The Cars of 2035: What UK Drivers Really Want

From flying cars to self-diagnosing engines, drivers in the UK are dreaming big about the future of motoring. With this in mind, we surveyed 2,000 UK drivers on the futuristic features they’d love to see in cars in the coming years, inspired by films, TV shows, games and pop culture.

When UK drivers think about futuristic car technology, flying cars top the list, with 28.9% saying they would love a car that can take to the skies. Pop culture clearly continues to shape these visions, with 18% of those imagining airborne vehicles citing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and 17% mentioning Back to the Future.

Although AI assistants and self-driving systems ranked second and third, drivers still have a taste for the fantastical. Amphibious vehicles captured imaginations, with one in ten drivers hoping their cars could swim. Iconic examples include James Bond's submersible car which functions as a submarine, and the car from Black Panther (1%) that can operate underwater. Time-travelling cars, like the famous DeLorean from Back to the Future, also featured prominently, coming in fifth on the list. In fact, the YANGWANG U8 SUV can already ‘swim’. In extreme scenarios, including flash floods or challenging off-road water crossings, the U8 Premium Edition is designed to float for up to 30 minutes, providing controlled, stable movement to aid escape.

When asked which pop culture cars had inspired the futuristic features they’d like to see, Knight Rider’s AI-powered KITT topped the list, with the 1982 TV series influencing 14.1% of drivers.

With AI becoming more embedded in everyday life, sentient cars no longer feel far-fetched. They were once the stuff of sci-fi films and are now closer than ever to everyday reality. In second place was the car from Back to the Future, followed by James Bond’s famous vehicles in third.

Using the survey findings, we designed the ultimate pop culture dream car, blending drivers’ favourite futuristic features with the iconic inspirations they shared with us.

Built on the BYD DOLPHIN SURF, it showcases the most requested features, including:

In a separate survey, we asked 2,000 UK drivers which features they expect to see in everyday cars by 2035.

Plug-in hybrid and EV drivers were the most optimistic, with just 6% and 9% saying they didn’t expect any listed features. Petrol and diesel drivers were less confident at 24%, while non-plug-in hybrid owners fell in between at 13%. Experience with electrified vehicles appears to shape expectations, with drivers familiar with advanced technology more confident about future innovations.

Drivers aged 18-24 showed themost interest in this feature. With maintenance costs front of mind for many drivers, early diagnostics could become a must-have. The same age group also hopes for a car that can spot obstacles and hazards before they reach them.

Drivers aged 25-34 are the most enthusiastic about cars that can help navigate tight parking spots, with 39% backing the feature. Regionally, London respondents are the keenest, with 41% supporting parking-assist technology to make urban manoeuvring easier.

Five-minute charging ranks as the fourth most wanted feature for cars by 2035, with 54% of EV owners and 54% of plug-in hybrid drivers expecting it to become standard.

"More than half of EV and PHEV owners believe that five-minute charging will become a standard feature in everyday cars by 2035. Our FLASH Charging tech makes that possible, charging BYD’s latest Blade Battery 2.0 from 10-70% in that timeframe. With technology advancing so quickly, ultra-fast charging is set to become a normal part of everyday EV life," said Steve Beattie, Deputy Country Manager of BYD UK.

14% of respondents are hoping to see cars that dodge potholes for a smoother ride. Innovations such as the U9 supercar from BYD Group’s luxury brand, YANGWANG, can jump over potholes seamlessly, showing how advanced suspension systems could redefine the way we travel in the years to come.

Steve Beattie said, “The line between science fiction and everyday driving is getting thinner. Drivers want intelligent vehicles that make their lives easier, and future car technology should reduce stress and even become more than just ‘nice-to-haves’. Our research shows that common desires from the public expectations, like pothole-avoiding cars, and even seemingly far-fetched features like amphibious capabilities, are not as far off as you might think. Models from BYD’s luxury brand, YANGWANG, have already demonstrated these innovations in the real world.”

To explore how BYD is paving the way for innovative features in new cars, visit our hybrid and electric car pages to find your new, futuristic EV, including BYD SEAL U DM-i, BYD SEAL, BYD DOLPHIN SURF and more.

This is based on a nationally representative survey of 2,000 UK drivers, conducted by OnePoll between 9–14 January 2026 on behalf of BYD UK. As part of the survey, respondents were asked an open-ended question about the futuristic car features they would most like to see, and whether any pop culture references had inspired their ideas.

A total of 619 respondents provided detailed written answers to this question. All percentages referenced in relation to these responses are based on those 619 participants. The insights were then used to imagine an “ideal” futuristic concept car, inspired by the features and ideas drivers said they would most like to see in future vehicles.

A second survey was conducted between 20–26 February 2026, asking a further 2,000 UK drivers: “Which, if any, of the following features do you think are likely to become part of everyday cars by 2035?”