According to our spies...
According to our spies, the revolutionary technology that"s set to make this possible is called Traffic Assist, and is currently being developed at the firm"s engineering centre at Ríƒá¼sselsheim, Germany. Set to debut soon after the family car"s launch in 2008, it uses lasers, a video camera and huge computing power to read the road ahead, spot warning signs, lane markings, bends and, most crucially, other vehicles.
But after waiting for...
But after waiting for the smoke to clear, and having seen our lensman, the testers quickly closed the bonnet and crawled back to base for repairs. The car was the Hyundai Equus, and the Korean maker is putting the final touches to its flagship four-door. However, the mag"s pictures suggest there"s a lot more to be done on the reliability front.
Designed for Hyundai"s home market and the US, the rear-drive saloon will go on sale in 2008. The model is powered by a 270bhp 3.8-litre V6 linked to a standard five-speed auto. It"s also bigger all round than the previous version, and has been styled to appeal to American rather than European tastes, with a large front grille, conservative profile and masses of chrome detailing.
However, Hyundai"s European testing programme suggests that bosses are actively considering the Equus for other markets. The firm"s UK operation says it has no plans to introduce the model here, but if demand is high, that situation could change.