Images: Car tech for the masses

A Telematics Research Group report (PDF) says that 2008 will be the car-model year that sees high-tech navigation and communication make its way from luxury models to standard or optional equipment across the majority of all car models.

Bluetooth, touch screens and parking assistance have gone from being on some cars in 2007 to the majority of cars in 2008.

"Any safety tech based on sensors will also become very popular...They are relatively inexpensive for the OEM to implement since the components have come down way low in price. And they also have value for the customer," said Phil Magney, co-founder and principal analyst of Telematics Research Group.

Text by Candace Lombardi, staff writer, CNET News.com.

Photo by Telematics Research Group