IM Motors’ advanced technology stands out from the standard automated parking systems that have become commonplace.
3 hours ago
IM Motors’ electric prototype can slide sideways into a parking space, with an advanced electric motor allowing the rear wheels to spin in the opposite direction. It’s unclear whether the company plans to include the system in a production model.
Automakers have been offering automated parking systems for some time now that can guide a car into a parking space without driver interaction, but Chinese automaker IM Motors appears to be developing a new technology that differs from anything currently available.
The company recently shared a short video on Chinese social media of a camouflaged electric vehicle prototype parked in a parking lot, where a woman holding a bouquet of flowers gets out of the passenger door and closes it, causing the car to smoothly roll sideways and into the parking space.
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If we look closely, we see that the system isn’t as automated as we thought: there’s a human driver behind the wheel of the sedan, and we see him steer left just after the door closes. The front wheels were already pointing left, so this steering action seems to force the rear wheels to point towards the parking space, but in the opposite direction to the front wheels.
Combined with a trick electric motor that spins the front wheels forward and the rear wheels backward, allowing the sedan to maneuver sideways into a parking space, the days of regular parallel parking may be coming to an end.
Details about the vehicle featured in this intriguing test are limited, but it appears to be similar in shape and size to the brand’s current L6 electric sedan. However, the prototype is fully camouflaged, suggesting it could be a new version or a completely different model. There’s also no word on if or when IM Motors plans to offer this simple parking solution to the general public.
Thanks Carnewschina!
