Volkswagen IQ Drive is a collection of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that is either standard or optional on new VW models. Introduced in the new Volkswagen ID.4 electric vehicle, IQ Drive includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Additionally, IQ Drive includes Travel Assist and Emergency Assist systems.
Included with IQ Drive, Travel Assist is a Level 2 ADAS that uses the adaptive cruise control and the lane-keeping assistance system to help keep a Volkswagen centered in its lane and following traffic ahead at a safe distance. In the U.S. market, the technology first appeared in the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs.
Travel Assist works at speeds up to 95 mph, and drivers must keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times. If the capacitive-sensing steering wheel determines that a driver has let go for more than 15 seconds, Travel Assist will issue a short series of visual and audible reminders to re-take control of the steering. If the driver ignores these, and the brief, sharp braking jolt that follows, the car will activate its Emergency Assist technology.
When IQ Drive's Travel Assist technology determines that a driver is asleep or unresponsive due to intoxication or a medical emergency, it activates a Volkswagen's Emergency Assist system.
Emergency Assist is an automatic emergency stop assistance technology. In a Volkswagen, if the driver fails to respond to visual, audible, and sharp braking alerts, the car automatically activates the hazard flashers and initiates braking to bring the vehicle to a safe stop. Volkswagen says that the car will also weave a little to capture other motorists' attention on the road during the braking phase.
Similar to Travel Assist, Emergency Assist first appeared on a U.S.-market Volkswagen in the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUV models.
While all VW models offer elements of IQ Drive as standard or optional equipment, the new 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV is the first U.S.-market model to include them all as standard equipment under the IQ Drive umbrella. Undoubtedly, as the automaker brings new and redesigned vehicles to market, it is reasonable to expect them to include IQ Drive as standard or optional equipment.
IQ Drive is an impressive collection of ADAS, especially in light of its inclusion of Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. Additionally, Volkswagen offers safety features such as automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive headlights that help drivers see around corners and curves, and automatic post-collision braking. The braking function brings a vehicle to a stop as soon as possible following a collision to prevent secondary crashes, thus reducing occupant injury potential after initial airbag deployment.
The information in this article is from Volkswagen. It was accurate on October 12, 2020, but it may have changed since that date.
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