I did a quick search and couldn't find any real specifics as to how it works. There are ultrasonic sensors invovled, one foot must be on the brake pedal during the parking process, it CAN"T do really tight parallel parking, the driver will still have to do that and it can remember 3 different parking places,. Lot's of failsafe features built in. I'm really curious to see this thing work in real life. As I said earlier not for me, but still pretty cool.

 

Sometimes it amazes me where we're headed with tecnology. Cool feature and all but how about people just learn angles and how to parallel park. It really ain't that deep. What's funny is we have this now but still no cure for Cancer.......oh wait that's a whole 'nother topic.

 

It can remember 3 preset parking spaces? Wow, does that mean it uses GPS? Sounds like this system is good to park in your garage or work space, but other than that the parking space memory is kind of useless unless it bumps the other cars out of the way Can you image the lady at the mall parking place complaining that the spot her car remembers right in front of the entrace is taken by someone else. But sir, my car says this is my parking spot

 

ROFLMAO!!!! Ohh man, I was just on the floor and I am still wiping the tears from my eyes.

 

Just because every driver should know how to do it, doesn't necessarilly mean they want to do it. For such a big sedan like the new LS, it is definitely a helpful feauture for some very tight space between two cars.

 

yes it can... there was an video of parking prius, and it did relativly tight pararel park, with rocks on the other side which it detected and parked next to.

Doing real parallel parking in LS, really wide and long vehicle should be very hard. Usually in the US you dont get the chance to parallel park but most people dont know how to park anyway, let alone parallel :-).

In Europe, I have to parallel park all the time , and most times you see nothing on the lower sides of the vehicle so you dont really know if there is something there or not. it would be very helpful.

 

Let's face it, drivers who "don't necessarily want to park" are driver who CAN'T PARK. Although the new LS460 is larger, it is by no means so large that it would be impossible to park. Btw, anyone parking in a tight space no matter what car you own, runs a high risk of getting their own car damaged by the other guy (in front of you or behind you) who leaves before you.

 

**** i have to parallel park everday, what part of the US are you talking about?

 

i lived 7 years in sea and socal... had to parallel park 2 times. Trust me, 99% of US drivers would not be able to park their car in Europe, let alone an LS.

 

but why would it be so hard?ive parallel parked with about 1in to spare front and back,are things that tight in EUROPE

 

the ls is not huge, but still it's not small. if you get a tight parking space, sometimes it could be hard to park. this is by no means a replacement, it could be a very well guidance system. i don't think it's a waste of money. you can know how to park but still mistakes could happen. a lot of members here they know how to drive and park, but yet they might have curbed a few wheels when parking

that's exactly what i think chris. could be a potential problem, especially when you think where we live -- the US..

 

If Mcdonalds can get sued for coffee that's too hot, you better believe that Lexus would get sued the 1st time their system fails to work in the US

 

Assuming that we're talking about a system that as you say is "by no means a replacement, it could be a very well guidance system" is one thing but to quote the news clip:
"Drivers need never again worry about tricky parallel parking manoeuvres. Lexus is about to import a car that will park itself at the touch of a button. The LS460 will be the first car in Australia with a self-parking computer"
That sounds a whole lot more than parking assist to me and a whole lot more $$$$$

 

Wow this has got quite a few replies in the short time it has been up.

First I have to agree with those who say you should be able to park the car yourself.

Way back when I was in High School Drivers Ed they made us do it on a hill, both facing uphill and downhill. I've got a 19 year girl who I tried to teach how to do it. She would get lucky every once in a while and get the car in the spot, but most of the time she would get pissed and decide that was enough . The big problem is around here there are very few times you really have to do it so the kids get lazy and don't practice this manuever. We've got malls and parking garages and very little street parking except in downtown Seattle. And Seattle is all steep hills so most people just go to the parking garages. I've got two 17 year old boys who don't have a clue nor a desire to learn how to parallel park. I think the Drivers Licensing place makes them do it on some neighborhood street in some real easy spot.

Now I can see where there might be someone with a handicap or physical limitation who could really make good use of this technology.

I posted the story because I'm just amazed that they can make something that can do this.
You guys have made some interesting comments about it.

I do wonder how the computer would know where to stop if there were no cars in front of or behind.
Does this use sonar or a TV or both?

I would love to see this in action.


Also no one has said a thing about the 380 HP. Is this what we can expect? Seems like alot of cars have 400 plus HP these days. Should'nt we get at least that much.


Ivan
3dog

 

I agree.....this is ridiculous. They could have taken that money instead and developed an AWD system for it......which IMO, would have been far more useful, especially in foul-weather areas.