31 Oct 2019
Photo credit: Anton Lim
We all have our pet parking peeves, from nerve-jangling narrow car parks to heart-in-mouth parallel parking slots. Yet now, thanks to smart Audi technology, the stress of navigating tight angles and hidden obstacles is a thing of the past.
Reversing or squeezing through tight parking areas can be seriously stressful, even for experienced drivers. It’s natural to worry that we might have missed something in a blind spot. This common anxiety is exactly what Audi’s Driver Assist technology aims to overcome.
For example, in the Audi A6 there are four wide-angle cameras providing a 360-degree and virtual overhead view on the MMI® display. The system is automatically activated when driving in reverse or by pushing a button. This allows you to scan the immediate vicinity and display any obstacles, switching from different screen views instantly with a swipe of a finger. Now you can confidently manoevre the A6 with absolute precision through tight parking spots or narrow multi-storey car park ramps.
To test it out, we spent a day taking the Audi A6 to five of Singapore’s worst parking pain points.
9.50am – A business meeting at Raffles Place dragged on, so now we’re running late for the next appointment across town. However, exiting the car park at Chevron House is not to be rushed, with an exceptionally narrow exit ramp threatening to scrape the A6. Paint scuffs along the walls show where many less fortunate drivers have fallen victim before.
12.10pm – Catching up with a friend for lunch at iVillage in Serangoon Gardens. Half of Singapore seems to be here doing the same thing, but we’re in luck when a car exits a space right in front of us on Maju Avenue. This is a narrow, one-way road requiring parallel parking. With impatient traffic tight on our tail, there’s no time to wait and size up the space, so we need to get in there fast.
2.00pm – Hurrying down to Orchard Road to pick up a new shirt from a fashion store. Given its central location, Wisma Atria car park is well placed for this brief shopping excursion. Yet before trying on any clothes we have to fit the A6 through the super tight entrance, avoiding concrete pillars and low walls before turning sharply into the lots.
4.20pm – A last-minute meeting with an important client at their head office in the CBD. A cool head is essential for this gathering. Parking at Tong Eng Building on Cecil Street is certainly a test of nerves, with a horribly narrow entrance, tight turns and unexpected pillars. Thankfully the 360-degree cameras do their job.
6.30pm – Heading out for an evening date in Chinatown. With heavy rain forecast later, we want to park as close as possible to the restaurant on Keong Saik Road. This is a hectic two-way road with lots of traffic, so the pressure is on to make this parallel parking manoevre go smoothly at the first time of asking. All easily done – now it’s time to park ourselves at the dining table!
Discover more about the smart technology in the Audi A6 below.
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