IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights. Best visibility, maximum convenience and even greater safety: with the IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights, a new evolutionary stage of vehicle lighting is equipped as standard in the Polo GTI. Volkswagen is thus driving forward democratisation of the innovative LED lighting system across all classes right down to the small car segment. Alongside the Polo, this system is also used in the Touareg, Passat, Golf, Tiguan and Tiguan Allspace, the new Taigo, as well as the ID.3 and ID.4. Using a matrix of numerous LEDs in each headlight module, various and partly also interactive functions such as Dynamic Light Assist make driving in twilight or darkness even more convenient.
IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist. Volkswagen is bundling its systems for assisted driving under the umbrella brand IQ.DRIVE. A fundamental element here is the Travel Assist system, which permits partly automated driving in the Polo GTI for the first time. The system can take over steering, braking and acceleration of the new Polo GTI from a speed of 0 km/h up to the control limit of the Travel Assist (210 km/h). To do this, the activated system relies on functions including predictive Adaptive Cruise Control (longitudinal guidance) and Lane Assist (lateral guidance). Using a radar system in the front end and a camera behind the windscreen, Travel Assist can maintain the speed, lane and distance from the vehicle in front. The system is activated by means of the Travel- Assist button in the newly designed leather multifunction steering wheel. The driver always remains responsible for control of the Polo GTI and must keep their hands on the steering wheel even when IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist is active. The electronics of the Polo GTI recognises whether this is the case by means of capacitive surfaces on the leather multifunction sports steering wheel. This capacitive detection function is extremely effective and reliable, even on long and flat straight sections.
Predictive ACC. The latest generation of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) works together with the DSG and navigation system to proactively take into account local speed limit information, town boundary signs, junctions and roundabouts. To do this, the assist system uses the signals from the front camera as well as GPS and map data. The new ACC thus becomes a kind of intelligent cruise control system and is a good example of how familiar assist systems are being continuously enhanced. Thanks to combination of the system with the DSG, the Polo GTI with ACC can also be automatically slowed to a standstill behind a stopping vehicle.
Side Assist plus Lane Assist and Rear Traffic Alert. The new Polo GTI is equipped with the Lane Assist lane keeping system as standard. If this compact athlete is ordered with the optional driver assist system package including Side Assist, these two systems merge. Also on board in this case are Rear Traffic Alert, as well as the Front Assist proactive protection and area monitoring system including Pedestrian and Cyclist Monitoring. The driver assist system package can help to prevent serious accidents. Its advantages come into play in two situations in particular: on the motorway, it recognises vehicles in the blind spot that are overtaking quickly or driving at low speed in slow-moving traffic, warns the driver about them, and initiates counter-steering via Lane Assist before a dangerous situation can occur. When reversing out of a parking space, the sensor system already detects vehicles approaching from the side before they enter the driver’s field of vision. It can then warn the driver very early on about traffic crossing sideways.
Autonomous Emergency Braking Front Assist. Front Assist, which is fitted as standard in the new Polo GTI, uses a radar sensor integrated into the front of the vehicle to continuously monitor the distance to the vehicles ahead. The system assists the driver in critical situations by preconditioning the brake system, alerting the driver to the need to react by visual and audible warnings and, in a second stage, by a brief warning jolt of the brake pedal. If the driver does not brake hard enough, the system automatically generates the necessary amount of brake pressure to prevent a collision. If the driver does not react at all, Front Assist automatically applies the brakes to give the driver more reaction time. In addition, the system assists by informing the driver if the distance to the vehicle ahead is too short. In addition to detection of vehicles, the latest version of Front Assist offered in the Polo GTI also detects pedestrians and cyclists who are moving across the driving lane. And it does this not only during the day, but in darkness as well. As soon as a pedestrian or cyclist is at risk, the system warns the driver and, in a final stage, brakes the new Polo GTI within the limits of the system. The Front Assist system also includes the City Emergency Braking function.
City Emergency Braking System. The City Emergency Braking System is a system enhancement of Front Assist and monitors the area in front of the Polo GTI using a radar sensor. The system operates at speeds below 30 km/h. If the driver does not react to an impending collision with a vehicle ahead or a stationary vehicle, the brake system is preconditioned as with Front Assist. If necessary, the City Emergency Braking System then automatically initiates full braking within system limits to reduce the severity of an accident. In addition, if the pedal force applied by the driver is insufficient, the system intervenes by applying maximum braking force.
Driver Alert System. The Driver Alert System, which comes as standard, detects if the driver has lost concentration and sends them an acoustic warning lasting five seconds. In addition, a break recommendation is displayed in the instrument cluster. If the driver does not take a break within the next 15 minutes, the warning is repeated.
Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. Around a quarter of all accidents with personal injury result from multicollisions that take place after the actual first accident. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System can help to avoid secondary collisions or at least reduce their severity. After an initial collision, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System automatically initiates a braking action – within system limits – even before the driver can react. In an ideal case, this can significantly reduce the severity of the accident or completely prevent it.
Proactive occupant protection system. If the standard proactive occupant protection system detects a potential accident situation – such as when full braking is initiated by an activated brake assist system – the seat belts for the driver and front-seat passenger are automatically pre-tensioned to ensure the best possible protection via the airbag and belt systems. If a highly critical and unstable driving situation is detected – such as severe oversteer or understeer with ESC intervention – the side windows are closed (except for a small gap), as is the optional sliding sunroof. Background: with the windows and roof nearly closed, the head and side airbags are able to provide optimum support and thus be as effective as possible. As this system is offered in the new Polo GTI in conjunction with the standard Front Assist function, the proactive occupant protection system also detects situations in which the distance to the vehicle ahead is critical, and it helps to shorten the vehicle’s stopping distance. In hazardous situations, the driver is given a visual and an audible warning and is also warned with a preventative braking jolt.
Park Assist. The optional Park Assist automatically guides the Polo GTI into parking bays and parallel parking spaces and can also drive the car out of the latter. The system is activated by pressing a button on the centre console. Using the indicators, the driver selects the side on which the vehicle is to be parked. Once Park Assist finds a sufficiently large parking space using the ultrasound sensors (40 cm of manoeuvring room at front and rear is sufficient), assisted parking can start: the driver selects reverse gear and then just has to accelerate and brake in a controlled way. The car handles the steering. An automatic braking function provides assistance if the distance is insufficient.
Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator. The Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator utilises the wheel speed sensors of the anti-lock brake system (ABS). In case of tyre pressure loss, the rolling radius of the affected wheel decreases, and the wheel turns faster at the same vehicle speed. The system detects that the tyre pressure is insufficient from this and warns the driver visually via the standard Digital Cockpit Pro. However, the Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator does not relieve the driver of the obligation to check tyre pressures.