Filed under: Gadgets, SUVs, Safety, Tech, Audi
VIDEO: Animation of Audi's trick Side Assist
The new Q7 SUV from Audi will feature a nifty safety device called Side Assist that uses radar to sense
approaching vehicles in adjacent lanes and warm the driver of their impending passing. If the Q7’s turn signal is
activated when another vehicle is in range, LEDs embedded in the rearview mirrors will visually alert the driver of the
danger. The LEDs appear to vary their intensity as well as blink rate depending on how close the approaching vehicle is
to passing. Audi’s Side Assist technology recently won the “Innovation of the Future” award from Germany’s largest consumer mag, Guter Rat. Since the Q7 has been on sale in Europe since March 10th, nearly 25-percent of all units have been ordered with the 550 Euro safety feature.
Foursprung has posted a video of the Side Assist feature in action that originated on Fourtitude.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
zverg 5:19PM (3/21/2006)
awesome idea, I would definitely like to see this in more cars. The problem is, how many stupid lazy Americans actually look at their mirrors when they change lanes? I bet less than half do. Hell, if 70% don't use their turn signals the system would never even get activated ha!
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Ted K 5:29PM (3/21/2006)
Great, I can just see someone relying on this alone while making lane changes, and the system not working properly (as so many volks/audi products do).
Not that I oppose additional driver aids. More info is good, but bad drivers will be bad no matter what.
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Trevor 5:35PM (3/21/2006)
"Warm the driver"? Does it turn on the heated seats, or pee on you?
In all seriousness, pretty cool idea. One more way to keep a soccer mom on a cell phone from creaming me with her 3-ton SUV.
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Gunnar Heinrich 5:49PM (3/21/2006)
This is a good idea. I would be curious however if it would trick an oncoming driver into thinking that the Q7 was about to change lanes.
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
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Bryan 6:43PM (3/21/2006)
"In all seriousness, pretty cool idea. One more way to keep a soccer mom on a cell phone from creaming me with her 3-ton SUV."
Yeah, assuming she actually uses the turn signal.
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Jason Boston 7:15PM (3/21/2006)
Good idea, since most SUV's have created huge overstyed C-pillars that block rear/side views. If they designed some glass area that was clear, along with properly sized mirrors, you wouldn't need this elaborate LED display. I wonder why they don't have it activate, less brilliantly perhaps, for every passing auto, rather than just when the turn signal is activated? How many people use their turn signals on highway lane changes in your state? I'm from Massachusetts where using your blinkers is considered poor sportsmanship, giving away your game plan to the other drivers.
What we really need is equal height bumpers for these behomoths. I lost two sports cars to truck/auto accidents where my hot little cars went under the bumpers of these monsters. Now that would be something to start designing. I heard Ford is voluntarily putting a bumper guard to keep protect normal passenger cars from their SUV's...now that's something we would all benefit from.
I'd like to see states surcharge insurance on vehicles that don't conform to a bumper standard, actually. My Shelby, and Nizzan turbo Z didn't stand a chance against these farm/off road vehicles on the highway.
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Jason Chan 10:46PM (3/21/2006)
didnt lincolns have those like 10 years ago, but then ford pulled it out?
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AM 11:01PM (3/21/2006)
It seems a tad redundant in that you still need to actually use the mirror.
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danny 3:00AM (3/22/2006)
oh greeeeat! We not have automatic choke, engine starter, gear changer, cruise control, a binary brake system, safty bag, and now lane change... the total automatic car is just around the corner. Pretty soon, you don't need a license just hop on to your personal transport and say "car, take me there".
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Joey (Kev) 5:25AM (3/22/2006)
didn't Chevy have this 87 years ago but then pulled it out?
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Crusin' 10:27AM (3/22/2006)
Oh Dear God... By law, my father-in-law should be made to purchase this!!! He has got to be one of the worst drivers ever. My wife and I refuse to ride with him in his DEATH van.
Please produce this!
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Mats Sundin 11:12AM (3/22/2006)
I agree with #1. I almost got hit by some dumbass in a big truck trying to change lane without bothering to check and almost hit the side of my car, I had to swerve to the left, luckily there was no cars there. I hate Houston drivers.
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Justin Bell 10:34PM (3/27/2006)
"8. It seems a tad redundant in that you still need to actually use the mirror."
I hope you don't drive. Everyone knows that you're supposed to look over your sholder before changing lanes so you don't miss the bind-spot.
The good part about this system is that it still makes you look in the mirror, rather than letting you change lanes by relying on the computer and getting into a habit of not even checking the mirror.
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piter morrow 4:49AM (3/30/2006)
I think this stuff is not actual now...
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Autonews 10:33AM (7/07/2006)
Very good ideea.
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Mark 11:47PM (2/13/2007)
Sets off others radar detectors too...
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