When the 1st Volkswagen Touareg arrived in Malaysian showrooms, it was an almost immediate hit with its broad stance, strong image, well appointed cabin and a range of comfort features that left the nearest competitor missing showroom success. It was a very good 1st effort for Volkswagen in entering the lucrative large SUV segment.
Now we have the 2nd generation Touareg. Still sporting handsome rugged looks, this all new Touareg carries a lot of the previous generation’s features and abilities with one added great new feature, the 360-degree view camera for very easy parking and reversing out of tight situations.
As our roads remain in size and width, the new cars coming to market are getting larger by each and every model. This prompted Volkswagen engineers and planners to look at how best to assist drivers of large Volkswagen vehicles to enjoy their vehicles without the worry of paint damage, dents and knocks in ‘tight’ driving situations.
To help the driver to park, there is a 360-degree parking camera system installed in the Volkswagen Touareg SUV which provides a bird’s-eye view of the car and its surroundings.
Four miniature digital cameras (in the front and rear, and on the outside rearview mirrors), linked to an image processing application, allow the system to display a single homogeneous view on a central screen. The processed image gives the driver the impression of seeing the vehicle and its environment from above (almost like he or she is looking down on the Touareg). Maneuvering in complex situations becomes safe and easy.
The driver may also select other views on the screen: for example, a wide-angle view of the area behind the vehicle is particularly useful when parking. Similarly, viewing the area in front of the vehicle is important at a blind junction or parking slot exit.
The system is also linked to ultrasonic sensors, which enable precise distances to be displayed as lines on the image. Other lines become dynamic to illustrate the trajectory as soon as the driver begins the maneuver. Diagonal parking is made far simpler, allowing the driver to park in the narrowest of spaces.
