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Wet conditions, fog, deer crossing – drivers face particular challenges in autumn and winter. The latest lighting systems which almost perfectly illuminate the road are proving helpful. Volkswagen has been focusing on the evolution of light for decades. The technical highlight of this development is the “IQ.-Light - LED matrix headlights” used on the Touareg.

Modern LED lighting systems ensure that driving in the dark in autumn and winter is much safer. The Touareg, for example, has the optional “IQ.Light - LED matrix headlight” which includes a poor weather light that reduces back-glare and cross-glare on wet roads. Here the distracting reflections of the headlight on the reflective road surface directly in front of the vehicle are reduced by the “IQ.Light” that reduces illumination intensity in this area.

These kinds of intelligent controls are becoming increasingly popular. The Arteon as an example: the Gran Turismo is fitted with the optional “Active Lighting System”. The LED double headlights perfectly illuminate the course of a bend before actually driving on it. The new feature is that this is done proactively and independently of the steering angle based on the front camera images and the route data of the navigation system. This enables the Arteon to illuminate the course of a bend before the driver turns into it. The driver now looks into a brightly illuminated curve up to two seconds earlier – sometimes a crucial two seconds.

The first Volkswagen LED headlights made their international debut in autumn 2013 as standard equipment in the electrically powered e-Golf1. Since then, this powerful and economical lighting technology has been used in an increasing number of vehicle classes. Today, in addition to the Golf, Arteon and Touareg, the Polo, T-Roc, Touran, Tiguan and Passat series are also available with LED headlights.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Volkswagen and Siemens want to further improve road safety especially at crossroads. . To achieve this, new functionalities have been developed for the local exchange of information between vehicles and digital transport infrastructure. The overall system uses the Car2X technology WLANp (ITS-G5) and is currently undergoing tests on Wolfsburg roads.

In a joint project, the city of Wolfsburg, Volkswagen and Siemens are currently setting up a test section on a main road in Wolfsburg in which ten traffic signal systems will transmit the traffic light phases in the vicinity via WLANp (ITS-G5). Future Car2X vehicles will be able to process that information and inform the driver for example, when all traffic lights in succession are on green. That way, they can avoid braking or accelerating unnecessarily. In the near future, assistant functions will be able to do this without driver intervention.

The forward-looking traffic light functions in the vehicle improve the flow of traffic in built-up areas. It is hoped that this project will also contribute to road safety in general. To do this, two crossroads in Wolfsburg are being equipped with modern sensor technology to detect pedestrians and cyclists. Manfred Fuhg, Head of Siemens Mobility Germany, says, “Crossroads equipped with radar sensor technology are able to significantly increase accuracy in the detection of pedestrians and cyclists. Information that vehicles are not able to detect themselves is provided at complex intersections and accident black spots in particular.”

Technology is constantly expanding

To distribute the sensor object data from the traffic infrastructure to the vehicle, the Car2X technology WLANp, to be introduced by Volkswagen next year, will be supplemented with additional messages. The addition enables cooperative security functions to be implemented. They intervene in situations in which the driver or vehicle cannot recognise the surrounding road users with their own senses/sensors or can only do so at a very late stage. In particular, road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, who are often involved in accidents, should be better protected by this. “Based on systems with artificial intelligence in traffic signal systems, intelligent control methods can provide vehicles with much more precise information on red and green phases than was previously possible,” says Manfred Fuhg.

From today’s perspective, the use of transport infrastructure, particularly in towns and cities, offers crucial advantages over other Car2X approaches, explains Gunnar Koether, Head of Vehicle Safety at Volkswagen: “Unlike the relatively inaccurate position data of a smartphone, the use of sensors analogous to the vehicle offers highly accurate data for a critical area. An essential condition for avoiding false warnings. In addition to the technical hurdles, privacy is another aspect which could put people off using their personal smartphones.” 

Working together to reach the goal

A number of partners are currently working to expand the existing WLANp standards. With the pilot project in a real traffic environment, this should be completed even faster. One thing is certain: Cooperative functions can only be effective if the transport infrastructure and all road users are speaking the same language. That is why Volkswagen and Siemens are supporting the European Union’s objective of establishing a binding framework for networked driving across Europe in the near future. 

Klaus Mohrs, Mayor of the City of Wolfsburg, welcomes the initiative by Volkswagen and Siemens: “The city of Wolfsburg and Volkswagen have set themselves the objective of becoming a digital model city with #WolfsburgDigital. When traffic lights and cars communicate, the benefits of digitisation become tangible for many people.”

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Volkswagen is set to unveil the new T-Cross12 for the first time in a trailer entitled “I am safe”, two weeks ahead of the world première of the new SUV. At the end of the 14-second clip, the most compact of all Volkswagen Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) automatically activates emergency braking via the City Emergency Braking System, including Pedestrian Monitoring, to protect a distracted smartphone user who walks out into the road. “I am safe” is one of four focus areas that describe the most important properties of the T-Cross. The launch starts in spring 2019.

The T-Cross will be launched with the slogan “I am more” – positioning and pledge at the same time. This message is split into four focus areas “I am practical”, “I am cool”, “I am intuitive” and “I am safe”. A trailer has been created for each of these areas. The fourth clip, “I am safe”, can now be seen here.

“I am safe” underlines the fact that the T-Cross is entering the market as one of the safest vehicles in its class – guaranteed through excellent crash features and a large spectrum of assist systems. The Lane Assist lane keeping system and the Front Assist area monitoring system with City Emergency Braking System and Pedestrian Monitoring are always included as standard. Other assist systems include the Blind Spot Sensor (warns of vehicles in the blind spot) including Rear Traffic Alert (warns of vehicles approaching from the side behind the T-Cross), the proactive occupant protection system (closes windows and sunroof, tightens seat belts and increases brake pressure in the event of an accident) and Adaptive Cruise Control (brakes and accelerates automatically using a radar system).

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Top marks for Volkswagen's Touareg: the European consumer protection organisation Euro NCAP has awarded the new luxury class model the maximum possible rating of five stars. In the eyes of the independent crash test experts, the SUV performed excellently in all categories.

The Touareg is amongst Europe's safest cars

The five-star rating received during the demanding testing methods of the “European New Car Assessment Programme” – or in short: Euro NCAP – underlines that the Touareg can be considered a particularly safe choice within its vehicle category. One of the most impressive aspects of the new Touareg is its comprehensive safety package consisting of an optimised body structure, a belt, seat, and airbag network, and innovative assist systems. The SUV scores very good results in all four individual Euro NCAP categories. In the “Adult occupant safety” category, the vehicle scores 89 percent of the maximum mark. The Touareg also scores 86 percent for “Child occupant safety”, 81 percent in the “Safety assist” category and 72 percent in terms of “Vulnerable road users”.

Important benchmark for vehicle safety in Europe

Euro NCAP has been a stringent benchmark for the safety level of new vehicles in Europe for the last 20 years. Over the past few years, the test programme’s criteria have become increasingly strict and it currently includes elements, such as different collision scenarios (including front- end collisions with an aluminium barrier at 64 km/h and a 40 percent overlap, side impact at 50 km/h into the vehicle's side structure, bollard side impact at 32 km/h) and more stringent demands in terms of standard driver assist systems.

Touareg continues on SUV range's path to success

Following its launch in spring 2018, the Touareg has become the new flagship of the Volkswagen brand, characterised not just by its safety features, but also by its trailblazing fusion of assist, comfort, lighting and infotainment systems. Consequently, the Touareg launches with the widest range of assist, driving dynamics and comfort systems that has ever been integrated in a Volkswagen.

This includes technologies such as Night Vision (detects persons and animals in the dark using a thermal imaging camera) Traffic Jam and Roadwork Lane Assist (assisted steering and lane departure warning up to 60 km/h, acceleration and braking), Front Cross Traffic Assist (responds to traffic crossing in front of the Touareg), a new roll stabilisation system with electromechanically controlled anti-roll bars, IQ.Light – LED Matrix headlights (interactive dipped beams and main beams controlled by a camera) and a head-up display projected directly onto the windscreen (windshield head-up display).

About the Volkswagen brand: “We make the future real”

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand is present in more than 150 markets throughout the world and produces vehicles at over 50 locations in 14 countries. In 2017, Volkswagen delivered 6.23 million vehicles, including bestselling models such as the Golf, Tiguan, Jetta or Passat. Currently, 198,000 people work for Volkswagen across the globe. The brand also has over 7,700 dealerships with 74,000 employees.

Volkswagen is forging ahead consistently with the further development of automobile production.

E-mobility, smart mobility and the digital transformation of the brand are the key strategic topics for the future.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk