New U.S. models increase adoption of features like rear view cameras
Front collision warning systems with automatic braking also more prevalent
2014/08/05
Summary
 Lincoln MKC featuring many driver assistance systems (2014 North American International Auto Show) |
The following report outlines feature availability on new and redesigned passenger cars and light trucks that were released for sale in the U.S. by GM, Ford, and Chrysler in and after September 2013. The features that have been increasingly available include rear view cameras which will be required to install by May 2018 by the U.S. Department of Transportation (Click here for more information). Forward collision warning systems with auto braking has also become more available as performance has been assessed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety since 2013. Besides, start-stop systems, driver and front passenger's knee airbags, LED headlamps and head-up displays have been adopted on an increasing number of new models.
Advanced equipment made available by GM, Ford, and Chrysler on their new models released in the U.S. in and after September 2013
| Driving performance (including fuel efficiency) |
Rotary dial-style shift selector | Chrysler 200 |
|---|---|---|
| Start-stop system | Ford F-150, Chrysler 200 (starting in the fourth quarter of 2014) |
|
| Collision safety | Driver and front passenger's knee airbags | Cadillac ELR, Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet SS, Ford Mustang, Chrysler 200 |
| Front center airbag | Cadillac Escalade | |
| Driving assistance | Rear view camera | All models covered in this report |
| Forward collision warning with auto braking | Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac ELR, Cadillac CTS, Lincoln MKC, Jeep Renegade, Chrysler 200 |
|
| Visibility | LED headlamps | Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac ELR, Ford F-150 |
| Automatic high beam control | Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac ELR, Cadillac CTS, Lincoln MKC, Chrysler 200 |
|
| Convenience | Head-up display | Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet SS, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray |
| Hands-free liftgate | Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln MKC |
Related Reports:
Features on new Japanese models (Jul. 2014)
Rearview camera final safety standard issued (FMVSS111) (May 2014)
Features on new Hyundai/Kia models (Mar. 2014)
New European models' specifications (Jan. 2014)
German OEMs roll-out advanced driving assistance systems (Nov. 2013)
US models feature increased use of automatic braking systems (Aug. 2013)
GM: active safety features on Cadillac brand models
Cadillac CTS (2014 Beijing Auto Show) |
GM adopted many active safety features on the Cadillac brand vehicles including the Escalade fullsize luxury SUV, ELR luxury plug-in-hybrid coupe and CTS midsize luxury sedan. Those models come with the Safety Alert Seat that warns the driver of a threat of collision with vibrations of the driver's seat and the Automatic Collision Preparation which applies the brakes to avoid a crash or to mitigate damage. The Escalade is equipped standard with the Front Center Airbag which deploys between the driver and front passenger. The airbag was developed jointly by GM and Takata. The ELR plug-in hybrid adopted the Regen on Demand which allows the driver to activate the regenerative brake via steering-wheel paddles to put energy back into the battery while simultaneously slowing down the vehicle.
Among the new Chevrolet models, the SS fullsize sedan is the first Chevrolet to offer the Automatic Parking Assist which automatically controls the steering to park the vehicle. The Corvette Stingray sport coupe is equipped with the Performance Data Recorder that records videos with driving performance data for the drivers to improve their driving skills.
GM: main features on new models launched in the U.S. from September 2013 to the spring of 2014 |
| "S" Standard on all grades, "A" Standard on some grades, and "O" optional |
| Model | Cadillac Escalade | Cadillac ELR | Chevrolet SS | Cadillac CTS | Chevrolet Corvette Stingray | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullsize luxury SUV | Luxury coupe (PHV) | Fullsize sedan | Midsize luxury sedan | Sport coupe | ||
| Launch timing | Spring 2014 | Jan. 2014 | End of 2014 | Fall 2013 | Sep. 2013 | |
| Driving performance (including fuel efficiency) | Magnetic Ride Control | S | A | |||
| Continuous Damping Control | S | |||||
| Active grille shutters | S | S | ||||
| Electronic Limited Slip Differential | A | A | ||||
| Regen on Demand (1 in the Table below) | S | |||||
| Collision safety | Side-impact airbags for driver and front passenger | S | S | S | S | S |
| Rear thorax air bags for outboard seating positions (on both sides of the rear seats) | S | |||||
| Head curtain airbags | S | S | S | S | ||
| Knee airbags for driver and front passenger | S | S | S | |||
| Front center air bag (2 in the Table below) | S | |||||
| Driving/parking assistance | Forward Collision Alert | A | S | S | A | |
| Automatic Collision Preparation | A | O | A | |||
| Automatic Safety Belt Tightening | A | A | ||||
| Lane Departure Warning | A | S | S | A | ||
| Lane Change Alert | A | |||||
| Side Blind Zone Alert | A | O | S | A | ||
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | A | O | S | A | ||
| Full-speed range Adaptive Cruise Control | A | O | A | |||
| Front/Rear Automatic Brake | A | A | ||||
| Active Safety Seat/Safety Alert Seat | A | S | A | |||
| Pedestrian Safety Signal | S | |||||
| Drive mode control switch (3 in the Table below) | S | A | ||||
| Performance Traction Management | A | |||||
| Rear Vision Camera | S | S | S | A | S | |
| Automatic Parking Assist (4 in the Table below) | S | A | ||||
| Front Park Assist | S | S | ||||
| Rear Park Assist | S | S | A | |||
| Visibility | LED headlamps | S | S | |||
| Automatic headlamps | S | |||||
| IntelliBeam headlamps | A | O | A | |||
| Daytime running lamps | S | S | S | S | ||
| Front cornering lamps | A | |||||
| Outside mirrors with driver-side auto-dimming | A | |||||
| Auto-dimming rearview mirror | S | S | S | S | A | |
| Rainsense front wipers | S | S | S | A | ||
| Comfort/ convenience | Tri-zone automatic climate control | S | A | |||
| Dual-zone automatic climate control | S | S | A | S | ||
| Heated driver and front passenger seats | S | S | S | AO | A | |
| Cooled driver and front passenger seats | S | S | AO | |||
| Heated second row seats | S | A | ||||
| Heated steering wheel | S | S | AO | |||
| Active Noise Cancellation (5 in the Table below) | S | S | A | |||
| Remote vehicle starter system | S | S | S | S | O | |
| 12" reconfigurable high-resolution color instrument cluster | S | |||||
| Reconfigurable Head-Up Display | A | A | ||||
| Head-Up Display | S | A | ||||
| Hands-free power, programmable liftgate | S | |||||
| Rear seat entertainment system | AO | |||||
| Performance Data Recorder (6 in the Table below) | O | |||||
| Power-retractable assist steps | O | |||||
| Chevrolet MyLink (Chevrolet's infotainment system) | S | S | ||||
| CUE (Cadillac's infotainment system) (7 in the Table below) | S | S | S | |||
| OnStar (GM's telematics system) | S | S | S | S | S | |
Source: GM press releases on new models, Chevrolet/Cadillac brand on-line catalogs of mid-July 2014 (Note) The Cadillac Escalade and its sister models, Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon were launched in the spring of 2014. The table above shows availability of the features on the Cadillac Escalade.
GM: major advanced features
| (1) Regen on Demand | This feature allows the driver to regenerate energy on demand from the vehicle's momentum via shifting steering-wheel paddles. The system puts energy back into the onboard battery, while it simultaneously slows down the vehicle, improving its fuel efficiency. |
|---|---|
| (2) Front Seat Center-Mounted air bag | This air bag, developed jointly by GM and Takata, deploys from the right side of the driver's seat and inflates between the driver and front passenger in side-impact crashes. It provides added protection for both front occupants not only in near-side impact crashes but also in far-side ones. When the driver is the only front occupant, this air bag prevents the driver from lurching towards the front passenger's seat. If there is a front passenger, the air bag acts as a shock absorbing cushion between the driver and front passenger. |
| (3) Drive mode control switch | The Driving Mode System installed on the Cadillac ELR plug-in hybrid offers a selection of four modes: the default Tour Mode is the most comfortable and fuel efficient mode which usually uses the energy stored in the battery, but flexibly switches to the power generated by gasoline engine when necessary; the Sport Mode improves responsiveness by advancing the throttle response and tightening the suspension settings; the Mountain Mode preserves electricity for climbing long, steep grades; and the Hold Mode puts the battery's charge on hold, saving it for stop-and-go city driving. |
| (4) Automatic Parking Assist | (Chevrolet's first) This system uses the ultrasonic sensor to detect the width and depth of either parallel or reverse right-angle parking space. While it controls steering inputs necessary to neatly park the vehicle, the driver controls the throttle, transmission and brake. |
| (5) Active Noise Cancellation | The feature uses the Bose sound system and frequency processor to detect noise from microphones in the cabin. It then sends counteracting sound waves through the audio system's speakers to cancel out undesirable sounds. In the Cadillac CTS, the system doesn't eliminate every sound, but leaves the favorable sound of the engine under acceleration. |
| (6) Performance Data Recorder | (Auto industry's first) This system records videos while capturing real-time driving performance data. It was developed jointly with Cosworth, a motor sport company in the U.K., for the drivers who enjoy driving the Corvette on the race track and hope to improve their driving skills. |
| While driving, the system uses the camera mounted on the windshield to record the driver's view in front of the vehicle. It also uses the telemetry recorder to collect driving performance data and records them in the SD card. After driving, the driver can watch the video integrated with the performance data including engine speed, transmission gear selection, braking force, and steering-wheel angles on the onboard display or computers at home. The system allows the drivers to share the video on social media and to analyze the performance data with Cosworth's software. | |
| (7) CUE | The Cadillac User Experience (CUE) is Cadillac's infotainment system. The CUE on the ELR, a plug-in hybrid-only model, has additional functions which allow the driver to monitor power flow, select when and how the vehicle is charged, and stay informed about energy usage. |
Ford: 360-degree camera view and LED headlamps on F-150
Ford F-150
(2014 North American International Auto Show) |
Ford installed multiple driving assistance systems and features to improve comfort and convenience on the Lincoln MKC compact luxury SUV. Such features include the park out assist which helps the driver to steer out of tight parking spots. The MKC also is the first Lincoln to adopt the embedded modem which offers always-on connectivity to the internet, allowing the owner to use the MyLincoln Mobile app on the smartphone to remotely start and unlock the vehicle.
Among the Ford brand models, the Transit Connect compact van/wagon is equipped with the reverse/forward sensing systems that use the ultrasonic sensors to detect objects behind and in front of the vehicle, and the SYNC infotainment system which enables hands-free calls using voice commands. The F-150 fullsize pickup, America's best-selling vehicle for 32 years, adopted a number of advanced features: the LED headlamps, 360-degree camera view which provides the driver with a bird's-eye view of surrounding space, the Remote tailgate that opens the tailgate by pushing the button on the key fob, and BoxLink System with stowable cargo ramps. The Mustang muscle car is the first model to be equipped with the new glove box knee airbag for front passenger which Ford has developed.
Ford: main features on new Ford/Lincoln brand models launched in the U.S. from May to the end of 2014 |
| "S" Standard on all grades, "A" Standard on some grades, and "O" optional |
| Model | Ford F-150 | Ford Mustang | Ford Transit Connect | Lincoln MKC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fullsize pickup | Sport coupe | Compact van/ wagon | Compact luxury SUV | ||
| Launch timing | End of 2014 | End of 2014 | May 2014 | May 2014 | |
| Driving performance (including fuel efficiency) | Roll Stability Control | S | S | ||
| Torque Vectoring Control | S | S | |||
| Active Grill Shutters | S | O | S | ||
| Lincoln Drive Control featuring continuously controlled damping | O | ||||
| Intelligent all-wheel drive | O | ||||
| Curve Control | O | S | |||
| Auto Start-Stop (1 in the Table below) | A | ||||
| Collision safety | Front-seat side airbags | S | S | S | |
| Side-curtain airbags | S | S | S | ||
| Driver's knee airbag | S | S | |||
| Glove box knee airbag for front passenger (2 in the Table below) | S | ||||
| Inflatable rear seat belts | O | ||||
| SOS Post-Crash Alert System | S | ||||
| Driving/parking assistance | Blind Spot Information System | O | O | A | |
| Cross-traffic alert | O | O | A | ||
| Lane Keeping System | O | O | |||
| Adaptive cruise control | O | O | O | ||
| Collision warning with brake support | O | ||||
| Selectable Drive Modes (3 in the Table below) | O | ||||
| Reverse sensing system/reverse parking assist | O | O | S | ||
| Forward sensing system | O | O | |||
| Driver Alert System | O | ||||
| 360-degree camera view | O | ||||
| Rear view camera | A | S | O | S | |
| Active park assist with park out assist (4 in the Table below) | O | ||||
| Push-button shift | S | ||||
| Visibility | Automatic headlamps | A | S | ||
| LED headlamps (5 in the Table below) | A | ||||
| Auto high-beam headlamps | O | ||||
| Auto-dimming rearview mirror | A | O | |||
| Auto-dimming driver's side mirror | A | ||||
| Rain-sensing windshield wipers | A | O | |||
| Comfort/ convenience | Dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control | A | A | S | |
| Rear-seat climate control | A | ||||
| Heated Front Seats | A | A | A | A | |
| Heated Rear Seats | A | O | |||
| Cooled Front Seats | A | A | A | ||
| Heated steering wheel | A | O | |||
| Remote Start System | O | S | |||
| Approach Detection (6 in the Table below) | S | ||||
| Hands-free Liftgate | A | ||||
| SecuriCode invisible keypad | S | ||||
| Remote tailgate | A | ||||
| BoxLink system (with stowable cargo ramps) | O | ||||
| SYNC with MyFord/MyLincoln Touch (infotainment system) | O | O | O | S | |
| SYNC AppLink (in-car connectivity system) (7 in the Table below) | A | S | |||
| Embedded modem (integrates features with the MyLincoln Mobile app) (8 in the Table below) | A | ||||
| 8-inch LCD customizable productivity screen | O | ||||
| 8-inch high-resolution touch-screen display and navigation | O | ||||
| Track Apps (9 in the Table below) | O | ||||
| MyKey | O | S | AO | S | |
Source: Ford press releases on new models, Ford/Lincoln brand on-line catalogs of mid-July 2014 (Note) Feature availability of the Ford F-150 and that of the Mustang are based on the press releases dated January 13, 2014 and May 20, 2014, respectively.
Ford: major advanced features
| (1) Auto Start-Stop | The start-stop system installed on the 2.7-liter model of the Ford F-150 has been specially tuned for pickup trucks. It shuts off the engine when the vehicle is stopped, except when towing or in all-wheel drive. |
|---|---|
| (2) Glove box knee airbag for front passenger | (First adoption) This is the new type of front passenger's knee airbag integrated in the glove box. Unlike conventional front passenger's knee airbags mounted under the dashboard, the new airbag consists of a pliable, plastic bladder sandwiched between the outer and inner glove box door panels. After an applicable vehicle impact is detected, an inflator fills the bladder with air, extending the outer panel toward the front passenger's legs. Once deployed, the outer panel helps to provide cushioning in a manner similar to a conventional knee airbag. |
| Since the new front passenger's knee airbag extends straight out from the glove box, it doesn't have to travel as far as a conventional knee airbag. In addition, the new airbag is able to operate at a lower inflation pressure as the glove box door panel distributes the impact load over a larger area. Consequently the size of the inflator was reduced by 75%, and the overall weight of the new airbag was trimmed by 65% from that of a conventional one. This creates more space around the dashboard and more flexibility for designers. | |
| (3) Selectable Drive Modes | The system offers four selectable drive modes: normal, snow-wet, sport and track. According to the selected mode, steering effort, throttle response, shift control and ESC settings are optimally adjusted. |
| (4) Active park assist with park out assist | This feature uses the ultrasonic sensor to find a space for parking. While the system steers the vehicle into the parking space, the driver controls throttle, braking and gear shift. The additional Park-out assist function steers the vehicle out of a tight parking spot. |
| (5) LED Headlamps | The Ford F-150 is the first pickup truck to adopt the LED headlamps which consume 63% less electricity than the halogen bulbs. The LED headlamps are more durable and have more than five times service life of the conventional headlamps. |
| (6) Approach Detection | When a person holding the car key approaches within 8 feet of the vehicle, the system senses the key and illuminates "welcome mat" on the ground under both front doors. Simultaneously, headlamps, taillamps and door handles glow with soft lighting to complement the vehicle's exterior color. |
| (7) SYNC AppLink | The Mustang is the first model to introduce the next-generation SYNC AppLink, an in-vehicle connectivity system. The new system allows the driver to launch applications on his/her smartphone only by saying the name of the application. It enables simpler operations than those of the conventional system as well as enhanced voice control. The driver can use applications to get access to a variety of real-time vehicle data. For example, access to the in-vehicle GPS signal enables more precise and accurate location-based services than smartphone sensors. |
| (8) Embedded modem (MyLincoln Mobile app) | (Lincoln's first) The embedded modem enables always-on connectivity to the internet. With the MyLincoln Mobile app on the smartphone, the driver can remotely start, unlock, and locate the vehicle as well as scheduling a remote start. The driver can also use the app to monitor fuel level, tire pressure and battery status. |
| (9) Track Apps | The Track Apps displays and records real-time driving data on the onboard screen for the drivers who enjoy driving the Mustang on the race track. The system provides information including G-forces pulled when turning, acceleration times for 0-30, 0-60, and 0-100 mph, and braking performance for 60-0 or 100-0 mph. |
Chrysler: Group's first automatic braking system on Chrysler 200
Chrysler 200
(North American International Auto Show 2014) |
Chrysler is scheduled to launch the Jeep brand's first sub-compact SUV, the Renegade. The SUV will be equipped with the Jeep Active Drive, a full-time all-wheel drive system to improve off-road capability, and the Selec-Terrain system that allows the driver to select a terrain mode to optimally control the vehicle in any conditions.
The Chrysler 200 midsize sedan features a number of advanced driving assistance and safety systems. The Adaptive Cruise Control helps to ensure the preceding car to be separated by a preset gap and brings the vehicle to a complete stop if the car in front stops. The Electric Park Brake with Safehold Feature automatically puts on the parking brake when the driver leaves the vehicle. The Chrysler 200 is the Chrysler Group's first model to use the Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking that applies automatic braking when an imminent collision to the preceding car is detected.
Chrysler: main features on new Chrysler/Jeep brand models launched in the U.S. from May 2014 to beginning of 2015 |
| "S" Standard on all grades, "A" Standard on some grades, and "O" optional |
| Model | Jeep Renegade | Chrysler 200 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sub-compact SUV | Midsize sedan | ||
| Launch timing | Beginning of 2015 | May 2014 | |
| Driving performance (including fuel efficiency) | Electronic Roll Mitigation | S | |
| Four-Channel ESC | S | ||
| Rotary E-Shift (1 in the Table below) | S | ||
| Jeep Active Drive (full-time 4x4 system) | A | ||
| Jeep Active Drive Low (full-time 4x4 system with 20:1 crawl ratio) | A | ||
| Collision safety | Driver and Front Passenger Knee Airbags | S | |
| Driver's Knee Airbag | S | ||
| Front Seat-Mounted Side Airbags | S | S | |
| Front and Rear Side-Curtain Airbags | S | S | |
| Driving/parking assistance | Selec-Terrain system (Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud and Rock modes) (2 in the Table below) | A | |
| Hill Descent Control | A | ||
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop and Go (3 in the Table below) | O | ||
| Blind Spot Monitoring System | O | O | |
| Rear Cross Path Detection System | O | O | |
| Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking (4 in the Table below) | O | O | |
| Lane Departure Warning | O | O | |
| Lane Keep Assist | O | ||
| Electric Park Brake with Safehold Feature (5 in the Table below) | S | ||
| Advanced Brake Assist | O | ||
| ParkView Rear Back-up Camera with Dynamic Gridlines (6 in the Table below) | A | O | |
| ParkSense Rear Park Assist | A | ||
| Front and Rear Park Assist | O | ||
| Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist System (7 in the Table below) | O | ||
| Visibility | Auto High-Beam Headlamp Control | O | |
| Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror | AO | ||
| Rain-Sensing Wipers | O | ||
| Comfort/ convenience | Dual-Zone Temperature Control with Rear Air Conditioning Ducts | AO | |
| Heated Front Seats | AO | ||
| Ventilated Front Seats | O | ||
| Heated Steering Wheel | O | ||
| My Sky roof-panel system | O | ||
| Remote Start | AO | ||
| Uconnect (infotainment system) | S | S | |
| 8.4-inch Touchscreen | O | ||
| 7-inch reconfigurable display | O | AO | |
| Source: Chrysler press releases on new models, Chrysler/Jeep brand on-line catalogs of mid-July 2014 | |
| (Note) 1. | Feature availability of the Jeep Renegade is based on the press release dated March 4, 2014. |
| 2. | The 2.4-liter model of the Chrysler 200 is scheduled to come with the start-stop system starting in the fourth quarter of 2014. |
Chrysler: major advanced features
| (1) Rotary E-Shift | The rotary-dial electronic shift selector is mounted on the center console. Its new design yields more space than the conventional shift selectors. |
|---|---|
| (2) Selec-Terrain system | The system offers five selectable modes: Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rock. When the driver selects a mode depending on road conditions and weather, many systems including the ESC and traction control are electronically controlled, securing enhanced capabilities on various terrains. |
| (3) Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop and Go | The ACC helps to ensure the preceding car to be separated by a preset gap by automatically adjusting the vehicle speed. The ACC with Stop and Go function brings the vehicle to a complete stop when the preceding car stops. It reactivates the ACC as the car in front begins to move. |
| (4) Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking | (Chrysler Group's first system featuring Active Braking) The system alerts the driver when the vehicle approaches too close to the preceding car. If the driver doesn't respond properly and a collision is imminent, the Active Braking function is activated to avoid a collision or mitigate damage. |
| (5) Electric Park Brake with Safehold Feature | If the driver opens the door and unlatches the seat belt while Drive or Reverse gears are still engaged, the system automatically puts on the parking brake. |
| (6) ParkView Rear Back-up Camera with Dynamic Gridlines | When in reverse, the system displays an image of the area behind the vehicle on the onboard screen with distance gridlines. |
| (7) ParkSense Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist System | When the driver selects parallel or perpendicular parking, the system uses the ultrasonic sensors on the bumper to find a space for parking. Then it automatically steers the vehicle into the parking space while the driver controls the gear positions, brake and accelerator following the on-screen directions. |
<Automotive Industry Portal MarkLines>