Perusing the online owner's manual and came across this. Where is this offered; why isn't it available in the US? Is there anyone with any experience on this? Seems like a pretty slick system.

 

It is offered, though it's not advertised on MINI's website.

It's called Active Driver Assist and is a $1000 option (5AS). It is a camera-based system that features:
- Pedestrian Collision Detection
- Vehicle Collision Detection with City Braking (if you are going slow enough and about to run into another car, it will brake for you for a second)
- Active Cruise Control (or distance-based cruise control. You can set a speed like normal cruise, but it can detect slower moving cars in front of you and automatically slow your car down to match speed)
- Speed Limit Sign Detection (will scan for speed limit signs and show the current speed limit on your instrument display
- Automatic High Beams (will detect approaching cars when high beams are on and automatically turn them off. Also detects if you drive into a city area with lots of light and will automatically turn off high beams)

Being a single camera based system it has some limitations:
- Does not work well in direct sunlight
- Pedestrian detection only works in the daytime
- Not as reliable as a radar-based cruise control or dual camera system

 

Pretty cool; it suppose post purchase install would be pricey.

Thanks!!!

-Lee

 

[QUOTE=siriuszero;4121059- Automatic High Beams (will detect approaching cars when high beams are on and automatically turn them off.[/QUOTE]My grand father had an early '60s model Cadillac with this feature. Drove him nuts. It would dim the lights even from the bright reflection of a road sign. It was a little doodad sticking up in the center of the dashboard. To disable the dang thing he'd park his fedora over it. Made a better hat rack than a 'driving aid'.

 

From my experience real intelligence usually trumps artificial intelligence every time although I suspect the technology has improved since the '60s.

 

Well said.

 

I have it in my 2016 JCW. It's pretty nice. I like the speed limit showing up in my heads up display. I haven't really used the active cruise control. I did have to have the camera replaced the first week I had my car but it works great now.