BMW BMWhas just moved ahead of the rest of the automotive brands in the race towards autonomous driving, with an extremely brilliant strategy. Why make the jump to Level 3 if almost all of its functions are still limited due to current legislation? Better to combine things from Level 2 and Level 3.
In this way, the German firm has marked a milestone in the automotive industry by becoming the first manufacturer in the world to offer a vehicle that combines Level 2 and Level 3 driver assistance systems. The new BMW 7 Series, with its innovative BMW Highway Assistant and BMW Personal Pilot L3, provides an unprecedented autonomous driving experience, significantly expanding the possibilities and comforts for its users.
He BMW Personal Pilot L3 takes autonomous driving to the next level. This Level 3 system allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road in specific situations, such as traffic jams, at speeds up to 60 km/h. During these moments, the vehicle takes complete control, allowing the driver to perform other activities such as reading, working or watching videos. This capability transforms the way drivers can spend their time during traffic jams, making even the most tedious journeys productive.
Although he BMW Personal Pilot L3 offers a high degree of autonomyit is essential that the driver be ready to regain control when the vehicle indicates it, especially in unexpected situations such as road works.
On the other hand, the BMW Highway Assistant Level 2, is designed to improve comfort on long trips. This system allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel on highways with physical separation between the directions of traffic, maintaining a speed of up to 130 km/h. Although the driver must remain attentive to the road and prepared to regain control, he can enjoy more relaxed driving thanks to the vehicle’s ability to maintain direction and make lane changes autonomously.
For his part, the Active Lane Change Assistant It makes driving even easier by executing overtaking maneuvers without manual intervention, adjusting speed as necessary. Confirmation of these maneuvers can be as simple as a glance in the rearview mirror, integrating a touch of futuristic technology into daily driving.
The combination of these systems in the BMW 7 Series represents a significant advance in automotive technology, providing a full spectrum of functionality covering both long and short journeys. “We are setting new standards in the industry by combining both technologies in the new BMW 7 Series,” said the Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President of Driving Experience at the BMW Group. This approach underlines BMW’s commitment to safety, comfort and innovation in the driving experience.
BMW Highway Assistant and Driving Assistant Professional are part of the optional BMW Personal Pilot L3 package, which is initially available only in Germany. From August 2024, owners of vehicles equipped with the BMW Personal Pilot L3 will be able to add BMW Highway Assistant to their functions at no additional cost, extending the benefits of this innovative technology to more drivers.
