Press Release
Page 1: Overview
Page 2: Performance
Page 3: Sophistication
Page 4: Safety
Page 5: Specifications
Protection
Advanced passive and active technology to protect car and driver
High performance should always be coupled with high safety levels, and the Legend includes a host of innovative safety technology features to protect car, driver, passengers and pedestrians.
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
Honda??????????????????????????????????????s new CMBS technology can actually predict collisions, to reduce both the impact on occupants, and damage to the car.
Research shows that one of the most common causes of car accidents is the delay between a driver acknowledging an oncoming accident and taking evasive action. As a result, Honda has concentrated on pre-crash developments like CMBS, which aims to improve the car??????????????????????????????????????s response to critical situations. It is particularly effective in avoiding or minimising ?????????????????????????????????rear-end?????????????????????????????????????? shunt incidents.
The system is made up of three main parts: a millimetre-wave radar sensor in the front grille of the car, a brake actuator and a motorised seatbelt tensioner. If the radar sensor recognises a collision is imminent, CMBS reacts in the following way:
1) The driver is given an audio warning, and a visual ?????????????????????????????????Brake?????????????????????????????????????? warning on the dash display.
2) If no action is taken, the audio/visual alarm is given again, an E-tensioner lightly tugs at the seatbelt as a further warning, and light braking is applied automatically.
3) If still no action is taken and the system decides a collision is unavoidable, strong braking is applied with strong seatbelt retraction.
It is important to note that the system will not bring the Legend to a total stop. It is a driving aid to help the driver to avoid an accident, or lessen the impact of a crash. As with all Honda driving aids, the driver remains in control at all times.
For more detailed information on CMBS, please refer to the demonstration movie included on the press pack resource CD, or available to download at: www.hondauk-media.co.uk
Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS)
Also available on the Legend is Honda??????????????????????????????????????s Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS), which debuted on the Accord in early 2006.
ADAS comprises a Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) technology. These state-of-the-art driving aids both improve safety levels and reduce driver fatigue.
LKAS ??????????????????????????????????????? Lane Keeping Assist System
LKAS recognises the lane the vehicle is travelling in using the images from a camera mounted inside the upper front windscreen and applies the appropriate input to the EPS (Electric Power Steering) to help keep the car in its lane, thereby reducing the burden of motorway (or similar road) driving and enhancing driver comfort and safety. It then calculates the optimum steering torque ??????????????????????????????????????? a combination of human input (minimum 20 per cent) and the assisted steering torque (maximum 80 per cent) ??????????????????????????????????????? to keep the vehicle in the centre of the lane. A continuous beep sound will be emitted when the vehicle is about to cross the lane marking.
The Lane Keeping Assist System operates when the following conditions are fulfilled:
1. On roads with left and right lane boundary markings (where markings are clear and visible)
2. On motorways or roads that are equivalent to motorways (excluding sharp curves/bends)
3. At vehicle speeds between 45 and 112mph
4. Driver has to keep contact with the steering wheel ?????????????????????????????????????? if the system fails to recognise driver??????????????????????????????????????s inputs on the steering, it switches itself off automatically
5. Side indicators are not activated
6. Steering torque generated by the driver does not indicate imminent lane change manoeuvre
7. Only operates on bends that have a more than 200 metre radius, any tighter than this and too much steering torque is required from the LKAS system
ACC ??????????????????????????????????????? Adaptive Cruise Control
Adaptive Cruise Control uses information from a millimetre-wave radar (mounted inside the front grille) to measure the distance to the vehicle ahead, while vehicle speed and yaw rate sensors detect the vehicle??????????????????????????????????????s driving parameters.
In addition to maintaining a set speed, as with conventional cruise control, ACC is also able to automatically regulate both the vehicle speed and its distance to the vehicle ahead travelling in the same lane, thereby reducing the burden of motorway (or similar road) driving and enhancing driver comfort and safety.
The millimetre-wave radar recognises the presence and the speed of the vehicle ahead, thus calculating the distance separating the two. The analysis of the impulses from the radar and their frequency variation makes it possible to calculate the exact distance and the relative speed between the vehicles. When this distance is reduced to below a predetermined value, the system instantly decelerates the vehicle through throttle control and, if necessary, by application of the brakes. In instances where quicker deceleration is required ?????????????????????????????????????? such as being cut-off by another vehicle or sudden braking by the vehicle in front ?????????????????????????????????????? the system will alert the driver with a warning light and a buzzer to prompt the driver to apply the brakes. If the vehicle ahead changes lane or the distance increases again, then the system increases the vehicle speed to the predetermined value.
ACC only operates if all the following conditions are completely fulfilled:
1. The vehicle speed is set between 20-112mph
2. The gearbox position is in D, D3 or M main switch is activated
Pop-up Bonnet System
The European Legend debuts Honda??????????????????????????????????????s Pedestrian Protection Pop-up Bonnet System, which aims to increase safety for those outside the car.
If the car is involved in an accident with a pedestrian, an accelerometer in the front bumper, and a wheel speed sensor both feed information to the engine??????????????????????????????????????s ECU which then triggers a pyrotechnic actuator under the bonnet. A plunger then lifts the bonnet by 100mm which creates clearance between the metalwork and the unyielding engine bay, to help reduce pedestrian head injuries.
Honda estimates that the Pop-up Bonnet System could reduce pedestrian casualties by around 10 per cent, with the number of seriously injured cut by around 5 per cent. These numbers may not seem dramatic, but they are far more significant when considered in the context of the almost 1000 pedestrian and cyclist fatalities each year in Britain.
Active Front lighting System (AFS)
Every Legend comes with the new AFS headlight system, which has been designed to give increased illumination and visibility at night. When cornering, the headlights swivel by up to 20 degrees according to input from the steering and the car??????????????????????????????????????s speed sensors. This movement can illuminate a larger area of road surface throughout a bend, minimising blind spots and giving improved awareness of the road and surroundings.
Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE)
The Legend uses an innovative front end body structure called Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE). This is designed to enhance passenger safety. ACE helps to disperse collision forces over a larger frontal area, as well as prevent misalignment with another vehicle??????????????????????????????????????s safety structures, thus helping to reduce damage in that vehicle.
Cabin safety
The new Legend??????????????????????????????????????s cabin is among the safest in its class. Not only does it have effective front and rear crumple zones, but it features side impact door beams and cross members under the floor in high tensile steel.
Intelligent airbags
Legend is also equipped with front, front side and side curtain airbags. The front airbags are dual-stage and dual-threshold. This means they deploy at two rates and thresholds, depending on the severity of the impact and seatbelt use. The front side airbag system on the passenger side also features Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), which prevents deployment of the airbag if a child or smaller passenger is out of position and in the airbag's path.
