Heavy traffic is a common occurrence in any major city. In Southern California, there's no rush hour, just brief windows when it's slightly less bad.
If you care to disengage from the driving experience a bit more during times like these, just click on the A8's adaptive cruise control. Like others of its ilk, it's just not for freeway cruising -- the Audi's system is fully capable of slowing and bringing the car to a stop when it detects slowing traffic ahead and then accelerate the A8 again once the car ahead starts to move. No real need to use the pedals, just steer to stay in your lane.
I used it this morning for a while. It worked just as it should, accelerating and braking smoothly based on the car ahead. That's not to say I was snoozing at the wheel. But the A8's adaptive cruise control certainly does add to the luxury flagship feel of the car.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 10,228 miles
tjpark01 says:
04:31 PM, 02/29/12
It's amazing. It scares you at first cause you don't trust it. But after you get use to it, it's the next best thing to having the George Jetson car drive you to work.
olbc says:
05:09 PM, 02/29/12
Yep that's awesome. Still cant tell how much gas you have left though :-)
esoterica says:
05:21 PM, 02/29/12
Isn't it pretty much a prerequisite for a $100K car to do this now? I mean, even the Volvo S60 can navigate stop-and-go traffic.
jstandefer says:
05:34 PM, 02/29/12
I can somewhat support a vehicle slowing or stopping a vehicle automatically, but I cannot get behind any system that automatically accelerates a vehicle without direct driver input. This is just way too much trust on technology. Does this depend on radio frequency (RF), such as radar? What happens when a null or fade occurs, likely caused by multipath rather than obstruction? Just like cell phones or radio stations losing reception at times, the same can happen here. I'm sure the hopes are that the driver is paying attention and is covering the brake pedal. But you know that's not always the case...
I saw a lady driving on a surface street in Irvine a few weeks ago that had a cell phone in her left hand while she was writing on a notepad with her right hand as her RX330 wandered over two lanes and accelerated/braked erratically when she could be bothered to look up. I'm sure she would absolutely love adaptive cruise control like this! Just imagine how much more work she can get done behind the wheel if she didn't have to waste her time looking up at the road!
firstwagon says:
05:54 PM, 02/29/12
If it screws up and you rear end the car in front because you thought it would stop on it's own... who's fault is it?
Of course it's the drivers fault for not driving with due care and attention but I bet many will blame (and sue) the car maker.
greenpony says:
06:36 PM, 02/29/12
Geez, this is such a wonderful technology it's a wonder the government hasn't stepped in to require it on EVERY vehicle!
bassrockerx says:
10:23 PM, 02/29/12
@greenpony i agree
lmbvette says:
04:32 AM, 03/ 1/12
As a driver who uses are radar detector, I hate this system. Everytime I pass an Audi my detector freaks out. Now when I get an alert I instantly look for the Audi. I ALWAYS find one.
jeepsrt says:
06:27 AM, 03/ 1/12
I used the ACC on my Jeep twice, it was nice to use but I could never trust it without my foot over the brake.
throwback says:
07:13 AM, 03/ 1/12
Sigh, one more step down the road to autonomous cars.
ptcdawg says:
07:27 AM, 03/ 1/12
Yeah, that thing won't ever break. :)
Built in money for the service department down the road.
carguy622 says:
07:59 AM, 03/ 1/12
I dislike that fuel "gauge".
yellowmiata says:
12:45 PM, 03/ 1/12
Didn't the FX50 also have this tech? I'd love to give it a spin to see how it acts / reacts.
Kevin