Virtual dashboards are digital instrument panels substituting a flat or curved panel screen for the cluster of analog and digital gauges. Virtual dashboards can deliver a broader range of information to the driver, such as vehicle diagnostics, advanced driver assistance services (ADAS), and alternative camera views that can improve a driver’s road awareness.
Torque vectoring is an engineering feature designed to improve handling and cornering by directing the twisting force of the drive wheels to the side that needs it. Depending on system engineering, the methods either direct torque to the outside wheel or use the brakes to slow the inside wheel. Torque vectoring moves twisting force to the outside front wheel during cornering to improve turn-in and stability.
A hands-free liftgate is a powered opening in the rear of vehicles like car trunks, hatchbacks, minivans, SUVs, and wagons, usually triggered by sensors used to detect the key fob approaching the vehicle’s rear.
Traffic-sign recognition is an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) using a forward-pointed camera to identify road signs. The system matches signs to a catalog of common road signs and notifies the driver with icons in the instrument panel, head-up display, and infotainment display.
Car shoppers looking for generous passenger space can typically find a third-row seat in crossovers, minivans, and SUVs. The third-row seat can accommodate two to three people in the vehicle’s back third. While a third-row seat is standard in many full-size and midsize vehicles, it can be an option in some vehicles.
Four-wheel steering is when the rear wheels turn in conjunction with the front wheels, the set primarily tasked with steering function. In fact, 4-wheel steering is sometimes called “rear-wheel steering” or “all-wheel steering.”
Fog lights or fog lamps are auxiliary illumination sources separate from headlights, typically mounted beneath the front bumper. The lower positioning of the fog lights allows their beams to light up the road underneath the fog layer. Fog lights increase the driver’s ability to see the road and traffic in dense fog and tend to work best in isolation, independently of the headlights.
Driver drowsiness monitoring and driver attention monitoring is a camera- and sensor-based safety technology that can detect drivers’ fatigue or distracted focus. Once drowsiness or inattention is detected, the system warns drivers to take a break.
A 60/40-split seatback is a rear or second- and third-row bench seat that folds down in two segments to increase cargo space.
To increase driving comfort and fine-tune driving position, a driver can manipulate the distance of a telescoping steering wheel to them by moving it closer or farther. The telescopic action can be performed manually by releasing a lever and pulling or pushing the wheel to the desired distance. Some vehicles offer power-operated telescoping steering wheels.
