AUDI Q7’S LIFESAVING SYSTEMS

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Audi has long believed that advancement in technology is extremely important in automotive design. So it comes as no surprise that the all-new Q7 we reviewed in our road test last week is positively crammed with the latest in driver assistance systems.

While the fully autonomous car is still a fair way off, some of the systems in the new Audi Q7 take serious steps towards cars that will one day drive themselves – and save countless lives.

The big Audi SUV not only senses real problems and potential ones, but is also able to intervene to avoid dire consequences.

Pre-sense Basic detects unstable driving conditions and readies occupant protection systems by tightening the front seat belts electrically and closing windows and the sunroof. It also activates the hazard warning lights to alert following drivers.

Up to 85 km/h Audi Pre-sense City, by means of a forward facing camera, keeps track of other road users up to 100 metres ahead. If there’s a threat of a crash it alerts the driver, firstly with a warning buzzer, then a warning jolt and finally automatic emergency braking. If necessary, full pre-sense braking can be activated.

Audi active safety

An Assistance Package, at $4075, makes use of adaptive cruise control to keep the Audi Q7 at a safe distance from any vehicle ahead over the full speed range up to 250 km/h. A Stop&Go function brings the vehicle to a standstill and allows it to set off again automatically if the driver’s has requested it to do so.

Traffic Jam Assist can take over the steering at low speeds, guiding the car through gentle intervention, following the preceding convoy of vehicles using lane markings and other vehicles on the road. When the system limits are reached – traffic speeds up or a narrow curve comes up – the driver must take over driving.

Active Lane Assist helps the driver to stay in a lane, warning if the vehicle approaches a lane marking without indicating and intervening with the electro-mechanical steering to return the vehicle to the centre of the lane.

Audi active safety

Collision Avoidance Assist, using a video camera and radar, computes a safe track around an obstacle, warns the driver and intervenes to guide the vehicle.

Turn Assist monitors oncoming traffic when turning right at low speed. Between two and 10 km/h, in a dangerous situation, it will bring the Q7 to a halt.

Audi Side Assist helps the driver avoid the so-called blind spot when changing lanes, warning if another vehicle is approaching from behind.

Cross Traffic Assist senses when a vehicle is approaching when the Q7 is backing out of a parking spot.

Parking Assist automatically parks the Q7 in parallel or perpendicular parking places.

Night Vision Assist uses infra-red technology to pick up heat radiated by objects converting it to black and white images on the instrument cluster of the Audi virtual cockpit.

Standard on Audi Q7 is attention assist, which analyses the driver’s behaviour and warns if they are starting to lose concentration – either through tiredness or the stupidity of texting while driving.

Audi active safety

About Derek Ogden

On graduating with an honours degree in applied science in London, Derek Ogden worked for the BBC in local radio and several British newspapers as a production journalist and writer. Derek moved to Australia in 1975 and worked as a sub-editor with The Courier Mail and Sunday Mail in Brisbane, moving to the Gold Coast Bulletin in 1980 where he continued as a production journalist. He was the paper's motoring editor for more than 20 years, taking the weekly section from a few pages at the back of the book to a full-colour liftout of up to 36 pages. He left the publication in 2009.
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