There’s a lot of talk these days about self-driving cars and their place in our driving future. While we are likely to see autonomous vehicles plying our highways in the years ahead, in the meantime many of the advanced technologies integral to self-driving cars are available in vehicles you can buy today, making them smarter and safer. Focusing on accident prevention and driver convenience, their appearance is usually in higher-end vehicles first before they filter down to more affordable models, driven by popularity, major cost reductions, and government mandates. Fortunately, many new capabilities can be added easily by writing software that uses sensors, cameras, and other hardware already installed on a vehicle. Automakers can use the Internet of Things (IoT) to add this software over the air without requiring owners to take vehicles back to the dealer, just like Windows and Apple update your computer and smartphone. Yes, it’s a brave new world.
DRIVER DROWSINESS DETECTION helps prevent accidents. Fatigue can be measured by monitoring eye activity, changes in driving style determined by steering input, or a lane departure alert system showing a driver is often drifting from his lane. In more sophisticated systems drowsiness could be identified with sensors monitoring brain activity, heart rate, skin conductance, or muscle activity. A visual or audible warning may be issued or the driver’s seat may vibrate. More sophisticated monitoring techniques may also detect a medical emergency and call 911.
BLIND ZONE ALERT systems typically use radar or ultrasonic sensors on both sides of the vehicle to “look” for cars, trucks, and motorcycles in side blind zones. These systems alert a driver with a flashing light in the side view mirrors and often with an audible sound or vibration of the steering wheel. If the turn signal in not activated to indicate you’re planning to change lanes, the mirror warning light glows to show there’s a vehicle in your blind spot but does not flash.
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL augments a vehicle’s standard cruise control system to enhance safety. Once selected, it automatically adjusts vehicle speed to maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead. The system’s radar, laser sensors, and/or cameras detect if you will be overtaking a vehicle in the lane ahead and automatically slows your speed if necessary. Your set cruise control speed resumes when traffic ahead allows.
COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS can prevent or reduce the severity of a collision by using cameras, radar, and sometimes LIDAR to detect an imminent crash. Once detected, the system provides a warning if a collision is imminent and can autonomously activate braking or steering, or both. If a driver does not react to a warning, the system pre-charges brakes and increases brake assist sensitivity to maximize braking performance. Most manufacturers plan to include automatic emergency braking as standard equipment on cars in the U.S. by 2022.
LANE DEPARTURE ALERT uses a specialized camera to detect painted lane markings and alert a driver that inadvertently strays out of their lane. An audible warning and indicator light on the instrument panel is typically used to warn wayward drivers, and sometimes a steering wheel vibration. In more sophisticated systems, Steering Assist will initiate corrective steering to help keep the vehicle in its lane if a driver does not take corrective action.
OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS scan the road ahead with radar, ultrasonic sensors, and/or cameras for pedestrians, motorcycles, large animals, or other objects that are stopped or moving slowly. Initially, visual and audio warnings are given when a potential collision is detected by the sensors. If necessary, automated steering and braking maneuvers the vehicle to avoid a collision.
ANTICIPATING THE ROAD AHEAD is possible with GPS navigation data integrated with on-board systems. For example, navigation data can be used to control a transmission or set up suspension for a winding road ahead, or adjust for sporty driving, fuel economy, or comfort. In plug-in vehicles data can be used to identify sections of a route best suited for electric drive or for charging the battery.
REAL TIME TRAFFIC INFORMATION supplied by a traffic information service identifies accidents and other traffic delays by presenting this information on a navigation screen. The navigation system can calculate and recommend alternate routes to a destination that bypass the location causing a delay.
PARKING ASSIST enables hands-off automated parallel and often also perpendicular parking by controlling throttle, steering, and braking. The system scans to assure there is sufficient space and often locates vacant parking spots. Advanced systems may work with a real-time traffic information system to predict the odds of finding an open parking spot in a particular area, since looking for a parking space is a major contributor to traffic congestion in urban areas.
PRE-SENSE SYSTEMS detect potentially unavoidable crashes with sensors from electronic stability and collision avoidance systems, blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control, and rear cameras. A pre-sense event occurs in phases with a visual and/or audible warning so the driver can take evasive action, then brief automatic braking tells a driver to apply braking with brake assist enhancing deceleration. If a collision can’t be avoided maximum braking is applied, seat belts are pre-tensioned, hazard lights are activated, windows are closed, and airbags deployed to mitigate injuries.
REMOTE PARK ASSIST allows your car to autonomously park in a tight spot or a narrow garage. With this system, driver and passengers exit the vehicle once it is aligned with a parking spot. The vehicle is then slowly and autonomously moved forward using a remote control fob or smartphone. This capability is made possible by surround-view sensors that enable precise movement and positioning of the vehicle amid other cars or objects, using the same sensors and controls as those used by more familiar parallel and perpendicular park assist systems. Once parked, the car can also be turned off and locked remotely. The process is reversed to fetch the car when you want to leave.
VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE COMMUNICATION allows vehicles to “talk” with one another to exchange information like speed and GPS-derived location. The main benefit is accident avoidance, but once implemented this sophisticated network could also reduce traffic congestion. Vehicles share safety data 10 times per second to identify risks and provide warnings to avoid crashes. This kind of information can inform a driver in advance whether it is safe to pass on a two-lane road, make a left turn across the path of oncoming traffic, or if a vehicle is approaching at a blind intersection. Vehicle-to-infrastructure communication enables the transfer of data between vehicles and elements of the roadway infrastructure including speed limits and traffic lights. With advanced V2V and V2I systems, vehicles could autonomously take necessary actions to avoid a potentially serious incident or collision.
BMW’s X1 xDrive28i seeks to differentiate itself in an increasingly crowded compact crossover market with desired functionality, impressive fuel efficiency, and of course the dynamic driving experience expected of a BMW. This all-new, second generation premium compact crossover features updated styling for 2016, new powertrain and chassis technology, and an array of desired on-board electronics. Plus, it offers greater headroom and legroom while also increasing cargo capacity. All this comes at a starting price of $34,800, a premium over most other small crossovers but then again, this is a BMW.
Best-in-class power is delivered by a 228 horsepower, twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter EfficientDynamics engine and 8-speed automatic transmission, providing the X1 xDrive28i an EPA estimated 32 highway mpg. This latest 2.0-liter modular BMW engine has an aluminum crankcase and cylinder head, forged steel crankshaft with an integrated balance shaft drive, low-weight pistons, forged connecting rods, friction-reduced cylinder coatings, and map-controlled oil pumps. Peak torque of 258 lb-ft is available between 1,250 and 4,500 rpm. The engine connects to a lighter 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with reduced converter slip to decrease energy losses. A wider gear spread also means lower rpms at higher speeds for reduced emissions.
The BMW xDrive system in the new BMW X1 is considerably lighter with 30 percent less energy loss in normal driving. Working closely with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), it counteracts oversteer or understeer. BMW EfficientDynamics technology includes Brake Energy Regeneration, Electric Power Steering, and on-demand fuel and coolant pumps. ECO PRO mode allows coasting between 30-100 mph, disengaging the powertrain when a driver's foot is taken off the throttle.
Inside, the all-new X1 features a driver focused cockpit with the flat surfaces of the instrument panel and center console controls all angled toward the driver, and the choice of a 6.5 or 8.8-inch display.
The rear seatback can be split 40:20:40, with the three sections folding down individually or jointly to enhance functionality. An optional sliding and reclining rear bench has individual elements that can slide forward or back by up to five inches for seating comfort. Cargo space has been increased by more than 15 percent to 58.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down.
BMW ConnectedDrive features include a Head-Up Display, BMW Online, BMW Apps, and Advanced Real Time Traffic Information. Standard and available camera-based assistance systems include Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Info, Frontal Collision Warning with Pedestrian Warning, City Collision Mitigation, Park Distance Control, and Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go. Altogether that’s about all the advanced tech you could possibly want, and BMW delivers it big time.
The 2014 Audi A8 L TDI is a joy to drive, as one would expect in a vehicle offering just about everything one could want in a car. Audi’s flagship A8 L TDI clean diesel sedan provides superb style, a great driving experience, creature comforts galore, and did we mention great fuel economy?
This aluminum-bodied executive sedan is powered by a 3.0 liter turbocharged V-6 clean diesel engine that offers 240 hp and 406 lb-ft torque that launches from 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds, while delivering an EPA estimated 36 highway mpg. Once you get beyond the superb driving experience – which admittedly can be pretty captivating – there’s always the incredible world of advanced electronics afforded A8 drivers.
As Audi's sophisticated Audi connect system shows, the evolution of vehicles is seeing them morphing from just modes of transportation into mobile electronic devices. Drivers and passengers stay connected to the Internet and to friends and family while on the road, plus increasingly to highway infrastructure. Audi is one of the leaders in this communications evolution and the first auto manufacturer to offer Wi-Fi connectivity, beginning with the European debut of Audi connect in 2009 and then introduction in the U.S. two years later.
Audi connect provides broadband connectivity for up to eight onboard devices so passengers can surf the web and send e-mails. Google Earth makes it easier to navigate to a destination. The myAudi Destination feature allows users to log on to Google Earth from virtually any location in the U.S. and download up to 50 destinations. Google Voice Local Search provides detailed information about destinations. Real-time Sirius XM Traffic information available via enhancements to the Audi MMI Navigation Plus system could save time and fuel. Owners with Audi connect-capable vehicles can obtain real-time localized news, weather, and fuel prices.
How much does it cost to stay connected? Audi of America and T-Mobile will provide connectivity for the Audi connect infotainment and navigation system for as little as $15 per month, much less than competitors’ plans. New and existing owners of vehicles equipped with Audi connect can pay $450 to receive full data services over 30 months, or $15 per month. A month-to-month plan costs $30 per month. Audi’s goal is one million connected Audi vehicles globally by 2015.
Audi is the first to offer INRIX Park worldwide. This could save fuel and time since it provides continuously updated pricing, hours, and availability for participating off-street parking locations. Available to all Audi connect subscribers at no additional cost, it provides turn-by-turn directions to entrances of over 18,000 participating parking locations in the U.S. and 42,000 in Europe, with these numbers continuing to grow. Users can find available parking closest to a destination as well as compare by distance or price.
The need for speed is always important. Audi connect's 3G mobile communications standard currently provides transfer rates of up to 28.8 megabits per second (Mbit/s). However, Audi is moving to the fourth generation 4G LTE mobile standard that supports data rates of up to 150 MBit/s downstream and considerably faster response times. LTE technology enables the exchange of large quantities of data such as music and movies in HD quality. The onboard WLAN hotspot allows passengers to do different things on different mobile terminal devices at the same time. For example, one passenger can participate in a video conference while another watches a video.
In the future, Audi connect will provide a platform for Car-to-X communication that will make driving safer, more relaxed, and more economical. Networked vehicles can alert one another to hazards such as icy roads or traffic at intersections. Communication with traffic lights enables vehicles to anticipate green lights for uninterrupted driving. Car-to-X communication offers great potential for disseminating up-to-the-minute information on traffic conditions with great accuracy that will take Audi connect to the next level.
The 2013 ILX Hybrid is an important car for Acura. As the automaker’s first-ever hybrid, it signals an intent to go the way of luxury competitors like Lexus, which has been integrating gasoline-electric hybrid drive into its models for years now, or Infiniti, which has also entered the market with its M Hybrid. Plus, there’s the imperative to attract first-time luxury buyers to the Acura fold, and is there any more powerful way to do this than with energy efficient, environmentally-conscious hybrid?
There’s plenty of advanced technology to draw upon from the Honda camp, and this is just what Acura has done. The Acura ILX is built on the Honda Civic platform, so use of the Civic Hybrid’s 1.5-liter engine, integrated Motor Assist (IMA) electric motor, and continuously Variable transmission (CVT) powertrain is a natural.
In this application changes are made in engine/motor control to provide a driving experience more in tune with that expected by luxury buyers. EPA estimates ILX Hybrid fuel efficiency at 39 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. Conventionally-powered ILX variants with 2.0- and 2.4-liter engines achieve 24/35 and 23/31 city/highway mpg, respectively.
There are some important differentiators between the ILX and the Civic, as one would expect of an upscale luxury model. The ILX is slightly longer, wider, and lower than the Civic with a sleeker and more aerodynamic design. It also features standard foglights and a rear decklid spoiler.
Its well-appointed interior is sportier than that of the Civic and offers smart-looking instrumentation, a multi-information display, Pandora internet radio interface, a USB port, and an SMS text messaging function. A keyless access system with pushbutton start are standard fare. The cabin is also better isolated from the noisy world outside with thicker window glass, improved insulating materials, and more luxuriously tuned suspension.
Stepping up to the model’s Technology Package adds in a host of desirable features including navigation with AcuraLink real-time traffic functionality and traffic rerouting, a nod to increasing driving efficiency that can save time and conserve fuel. Cabin sounds also improve with a 10 speaker, 415-watt ELS surround sound system featuring XM Radio, CD, DVD-Audio, MP3, DTS player, and 15GB HDD media storage. A HomeLink programmable transmitter is also part of the package.
The five-passenger ILX Hybrid has an MSRP of $28,900, which presents a reasonable gateway to the premium Acura brand. The Technology Package adds $5,500 to the purchase price.
With the greatest growth in the luxury market expected to be with entry-level products, it’s an imperative for Acura to come up with aspirational models that speak to the upscale desires of a new breed of luxury buyers who place value, styling, and environmental responsibility at the top their priorities. We believe they’ve done just that.
