Audi have expanded availability of their parallel park assist feature to the Audi A3 cabriolet range. VW recently introduced a similar system as an option for their new Volkswagen Tiguan small SUV. The park assist system works in conjunction with the A3 Cabriolet’s driver’s information system (DIS).
Using ultrasonic sensors, the system monitors longitudinal parking spaces at speeds below 19mph, and if it detects that a space is sufficiently large to reverse into, the driver is alerted via the DIS.
If the driver then engages reverse gear and touches the accelerator pedal, the Park Assist system takes over the electromechanical steering and automatically steers the car into the space in one manoeuvre. The driver can relinquish complete control of the steering wheel to the car, and only has to operate the accelerator, the clutch and the brake.