2011 VW Touran and Sharan Get Valeo Park4U System

Automotive supplier Valeo announced today its latest generation semi-automatic parking system will be featured on the new Volkswagen Touran and Sharan models. Dubbed Park4U, the system uses ultrasonic sensors located in the front and rear bumpers that calculate the length of the parking slot available, and automatically maneuvers the car into the slot.

The new version needs only 40 cm of clearance at either end of the vehicle to be able to park, a reduction of 43 percent compared to the previous generation.

Moreover, steering assistance no longer ends when the car first goes into reverse, but continues to help the driver until the vehicle is parked. However, the manufacturer says that many maneuvers may be necessary for a short parking slot.

Park4U also allows the motorist to exit a parking space, even if it is very tight (25 cm at either end). It assesses the space available in front and behind the vehicle, and calculates the most appropriate maneuver.

The driver remains in control of the speed, but the system takes control of steering, as when parking. The system also detects the best moment to exit the parking space, and automatically deactivates to let the driver proceed through traffic.

The new generation Park4U also offers drivers assistance in reversing into a space that is perpendicular to the road, on a bend or in a narrow street. Last but not least the parking trajectory has become so flexible that it can adapt to nearly all individual situations.

According to Valeo, 22 models from seven different brands have been equipped with Valeo's Park4U, and estimates that by the end of 2011, these figures will rise to 38 models and 12 brands.