If, like me, you spent a lot of your childhood glued to the television watching classic 80s show Knight Rider, then the day you first got to sit behind the wheel of a car and realised that you had to do everything yourself will have been a disappointment. Thankfully, somebody at Volkswagen appears to have had the same experience and the German car manufacturers are doing their bit to turn the average family hatchback into KITT!
Ok, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but their latest concept is certainly great news for lazy or unconfident drivers everywhere. Not content with Park Assist (PA), the existing system that allows the car to park itself whilst the driver waits idly behind the wheel, their latest innovation, Park Assist Vision (PAV) doesnât even require a driver, allowing the vehicle to park itself in any spot, parallel or perpendicular.
PAV cars are fitted with a multitude of cameras and sensors, giving them better spatial awareness than a lot of my friends I wouldnât dare name. When the driver finds a suitable parking spot, they simply notify the car on a touchscreen, place the gearstick in âPâ and hop out. The rest is controlled from a remote control keyfob. The car parks itself, shuts down and locks up, saving you the embarrassment of reversing in and out to the amusement of passers by. Gone too are the days of having to clamber across to the passenger seat because thereâs not enough room to get out of the driverâs door.
PAV is still in development, but it’s clearly an indication of the future, and a very welcome innovation. Now all we need is turbo boost and ejector seatsâ¦