Radar is the New Black – How it Works

RADAR – RAdio Detection And Ranging – an object-detection system that uses radio waves to determine range, altitude, direction, or in this case, speed.

Basically – a wave is sent out, it bounces off an object, returns home, and a measurement is recorded.

The car was travelling at 111 km/h.

Radar Gun Animated

Automakers are starting to use radar in their safety aids.

Infiniti’s Q50 uses it in its Blind Spot Intervention System.

As does Hyundai’s Genesis, which looks like this.

The radar is behind that reflective piece.

Very basically – it sends out a signal, which travels along the road, beneath the cars in front of it, up to two away, then returns. If it determines those cars ahead are slowing down, the car slows down too.

Doesn’t look like much huh, just a flat piece of plastic.

 

 

The Last Infiniti M37xS in Canada

It’s a 2013 Infiniti M37xS AWD Sport

Starting at – $52,700            This one – $67,100

While the post title is a little dramatic, it’s not really, because starting in 2014, all Infiniti models will start with a Q (I wrote about it for Autonet, click here).

It’s a 3.7L V6  7-spd. auto. AWD outputting 330 hp & 270 lb-ft of torque, and it’s tuned for drivers including a sport-tuned suspension, paddle shifters, and silver-inished callipers rolling on 20″ aluminium-alloy wheels.

Excellent acceleration, confident and balanced handling, and overall it’s a stiff ride, but obviously; this is a sports sedan.

The styling is subtle, which I liked. Quiet elegance.

Essentially, this is Infiniti’s flagship, their best sedan.

And this is my best dash photo to date comeON.

It’s feature rich indeed, like, this is as equipped as they come – the exterior doorhandles are lit, heated steering wheel and the seats are both heated and cooled, auto up and down on all windows. There’s 16 speakers inside (Bose), a rear-window power sunshade, Bluetooth, voice recognition, blind spot indicators, more, and the car has its own radar, which is used to  cruise control and distance control assist. Radar.

It’ll get 13.5 L/100 km, when left in sport mode the entire time.

It was easy to photograph.

Nice lines, eh.

I screwed up though, and should have taken a photo with the lid closed. It was just so interesting to me: when’d you last see a car with an ashtray inside? Rare enough that I gave it its own post.

Working from the driver’s seat.

My view.

#InfinitiLove

 

 

An Ashtray in a New Car

When did you last see that?

For me, it’s been years.

It’s a 2013 Infiniti M37xS Sport, and I love that this was inside.

There’s even one in the back seat.

 

 

Infiniti Qs Up

Rows of chairs facing a curtain, what’s happening?

BOOM Cirque de Soleil is happening.

Introducing the all-new Infiniti Q50.

The Q is Infiniti’s new nomenclature.  I wrote about it on Autonet.ca.

I wish I had come up with the above title when I wrote it.

The Q50 replaces the G37.  Goes on sale this summer.

This car has 2 world’s-first technologies:

Infiniti Direct Adaptive Steering – the driver’s intentions are communicated to the wheels faster than a mechanical system

(I want to try this so bad, how does it know my intentions? Maybe my beloved thought controlled computing?)

Active Lane Control – a camera keeps an eye on the lane markers, and adjusts to keep you inside them

At the show, the Infiniti booth had a good energy, like they’re poised and ready.  Not all booths had a success scent. They grew 22% last year, I bet they beat that this year.

Check out the article and slideshow at Autonet.ca.