Montreal, QC – Yesterday at the Montreal International Auto Show, INFINITI was presented with both "Best New Technology" awards by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). The Direct Adaptive Steering and Predictive Forward Collision Warning technologies represent the brand's commitment to Inspired Performance and are both found, as worlds-first technologies, on INFINITI's new Q50 sports sedan, winner of AJAC's 2014 Best New Luxury Car (over $50k).
"It is a thrill and an honour to have so many of Canada's top journalists recognize these worlds-first technologies and their impact to not only the industry, but also the benefits to the individual driver," said Wendy Durward, Director of INFINITI Canada. "The INFINITI Q50 sports sedan represents our commitment to finding new levels of inspired performance. Having AJAC recognize it as the best new luxury car over $50,000 as well as name two of its technologies as the best of the year is great feedback that we've done just that."
The Best New Innovation Technology
This award recognizes an innovative technology whose primary purpose is not specifically safety related. INFINITI won this category for its Direct Adaptive Steering technology - an aircraft-inspired industry first that allows the driver to choose exactly how the wheel feels in their hands.
Direct Adaptive Steering works by electronically transferring the driver's input to the front wheels where a high-response actuator drives the steering rack. This 'steer-by-wire' system eliminates the harsh vibrations that exhaust a driver's arms and mechanical losses that can dull the responses in conventional systems while providing a faster and more precise steering response.
The Best New Safety Technology
This award recognizes a technology whose primary purpose is to enhance road safety in any form. Another world-first, INFINITI's Predictive Forward Collision Warning technology won this class for its ability to warn the driver of risks that lie beyond the driver's field of view. The system does this by not only sensing the relative velocity and distance of a vehicle directly ahead, but also of a vehicle travelling in front of that one (two cars ahead).
Leveraging sensors and technology, the INFINITI Q50 can now see if the vehicle two cars in front is decelerating rapidly by analyzing a radar signal sent under the car immediately in front of the Q50 – a particularly useful feature when following a large vehicle that obstructs the driver's forward vision. The system will warn the driver to begin braking with a visual alert, an audible warning, and haptic feedback by tightening the seatbelt.
More information on these technologies and the new INFINITI Q50 sports sedan can be found at media.infiniti.ca. More information on AJAC and the best New Technology Awards can be found at AJAC.caOpens in a new tab.
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