GM Introducing New Safety Technologies for 2016 Models

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General Motors has announced more than 20 safety technologies that will be made available across its 2016 U.S. lineups, including automatic braking at low speeds and a rear camera mirror.

The technologies are being developed at a new $14 million facility at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds, which opened Friday and includes a 52-acre safety test area.

“The technologies we are developing and testing at this facility are available to our customers across our GM brands,” says Cynthia Bay, director of active safety electronics and controls at GM. “Front pedestrian braking will be offered on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, and … the new 2016 Spark has available lane departure warning and forward collision alert.”

Bay says available crash-avoidance technologies include front pedestrian braking, which alerts the driver if a pedestrian is directly ahead and automatically applies the brakes if necessary. A night vision feature provides infrared night vision beyond the area lit by the headlamps and also provides alerts for detected pedestrians or large animals.

Bay says a curb view camera provides the driver a view of the scene immediately ahead of the vehicle to help the driver avoid low-speed crashes with curbs, poles, and parked vehicles.

“Many of the technologies we develop and test here are integral to our ongoing (vehicle-to-vehicle) communications work, and even the development of future autonomous vehicles,” Bay says.

She says the vehicle-to-vehicle dedicated short-range radio communication enables vehicles to “talk” to each other and exchange basic safety data such as speed, location, and braking status. Bay says the vehicle-to-vehicle technologies will be standard on the 2017 Cadillac CTS.