2015 MINI Comes With Driver Assist System
When the next generation of MINI Coopers arrive for the 2015 model year, they will come with driver assistance systems mostly lifted from BMW.
A camera mounted in front of the rear-view mirror will be the basis for much of the technology including a collision and pedestrian warning system capable of engaging the brakes at up to 35 mph if a pedestrian steps in front of the vehicle. The same camera also governs adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beams.
The camera will also recognize speed limit signs and check them against GPS-based records to display current speed limits in the navigation screen. A “Traffic Sign Memory” system will also use the camera to read and store traffic sign information to be shown in the instrument cluster.
There will also be a head-up display to offer drivers relevant information without requiring them to look away from the road. In BMW systems, that display includes current speed limit information, although the MINI press release didn’t specify if that will also be the case here. However, displayed information won’t be projected onto the windshield. Instead, it will appear on the folding display unit pictured above and mounted between the steering wheel and windshield.
Discuss this story at MINI2.com
Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.
More by Luke Vandezande
Comments
Join the conversation
car looks like it's on meth