Self-parking Lexus sold in Australia

Lexus, the luxury car division of Toyota Motor Corp., has introduced a technology that allows a car to reverse park by itself. The Lexus vehicle equipped with the technology has been set on sale in Australia at an expensive price of $200,000.
The new Lexus LS600hL gets the Intelligence Parking Assistance system as a standard feature. The vehicle is considered the first petrol-electric vehicle hybrid limousine in the world. Two versions of the car are priced between $225,000 and $250,000. But, despite that cost, the vehicle will be sold out until mid next year.

Though there are sixty-three customers who have already ordered, only five units of the new Lexus LS600hL will be imported to Australia every month. The demand in other countries has boosted this controlled supply.

The Australian introduction has been delayed for two years due to the previous concerns of Lexus involving public liability.

According to John Roca, the boss in Lexus Australia, “No, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad driver. People who buy this car are interested in technology. They may not necessarily use park assist but they want to know they have the latest gadget.”

The reverse, or parallel parking system, works with the use of a camera and a series of radar sensors placed in the bumpers. Upon pulling up alongside an empty parking space, the system determines whether the car will fit up in the gap between the two parked cars. Then, at a press of a button, the vehicle steer itself into position.

However, Lexus has given a warning, “The driver, naturally, must continue to exercise all due care and diligence when using the parking system.” In addition, “[The parking system] is designed as a driver-assist device only and should not be used as a substitute for skilled driving and safe parking practices. The driver should watch the area into which the vehicle is to be reversed.”

Aside from being equipped with quality Lexus head gasket, the self-parking Lexus will also be sustained with other world-first technology, which includes rear seats that have a massage function and can be reclined like business-class aircraft seats. There will also be an air-conditioning system that measures the occupants’ body temperature and could adjust the temperature of the car accordingly. There are also headlight lamps that are designed to view around corners. The vehicle will also have more airbags than most other limousines at a total of 11, including two under-thigh airbags in the rear to prevent pelvic and abdominal injuries in a crash.

Most likely, the self-parking technology will also be incorporated on the next generation Toyota Prius petrol-electric hybrid car. The vehicle is due two years from now. With an estimated price of $45,000, the technology is placed within reach of family-car customers.



About the Author
Evander Klum is a Business Administration graduate who hails from Alabama. He enjoys extreme sports and he is also a car racing fanatic. At present, he works as a marketing manager at an advertising agency in Cleveland.