BMW’S X5, X6 AND X7 models will benefit from the inclusion of advanced Lane Change Assistant technology as standard, the X6 from August production and the X5 and X6 from September production.
Once Lane Change Assistant is enabled by the driver and the destination lane is free, the system can automatically steer the vehicle into the destination lane once it is safe to do so.
When the manoeuvre is complete and the vehicle is safely in the destination lane, the vehicle will then return to lane guidance (Steering Assistance).
It uses a combination of networked radars and cameras to analyse the vehicle surroundings and gauge whether it is safe and that there is enough space to execute the manoeuvre.
The radar sensors are responsible for detecting objects and the speed of nearby vehicles as part of the system’s calculation and verification of the road situation.
The operating speed range of Lane Change Assistant is between 70km/h to 180km/h.
Conditional elements are built into the system functionality to enhance safety for the driver and their occupants. The basic prerequisites for Lane Change Assistant to function are as follows:
- It is activated in the Steering Assistance settings via the Control Display
- Steering Assistant is active
- The vehicle is travelling on a multi-lane freeway with clear lane markings
- The turn indicator is held in the one touch signalling position for approximately one second
- The driving lane to be crossed has been detected
- Hands on the steering wheel must be detected at the start of the manoeuvre
- Lane Change Warning is active and not issuing a warning
- No vehicles or stationary objects have been detected in the manoeuvring zone to the side of the vehicle
- The vehicle is travelling at a speed above approximately 70km/h