The 2013 Cadillac ATS reportedly offers the latest advancements in driver visibility, which is just one of the reasons the vehicle won the North American Car of the Year this past January.
GM engineers worked hard to address vehicle attributes that were needed to make the ATS not only one of the safest vehicles in the world, but to also help drivers see better according to a company press release.
Click here to read the full press release.
"Conducting clinics in Europe as well as the U.S. provided invaluable insight into the needs of drivers who use demanding roads like the Autobahn," said Raj Mehta, General Motors vehicle architecture engineering group manager in the press release. "The findings led to new ways of measuring and evaluating visibility despite its highly subjective sensory nature."
The ATS's driver visibility was influenced by specific design requirements set by GM which included vehicle packaging, styling, aerodynamic, and safety.
A brand new visibility evaluation technique, known as "the hedgehog" for its "prickly" appearance on computer screens, helps determine and design the three-dimensional aspect of A-pillar sightlines according to GM.
The ATS achieved a "Very Good" rating score for forward visibility due to designers making sure the hood was low and the A-pillars were smaller than usual by using high-strength steel. GM designers placed the A-pillars wide apart to allow for a "broad field" view and angled towards the driver so ATS owners don't need to move their head as much as you would normally do in other vehicles.
Drivers are assisted thanks to the introduction of the rear vision camera with dynamic guidelines. The camera provides a natural view of objects behind the vehicle in the center stack display according to GM.
"Smart design and the use of advanced materials like ultra-high strength steel help provide ATS drivers with a clear view of the road ahead and advanced technologies help extend their vision around the car," said David Leone, executive chief engineer in the press release. "Our ability to execute good visibility based on robust scientific methods will be an important tool in the development of Cadillacs to come."
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