Application of state-of-the-art active safety technologies, including the latest Lexus Safety System +
Lexus is developing safety technologies under the banner of eliminating traffic casualties, which is the ultimate wish of a society of mobility. Lexus prioritizes the development of the most advanced safety technologies and the quick delivery of such to drivers―it does this by actively employing cutting-edge technologies in its flagship vehicle models. By developing technologies for widespread application based on know-how cultivated through introducing cutting-edge technologies into its flagships, Lexus plans to broadly introduce advanced technologies into all of its vehicle models. An example is the ES’s Lexus Safety System +, which has further evolved through the introduction of advanced safety technologies thus far cultivated through use in other Lexus vehicle models. While retaining the configuration of a single-lens camera and millimeter-wave radar used in the conventional Lexus Safety System +, Lexus has added functions such as Emergency Steering Assist and has improved the system’s lane recognition performance. These advances are part of Lexus’s continuing efforts to prevent traffic accidents and fatalities, to reduce driver burden, and to develop driver-assist systems that provide a more natural and safer driving experience. Also, the cameras of the Digital Side-view Monitors and Digital Rear-view Mirror of the ES have been updated, while LED flickering has been significantly reduced and image quality has been improved for excellent visibility day and night.
Lexus Safety System +
- The performance of the single-lens camera and millimeter-wave radar has been improved to expand the response range of the Pre-Collision System, which is designed to detect daytime bicyclists and pedestrians in low-light conditions and, at intersections, to detect oncoming vehicles before right turns*1 and pedestrians crossing the street from the direction toward which the vehicle was traveling before it started to make a right or left turn. Also featured are functions such as Emergency Steering Assist, which assists steering within the vehicle’s lane as cued by the driver, and Low Speed Acceleration Control*2, which supports the prevention of collisions caused by pedal misapplication at times of reduced speed.
- The lane-recognition functions of Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), which is an advanced driving support function that supports steering to keep the vehicle in the center of the lane, have been improved through the application of AI technologies that expand the assist range, resulting in smoother and more-continuous steering assist.
- A curve speed-control function that decelerates the vehicle in advance according to the size of an approaching curve has been added to Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (with an all-speed tracking function), which controls acceleration and deceleration so that the distance to an immediately preceding vehicle is constant within the speed set when driving on motor-vehicle-only roadways and others.
- Automatic High Beam detects preceding or oncoming vehicles and automatically switches between high beam and low beam headlights.
- Road Sign Assist acquires road sign information using a camera displays it on the vehicle’s multi-information display.
- Emergency Driving Stop System*3 supports the driver through audio and visual alerts and gentle deceleration if non-operation by the driver continues during use of Lane Tracing Assist. It then activates the vehicle’s hazard lamps and horn to alert those outside the vehicle to help prevent or reduce damage to the vehicle or others, while slowing and eventually stopping the vehicle within its lane. After stopping the vehicle, it unlocks the doors and activates an automatic HELPNET connection for a rescue request, contributing to early driver rescue.
Various other forms of advanced safety equipment are featured on the new ES and are being actively introduced by Lexus. These include parking support brakes, which contribute to the mitigation of damage in collisions due to pedal misapplication in places such as parking lots or in minor collisions with vehicles approaching from the rear, and the Panoramic View Monitor, which supports periphery safety checks.
BladeScanTM AHS
The ES joins the Lexus RX and Lexus LS in the use of BladeScanTM AHS, which is an advanced AHS in which LED-sourced light shines onto blade mirrors spinning at high speed and is transferred to a lens to illuminate the road ahead. A residual image effect prevents the light from appearing to be moving, and BladeScanTM AHS precisely controls light distribution by synchronizing the rotation of the blade mirrors and switching the LED lights on and off. Capable of more-delicate shielding of light than in the case of conventional AHS, it broadens the range of high beam illumination, enabling the driver to recognize pedestrians and road signs without impeding the visibility of the proceeding driver or of drivers approaching from the opposite direction.
Digital Side-view Monitors and Digital Rear-view Mirror
The camera performance of the Digital Side-view Mirrors and Digital Rear-view Mirror has been improved. To improve visibility in places in which light and shade are mixed, noise-reduction processing is applied to realized clear images with less noise. Also, annoyance caused by LED flickering has been reduced.
Digital key*4
The vehicle can be locked and unlocked with a Bluetooth-activated digital key by operating using only a smartphone installed with a dedicated app. And, just as in the case of a conventional smart key, the engine can be started with such a smartphone without having to take the smartphone out.*5 Also, if such a smartphone is stolen or lost, the installed digital key function can be remotely disabled.
