Holy Trinity: 2018 LS Features Three Industry-First Safety Features
All-New Lexus LS Couples Progressive Design with Cutting-Edge Safety Technology
Lexus’ 2018 LS, which debuted at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, has already wowed us with its award-winning design. But as Toshio Asahi, chief engineer for the car, tells Automotive News, the new LS is also aiming to be an industry leader in regard to safety. With three world-first safety technologies on board, that goal appears well within reach.
The three technologies include a pre-crash auto steering system, advanced heads up display, and intersection blind-spot detection. All three will come standard and bundled with Lexus Safety System Plus, the existing pre-crash braking system.
The new steering system is an upgrade on the existing technology, which brings the car to a halt before a crash happens. The system automatically steers the car around potential obstacles in the event of a potential collision.
Lexus calls new safety technologies ‘the area of biggest evolution’ behind only powertrain & design changes over the outgoing LS.
Lexus’ new heads up display, the world’s largest, projects on the windshield. Included is a pedestrian sensor system that uses millimeter-wave radar for improved night time detection.
Intersection blind-spot technology uses the same millimeter-wave radar to alert the driver of vehicles coming from either side. The system can actually look around corners, alerting the driver through the heads up display if it detects a vehicle approaching.
These new safety technologies are not only cutting-edge, they also represent a big step forward for Lexus. In fact, Asahi calls them “the area of biggest evolution” behind only powertrain and design changes over the outgoing LS. So, even though much of the world will buy a 2018 Lexus LS because it looks great, they’ll also be getting one of the world’s safest cars. Talk about a nice bonus.
