New 2014 BMW X5 takes one step further towards automated driving

By John LeBlanc BMW revealed images and details of its forthcoming all-new, third-generation X5 mid-size crossover that will arrive in Canadian showrooms this fall. As an already very successful (and profitable) model for the German automaker, most of the changes can be filed under “evolutionary”. But a new feature called Traffic Jam Assistant brings the BMW one step closer to automated driving. A bit longer, wider and taller than its predecessor, the 2014 BMW X5 shares its wheelbase with the outgoing version. And while diesel-electric or gas-electric hybrid powertrains have been rumoured, the previous model’s turbocharged six- and eight-cylinder gas engines and turbo-diesel six, all mated to the eight-speed transmission, essentially carryover for 2014. And while the list of upgrades and refinements to what is already a very competitive package — in a class that includes the Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz ML and GL Classes and the Range Rover Sport — are quite lengthy, the most intriguing item on the 2014 X5’s “what’s new?” list is a low-speed automatic driving feature dubbed “Traffic Jam Assistant”. First, the new X5 gets a pair of new safety packages. The Active Driving Assistant package includes Lane Departure Warning and a pedestrian and collision warning system with braking function, which detects vehicles in front, and at speeds up to 60 km/h, also detects pedestrians who are on a potential collision course with the vehicle. If a hazard is detected, moderate "hazard" braking is applied to reduce vehicle speed and alert the driver to a critical situation. Second, a new Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go feature holds the X5 at a safe following distance behind the vehicle ahead at any speed up to 210 km/h via a combination of a front camera and full-range radar sensors that take into account preceding traffic or stationary vehicles. If the driver fails to react to a warning of an imminent frontal collision, ACT Stop & Go + Active Driving Assistant automatically brakes the vehicle all the way to a standstill if necessary. Finally, marrying together all of the above, there’s the Traffic Jam Assistant. At speeds up to 40 km/h, TJA not only controls the distance behind the vehicle ahead, but also keeps the X5 in the centre of its lane by providing active steering input. Essentially, the car is accelerating, braking and steering all by itself, what many consider an “automated car”. While BMW's TJA can be seen as a safety breakthrough, it virtually takes the responsibility of the driver out of the equation. Do you think this is a good thing? Should drivers be fully in control 100 per cent of the time behind the wheel? Or are automated cars simply an inevitable part of driving in the future? Source: BMW

Comments