The Car That Parks Itself Q3 Driver Assistance Systems Did you fail your first driving test? The parallel parking did you in, right? If only examination depots in Jamaica used Audis, then many aspirational drivers would pass their first test with flying colours! Not to mention the seasoned drivers who after many years on the road still circle the parking lot several times in search of “easy parking” just to avoid the available parallel parking spot. German automaker Audi, is making driving so easy these days, all you have to do in some cases is hold the steering wheel. The absence of a steering wheel in future may not be so far-fetched. Stay tuned! Audi recently launched its “My First Audi” campaign and the entry level luxury Q3 SUV is among the featured models. If you’re stepping up to an SUV for the first time, it makes perfect sense that you would choose the Q3 not just because it’s affordable, but also because it’s loaded with advanced features like Driver Assistance Systems (some optional), that make driving a bigger vehicle a walk in the park. Audi explains how they work.
Easy parking The Acoustic Parking System, with its eight ultrasonic sensors, provides all-round assistance when parking the Q3. As soon as the distance to an obstacle at the front, rear or side is down to a preset minimum, you are warned of the fact by a tone signal, as well as a graphical indication on the Multimedia Interface Screen. The closer you get to an obstacle, the faster the tones sound until you’re less than 25cm away, when the tone becomes continuous. The system is only activated when reverse gear is engaged. The optional Parking System Advanced adds to this a small camera in the boot lid, providing a 130° view to the rear, displayed on the MMI. The image shows
the path the vehicle will take based on the position of the steering wheel. With blind spots minimized, the driver is able to park effortlessly in even the tightest of parking spots. When activated the impressive Park Assist option scans the side of the road for spaces large enough to accommodate the Q3 (both parallel and rightangle spaces) and alerts you when it finds one. You then pull up alongside the space and select reverse the steering wheel is controlled automatically to establish the correct parking line while you simply control the speed until the car is parked. Everything else is done for you.
Stay in lane For greater safety and convenience, particularly on motorways and main roads the optional Audi Active Lane Assist helps you stay in lane with gentle pulses through the steering wheel. Using a tiny image recognition camera which watches the lane markings on either side of the Audi Q3 the system knows if you veer too far right or left and you’re in danger and will gently intervene by giving a corrective steering prompt to alert you. If you change lanes using your indicators, the system knows that’s safe and temporarily switches itself off. The driver has a choice of two settings in the MMI: • Steering intervention early: Continuously helps the driver to stay in lane with steering impulses that centre the vehicle in its lane • Steering intervention late: Alerts the driver that the vehicle is possibly crossing the lane
markings at the same time as providing a corrective steering prompt
Safe lane changing The optional Audi side assist offers safe lanechanging even if there’s another vehicle in your blind spot. At speeds over 40mph, it monitors the area to the rear and sides of the car and detects whether the lane is occupied by another vehicle. If it is, LEDs on the corresponding door mirror warn you before you begin to pull out.
Know your speed Speed limit display is available as an option on the Audi Q3, in conjunction with Audi active lane assist and HDD based satellite navigation. It is a camera based speed sign recognition system that detects the speed limit and displays the limit on the Driver’s Information System. So if the driver misses speed limit signs, then they can be read conveniently and safely.
Light and Rain Sensors Clear visibility; no matter what the conditions. The light and rain sensors can automatically activate or deactivate the low-beam headlights and the windscreen wipers when required. This is particularly convenient, for instance, in unpredictable and poor weather, entering tunnels, or simply, when it’s getting dark. And the rain sensor reacts to the strength of the rain - adapting the wiper interval accordingly – meaning you can just concentrate on driving. Light and rain sensors come as standard on the Audi Q3. The Audi Q3 first landed in Jamaica in 2012.
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“It was love at first sight” “I’ve always liked Audis. I saw the Q3 when I went to ATL Automotive in 2012 and it was love at first sight. My husband went behind my back and bought it for me. I was ecstatic! I love it because it’s compact like me and it’s fast. I love speed, so going from 0-60kmh in 6.9 seconds is absolutely thrilling. I’m most impressed by the technology such as the integrated media system, which includes Bluetooth. The leather seats make it elegant. It’s sturdy and loaded with security systems so I feel safe. The engineering is above par compared to what I drove before. On top of that, the ATL Automotive Sales and Service Teams are awesome. I bought another vehicle last year just because they have gone above and beyond for me.” Cavell Rhiney Senior Director – Production Marketing & Special Projects