Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/451763
XV maltatoday, Sunday, 25 January 2015 Toyota has revealed some of the smart new technologies and sys- tems it will be featuring in future models to make driving safer. True to the company's Integrated Safety Management Concept, these have been designed from the start to work together to help cut the number of road accidents. The new features, announced at a safety seminar in Toyota City, will be rolled out in new models as from 2015. Toyota is also creating Safety Sense active safety pack- ages, tailored to suit different size vehicles that will be made available worldwide by the end of 2017. Toyota has also developed a new Communicating Radar Cruise Control that uses vehicle-to- ve- hicle communication to make it easier for preceding and following vehicles to keep a safe distance apart. It uses forward-facing millimetre-wave radar to monitor the distance between your vehicle and the one ahead, their rela- tive speed and the acceleration/ deceleration of the car in front. This significantly improves track- ing performance in traffic, being safer and more fuel-efficient, and helping avoid one of the common causes of congestion. Toyota develops its ITS-compat- ible systems working in collabo- ration with government bodies, agencies and private companies, with the aim of launching them as soon as practically possible. In 2013, Toyota participated in the ITS Green Safety public-pri- vate collaborative demonstration project to assess the social effects of such systems. It will also be par- ticipating in the ITS Connect Promotion Consortium to sup- port the development of environ- ments for the smooth introduc- tion of such systems and their widespread adoption. LED Array Adaptive High Beam Toyota has already made important advances in automatic high beam and adaptive lighting systems. Now its next-generation system is ready to deliver even better night-time illu- mination the LED Array Adaptive High Beam. This system uses multiple, independently controlled LEDs arranged in a single row. This gives a wider illumination without dazzling drivers of on-coming or preceding vehicles. It can light up the gaps between vehicles ahead and those approaching, making it easier to spot pedestrians; light distribution is also linked to use of the steering wheel, giving better visibility as you turn into a bend. From 2015, Toyota will launch a new set of active safety tech- nologies design to help prevent or mitigate collisions across a wide range of vehicle speeds. They will be offered in two Toyota Safety Sense packages, initially in Japan and subsequently in the USA and Europe, by the end of 2017. The two packages – designated C and P for mid-size and larger vehi- cles respectively – bring together several of Toyota's existing active safety technologies, including the Pre-Crash Safety system, Lane Keep Assist and automatic high beam. The C package uses laser radar and a millimetre-wave radar, each combined with a camera to secure high performance and reli- ability. A separate active safety package, Lexus Safety System+, will be mar- keted for Lexus models, including a new Road Sign Assist function. This recognises speed limits and road signs when travelling over- seas, presenting the information on the driver's instrument display. For more information on Toyota and its products visit the Toyota showroom situated in Mdina Road Zebbug log on the Toyota Malta Fa- cebook page or call on 2269 4000. Motoring Starting from €9,695 For more information contact: Michael Debono Limited 0GLQD5RDGĽHEEXã 7HO VDOHV#WR\RWDFRPPW ZZZWR\RWDFRPPW Toyota Gozo Showroom 0ãDUU5RDG ;HZNLMD;:.*R]R 7HO JJV#WR\RWDFRPPW Toyota Malta 5 year WARRANTY DEBONO F I N A N C E ONLY 5.5% VARIABLE RATE OVER 6 YEARS Google partners with carmakers to develop its autonomous car Google is seeking to partner with major carmakers and component giants in a bid to bring its self-driving car to market, prob- ably by the end of the decade. The head of the project, Chris Urmson, revealed some new details on the autono- mous Google car at this week 's Automotive News World Congress. Companies the search giant is talking to include GM, Ford, Toyota, Daimler and V W, according to news agency Reuters. Google has so far not named any carmak- ers, but admitted it is approaching com- panies with established reputations with expertise in building vehicles for commer- cial sale. 'At some point, we're going to be looking to find partners to build complete vehicles, and bring the technology to market,' Urm- son told the conference. But first it will rely on smaller experts to develop and produce the protot ypes, which will continue to be tested for the next five years. Google autonomous car on test Urmson said that US engineering consul- tancy Roush has built the current proto- t ypes pictured; they will start trials on public roads in 2015. Other suppliers working with Google have been named as Bosch (lidar radar systems, power electronics governing the EV system), LG Electronics (batteries) and ZF (steering). It is also working with component giant Continental on various parts of the autono- mous car. When can I buy a Google car? Ah, the $64 million question. Just look at this week 's news on the delayed Google Glass and you' ll realise that the Califor- nian digital firm doesn't like to rush new projects to market before they're competi- tive. Urmson, when quizzed about a launch date, would only say 'when it's safe and ready.' Cars used in the US trials will have a discrete steering wheel and pedals, owing to Californian regulations, and they must have a test driver behind the wheel when running in autonomous mode as a failsafe. Toyota reveals next-generation Integrated Safety Technology