NalaGee wrote:....with the Lexus LS460.
In todays Automotive world their are so many new features and
accessories being built into new vehicles it makes one wonder
how many are practical or necessary for the average driver.
The following is an extract on just one of the many new features
fitted to the new Lexus LS460. Full report at the end of the extract
Another optional feature that elicited wows when the LS460 was announced last January was a system that would allow the car to actually park itself. You simply pull up to a parking space and place the Intelligent Park Assist system into self-park mode. After that, all you have to do is keep your foot lightly on the brake pedal. The car will do the rest, automatically steering into the space for a perfect park each time.
We tried out this feature and it worked as advertised, however it was rather sensitive to the speed you allow during reverse operations. If you let it go too fast or too slow, it displays an error message on the screen and cancels the operation. You also need a parking space at least 4 feet longer than the car to complete the maneuver. To initiate self park, you would pull up to the car in front of the parking space and place the car in reverse. The screen changes to the rearview camera image with a rectangular box and 4 arrows. You tap the arrows until the box is in the space where you want the car to wind up in. Once you have that done, tap a button on the screen and let go of the wheel. As you ease the car back, the steering wheel begins to turn into the space. When it reaches a certain point, the wheel spins in the other direction to complete the park. You then have to manually shift into drive and pull forward if necessary, but the car wound up exactly where you set it to go.
Full report at: http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/LexusLS460/
My question - How would Driving Examiners deal with
this new method pf parking? or would they insist that only the manual method be used for the test?
Alan
NalaGee wrote:....with the Lexus LS460.
My question - How would Driving Examiners deal with
this new method pf parking? or would they insist that only the manual method be used for the test?
chriskay wrote:External mirrors (then, they were fitted to the front wings, rather than the doors.
chriskay wrote:Electric indicators, rather than the semaphore arms.
chriskay wrote:Electric windscreen wipers.
chriskay wrote:SammyTheSnake wrote:I'm pretty sure that very early wipers were manually operated. The ones I was thinking of were the vacuum ones (Fords, I think, used them). Driven from the inlet manifold I think. Sorry to be a bit vague here! Anyway, the point is, they slowed, or stopped when you opened the throttle; great for overtaking in the rain. If I've got this wrong, TripleS will correct me: Dave, where are you?
Cheers, Chris.
chriskay wrote:NalaGee wrote:As a matter of interest, what do you and others reading this think are the most five important and necessary additions to any vehicle after the basics?
Cheers
Alan
Hi, Alan; depends on what you consider the basics to be. Back in 1962, when I was buying my first (secondhand) car, extras, either from the manufacturer or after-market, might have included:
Seat belts.
External mirrors (then, they were fitted to the front wings, rather than the doors.
Electric indicators, rather than the semaphore arms.
A heater.
Electric windscreen wipers.
Oh, & back then, people were still getting used to the idea that there wasn't a hole in the front bumper for the starting handle.
It would also have been nice to have some assurance from the manufacturer that rust would't start appearing within months.
TripleS will know what I mean & will have some more to add.....Dave?
Cheers, Chris.
chriskay wrote:chriskay wrote:Electric indicators, rather than the semaphore arms.
Sammy the Snake wrote:
"Trafficators?"
Yes. I'd forgotten that word!chriskay wrote:Electric windscreen wipers.
Sammy the Snake wrote:
"Now I'm intrigued, what was the alternative? No windscreen wipers, or ones operated by a handle in the dashboard?"
I'm pretty sure that very early wipers were manually operated. The ones I was thinking of were the vacuum ones (Fords, I think, used them). Driven from the inlet manifold I think. Sorry to be a bit vague here! Anyway, the point is, they slowed, or stopped when you opened the throttle; great for overtaking in the rain. If I've got this wrong, TripleS will correct me: Dave, where are you?
Cheers, Chris.
Return to General Car Chat Forum
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 40 guests