ADAS or advanced driver assistance system has been in the news lately thanks to a few models getting it as standard in India. For example, the MG Astor gets Level 2 ADAS in country. Maruti and Toyota will also start offering this soon and we can say this confidently say this after catching test mules on test and noticing a few functions being displayed on the speedometer console.
On test were two camouflaged models. While the bigger vehicle is the upcoming Maruti Grand Vitara, the smaller one is the Toyota Yaris Cross sold abroad. So why are cars from two manufacturers being tested together? Well, both these brands are now developing and selling cars together. And we aren't just talking about the Baleno and Glanza but also about the upcoming Grand Vitara and Hyryder.
We got up close to the smaller vehicle, the Yaris cross and noticed a few things on the speedometer. The first was LTA or 'Lane Trace Assist'. Now this is part of Toyota's Safety Sense package that is offered internationally. However, we could not find any source that stated the Yaris comes with LTA internationally. This surely means it is being tested for India and will soon be offered in both Maruti and Toyota models. As per Toyota's website, the benefit of Lane Tracing Assist is to help reduce driver fatigue and support safe driving, especially in traffic congestion or long highway trips. It operates by making use of both the camera that is centered at the top of the windshield and the millimeter-wave radar located at the front of the vehicle. These two pieces of equipment recognize white and yellow lane markings or the path of a preceding vehicle.
The second function we saw in the speedometer was that of Pre-Collision System warning. The Toyota Pre-Collision System works by using a front-facing camera and laser to detect objects in your path and alert you when it's time to brake. If necessary, it can even bring your vehicle to a complete stop automatically. This will make it to Indian models as well.
As this point, we aren't sure which will be the first Maruti or Toyota model to get these features. The Hyryder and Grand Vitara have already been showcased but won't get these add-ons. So will it be the upcoming Baleno cross or the all-new sub 4m Urban Cruiser that will get ADAS? Stay tuned for more...
