Audi, Lexus explore self-driving cars

CES: Audi, Lexus explore self-driving cars - latimes.com

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by Tiffany Hsu - in 380 Google+ circles - More by Tiffany Hsu Jan 8, 2013 – Audi cars are stuffed with technology, with electronics making up "90% of innovations" at the German automaker, executives told a packed ... CES: Audi, Lexus explore self-driving cars Comments 0 Email Share 40 Lexus unveiled this experimental autonomous car at the 2013 CES in Las Vegas. (January 8, 2013) CES 2013: Lexus driverless car: 'Technology alone is not the answer' Lexus teases autonomous vehicle ahead of CES debut Toyota 'sudden acceleration' settlement gets preliminary approval CDC says 4.2% of drivers admit to falling asleep at the wheel Lexus IS sedan to make world debut at 2013 Detroit Auto Show Ads by Google Audi — 2012 ClearanceAudi Cuts Prices to Make Sales. Get Special Audi Internet Prices! Audi.DealersClearingLots.com 2011 Toyota Car ClearanceAll 2011 Cars Must Go. Buy Today and Save $1000s Reply.com/Toyota By Tiffany Hsu January 8, 2013, 2:24 p.m. Audi cars are stuffed with technology, with electronics making up "90% of innovations" at the German automaker, executives told a packed room during the CES convention Tuesday. And, like Google and Lexus, Audi is trying to develop a self-driving car. The company said it has developed a laser scanning system that will be able to create 3-D maps of a vehicle's surrounding, allowing computers to guide the car around obstacles. A prototype shown at Tuesday's talk, meant to be mounted on a vehicle's grill, is much smaller than the bulkier towers being outfitted on the tops of other driverless test cars. But, as Lexus officials made clear Monday, Audi executives stressed that they're focused on "piloted driving," not "autonomous driving" without any human input. "Our ultimate responsibility rests ... with the driver," said Ricky Hudi, Audi's chief executive engineer of electrics and electronics. Still, he said he believes that piloted driving "will become reality in this decade," though he and other executives declined to speculate on a more specific time line. Japan and other areas with crowded downtown spaces will likely become first adopters, they said. Other tech factoids: Every Audi A8 sedan has about 5,000 semiconductors. The connected nature of the company's cars -- Wi-Fi-equipped "infotainment" systems, ingrained safety features that protect against impaired driving -- helps draw younger buyers. About 46% of Audi owners are Gen X or Gen Y consumers, said Scott Keogh, president of Audi of America -- that's more than other luxury rivals Lexus and BMW. ALSO: Lexus previews autonomous vehicle for CES Noise requirements proposed for hybrid and electric vehicles Audi takes on Google and gets permit for autonomous car in Nevada end quote from: CES: Audi, Lexus explore self-driving cars - latimes.com