New York, New York – On new SUVs from its Toyota and Lexus brands, Toyota plans to launch a new safety suite that can apply vehicle brakes if drivers don’t stop for objects on the road in front of them.
With the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SUV and Lexus RX crossover SUV, integrated safety packages will be anchored by automated pre-collision braking at a price dramatically below comparable systems across the auto industry.
“Taking high-level driver assist to the next level, the safety packages will be offered as a very-low-cost option and will be systematically introduced across nearly all U.S. Toyota and Lexus models and trim levels, top-to-bottom, by the end of 2017,” says Jim Lentz, president and CEO Toyota Motor North America. “Pushing these systems across our lineup, as quickly as possible, can help protect people in the event of a crash. More importantly it will help prevent some crashes from ever happening in the first place.”
Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) and Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+) combine three systems – lane-departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and the pre-collision braking and warning system.
- Pre-collision system (PCS)
A camera and laser radar detect objects ahead of the vehicle. When the system determines there is a possibility of collision, it prompts the driver to brake with an audio and visual alert. If the driver notices the hazard and brakes, the system provides additional braking force. If the driver fails to brake in a set time, the system automatically applies the brakes, reducing speed by approximately 19 mph to prevent or mitigate the collision. The operational range of PCS covers speeds at which at least 80% of rear-end collisions occur (i.e. relative speeds of between approximately 7mph to 50mph).
- Lane departure alert (LDA)
A camera detects visible white and yellow lane markings. If the system determines that the vehicle is starting to deviate from the lane, LDA alerts the driver with an audio and visual alert.
- Automatic high beam (AHB)
A camera detects the headlights of oncoming vehicles and the tail lights of vehicles ahead, and then automatically switches between high beams and low beams so as not to dazzle other drivers.
The Toyota-brand system will be offered in the form of two packages: Toyota Safety Sense C for compact cars and TSS P for mid-sized and premium models will be available as an optional accessory from approximately $300 and $500, respectively. The TSS P package includes more features including a camera and radar system to detect pedestrians and radar-based cruise control, a system that keeps cars a set distance behind the vehicle in front.
The Lexus Safety System+ will be priced from approximately $500 to $635.
“At Toyota, we believe that the ultimate desire of a society that values mobility should be the eventual elimination of traffic fatalities and injuries,” says Bob Carter, senior vice president, automotive operations at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc. “Studies indicate that advanced active safety technologies can have a profound effect on automotive safety. Toyota is proud to expand the availability of these technologies – and to do so at an excellent value proposition for our customers as well.”
TSS will initially be available on the RAV4 and Avalon, and three additional models which will be announced later this year. LSS+ will initially be available on RX, and four additional models to be announced later this year.
Source: Toyota