The 2016 model year onwards, Volkswagen will offer a host of driver assistance features on its cars in the US. The host of new driver assistance systems include Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); the Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist); and an active Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist) system.
The cars in the company's line-up in the United States includes the Beetle, CC, e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, and Jetta offer these available features, depending on model and trim line. In addition, all Beetle, Beetle Convertible and Jetta models add the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which was already fitted to Touareg and Golf family models, as standard. This safety system uses information from the airbag sensors to help prevent secondary collisions. Analysis of crash data in Germany ascertained that around 14 percent of accidents involved a secondary collision after an initial impact so Volkswagen engineers designed the system to help avoid them.
1. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): This feature uses forward facing radar to maintain a set speed while helping maintain a set distance to the vehicle in front. The driver sets the speed and the desired spacing via buttons on the multifunction steering wheel and can use the accelerator, brake pedal, or steering wheel to cancel or override the ACC function.
2. Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist): Within physical system limits, this system helps warn the driver of critical front-end collision situations, both acoustically and visually. And, if necessary, Autonomous Emergency Braking is activated to slow the vehicle if the driver fails to brake. If the brake pedal is applied but the driver brakes too lightly, the brake pressure is increased by the system (Braking Support).
3. Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert: Blind Spot Monitor uses 2 radar sensors at the rear of the vehicle to scan the approaching traffic and help warn drivers of potential danger in adjacent lanes. If the driver uses the turn signal to indicate a lane change while a vehicle is detected in a blind spot, the system utilizes a flashing LED symbol in the outer area of the side mirrors.
Whereas the Rear Traffic Alert system not only helps alert the driver to stationary and moving vehicles directly behind, but also helps detect vehicles approaching from the side that may be difficult for the driver to see while reversing. It offers a sizable range of about 65 to 80 feet and will present a visual and an acoustic warning, before applying the brakes if a potential impending collision is detected.
4. Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist): If there is an indication that the vehicle is unintentionally straying from its lane, the Lane Departure Warning system actively countersteers to keep the vehicle in the lane above 40mph. The system works in the dark and/or in fog, but will not engage if it cannot properly detect lane markings. If the turn signal has been set before crossing a lane marking, the Lane Departure Warning system will not engage or give a warning.
5. Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist): The Parking Steering Assistant automatically steers the car into parallel and perpendicular parking spaces in reverse. After pressing the Park Assist button—once for parallel and twice for perpendicular—the driver only needs to activate the accelerator pedal and brake once a gear is selected, as Park Assist automatically steers the vehicle into the parking space.
6. Park Distance Control: Park Distance Control uses ultrasonic sensors located in the front and rear bumpers to monitor a range of up to five feet in front or behind the vehicle. The system is activated when reverse gear is engaged or below a speed of 9 mph and helps provide guidance when parking or in tight situations.
7. Automatic Post-Collision Braking System: This system builds on the premise that a collision is rarely a single, instantaneous action, but rather a series of events that follow the initial impact—which can cause additional collisions. It addresses this by applying the brakes after a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping to reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, reduce the chance of additional damage.
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