It was a full page article on the front of a section, had photos, lots of detail, but no mention of Acura.
They mention the MB S model, BMW, Infiniti, Avalon, Volvo and even GM and they're fabulous DRL! No one would even know the RL has had CMBS for 2 model years.
the paper version had more graphs and photos etc.

USA TODAY CMBS

 

Anyone want to email the author to let them know of their omission?

 

I sent a note.

 

I posted a comment under the story about a CMBS incident I experienced.

 

Reporters rarely, if ever, include 'all the players,' just the ones they are familiar with, or the 'popular ones'- ones which they think the public will relate to, thus enhancing their write.

rlt

 

Acura's PR folks should be all over this. I doubt if they will do anything, though.

 

Thanks for pointing out that article Speed. Eventhough the article didn't mention the RL it was nice to see the technology being promoted.

As for the comments below the article; Your's was good (of course), but the others, well, let's just say there are some scarry people that walk (and drive) among us.

 

Acura's PR folks? Do they actually exist?

LL

 

 

 

What is most interesting is that only 2 cars in the market have "true" CMBS the RL and the mercedes S class. "True" CMBS is a precollision system that can actually apply the brakes and preset all your cars safety systems if you don't. I actually had the oportunity to test mine. I was merging on to a highway that is under construction only to find that when I finally did merge under significant acceleration the traffic suddenly stopped in front of me! AS soon as I quickly moved my foot from the accelerator to the brake, the car immediately retracted the seatbelts completely and applied full ABS, all before I even had a chance to apply full brake pressure! I stopped a good 20 feet from the car in front of me. After I plugged my eyes back into their sockets and realized no one had rear ended me I appreciated that little radar in the grill a hell of a lot more!

 

Yep, the guy who wrote that article didn't do a very good job with his research. He failed to mention the RL in an article about CMBS but referened Infiniti?

 

You are so right, as far as I can tell, even in 2007, the only true CMBS is Acura RL and Mercedes S class sedans.

Lexus has its PCS, Pre Collision System, on at least the LS and GS, which was effectively portrayed in a recent TV commercial that I first saw during an episode of Lost. When you read about the PCS, it appears not to be a true system, in that it prepares the braking system to apply full ABS when the driver steps on the pedal, but does not actually begin braking as the Acura does, either gently or strongly, depending on the situation.

What is amazing about the Lexus system is the commercial backing. Even though it does less than the Acura system, that commercial, with all the Matrix like slo mo scenes from a dozen different view points make you think that the Lexus PCS is THE system to have in a crash.

And Infiniti? I am not even sure they have a radar system like the Lexus, but only a brake assist system, which will put the system into full ABS mode when it senses a panic stop demand from the driver...although, I understand that the new Infiniti's will modify their lane departure warning system to add correctable steering, much like the Honda Legend (Acura RL) Lane Keeping Assist System sold in the rest of the world. You wonder if Honda will add LKAS to the RL at some time in the future?

Volvo seems to have a similar system to Lexus, a warning and brake preparation system, and the requisite auto seat belt pretensioning.

 

I thought there was a different name for this. Some cars have a system, (I think BMW) that engages when it senses hard braking in an emergency situation. This to me seems a little different than the car radar sensing a collision with the radar. Maybe on the Acura it's the same feature, triggered by radar and/or hard braking.

 

Honda has Brake assist on many vehicles including the odyssey, its a system that detects the suddeness with which you apply the brakes and beyond a certain threshold will apply the brakes full force. The system on the ody does not involve adjusting the seatbelts. The Rl's, CMBS, however has that feature but in addition the system will activate automatically by the radar control.
Don't forget that all these systems including VSA are all refinements on the basic ABS system which even the Honda Fit includes (safety for everyone).

 

It was written by Jayne O'Donnell, USA Today.

Her article on the GE Diswasher recall and the CMBS should get a Pulitzer prize for Investigative Journalism.

A giant.

 

In what year did the RL get CMBS?

 

THe 06 RL. USA today article was a week ago or so.