The unveiling of BMW’s 2024 5-Series brings some side attention.
Entering its eighth generation, the BMW 5 Series offers a revolutionary new feature that allows drivers to change lanes simply by checking the side mirrors.
Active Lane Change Assist, an optional part of the Highway Assistant Level 2 driver assistance suite, allows your car to change lanes automatically. This is how it works:
- The system will first ask you that a lane change is proposed. This could be because you are approaching a slower car or because your lane is ending and you need to merge.
- With Active Lane Change Assist, the driver simply looks in the side mirror and the car changes lanes – as long as it is safe.
Other vehicles, such as GM’s SuperCruise system, have an option to automatically change lanes, but they require you to physically accept the prompt using the turn signal. BMW takes that step out of the process and lets your eyes do the steering.
Related: BMW’s New i Vision Dee Concept Car Can Change Color Without Going To The Bodybuilder
Any concern
Not everyone is a fan of this new feature. Motorcycle trendfor example, questioning the safety of eye-guided steering.
“We’d be lying if we weren’t a little concerned,” the auto magazine wrote. “The reality is that moving your hand a few centimeters and touching the lever is not a tedious process, and there is much less chance of the car misinterpreting the action. We’ll have to try this system out as soon as the car is available . for review to see for yourself.”
First electric 5 Series
The eye-controlled lane change system wasn’t the only major news coming out of BMW this week. The German automaker also announced the debut of two fully electric 5 Series models.
The i5 eDrive40, at 335 horsepower, has an EPA range of about 300 miles per charge. The sticker price starts at $67,795.
At the top is the 5 M60 xDrive, a machine with two motors and 590 horsepower. You have to pay a minimum of $85,095 for this.
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