Toyota adding automatic engine shutoff and automatic park to future models
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Toyota adding automatic engine shutoff and automatic park to future models
Toyota intends to further enhance the safety of its 2020 models with two new customer protection features for the North American market: automatic engine shutoff and automatic park. For cars equipped with the carmaker's Smart Key System keyless entry, automatic engine shutoff does exactly what it says "after a pre-determined period of time in the event the vehicle is left running." Toyotas with keyless entry already sound a chime and provide a visual warning about a running engine; the new system enhances those two cautions as well.
Toyota didn't specify how long is "a pre-determined time." Nor did it explain if this will operate when the car is idling but there's a driver in the vehicle, or if it's only when the car detects the driver leaving. A New York Times story last year noted the deaths of some 28 drivers over 12 years, in which the drivers unintentionally left their cars running in their garages. The reason has been identified as "keyless" proximity fobs and push-button start, where owners, perhaps older drivers more accustomed to a keyed ignition, overlooked the fact they didn't turn off the engine, which flooded their homes with exhaust fumes.
The Toyota feature could address that scenario. A similar implementation in the Jaguar XF, however, turns the car off when the driver puts the car in Park and unbuckles the seatbelt, even if the driver remains in the car.
Toyota says a future upgrade for automatic shutoff will send a reminder to a smartphone app.
Automatic park is designed to curtail rollaways and will only be available on models with electronic shifters or parking brakes. In this case, Toyota is clear that the system operates if the driver exits the vehicle and hasn't put the vehicle in Park. In that case, the car will either shift into to Park itself, or activate the electronic parking brake.
Toyota didn't specify how long is "a pre-determined time." Nor did it explain if this will operate when the car is idling but there's a driver in the vehicle, or if it's only when the car detects the driver leaving. A New York Times story last year noted the deaths of some 28 drivers over 12 years, in which the drivers unintentionally left their cars running in their garages. The reason has been identified as "keyless" proximity fobs and push-button start, where owners, perhaps older drivers more accustomed to a keyed ignition, overlooked the fact they didn't turn off the engine, which flooded their homes with exhaust fumes.
The Toyota feature could address that scenario. A similar implementation in the Jaguar XF, however, turns the car off when the driver puts the car in Park and unbuckles the seatbelt, even if the driver remains in the car.
Toyota says a future upgrade for automatic shutoff will send a reminder to a smartphone app.
Automatic park is designed to curtail rollaways and will only be available on models with electronic shifters or parking brakes. In this case, Toyota is clear that the system operates if the driver exits the vehicle and hasn't put the vehicle in Park. In that case, the car will either shift into to Park itself, or activate the electronic parking brake.
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My Mercedes will turn off the engine after about 30 seconds if I leave with it running. This only happens when the car is fully warmed up and usually the engine start/stop has already engaged. If it’s a cold start, it’s smart enough to not turn off since I guess it thinks you are warming up the engine.
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Automatic park is designed to curtail rollaways and will only be available on models with electronic shifters or parking brakes. In this case, Toyota is clear that the system operates if the driver exits the vehicle and hasn't put the vehicle in Park. In that case, the car will either shift into to Park itself, or activate the electronic parking brake.
To me, it's (more or less) obvious what's behind this.......Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin's death from his Grand Cherokee rolling away and pinning him, when he exited and thought he had it in Park, but didn't. But part of that was not necessarily just a lack of an automatic-Park mechanism, but a poorly-designed shifter.....a design that Chrysler has since scrapped.
Lexus Fanatic
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I think both of these make sense. Toyota has had an auto park at least in the Prius since 2004 (ours auto parked when shut off)
Question will be, if you drive off without the key will the car die while its being driven?
Question will be, if you drive off without the key will the car die while its being driven?
Lexus Champion
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They can't allow this; it's a safety hazard. But what about when you reach your destination?
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Southeastern PA
The only way this made sense to me is if you had an engine stop/start system, and it stopped when you pulled in the garage, and then a few minute later, restarted because you thought you turned the car off, but it was only in "Ready" mode.
probably trying to prevent another lawyer happy lawsuit from some old people who dont know how to operate a car, already had it with unintended acceleration from old people who didnt know they hit the wrong pedal
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Don't blame it on age.
Confusing controls and designs can be a problem for anyone. It took me weeks to get used to the joy-stick shifter in my own car, and its unusual patterns.
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We, the members of Car Chat, tend to forget that we are enthusiasts and closely follow automotive technology. But people who do not -- perhaps 90% of the car-buying public, if not higher -- do not follow automotive technology; they may be easily confused and intimidated by new technology.
My wife really wanted a Lexus before we bought ours a few years ago; but now, she does not really like to drive it. The lack of an ignition key and even the position of the parking brake pedal (rather than central brake lever) has her confused.
And I am afraid that my father, who is old and getting rather absent-minded, may forget to turn off the ignition if there was no ignition key to physically remove. A number of people, who are not auto enthusiasts, ask me about locking, unlocking and driving off with no ignition key; they have become used to a physical key to do all of this, and suddenly not needing one in their hand could be very confusing and intimidating.
My wife really wanted a Lexus before we bought ours a few years ago; but now, she does not really like to drive it. The lack of an ignition key and even the position of the parking brake pedal (rather than central brake lever) has her confused.
And I am afraid that my father, who is old and getting rather absent-minded, may forget to turn off the ignition if there was no ignition key to physically remove. A number of people, who are not auto enthusiasts, ask me about locking, unlocking and driving off with no ignition key; they have become used to a physical key to do all of this, and suddenly not needing one in their hand could be very confusing and intimidating.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,205
Likes: 219
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
We, the members of Car Chat, tend to forget that we are enthusiasts and closely follow automotive technology. But people who do not -- perhaps 90% of the car-buying public, if not higher -- do not follow automotive technology; they may be easily confused and intimidated by new technology.
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From: Maryland
Lexus Fanatic
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From: ON/NY
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,987
Likes: 81
From: Southeastern PA
We, the members of Car Chat, tend to forget that we are enthusiasts and closely follow automotive technology. But people who do not -- perhaps 90% of the car-buying public, if not higher -- do not follow automotive technology; they may be easily confused and intimidated by new technology.
My wife really wanted a Lexus before we bought ours a few years ago; but now, she does not really like to drive it. The lack of an ignition key and even the position of the parking brake pedal (rather than central brake lever) has her confused.
And I am afraid that my father, who is old and getting rather absent-minded, may forget to turn off the ignition if there was no ignition key to physically remove. A number of people, who are not auto enthusiasts, ask me about locking, unlocking and driving off with no ignition key; they have become used to a physical key to do all of this, and suddenly not needing one in their hand could be very confusing and intimidating.
My wife really wanted a Lexus before we bought ours a few years ago; but now, she does not really like to drive it. The lack of an ignition key and even the position of the parking brake pedal (rather than central brake lever) has her confused.
And I am afraid that my father, who is old and getting rather absent-minded, may forget to turn off the ignition if there was no ignition key to physically remove. A number of people, who are not auto enthusiasts, ask me about locking, unlocking and driving off with no ignition key; they have become used to a physical key to do all of this, and suddenly not needing one in their hand could be very confusing and intimidating.