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Vauxhall launches speed limit detectors on Insignia (2008)

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 19 June 2008 07:53 Vauxhall's new Insignia will be the first of a wave of cars to have a forward-facing camera that can read road signs. The optional kit will detect speed limit and no overtaking signs – and flash up a reminder to the driver on the dashboard.GM calls the tech, which will be launched in early 2009, Traffic Sign Recognition and it uses a small, wide-angled camera system supplied by Hella. It sits at the top of the windscreen near the rain sensors and rear-view mirror, scanning the road ahead taking 30 photos per second.It's 1984 all over again...With a range of 100 metres, the camera focuses on circular patterns and then interprets the numbers inside by contour comparison; if a match is found on the software's database, that road sign will be flashed up in the driver's binnacle.The front-facing camera is also used as a lane departure warning system, alerting the driver if they unintentionally swerve out of their lane on a motorway.Cars with cameras: a growing trendMore and more manufacturers are fitting cameras to their cars nowadays and you can expect a flood of systems like the Insignia's to be launched in 2009, including the new BMW 5-series.CAR tried out these new systems on Bosch prototypes in 2007.

Ford asks Web-savvy Americans to test the Fiesta

Ford Motor Co. wants to use social networking sites such as Facebook to generate buzz for its new Fiesta subcompact. But it will rely on company outsiders to get the early word out.

Wayne Cherry receives Lifetime Achievement Award at EyesOn Design 2013

Renowned car designer Wayne Cherry was honored with a Lifetime Design Achievement Award at the EyesOn Automotive Design Exhibition at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, Michigan. The former GM vice president of design was chosen by a panel of his fellow designers for the honor after a 42-year career with the carmaker, during which he was involved in the design of over 80 concepts and more than 90 production vehicles. Only vehicle designers who have previously won the award are allowed to vote, with this year's panel including Chris Bangle, Walter de'Silva, Tom Gale, Giorgetto Giugiaro, Chuck Jordan, Robert Lutz, Shiro Nakamura, Chuck Pelly, Sergio Pininfarina and Jack Telnack.