You don't need no stinkin' Volvo to experience BLIS(s) -- for 2008, the Buick Lucerne is fitted with lane departure and blind-spot warning systems. The Lucerne offers classic GM big-sedan ethos, with lots of content, wide, cushy seats and restrained, handsome styling. Now, when you're motorvating down the interstate, listening to your Buick 8, an amber lamp will illuminate in the gauge cluster, and a chime will toll three times to indicate you're about to encroach on someone else's road space. If one of the ever present morons on the road decides to hang out in your blind spot, the Lucerne uses proximity sensors behind the rear fascia to detect the car and warn you with an indicator in the side mirror. Buick's safety gear will also be offered on Cadillac's STS and DTS, making GM Luxury that much safer. Now if they could just develop a "blinker on for the last 60 miles" warning system, or a "stay the hell out of the fast lane if you're doing 53 1/2 MPH" light in the cluster, we'd be good. Okay, okay, we'll admit, the stereotyping is stale. Maybe we're just mellowing with time, but we appreciate the merits of a Lucerne.
[Source: Edmunds]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DJ @ Apr 20th 2007 9:29AM
"Now if they could just develop a "blinker on for the last 60 miles" warning system,"
Cadillac does have (or did have) a warning chime that got louder and louder and louder the longer you left the blinker on. My father-in-law's DTS had it.
Viv @ Apr 20th 2007 9:45AM
good job by GM for keeping up with the latest innovations.
JohnPA @ Apr 20th 2007 9:59AM
Is it engaged at all times or only above a certain speed? I can see the usefullness on the Interstate but it would be constantly beeping in regular traffic.
Mike @ Apr 20th 2007 10:06AM
Why not just get rid of the turn signal all together-or at least make it an option! I mean only 25% of the drivers out there actually use it - so why pay for it!
Latchy @ Apr 20th 2007 10:13AM
To # 5.
I liked the idea to make the flashers optionals.I think, Mike, those 25% are a bit exagerated...may be 10% or even less....use them.
Hopefully the stop signal is still mandatory and not human-dependant!
paanta @ Apr 20th 2007 10:14AM
I sincerely hope this thing can "see" motorcycles, or I anticipate some very interesting lawsuits. This is an awesome feature if it works well, but once people start relying on external sensors they'll stop looking around and if the system fails...yikes.
DriftPunch @ Apr 20th 2007 10:23AM
Good technology, but wouldn't a KISS solution be to integrate a convex mirror into the unit (not as "stuck on" looking as the cheap yet effective ones seen on many pickups)?
Editorial: A recent ad by Volvo is touting their collision detection and warning system. Does the 'alarm', not sound like the early '80s Simon game? You'd think a 60K vehicle would have a more elegant alarm.
corey @ Apr 20th 2007 10:51AM
Yeah - my '98 GMC Jimmy had the blinker-on-for-60-miles warning system. After 45 seconds a pleasant tone plays over the speakers, plenty loud for any octogenarian to hear.
Hamud @ Apr 20th 2007 10:56AM
#65 Not even the break lights are used by 100%, few weeks ago almost hit the rear of an old Chevy Kadett, the car didn't have break lights...
Gratz to GM, is always nice to see these features getting out of concept cars.
fd @ Apr 20th 2007 11:34AM
Good effort, but why depend on expensive technology?
When there already exists a no-tech solution to this problem. And, that's why all these techno solutions bother me ... as I would like to see the solution below standard on all vehicles:
No-blind-spot-mirror available / default on some European cars at least. It has a slight curve towards the outer edge of the side mirrors, eliminating the blind spot between the traditional mirror and a drivers peripheral view. With a little dotted line indicating where the tapered edge starts.
No power, no computer, no malfunction, no warnings, no alarms.
Plain and simple. A mirror with a curved outer edge.
paul34 @ Apr 20th 2007 1:33PM
#8: Completely unnecessary, sorry to say. Modern mirrors can be set to ELIMINATE BLINDSPOTS.
A lot of people like to watch half the side of their car in their mirror, and then wonder why they need to stick a stupid convex mirror on to see. Does one really need to see the side of his car all the time?
I forgot the exact name... but just Google around for it, set your mirrors like that, and thank me later =) heh
Regarding the article, I think technology like this should be integrated across all vehicles. Even with the way I set my mirrors, there *are* times when something happens, and you lose your mind for a second, and narrowly avoid a collision as you casually turn your head to notice that for some reason, you've missed a car that's still there (to a great degree of embarrasment).
The Other Bob @ Apr 20th 2007 1:46PM
I will buy the first car advertised and manufactured as the car with the least amount of computer gimmicks legally and technically possible.
Dan Roth @ Apr 20th 2007 1:50PM
"No-blind-spot-mirror available / default on some European cars at least. It has a slight curve towards the outer edge of the side mirrors, eliminating the blind spot
------
Side-reducing mirrors are great. Apparently, they do not meet standards for US cars. Perhaps they think US drivers are too stupid to learn how to use them.
Us old Volvo guys just special order the glass with the proper part number and put them in ourselves. They get better headlights elsewhere, as well.
RBW @ Apr 20th 2007 2:36PM
#13: "I will buy the first car advertised and manufactured as the car with the least amount of computer gimmicks legally and technically possible."
It's called the Chevy Aveo.
roadside observer @ Apr 20th 2007 3:08PM
Set the factory mirrors properlyt and you won't have blind-spot problems. The mirrors on my truck are angled so that the blind spots are eliminated - and by the time the neighboring vehicle is out of the mirrors, they're beside me and I can see them.
mike @ Apr 22nd 2007 1:35PM
ok, yeah, lets make signals illegal so this way you have no clue where the car in front of you is headed. great idea. but anyway, as long as this stuff when it trickles down to the chevys and pontiacs stays optional , im all for it. its not necessary in my book and not something i want to be forced to pay for.
Bob @ Apr 24th 2007 2:52PM
Cars I've driven have always chimed if you left your blinker on for at least 3 miles or so.