Originally posted by danny25
Nice, but that first pic made me immediately think of the new Pontiac Bonneville.

Not so long ago, cars that drove themselves were the stuff of Hollywood fantasy - but not any more. Next year, you will be able to buy a regular family saloon capable of performing Herbie-like tricks without the help of special effects.

Meet ADAS: Honda's Advanced Driver Assistance System. Consisting of two active safety devices - Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and a Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) - it will be optional on the revised Accord, due in the spring.

It's claimed the set-up will make high-speed motoring much safer and easier - and Auto Express took the wheel of a specially equipped 2005 model-year Accord to see what's on offer.

We didn't take long to realise the hype is justified - LKAS is a big step towards a vehicle that drives itself. Designed to stop motorists falling asleep at the wheel, it uses a camera by the rear view mirror to monitor white lines either side of the car on motorways and A-roads.

Cross the lines without indicating and a warning beep is emitted. But the really clever part is that, if the driver's hands are on the wheel through a long bend, LKAS turns automatically, keeping the car in its lane. It sends signals to the power-steering, which then moves the wheel. The result is remarkable. It's strange to feel the steering turn itself, but motorway driving becomes more relaxing, as the camera reacts faster than the human eye to minor changes in road curvature, setting the car up for corners with slight steering angles.

So it's a pity Honda's adaptive cruise control isn't up to the same standard. As with BMW, Mercedes and Nissan systems, it uses radar to maintain a set distance from the car ahead, automatically accelerating or decelerating, and even applying the brakes.

But as in rivals, progress can be jerky. Where most drivers would lift off if a slow-moving vehicle appeared in the distance, ACC maintains speed until that car comes into range, then applies the anchors. Nor will it save you from an impending crash, as the system requires the driver to take over in an emergency, limiting braking force to 0.3g.

However, ACC does offer increased safety over conventional cruise control. How much the entire ADAS option will cost is still unknown, but we would estimate Ł1,000. For high-mileage drivers, it makes a lot of sense and could mean the difference between life and death.

Honda has announced that it will be bringing a sportier version of its Accord Euro to the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. Based on the 2.2L i-DTEC diesel version of the Accord Euro, the new model promises to give buyers a little more performance while still delivering excellent fuel economy.

Called the Accord Euro Type S, the new model will hit the European market just after its Geneva debut. Power for the Type S will be sourced from the same 2.2L mill found in the standard diesel Accord, but will be massaged to deliver an extra 30 horsepower – bringing total power to 180 ponies. Torque is also up – 22 lb-ft to a stout 280 lb-ft – which should give the Accord Euro Type S some extra grunt off the line.

To add to the Type S’ sportier nature, Honda will fit the sedan with 18 inch wheels, clear turning indicators, special badging and will offer the Type S with two new exterior colors — White Pearl and Basque Red.

No other details were given – such as fuel economy or price – but expect to find out all the details closer to the car’s launch.

Although the Accord Euro is a completely separate car from the Accord model we get in the U.S., it is closely related to our Acura TSX. Acura has been contemplating offering a diesel-powered TSX in America, with the sportier Type S’ powerplant standing as the most logical candidate. However, Acura has reportedly put its U.S. diesel plans on hold due to emissions issues, so only time will tell.