Lexus Jumps Into April Fools’ Day With Lane Valet Automation
A new technology aimed to move drivers out of the passing lane. (We wish it were real.)
I feel like one of the biggest things I’ve been writing about lately is automation (sorry). Lexus went ahead and made my life easier by making their April Fools' Day video available a day early since nobody likes to work Saturdays anyway.
Yesterday, we talked about new Vehicle-to-Vehicle tech that is to become standard by 2023. Lexus must have read it too, because today they decided to announce the inclusion of Remote Valet in the 2018 Lexus LC. Remote Valet is a new technology developed by Lexus that utilizes V2V communication to make cars move the hell out of the left lane, because why are they there if they’re not passing anyway?
Drivers have a dedicated button on the dashboard that activates Lane Valet to signal the car ahead of them to move into the proper right lane and stop obstructing traffic. The offender’s car, if equipped with Lane Valet, will enable its right turn signal and slowly move the vehicle into the proper place when safe. Lexus Product and Consumer Marketing General Manager, Brian Bolain, explains why they decided to include such an innovative feature in the new LC: “An appropriate vehicle speed without excessive braking offers optimal fuel efficiency, better traffic flow and decreased driver frustration.”
If you haven’t figured out that it’s a joke already, you’re late to the party. No worries—Lexus also paid for an ad spot, so they are airing it tomorrow (on April 1st) during the NCAA Final Four and on Saturday Night Live, so I’m sure some of your less-car-savvy coworkers will be bringing it up because they forgot the date.
