Select 2008 Cadillacs and Buicks get blind-spot detection
Valeo Raytheon Systems and General Motors have gotten together to develop a new blind spot detections system that's set to debut on certain Buick and Cadillac models for the 2008 model year.The system, which is similar to those used by Volvo, takes in data about vehicles in the lanes next to the vehicle, calculates the distance, speed and position, and then triggers a light to illuminate on the vehicle's side mirror.
The press release after the jump doesn't indicate which vehicles will benefit from the system, but considering the average age of both brand's buyers, we're all for it.
PRESS RELEASE
Valeo Raytheon Systems Equips Two General Motors Vehicles With Blind Spot Detection
July 09, 2007 (4:29 PM EST)
PRNewswirePARIS, July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Vehicle safety and convenience is making a tremendous leap with the arrival of Blind Spot Detection to General Motors vehicles in the United States. Valeo Raytheon's Blind Spot Detection system, designed to facilitate lane change maneuvers by providing additional warning of vehicles in the blind spot during lane changes, will be available on select 2008 Cadillac and Buick vehicles. This technology recently received a 2007 PACE Award in the product innovation category.
Increasingly, automakers are recognizing the benefits of active safety systems and offering these technologies on new models. Blind spot detection is an important active driving assistance technology that can help improve drivers' awareness of their vehicles' surroundings, and make roads safer. The system operates by calculating the position, distance and direction of travel for vehicles in the adjacent lane of travel. It then alerts the driver of a potential hazard with a visible warning symbol that appears in the side view mirror.
Blind Spot Detection technology is an integral part of Valeo's Driving Assistance Domain that deploys ultrasonic, infrared and vision-sensing technologies toward the goal of achieving total 360-degree surveillance of a vehicle's immediate environment.
Valeo is helping to lead the way in developing innovative technologies that will provide drivers and passengers with a whole new driving experience. Valeo's driving assistance technologies offer solutions for safer vehicles and are intended to monitor the vehicle's perimeter, inform the driver and other road users about the vehicle's immediate environment and to initiate appropriate corrective actions.
Valeo is an independent industrial group dedicated to the design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for cars and trucks. It is one of the world's leading automotive suppliers. The Group has 131 production sites, 68 R&D centers, 9 distribution platforms, and employs 71,100 people in 29 countries worldwide.
For more information about the Group and its activities, please visit our web site www.valeo.com
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
omar 10:30AM (7/10/2007)
Volvo is the big safety system manurfacturer, GM blindspot system wint probably be as good as the Swedish own.
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Mr. Oak 10:39AM (7/10/2007)
That was a stupid comment. If Volvo were the first to do this, then any manufacturer that has the benefit of using that system as a benchmark will undoubtedly build on the capabilities of the first one out the gate.
Ergo, an improvement over the original.
GM did it, so it crap. To think that the world is full of idiots like you.
Edwin 10:48AM (7/10/2007)
I think Volvo is more the 'perceived' safety leader. The NHTSA results show that Volvo is still very good but it can't denied that American, German, and even Japanese have build many 5 star tested vehicles. In this case, it's a technology that should be widely distributed for the safety of drivers on the road - I think that is most important. I am sure GMs system is Just as good. In the end Volvo isn't the leader, as the Audi Q7 has it on production models some time ago, called "Audi Side Assist"
omar 12:32PM (7/10/2007)
I never said that Volvo was the first to market this blinspot assit. GM will build on the success of the Swedish system, but as Volvo goes they will update their software to make it better. Thats all, Volvo has an obcession with safety, just like Lexus is to profection, Mercedes is to luxury, BMW is to sports, Audi is to a touch of all those features. That was all that i meant.
Edwin 10:36AM (7/10/2007)
It's a great technology for SUVs particularly. I experienced this safety feature in an Audi Q7 test drive early in 2006 and was impressed. Volvo came out with their version this year which is very similar to Audi's. I would like to see it more widely used on all SUVs maybe in the same way as Anti Lock Braking Systems are finally getting mandated.
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ChaoZ 10:48AM (7/10/2007)
Good. Buick and Cadillac drivers are the ones who need this system the most, but I worry though if people start relying on it and the system malfunctions. Lawsuits galore?
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AMGoff 11:29AM (7/10/2007)
Buick and Cadillac received these options first because they are the General's two top brands. Within a couple of years this technology will trickle down through the rest of the lineup.
What exactly is so wrong with having options? Many people, regardless of age would not mind having this feature on vehicles with large blindspots.
Hell, these should be mandated as standard on all tractor trailers.
Had Toyonda announced this everyone would be going "ooh.. aah"
Jeremy 10:52AM (7/10/2007)
I for one, am NOT in favor of these systems.
What's wrong with shoulder checking. "Oh - I don't have to. I have Blind Spot Detection". Great. Even more soccer moms without a clue on the streets. Plus, once they get wind of how many 'children' this will save and start writing their congressmen, it will be standard equipment within a few years that we ALL have to pay for (See: TPMS instead of using a tire gauge).
Honestly, the development money would be better spent giving everybody who buys a Cadillac some free driving lessons instead.
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Vinny 11:11AM (7/10/2007)
If you have observed the typical age of the driver of these vehicles you will notice that they no longer have the use of their neck other than to attach the head to the torso. Looking over their shoulder is a distant memory for them. They need this device. It just needs to be really really big and bright for them to notice it. An LED would not work.
Brian Dreggors 10:55AM (7/10/2007)
GM has issued several releases about these systems months ago. Both the Side Blind Zone Alert ($395) and Lane Departure Warning ($295) systems will be optional on the 2008 Lucerne for those prices and also available on the STS as part of the Driver Awareness Package. No word on DTS availability yet. According to AutoWeek, who drove an '08 Lucerne CXL, these systems are less intrusive than Infiniti's. You can also simply turn them off if you don't want them.
http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17238
P.S. Ever seen a woman driving a QX56? Those are the vehicles that need these things the most. Older folks around here just tend to slowly drift. Slow is never as dangerous as fast.
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mbarnard07 10:57AM (7/10/2007)
How do you guys not know what vehicles will get it?
the 2008 Buick Lucerne will have it when getting the comfort and convenience, as well as the driver confidence package.
which means it will be standard on the CXS, and optional on the CX and CXL.
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arcsine 10:57AM (7/10/2007)
How about stopping the designers from putting horse-blinder B/C pillars and uselessly tiny side mirrors on new cars instead? This is a car, not a submarine. Driving it via periscopes and sonar is not an option.
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ChaoZ 11:04AM (7/10/2007)
I remember Volvo had a concept car (which later turned into the C30) which the pillars are turned inwards on the inside and the front pillars are actually see-through. Some good ideas, but makes for a strange looking car.
arcsine 11:59AM (7/10/2007)
You're right, the SCC was a wonky looking car.
bmoredlj 11:05AM (7/10/2007)
What about Saabs?
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Ryan 11:16AM (7/10/2007)
The Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan has an overall higher safety rating than the Volvo S60. Saabs fly under the radar... but they are truly both safe and high performance vehicles.
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YouFaceTheTick 11:26AM (7/10/2007)
Blindspot = driver with his/her mirrors set up incorrectly.
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Patrick 11:55AM (7/10/2007)
It's true! I used to be one of those people until someone showed me how to properly adjust the side mirrors. Here is one example: http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/mirrors/CarTalkMirrors.pdf
My blind spots are all but gone, and with zero fancy electronics. Of course, I still turn my head and look, too, like everyone should.
frank d 11:59AM (7/10/2007)
Once again. A hi-tech high-$ solution for something that is so easily resolved with a no-blind-spot-mirror (or wider viewing angle mirror) as seen on many cars I've driven in Europe.
No cameras, no radars, no electronics, no computers, no learning curve, ... just a mirror with a slight curve towards the outer edge. On both the driver and passenger side. Small line indicates where the tapered mirror starts. Done.
I wish that type of mirror would be standard throughout the industry by now, or mandated.
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m 11:59AM (7/10/2007)
Based on my experience, it's not the old drivers that need this. They don't switch lanes anyway. They'll sit in whatever lane they landed in regardless off traffic around them or lights flashing behind them telling them to move to the right or speed up and pass somebody. The ones that need it are the idiots that use full size trucks as daily drivers in the city and middle aged women in their gargantuan SUVs. Neither of those groups of drivers usually even bother to look for the 400lbm vehicle in the lane next to them or use their signal to at least warn him that they're about to try to run him over.
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