For the 2016 model year, Volkswagen is offering a host of driver assistance features that were only previously available on the premium Touareg SUV—and adding some new ones that truly democratize driver assistance for the compact sedan and compact hatchback classes.
These available features include: Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); the Parking Steering Assistant (Park Assist); and an active Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist) system.
The Beetle, CC, e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, and Jetta offer these available features, depending on model and trim line. In addition, all Beetle, Beetle Convertible and Jetta models add the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which was already fitted to Touareg and Golf family models, as standard. This safety system uses information from the airbag sensors to help prevent secondary collisions. Analysis of crash data in Germany ascertained that around 14 percent of accidents involved a secondary collision after an initial impact so Volkswagen engineers designed the system to help avoid them.
With a re-alignment of trim lines throughout the MY16 lineup, rearview cameras are now fitted as standard to more than 85 % of Volkswagen models.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) uses forward facing radar to maintain a set speed while helping maintain a set distance to the vehicle in front. The driver sets the speed and the desired spacing via buttons on the multifunction steering wheel and can use the accelerator, brake pedal, or steering wheel to cancel or override the ACC function. All system messages appear in the central multifunction display.
When the roadway ahead of the vehicle is empty, the system maintains the set speed. Touareg, CC, and Golf, Golf GTI, and Golf SportWagen models fitted with automatic transmissions and ACC can match a vehicle in front and come to a stop, as well as resume ACC control after the driver presses the accelerator pedal or the "resume" button on the steering wheel. Golf R models fitted with DSG transmission automatically resume driving within a defined time period or if the driver chooses to do so. On manual transmission Golf and all Jetta models, the ACC ceases to operate below 19 mph.
Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist)
Within physical system limits, Forward Collision Warning helps warn the driver of critical front-end collision situations, both acoustically and visually by a warning symbol in the instrument cluster, and, if necessary, Autonomous Emergency Braking is activated to slow the vehicle if the driver fails to brake. If the brake pedal is applied but the driver brakes too lightly, the brake pressure is increased by the system (Braking Support).