BRAKING GOOD
AUTOMATIC STOPPING WILL BE STANDARD ON ALL VEHICLES SOON
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced it will push to make automatic braking a standard feature in most cars by 2022. Toyota is taking it a step further and making it standard in almost every one of its models by the end of next year.
It’s not just limited to Toyota, either. The Lexus Safety System+ and Toyota Safety Sense packages will be standard on 25 out of 30 models in the Toyota and Lexus lineups. The exceptions are the Lexus GX, Toyota 86, Mirai, 4Runner and Yaris Sedan.
Both the Toyota and Lexus systems use cameras and lasers to detect vehicles ahead. The systems then alert the driver, and if the driver takes action by applying the brakes, the systems will provide more braking force. If the driver doesn’t take any action, the systems will automatically apply the brakes.
Along with automatic braking, both systems include lane-departure warnings and automatic highbeams.
GM is gearing up
Come 2018, we’ll see the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1’s 10-speed automatic transmission in more models.
Don’t expect the Cruze or Malibu to be among the vehicles, though. In an interview with Automotive News, General Motors global product chief Mark Reuss said the 10-speed automatic transmission will be found primarily in rear-wheel-drive vehicles with high horsepower.
Reuss didn’t specify which models, but given the parameters of rearwheel drive and high horsepower, we’re inclined to think the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Silverado and Tahoe, and the GMC Sierra and Yukon will be included in the mix.
Cars such as the Chevrolet Corvette and the Cadillac CTS-V also fit the high-horsepower bill, but those will likely use GM’s eight-speed automatic for a little while longer.
Along with select GM vehicles, this transmission will appear in select Ford models, because the two automakers teamed up in the development process. The Ford Mustang and production-spec F-150 Raptor will be among the Blue Oval models to receive the new gearbox.
Mazda to debut new CUV in Beijing
Mazda is looking to take a chunk of the coupe-styled-CUV market with an all-new model.
The CX-4 is set to debut at the Beijing Motor Show next month. As you might have guessed, it will slot between the CX-3 and CX-5 as far as sizing goes, but it is more closely related to the CX-5 in terms of platform and powertrain options.
We’ll likely see a choice of either Mazda’s 155-horsepower 2.0-litre four-cylinder or the upsized 2.5-L 184-h.p. four-cylinder engine under the hood. Both engines are offered in the CX-5, with the 2.5-L engine serving as the more potent powertrain option.
As for styling, the lone teaser image Mazda dropped shows a look that draws from the Koeru concept. Squint a little and you might pick out some details that wouldn’t look out of place on the Infiniti QX50, either.
This year’s Beijing Motor Show kicks off April 25.