It may be time for dealers to spend a little extra time highlighting that satellite radio subscription or push-start ignition, since according to recent research, shoppers are willing to pay more for advanced vehicle technology.

In fact, according to the “2015 AutoTrader.com Car Tech Impact Study,” most than half of vehicle owners are willing to pay over $1,000 for “must-have in-vehicle technology” features on their new rides.

“Consumer electronics are quickly becoming a spectacle in the automotive industry thanks to the development and demand for car technology,” said Michelle Krebs, AutoTrader senior analyst. “It’s important to know that consumers are spending more time and money on car technology and they are particular about what they’re buying.”

The study — conducted on behalf of AutoTrader.com by Harris Poll — fielded responses from 1,033 American vehicle owners.

And many of these consumers already have a  tech wish list for their next vehicle. While 45 percent of survey responders wish their current vehicle had onboard WiFi, 19 percent list mobile WiFi as a must-have in their next vehicle purchase.

The technology coveted by responders wasn’t limited to entertainment tools — roughly two out of five survey responders said they wished their current vehicle had a backup camera or sensors.

USB charging ports (33 percent) and wireless device charging (26 percent) were also on vehicle owners’ shopping lists.

 “We’re in the information era and shoppers are informed and they are adamant about the features they want,” Krebs said.  “From manufacturers, to suppliers and even aftermarket consumer electronics companies, this study shows us that there is still plenty of opportunity in the vehicle electronics market in 2015.”

And though shoppers have made it clear they expect great things from automakers in the way of technology, they are willing to wait.

Of the survey responders, 50 percent said they are willing to wait up to about a year to get all their must-have features in their next vehicle.

Although budgeting for a vehicle purchase is their concern, they might not have to wait too long for technology that breaks boundaries to be available.

For example, to celebrate the new year and its new products, Audi took the Audi A7 concept car on its first long-distance test drive. Oh, and there’s one more thing — the car drove itself.

The vehicle’s autopilot system works up to a speed of 70 miles per hour and allows the vehicle to even change lanes, without any help from the driver.

Journalists and car experts were invited to take part in the test-drive, each driving 100 miles of the journey that took the vehicle from California’s Silicon Valley to Las Vegas.

From self-driving vehicles to the recent announcement from Tesla’s Elon Musk regarding the development of a solid metal snake-like charger that plugs in automatically, it seems automakers are following shoppers' leads when it comes to focusing on advanced technology.