Lexus to add more safety

Yesterday safety watchdog ANCAP criticised a number of car-makers including Lexus for not fitting some advanced safety aids as standard in all models.

The same day the Japanese luxury brand announced it will fit blind spot monitoring (BSM) and rear cross traffic alert (RCTA) to its entire range of passenger car and SUV models.

However, the technologies will remain unavailable in entry-level versions of some models and may not be offered in others for some time.

Furthermore, Lexus is yet to offer any model with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), which is now available in a range of small cars including the facelifted Volkswagen Polo launched yesterday.

Both the Lexus CT and IS (and Polo) were awarded a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating yesterday, but the independent vehicle safety body highlighted the lack of active safety technologies such as AEB and adaptive cruise control (ACC) in entry versions of each car.

Lexus points out it was the first brand to make standard a number of safety features across its range – including reversing cameras in 2003 – and has now committed to fitting RCTA to the IS, ES, GS and LS (all of which are available with BSM) by the end of this year.

The first Lexus vehicles to receive the accident-avoiding technology include the upcoming NX crossover and RC coupe models. Selected versions of the NX will also come with a 360-degree panoramic view monitor.

"Lexus already offers reverse camera as standard across our entire model range and the addition of rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring only strengthens our stance on safety," said Lexus Australia chief Sean Hanley.

"We are committed to ensuring that the innovative safety technology is available across as many of our models as quickly as possible, starting with the all-new NX and RC."

However, in line with Lexus' policy to miminise options and encourage customers to buy more expensive variants, entry-level versions will not come standard with BSM or RCTA.

And while Lexus says its intent is to roll out BSM and RCTA to all models (but not all variants of each model), the technologies may not be available across the range for a year or longer.

At present, BSM is unavailable on the CT and entry-level IS and will remain so for now, while ACC is available across the Lexus range, but only in selected variants.

Lane departure warning is currently available only in selected IS, GS and, soon, NX and RC models.

Lexus is yet to offer AEB in any model, instead offering a Pre-Collision system including all-speed active cruise control, which can bring the vehicle to a halt to maintain a safe following distance with other vehicles, but is not designed to avoid rear-end collisions in emergency situations like AEB systems.