Japanese-market Lexus LS460 to get rear-collision detection
Lexus has already talked about a variety of impressive pre-crash safety systems for its upcoming LS flagship sedan (see our post on the LS 600h L), but so far it has all revolved around the front end of the luxury sedan. Toyota is now saying that the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) version of the LS 460 will get a rear collision detection system, which is believed to be the first of its type in the world.
The system uses a rear-facing radar sensor to detect imminent rear collisions, and illuminates a warning lamp for the driver as it measures the position of the front seat passengers' heads and adjusts the position of the vehicle's headrests accordingly to help reduce the risk of whiplash neck injuries.
More information has also trickled out about the front-collision detection technology in the LS, with the automaker stating that the twin front-mounted "stereo" cameras will use infrared illuminators mounted in the headlamps to provide detection and ranging capabilities. Such a system will be capable of detecting pedestrians as well as vehicles, which will give it an advantage over radar-based systems (the Lexus has one of those, too).
[Source: Japan Times]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ryan 6:59PM (8/27/2006)
"The system uses a rear-facing radar sensor to detect imminent rear collisions, and illuminates a warning lamp for the driver"
-Would that be the put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye light?! :-)
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Asher 7:40PM (8/27/2006)
They could just loop a scream from Heather Donahue being chased by the witch at 100db. That might grab your attention...
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verdegrrl 1:39PM (8/28/2006)
Figures. Toyota (and of course this means Lexus too) drivers are often the slowest ones on the road, so they are at the greatest risk of being rear ended. I often encounter them going well under the speed limit, while traffic around them flows at 5 or 10mph over the limit.
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electro^plankton 9:34PM (8/27/2006)
^^^ That is one of the most asinine things I've ever read.
Look, I'm gonna be as ignorant as you and say you're probably one of those GM drivers that honks at the person in front and speeds past them even tho you're about 20 yards from a red stop light, only to do it again when it turns green. Am I right?
Lexus is pushing safety technology in its cars. What's wrong with that? Anything a car can do to reduce the likely-hood of my getting whiplash is a-okay with me.
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Peter 10:14PM (8/27/2006)
My car was built in 1977 and it has a rear collision detector comprised of two subsystems: the driver and the rear view mirror. It also has brake lights so the drivers behind can tell when I'm slowing down!
As cars become increasingly overcomplicated with electronic safety equipment, the driver becomes less and less involved in their own safety. Personally, I think this lack of awareness and the sense that you're cocooned in a system of airbags and electronics is dangerous in itself. Obviously this doesn't mean we should strip cars of all safety equipment, but I think there is a limit to what is truly necessary and that it was passed up by Mercedes and Lexus about 5 years ago.
Article about drivers of modern cars trying an older one without any electronic aids: http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22750-1973418_1,00.html
Article about perception of safety vs actual safety: http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_01_12_a_suv.html
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Guenther 8:34AM (8/28/2006)
Verdegrrl- I wasn't sure what i was going to write down as the "dumbest thing I heared today", but you really helped me out with this one.
Anyone who ridicules new production level safety technology, has too much time on his/her hands. I'd be very interested to know who Toyota's main development partner was on the project.
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Steve 11:35PM (8/27/2006)
#4, this new system doesn't replace the rear view mirror or brake lights. There are going to be times when the driver behind you doesn't stop in time and you can't get out of the way. The system also adjusts the headrests to minimize whip lash. I see that as a good thing.
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Peter 1:03AM (8/28/2006)
My concern is that, in many driver's minds, this will replace the rear view mirror. And that automatic following distance sensors, lane departure warnings, and traction control will replace having to pay complete attention to driving.
Of course I agree that safety features are a good thing, I just think that all of these gadgets ignore the fact that the largest opportunity for safety improvement is the driver.
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Rob 1:12AM (8/28/2006)
#4
I had to make use of an empty turning lane when a stalled out car was being pushed across the road and traffic came to an unexpected stop. I could see the guy in a Tahoe on his cell phone behing me at the light. He wasnt paying attention when the light was green and didnt begin to pull away until traffic was 15-20 car lengths ahead of him. He accelerated quickly, knowing he was holding up traffic behind him and got up to speed fast, but traffic had stopped for the dead car. I saw the nose dive, smoking, squaking tires and knew he was in trouble. Moved outta the way and watched him give the car that was in front of me a nice love tap. He was still on his cell phone, didnt even try to swerve around the other car even though he wouldve had time and room. It was his fault, not the big SUV. Blame the driver, not the car, like that second article tries to do. I also love how your first article changed the parameters of the test to achieve the results they wanted. Wetting the road to make the car without ABS skid easier wasnt the way to conduct an equal experiment. It reminded me of an MSNBC special on how being sleep deprived was like being drunk behind the wheel. They had 2 groups, 1 sleep deprived, 1 consumed alcohol. The drivers got to run the course sober/rested. Then with BAC of .08 for 1 group and the other group after being awake for 24hours. Of course to prove how dangerous these drivers now were, they rearranged the course to be different and added different things to pop out in front of the drivers to see if they could avoid them. They didnt have to contend with these things sober or rested. Very biased. My favorite part was they pulled a fake dog from behind a haybail into the drivers path. They gave the drivers so little time to react it was funny. The dog actually ran into the side of the car on one mans run, but they tried to play it off that he couldnt react in time because he was drunk. What a well conducted test,jk.
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prodigy 10:02AM (8/28/2006)
there is always some bustard who is not going to appreciate
ya just made cause ya can't reach the L
U GO TOYOTA/LEXUS
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Ryan 11:51AM (8/28/2006)
Phyiscally they say it's best that you be "relaxed" prior to an accident. When you for sure *know* that you are going to get slammed, that will increase tension and the possibility of increased injury. This is why they say its the "drunk" driver that always walks away as they were "relaxed" and did not see it coming. Uhh, I'm no doctor but that is just what I have heard.
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Michael Bakshi 12:54PM (8/28/2006)
I agree absolutely with Verdegrrl. Most Camrys are driven by old people who refuse to drive the speed limit, cause nasty slowdowns in traffic, and they drift into other lanes.
Well, it's got a new job, to be the official car of old people who want an appliance car to get them from point A to point B, while taking years to get there.
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How to save and transform Lexus into True Luxury 4:02PM (8/31/2006)
Lexus has great potential, but there are two issues hampering it most.
1. Lexus is too focused on entry level models. ES, IS and RX. In other words it is bottom heavy, not top heavy like mercedes. Lexus should get rid of ES, which is a lazy, clumsy brand slayer.
2. Lexus should stop cut-rate pricing which is ruining its image in US and hampering its growth in europe and japan. LS 460 should be priced head-to-head with Audi A8 and its content should match S550. That will solve the cut-rate problem to some extent. Over next 5-6 years it should bring the price of LS 460 in line with BMW 7-series, model for model.
Finally, Lexus should hire some good designers who are experts in sexy styling.
IS has some sexiness so its selling well.
GS looks hideous and not sexy and lithesome so its sales are rapidly falling. Besides the big sized ES is not allowing GS to prosper since they view ES as a money saver version of GS.
Besides ES is not competing with anyone, not 3-series, not C-class, not A4. May be town car.
Lexus should let toyota manage ES as a high end camry and get rid of ES absolutely from the line-up. This will let buyers get attracted to GS even though its more expensive.
Lexus should also introduce a top end V12 and label it as LS 700 with 600 hp, so that LS will become three model line-up.
1. LS 460
2. LS 600h L
3. LS 700 with V12 power.
hybrid fitting in between just like camry-hybrid with 190 hp is fitting between 150 hp 4-cyl and 268 hp 6-cyl version.
If this prescription is not followed lexus will seriously damage its brand.
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