Regarding the cost of new technology I would agree it could come down to the consumer in terms of unit price per vehicle. But this would be if R&D costs , assembly line costs will dramatically increase.
So I also watch Formula 1 racing. F1 racing has been there for decades and Ford's participation in Formula1 along with the niche players like Ferrari, BMW, Renault, McLaren, Mercedes, Toyota, Honda and a host of European and Japanese engine manufacturers has not been a game of catch the leader.
As a matter of fact until this year Ford topped them all far as enjoying a niche engine supplier status goes. Only this year Ferrari eclipsed Ford for the most number of succesful wins and starts as engine manufacturers. In other words Ford had dominated the F1 world by supplying engines to a host of teams including Benetton; Ford's dominance in 80's & 90's when it's torquey v8's were known to "overpower" the more powerful french Renault, German Benz's or the Ferrari v-10's is legendary. Yet the domestic market never saw a hint of this awesome technology.
So Ford competes in F1 via Jaguar racing, it's Cosworth division is an exclusive engine supplier to other F1 teams like Jordan/Minardi or the Indy teams. Lots of people were surprised when Ford pulled out of F1 at the end of this year simply deciding to dissolve all it's technological assets, in other words they are up for sale. Would'nt it have been nice, say if a neatly designed IRS
suspension geometry or advanced variable valve tech was to have transdescended into the Mustang.
Mind us, all other manufacturers have done it. Toyota, Honda, BMW, Mercedes Benz , Renault have all "played" with advanced
suspension , chassis, electronic stability program, engine configuration in F1 and have introduced such technology in their domestic market. Such advanced tech keeps showing up in their newer models in different leagues such as the power deprtment, (power button in M5), advanced chassis (new slk from Mercedes Benz),
suspension or transmision. Some are available options worth couple of hundreds or some neatly integrated with the exisiting tech without any substantial increase in price.
Ford arguably spends at least $500m dollars each year as part of it's F1 budget for Jaguar. This is not even considering it's other arm Cosworth engine supplier (both of these divisions are being sold by the end of this year & most possibly Red Bull from Austria or Renault will end up buying it).
At this price one would have expected some osmosis of technology into the domestics, thereby resulting in reduced costs.