and its Autopilot system, but Super Cruise is truly a hands-free system in the right conditions, and it’s ready to roll on over 200,000 miles of US and Canadian roads.

Not to mention, the Bolt EUV features a typical slew of technology that will fulfill a technophile’s dreams. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, and run on a large 10.2-inch touchscreen. Outside of Super Cruise’s smarts, there’s a sweet of other driver-assist and active safety functions. And an optional rearview camera mirror is a cherry on top. Seriously, you won’t miss a standard mirror. With all the tech mentioned here, you’re also taking about an EV under $40,000. Not only is it a good buy for tech lovers, it’s an affordable purchase if you’re eager to go totally electric.

-Sean Szymkowski, news editor