Frankfurt  - Cars networking with other vehicles on the road and with objects in the environment such as traffic lights and parking garages might not be too far away in the future with a so-called car-to-x communication system revealed in Audi's e-tron concept vehicle at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Rapid advances in computing power, software and communication technology will especially improve traffic flow and safety in regions with a high volume of traffic, Audi said in a press statement.

A future car-to-x network still needs some time before it becomes reality with car makers in Europe, the US and Japan needing to develop a common standard for hardware and software. But the researchers are confident that one day all new cars will be equipped with transmitters providing a functional network in large population centres.

Some possibilities offered by the system include:

Cars driving up ahead feed information on traffic flow that results in adjustments to speed limits and better spreading of traffic.

An intelligent vehicle equipped with car-to-x technology is aware of necessary braking or acceleration manoeuvres in advance, combining navigational data with information about the flow of traffic.

A vehicle breaking down on a blind curve sends a warning signal to other approaching vehicles.

The onboard car-to-x system links up with a parking garage, giving the driver information on where there is is still a parking spot available. (dpa)