Toyota Prius: hands-free parallel parking

If things were different, we'd purchase a Toyota Prius with that two-grand Intelligent Parking Assist option for the whole of that bridge-and-tunnel hair-posse (you know who you are) which descends upon Gotham each weekend. 'Cause they'll just never get enough experience parking in those spacious suburban streets to avoid being a menace over here. Just check out the vid if you doubt the usefulness of said tech. Now, if only Toyota would bring the technology here like they just did in Europe or in Japan oh, 3 freakin' years ago. Really Toyota, we won't sue when we back over our AIBO -- promise.

[jon brewer @ Feb 22nd 2006 11:56AM]

bmw's definitely had this technology out for a good while now...

[yet another Matt @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:03PM]

heh, so how good is it at getting you in to tiny spaces? Like on the road i live on, if your not 3" from the curb, and 8" from the cars infront and behind your a bad driver.

Lets not forget that there isnt room to do a full lock either, and sometimes the trickiest bit is getting back out!

[Osman @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:06PM]

Really? got a link? never heard of it on mercedes or bmw.

[bleach @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:09PM]

Americans are too stupid to use that technology. someone would sue for something stupid and get a huge settlement and toyota would recall all the cars, because Americans are too stupid.

[Pat @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:10PM]

That parking space was huge...lets see this thing in action on the streets of chicago where there will be 6 inches left on either side when you're done...

[omer @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:15PM]

Toyota IS bringing this technology to the States. It's standard on the 2007 Lexus LS460.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060108/FREE/60108005/1041/DETROITINDEX

[sr @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:18PM]

That was the funniest post ever on Engadget!

[Ed @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:21PM]

Pat, exactly. I've never seen tighter parallel parking spaces than here in Chicago, and I don't think the prius or any of the other automated parking systems would be able to handle it very well.

[Andrew @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:25PM]

You find me an original New Yorker who isn't from the Outer Boroughs who can parallel park and I'll give you a dollar. Everyone know that Manhattanites don't drive. Gosh! Come on now, Engadget!

[Dave @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:31PM]

They probably need this because the Prius is so tough to park. I thought it was strange when I first encountered on a Prius on the street in Sand Diego and could not parallel park behind it in a Camry for the life of me.

Back in NYC, I rented one from zipcar and had a lot of trouble parking it. The visibility is poor front and back and you have no idea where you are relative to the other cars. I ended up doing that pathetic back-and-forth jockey bit. I was shocked at how much room I had been working with when I finally got out.

[Stephen @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:42PM]

Ha wait til there is a little kid playing in the parking space and the sensors don't pick up on it.

[pantrygirl @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:46PM]

Bring this baby to NYC and let's watch it try to park. What about curbless spots? Can it judge distance to curbs/sidewalks?

[Andrew @ Feb 22nd 2006 12:56PM]

Now if this is a European car, wouldn't the driver be on the right hand side, so the guy putting his hands out the window wouldn't exactly be showing much.

[Dario @ Feb 22nd 2006 1:00PM]

Andrew, you are thinking of the UK.

[Jeff @ Feb 22nd 2006 1:09PM]

Am I the only one that thinks it's a bit dangerous to not require people to have basic driving skills before getting behind the wheel?

[David @ Feb 22nd 2006 1:21PM]

agree

[Pal @ Feb 22nd 2006 1:55PM]

Fix the roads, then fix the cars.

[Peter @ Feb 22nd 2006 2:25PM]

You guys are dillusional if you think the US and even NYC is the home of the tight parking. I live in NYC(and occasionally drive/park), but I grew up in the UK. I have litterally bounced cars in and out of spots before with friends. The small streets and towns designed for pedestrians and horses are more of a challenge than the huge roads you have here.

[pbriones @ Feb 22nd 2006 3:01PM]

It's not really parallel parking until it it completes the whole task for you. The driver had to adjust the wheel and then straighten out the car. I still think it's cool though....plus he had a lot of room to back up. Let's see them do that in Seattle.

[ISSEI @ Feb 22nd 2006 3:07PM]

Japan has narrow streets and very little space so if it worked in Japan, it should be ok in US.....if it worked in Japan...

[James @ Feb 22nd 2006 3:07PM]

Learn to drive...

[Nick @ Feb 22nd 2006 4:53PM]

I think this is exciting technology. My vision for private transportation in the future involves a whoooole lot of autopilot. It would be great if all cars could communicate with each other wirelessly and adjust distances for maximum safety, or even be able to automatically navigate lane changes or an entire ride.

[qazwsx1298 @ Feb 22nd 2006 10:12PM]

One step closer to the cars in I, Robot.

[Kendrew @ Feb 22nd 2006 10:18PM]

Japan's version doesn't allow you to fully let go of the brake pedal. You must hold the brake pedal and it is up to you when to stop or not.

Americans are too stupid to use that, they'll sue for it not being fully automated. Stupid people

[Stumper @ Feb 23rd 2006 11:44AM]

All American's are stupid? Riiiiight...

We're all stupid because (please pick one):
A) America is the richest and most powerful nation in the world
B) We invented the car
C) We invented the computer
D) We invented the GUI, and every other useful piece of software
E) We kicked kicked whatever-country-you're-from's butt in any and every war we've fought against each other
F) We saved whatever-country-you're-from's butt in any war we've fought together
G) Nearly every significant advance in science, technology, or medicine within the past 75 years came from America.

right buddy, we're all too stupid to understand how to keep our foot on the brake. sure

[StupidAmerican @ Feb 23rd 2006 1:46PM]

Yep, Americans are stupid. We have never, and will never, provide anything useful to the rest of the world. We should probably just close up shop and cut ourselves off from all other countries. Good luck world! Oh, sorry, you won't be able to post how stupid Americans are on Engadget anymore.

[Pinknoise @ Feb 24th 2006 2:31PM]

Citroen C3 prototype do the same .. almost ( you need to change gear manually ) .

[Nike @ Mar 13th 2006 5:25AM]

As I remember Toyota Prius was the first to introduce this on 2003, not BMW.

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,60154-0.html

[shooter @ Apr 5th 2006 3:06PM]

... but the Americans also "invent" the greedy lawyers...

[Hesh @ Apr 16th 2006 2:22AM]

u gotta be one hell of a bad driver to pay 2 grand a get a auto parking system built in to ur own car, i reckon reverse sensors just about do the trick.