5 to Drive: The Latest Innovations in Safety
2009 BMW X6 xDrive50i (MSRP $66,650)
Is it a 4-door sports car, or is it a handy crossover SUV? In the case of BMW’s fun and funky X6 − what the German manufacturer of both cars and motorcycles dubs a “Sport Activity Vehicle,” or SAV − it’s both. But however you choose to categorize it, this twin-turbo V-8 4-seater sports one of the most remarkable all-wheel-drive systems available.
BMW calls this system “xDrive, intelligent all-wheel-drive system” and we’d have to agree as it truly is smarter than the average full-time system. Most all-wheel-drive setups can send power between the front and rear sets of wheels as needed, but xDrive can also swap power laterally between the left and right side wheels and do so in mere milliseconds. In other words, whichever wheel or wheels seems to have the best grip receives more power for maximum traction and improved handling. Having spent a spell behind the wheel of the X6 on both road and track, in wet and dry conditions, it really is amazing how well this car handles, belying its considerable heft. The 400 horsepower on tap beneath the hood is just the icing on this road-hugging cake.
Five Reasons to Buy:
1. Part sports car, part crossover
2. Dare-to-be-different styling
3. Exclusivity
4. Twin-turbo V-8 power
5. Remarkable all-wheel-drive traction
2010 Ford Fusion (MSRP $23,975)
The Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) technology on Ford’s new Fusion sedan has got your back − literally.
When backing up, the CTA system makes use of sensors embedded in the rear bodywork that send out a radar signal that detects if another vehicle is approaching from either the left or right. If so, warning lights located on the Fusion’s sideview mirrors will light up and a warning beep will sound. What is most impressive with the CTA system is its wide scanning path − a full 45 feet. A very handy technology for not only backing out of those pesky, hard-to-see-behind-you spaces in busy supermarket parking lots, but also when reversing out of your driveway.
The Fusion features another radar-based technology (this one borrowed from the parts bin at automotive safety innovator Volvo) called Blind Spot Information System (BLIS). When you are out driving on the road and want to make a lane change, BLIS constantly monitors the blind spot area toward the rear of either side of the vehicle − think of it as a set of electronic eyes on the lookout when changing lanes.
Five Reasons to Buy:
1. Good value
2. Pleasing looks
3. 4-cylinder gets 34 mpg highway!
4. Fun tech options
5. Comfortable and roomy
From the space-age aesthetic of Infiniti’s FX35 to the down-to-earth practicality of the Honda Civic, contrasted with the Lexus GS 450h’s hybrid sensibilities and the BMW X6’s melding of sports car and SUV, this is as varied a bunch of cars as you may see in one place. And it’s difficult to beat the do-everything Ford Fusion with its combination of safety tech along with fuel efficiency, comfort, practicality, crisp styling, and affordable price. But one thing they all have in common is the latest and greatest in potentially life-saving automotive engineering.
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