What new option on the 2008 BMW 5-Series trumps all the competitors offerings?

The Spies have reliable information that this new system significantly outperforms the new S550's Distronic Plus and the Audi Q7's active cruise control implementation.

Active Cruise Control complete with Stop & Go.

Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go offers the driver greater support and ease of motoring. This innovative system, available as an option on automatic transmission versions of the new BMW 5 Series, comes with automatic distance control enabling the driver to cruise along smoothly and conveniently on highways or country roads. The system keeps a consistent following distance from the vehicle ahead even in stop-and-go traffic at very low speeds and applying the brakes where necessary until the car reaches a standstill.

The system uses radar sensors of the latest generation with an enlarged area of vision, offering the driver a choice of four distance settings. Once the distance the driver has chosen to the vehicle ahead is no longer maintained, the system will intervene, building up brake pressure to control the car accordingly. Then, once the road ahead is free again, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go will accelerate the car to the set speed.

This sophisticated control system is also able to reduce speed automatically to a standstill as a function of traffic conditions. In this case, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go slows the car to a standstill and holds it in position. The maximum brake force applied by Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go is 4 meters/sec2. Should the driver be required to intervene be¬cause the vehicle ahead is being decelerated very hard, the driver is warned to intervene by visual and acous¬tic signals.

In stop-and-go traffic, the system helps the driver by automatically maintaining the appropriate distance from the vehicle ahead, relieving the driver constantly having to apply the brakes in slow and unsmooth traffic. However, the driver still retains his responsibility, since after, for example, a short stop of more than three seconds, he is required to briefly press down the accelerator pedal or press the Resume button in order to re-accelerate the car. And even when Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go is activated, the driver is able to control the speed of his car at any time simply by giving gas or applying the brakes. Depressing the brake pedal while driving deactivates the system.

IamEvilHomer - 3/29/2007 2:40:22 AM

0 Boost

agent001 if bmw told you they just invented the internet you would have it on as a major headline

The bosch cruse control will be the 3rd generation. The first car to come out with a redesign from germany will have it. This car is the 5 series and the A6 will get it in the refresh A6 that we see in 2008 1/2. This is a Bosch product not a Audi, or MB, or BMW product

PS i have the 1st gen in my S6 and i love it but the Q7 product rocks. It comes to a total stop and starts right up.

The Adaptive Cruse is not a safty feature but I use it all the time in LA bumper to bumper and it slowes me down all the time before I notice traffic has slowed

IamEvilHomer - 3/29/2007 2:44:10 AM

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update the Bosch rep was at our dealership last month/ he said the BMw will use the same system in the Q7

sorry charlie

Agent001 - 3/29/2007 3:09:51 AM

-1 Boost

homer

give me a break...we were the first to break the Q7 active cruise story when it hit

stop talkin' out of your you know what

001

Agent001 - 3/29/2007 3:12:42 AM

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plus, you know i'm an Audi fan too because you sold me one

and i've owned others as well...my favorite being my nagaro blue s4 sedan

001

IamEvilHomer - 3/29/2007 3:14:35 PM

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001 you might be an audi Fan but every day there is a BMw headline on this page from you

BMW 342 - Audi 7 :)

IamEvilHomer - 3/29/2007 3:15:55 PM

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the headline talking about something that Audi already has in the Q7 is misleading

"Trumps competitors" how can it trump competitors if it is already on the compitaion?

smshnick - 3/31/2007 5:39:56 PM

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The 2007 S550 with Distronic plus does the exact same thing. This doesn't trump anybody!

GTR35 - 3/28/2007 5:48:50 PM

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That's a tight color

MurderFaceM6 - 3/28/2007 5:54:20 PM

+2 Boost

im lazy enough to want it hahaha

Threepoint1415926 - 3/28/2007 7:28:55 PM

+1 Boost

I agree.. Actually, I agree with you on most things it seems.

jmrA480 - 3/28/2007 8:25:07 PM

+5 Boost

get a room

M53R - 3/28/2007 6:23:14 PM

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Now I can eat while I'm driving XD

GTR35 - 3/28/2007 9:07:33 PM

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lol

NARunner - 3/28/2007 6:26:26 PM

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IMO, like Lexus' self-park...this is useless, but still kind of cool.

what happens if someone cuts you off really badly in stop and go traffic? you might spill your latte on your newspaper....

Will_ - 3/28/2007 6:46:29 PM

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I guess you're against all forms of improvement in automotive technology?

This system sounded cool to me even when I heard of it on the S-Class.

NARunner - 3/28/2007 10:19:46 PM

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never said i was against improving automotive technology...what i said was that this particular feature, along with lexus' self park is useless, to me anyway. i wouldn't use these options, but i still think they are cool.

as for the second part, i meant that as a joke...not a mean spirited sarcastic comment..as in you could be reading your paper rather than driving because the car would drive itself.

EL34 - 3/28/2007 6:26:38 PM

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What a brilliant piece of Uber machinery.

I'll take one now please!

gsh23 - 3/28/2007 6:30:29 PM

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ill wait until bmw releases a model that can drive itself around the track faster than everyone. i understand what they are going for when they say "ultimate driving machine". it doesnt mean youre the one driving! lol...

NARunner - 3/28/2007 10:26:56 PM

+4 Boost

no i don't go on road trips, i fly. its much faster and less stressful.

i never use cruise control, though...adaptive or otherwise. i always liked being in control of the throttle in case a drastic maneuver was necessary.

IamEvilHomer - 3/29/2007 2:42:29 AM

+1 Boost

this isn't lazer is it? hopefuly they use rader Cruse / laser dosen't work well in bad weather

rom64 - 3/28/2007 7:38:13 PM

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No where does it give any technical info that shows that it trumps the S550's and Q7's Active Cruise Control systems. Its just the same as MB's and Audi's with a different name.

Carboy - 3/28/2007 8:14:42 PM

-1 Boost

Exactly.

chewy - 3/28/2007 8:15:36 PM

-1 Boost

That is what I was about to ask.

Agent001 - 3/28/2007 8:20:16 PM

+3 Boost

We know the people who have benchmark tested it against the others and they tell us it is even better...more sensitive, better reaction time,etc.

001

delan - 3/28/2007 9:52:06 PM

+1 Boost

Now see, I think this is way more useful than self parking (and I am self proclaimed Lexus cheerleader even)

M53R - 3/29/2007 6:19:53 AM

+4 Boost

It doesnt operate until you ask it to. So I dont think people will be depending on it that much except if they wanted to drink coffee or read the newspaper.
You try so hard to make BMW look bad, you ll get grades for the effort.... Now go back to your jeep.

Rupert - 3/29/2007 10:42:15 AM

+2 Boost

His jeep's cruise control involves a brick and some string.

NARunner - 3/29/2007 10:44:41 AM

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hey hey hey, I have a wrangler for winter driving and the cruise control has evolved to push button now, get it straight :)

Rupert - 3/29/2007 1:44:28 PM

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Do you use the Wrangler off-road?
Not to be rude but I would never buy one unless I was an off-road enthusiast.
And you know that button is connected to some string and a brick ;)

Agent63 - 3/29/2007 7:44:25 AM

+1 Boost

All these brands coming out with these remarkable technology but all useless to me. It totally ruins the driving experience of a car when you have all these assists to help you park or drive. On top of that I don't trust machinery even though it may be brilliant. You never know when it can fail on you. When and if it does it could be fatal. You just never know.

A humans judgment is always better than a machines. Common sense is what the computer does not have. We have all these arguments regarding who comes out with what technology but in reality do any of us really need it? With technology like this? why don't you just pay for a chauffeur. At least you know your life is in better care.

no1listensanyway - 3/29/2007 10:36:29 AM

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My friend just took delivery of a white 550 and showed me how the system worked. Very cool. BTW the standard rims of the 550 do not do justice for a car that expensive.

BMW995 - 3/29/2007 11:30:27 AM

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Agree with Agent63. Cars are becoming electronicified. This is absurd. Is the satisfaction of driving a great sports sedan being replaced by fiddling with your 30 or 40 electronic gadgets?
I regretfully sold my 2000 BMW 3 for a new Lexus IS...sure the IS drives great w/ those 18" wheels, but 700 pages of manuals to read? Headlights that swivel, nav system, backup camera - when does it all end, or does it get worse?

drakarula - 3/29/2007 11:36:34 AM

+2 Boost

What a waste!! I think that when I get behind the wheel I want to be in control. I am all for saftey features and better handeling and new gadgets but I like to drive myself! Whats next a manual that changes gears by itself??? Oh wait thats an automatic....DUH!!!!

Will_ - 3/29/2007 3:32:42 PM

+1 Boost

Leave the sophisticated technology to the people who enjoy that aspect of automobiles then. I think it's a cool system. The whole point of today's luxury cars is to showcase the very finest in automotive tech. Having the latest and greatest is considered a luxury is it not? Don't want it then fine, there are still plenty of cars out there for you like the Mazda Miata.

Type707 - 3/29/2007 6:37:25 PM

+1 Boost

Change the window design. Nuff said. Too much of the body.

xryder - 3/30/2007 1:48:10 AM

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Maybe BMW can include a pillow, futon and blanket since we can now take long naps while driving.

M53R - 3/30/2007 4:11:31 PM

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huu76

'Been done, BMW just refined it some more which is fine and dandy if it works properly.

Ironic that the enthusiast driver's car now practically does the driving for you.'

Hmmm doesnt look like you were knocking the drivers here....

I wonder why you hate BMW so much and try to make them look but as soon as you get the chance to. Are jeep 1994 owners this insecure?

M53R - 3/31/2007 11:12:52 AM

+2 Boost

Oh congratz for your purchase... so if that will make you happy, put 2004 instead of 1994.... Or no matter what, your just to insecure, and you still didnt answer my question.....

M53R - 4/1/2007 10:00:43 AM

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I wonder why you hate BMW so much and try to make them look but as soon as you get the chance to. Are jeep 2004 owners this insecure?

Here you go buddy, now answer!

M53R - 4/2/2007 9:20:55 AM

+1 Boost

Because you dont have an answer...... hahaha.... Im not going to even bother reply to you anymore.... insecure hypocrite.... How about you just continue selling those " i hate bmw shirts " better than just post your usual crap? Just thought I'd give you some advice! :)