67
all-speed dynamic radar cruise
control; a pre-collision system
with pedestrian detection (it
uses millimeter wave radar for
determining the closing rate with
the object ahead; it uses both the
radar sensor and a monocular
camera for pedestrian detection);
lane departure alert (using the
camera and radar); lane keeping
assist (also radar and camera)
that works when the dynamic
radar cruise control is on to
keep the car centered in its lane;
intelligent high-beam headlamps
(that use the camera and ECU that
are used for the lane departure
alert to minimize the number of
components) that stay in high-
beam until the headlamps from an
on-coming vehicle are detected;
blind-spot monitor and rear
cross-trafc alert (both of which
use the same radar mounted in
the rear quarter panels); sway
warning that alerts the driver
that lane drift (possibly caused by
drowsiness) is occurring; backup
camera with dynamic guidelines;
a panoramic view monitor that
combines images from the camera
mounted on the front, sides and
rear of the vehicle; and a parking
assist system that's based on four
ultrasonic sensors (four in the
front; four in the rear).
Since it frst came on the market
in 1998, when Lexus was a U.S.-
only company, up until today,
when its footprint is global (it
may be interesting to note that the
Lexus brand didn't go to Japan
until 2005), there have been more
than two million vehicles sold.
Which probably plays a large role
in Katsuda's thinking, "Exceed the
RX while still being the RX."