|
Thoughts on Executive Vehicles
For years most of the vehicles considered for executive transportation have been the Town Car - Cadillac DTS – BMW and Mercedes. There are two other vehicles I would include in the executive vehicle conversation; they are the Audi A8 4.2 Quattro and Lexus 460L AWD/Lexus LS 600h. If a Hybrid is in the plans but don’t want a SUV the Lexus LS 600h is another vehicle to consider. A British publication, The Chauffeur, selected the Lexus 600h as the best vehicle in the $75,000 to $100,000 range. According to Chauffeurs magazine, the key factors behind the judges' decision included “the Lexus hybrid system which allowed for lower emission and competitive fuel economy, build quality, and the reclining and massaging rear seats”. If a Hybrid vehicle is not in the plans, the Lexus 460 L AWD is an impressive executive vehicle.
I may be guilty of judging the vehicle from the driver’s seat, but if I had to pick an executive vehicle it would the Audi A8 L W12 Quattro, keep in mind that I don’t have to pay for it ($120,000) or explain why I am driving an import. This vehicle is the ultimate sports sedan, 12 cylinder, good handling, and comfortable vehicle. The comfortable comment may be arguable.
At the low end (if you consider $75,000 to be low) would be the A8 4.2.
The Lexus and Audi offer different approaches to Executive Transportation.
Thoughts on safety
For all executive vehicles include Electronic Stability Control. Each manufacturer has a different name for it but basically it is a computer system that uses the ABS and Traction Control computers to monitor what the car is doing, after you tell it what to do. My guess would be that all cars that would be considered for executive use would have ESC. This is an article we did a while ago on ESC. http://securitydriver.com/aic/stories/article-127.html ESC works, test show startling results, as much as a 35% decrease in accidents with stability control system. No thought needed here get it either for your personal vehicle or your corporate vehicle.
Static Stability Factor (SSF)?
If you are looking at an SUV I would suggest you do some research on the vehicles Statics Stability Factor (SSF). The SSF is how the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determines a vehicles rollover probability; it is the vehicles at-rest calculation of its rollover resistance. The location of the center of gravity is measured in a laboratory to determine the height above the ground of the vehicle’s mass. The lower the SSF number, the more likely the vehicle is to roll over in a single-vehicle crash.
A higher SSF value equates to a more stable, less top-heavy vehicle. SSF values across all vehicle types can range from around 1.00 to 1.50. We use Police Package Crown Vic’s in our training programs. The SSF of the Crown Vic is 1.51, and at times we are training in SUV’s such as the Ford Expedition which has a SSF of 1.16. That is a 30% difference in tip speeds. When we are conducting training with SUV’s we take the SSF into consideration when determining max speeds through an exercise. You can find the SSF numbers for most vehicles at http://www.safercar.gov
Brake Assist
Basically, a brake assist system monitors the driver’s use of the brake pedal, automatically sensing an attempt to stop the car as a result of panic. It then generates very high braking power, even when the driver is only pressing lightly on the brake pedal. When this is used together with anti-lock braking systems, it results in faster and safer braking.
http://www.brakeassist.com/brakeassist.html
Depending on the driver, statistics for emergency stops in cars using this technology range from a 20% - 45% reduction in stopping distances, a potentially significant difference in critical situations.
Lane Departure Warning System
NHTSA research indicates that lane departure is the number one cause of accidents. The system uses a camera to detect when the vehicle gets close to the lane marker and sounds an audible warning. You can find the top ten causes of accidents at http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1010601
Using computers to keep the drivers safe is the future, and I would add lane departure as an accessory if available - but I am still of the opinion that a computer cannot overcome irresponsible driving.
Side Airbags
Simply said front and rear side airbags are a life saver, they can greatly reduce injuries. Putting aside executive vehicles for a moment, they should be in any vehicle that you put yourself and your family in.
Don’t forget the original safety device, a seat belt. If the driver and passengers don’t have their seat belts on all the other safety equipment loses its effectiveness. All you need to do is point to the Governor of New Jersey – all the airbags in the vehicle didn’t help him. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/21/nyregion/21crash.html
Any and all reprints and redistributions of this article are strictly prohibited without the expressed written
consent of the Author. Please direct questions or comments about this site to the webmaster@securitydriver.com. Copyright © 1999-2009. SecurityDriver.Com. All rights reserved. |
