Part 6: 2014 Lexus IS 250/350 Product Information

Safety and Driving Support

  • Available Pre-Collision System (PCS) with enhanced Pre-Collision Brake Assist
  • Available Adaptive Cruise Control
  • New Available Automatic High Beam (AHB), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Auto Location Tire Pressure Warning System (AL-TPWS) systems
  • Unique Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system (VDIM)
  • High- and ultra-high-tensile steel body structure realizing maximum occupant protection and weight reduction
  • 8 SRS airbags fitted as standard
Every Lexus is designed to offer the very highest levels of active and passive safety. Incorporating Lexus’ unique Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system, the new IS model range builds on the already superior safety performance of the current generation model with the addition of several, advanced new active safety features.
 
They include an available Automatic High Beam (AHB) headlamp system, a Lane Departure Alert (LDA) system, a Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), a Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system and a standard Auto Location Tire Pressure Warning System (AL-TPWS).
 
The new IS can also be equipped with Lexus’ sophisticated, pre-emptive Pre-Collision System (PCS), which incorporates Adaptive Cruise Control.
 
Within a highly rigid body structure of exceptional car-to-car impact compatibility and no less than 8 SRS airbags fitted as standard, this allows for the lowest possible vehicle front profile while optimising pedestrian impact protection.
 
 
ACTIVE SAFETY
 
Available Pre-CollisionSystem (PCS)
The new IS can be equipped with an available sophisticated Pre-Collision System (PCS) which offers drivers collision avoidance assistance that is effective in helping mitigate even high-speed collisions.
 
PCS features a millimetre-wave radar sensor, operating within a 20 degree scanning radius to detect obstacles in front of the car, even during cornering. Via numerous sensors, a pre-collision system computer monitors vehicle speed, steering angle and yaw rate inputs to help determine in advance whether an impending rear-end collision with a preceding vehicle is unavoidable.
 
If there is a high possibility of a collision, PCS will alert the driver via both a warning buzzer and a “BRAKE” message on the multi-information display and, when he begins to brake, provide Pre-Collision Brake Assist to supplement his own braking effort.
 
Enhanced Pre-Collision Brake Assist greatly increases braking force enabling deceleration of up to 60 km/h*1, slowing the vehicle as quickly as possible to reduce the severity of a collision.
 
If the driver does not brake and a collision is inevitable, Pre-Collision Brake will automatically apply the brakes to reduce impact speed. Under these circumstances, if the relative speed between the driver’s vehicle and the obstacle ahead does not exceed 30 km/h*2, PCS is designed to bring the vehicle to a stop to avoid a collision.
 
*1 When the driver’s car is travelling at 80 km/h and the preceding car is travelling at 20 km/h
*2 When the driver’s car is travelling at 50 km/h and the preceding car is travelling at 20 km/h
This system is intended to assist drivers, but it is the driver’s responsibility to be aware of the vehicle's surroundings.  The system cannot prevent all collisions and performance is dependent upon road, weather, and vehicle conditions.
 
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
Complementary to the PCS system, the new Lexus sedan also features an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system. The system offers two modes: constant speed control, and vehicle-to-vehicle distance control. The constant speed control functions in the manner of a conventional cruise control system.
 
Capable of differentiating between vehicles directly ahead of the Lexus and those in an adjacent lane, the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control system employs the PCS millimetre-wave radar sensor, allied to constant speed, decelerator, follow-up and accelerator controls, to automatically slow the IS, match the speed of the vehicle in front and, once the road is clear ahead, accelerate to the previously selected cruising speed.
 
The driver can select long, middle or short vehicle-to-vehicle distances. The system control settings are indicated on the IS’s multi-function display.
 
Automatic High Beam (AHB)
An available Automatic High Beam (AHB) headlamp system maximises visibility at night by automatically switching to low beams when its camera detects the lights of either an oncoming or preceding vehicle, helping maximise the time spent driving under high beam illumination.
 
Lane Departure Alert (LDA) System
Monitoring road markings with a camera mounted on the rear-view mirror, an available Lane Departure Alert (LDA) system helps prevent unintended lane changes by alerting the driver with a warning meter display and buzzer alert when the vehicle deviates from its lane without the operation of the turn signal. The available LDA system has earned vehicle assessment recommendation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in North America.
 
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)
An available Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) uses rear mounted radar to detect vehicles in adjacent lanes that are not visible in the outer door mirrors. An indicator light in the corresponding mirror alerts the driver when the presence of such a vehicle is detected. If the turn signal is operated with a vehicle present in the blind spot, the indicator on the corresponding outer mirror will blink.
 
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System 
The available Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system employs the BSM radar to alert the driver to approaching vehicles when backing out of a parking space. When approaching vehicles are detected, the system flashes the indicator lights on the corresponding door mirror and also sounds a warning buzzer.
 
Auto Location Tire Pressure Warning System (AL-TPWS)
Based on date from a sensor integrated within the tire air valve assembly, the AL-TPWS indicates pressure values for each of the four tires via a display located within the driver’s instrument binnacle. When low tire pressure is detected, the display shows the air pressure of the affected tire in amber, highlighting the figure.
With a conventional system, the warning lamp will not notify the driver of the specific tire in question, whereas AL-TPWS clearly indicates which of the four tires has low-pressure status.
 
Since sensor data is received the moment the ignition is turned on, the driver can check tire pressures before starting off. This not only helps enhance fuel economy and tire longevity, but also contributes to preventive safety by helping to reduce the risk of a flat tire or similar failure.
 
Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM)
The new IS model range features Lexus’ unique, state-of-the-art Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system to enhance performance, traction control and vehicle stability.
 
With comprehensive status data provided by sensors throughout the vehicle, VDIM integrates the IS’s Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control (TRC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) active safety systems with the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) or, where fitted, Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS).
 
By the application of integrated control of all the elements related to vehicle movement, including motor torque, brakes and steering, VDIM not only optimises the activation of braking, stability and traction control systems, but is also able to further improve the overall kinetic performance of the vehicle.
 
Moreover, whereas conventional active safety systems are only activated immediately after a limit of the vehicle’s dynamic envelope has been reached, VDIM activates control before that limit is realised. As a result, the limits of the vehicle’s dynamic threshold have been expanded, while offering smoother vehicle behaviour at this threshold through less obtrusive intervention and, hence, a more pleasurable drive.
 
When braking in a corner, for example, a loss of rear tire grip may result in oversteer. Through the EBD function, the use of linear brake actuators makes it possible to begin control before the vehicle’s limit has been reached. The VDIM system apportions the appropriate braking force to each wheel, ensuring continued vehicle stability by pre-emptively restraining the spinning tendency, while contributing to superior braking performance.
 
Under even stronger braking in a corner, front wheel lock-up and loss of grip may result in understeer. By once again independently controlling the braking force to all four wheels via the EBD system, VDIM helps to prevent front wheel lock-up and regain vehicle balance, offering seamless control until the conventional ABS and VSC functions take over.
 
Moreover, via the EPS or VGRS actuator, VDIM will augment VSC operation by providing steering assistance to reduce torque steer under braking on surfaces of varying grip, as well as introducing steering torque assistance in both understeer and oversteer conditions, helping the driver to optimise the front wheel steering angle and maintain vehicle stability with minimum input.
 
 
PASSIVE SAFETY
 
Body Structure
Reflecting the stringent car-to-car impact compatibility standards unique to the Lexus marque, the new IS has been created with the express aim of achieving class-leading safety in full-frontal, offset, side-on and rear collisions.
 
The comprehensive use of high- and ultra-high-tensile steel within the body structure optimally transfers and disperses impact load, minimising cabin deformation during a collision and maintaining space for the occupants.
 
Efficiently dispersing frontal impact load, the new IS features a top/bottom two split laminate front pillar reinforcement structure, a forward projecting rocker structure, and high-tensile steel sheet to both rocker outer and door inner reinforcement.
 
Particular attention has been paid to side impact protection, with ultra-high-tensile steel adopted to the roof center reinforcement and for rocker outer reinforcement over an expanded area. The B pillar inner side is fabricated in high tensile steel with hot press sheet steel reinforcement.
 
Hot press sheet steel has been adopted for the head rail outer reinforcement, and hot stamp steel used for the front door impact beam. The rear door impact beam sheet thickness has been increased, bulk added to the end of the rocker reinforcement and hard resin reinforcement added internally.
 
The rear bumper reinforcement has been fabricated using new, electromagnetic forming techniques. The caulked structure eliminates the need for bolt fastening, combing energy absorption efficiency with weight reduction.
 
 
SRS Airbags
The Lexus IS benefits from 8 standard SRS airbags; two-stage Dual Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) front airbags, both driver and front passenger SRS knee airbags, front and rear SRS side airbags and SRS side curtain airbags.  IS 350 RWD benefits from 10 standard airbags with the addition of SRS rear seat side airbags.
 
The advanced, Supplementary Restraint System controls variable-force SRS front airbags for both driver and front passenger. Sensors determine the severity on an impact and, hence, the force with which the SRS airbags are deployed.

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