Rolls-Royce Wraith Selects Gears Using GPS
The 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith coupe is using GPS to make a smooth ride even smoother.
Unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the Wraith is the fastest, most powerful car Rolls-Royce has ever made at $320,000 ($245,000 euros). The Wraith’s eight-speed automatic transmission is linked to a GPS receiver. The car uses satellites to constantly determine what road you’re driving on and in what conditions, then uses the data to anticipate when to shift gears.
For example, it can downshift the moment a hill or curve is approached, which helps with both performance and fuel economy, Rolls said. The nav system also compiles real-time traffic data from cellphones in commercial vehicles and taxis, and uses the data to update the travel route every three minutes.
The debut of Satellite Aided Transmission technology takes the power train to a new level of effortless delivery, the automaker said, allowing the car to “see into the future.”
According to the Rolls, Satellite Aided Transmission uses GPS data and the navigation system to scan the road. It anticipates his next move based on location and current driving style, then automatically chooses the optimum gear on the eight-speed transmission. “Power is delivered effortlessly for you, so you can surge through every corner, round every roundabout and into every slip road smoothly,” Rolls-Royce said.
The high-tech doesn’t stop with GPS. The Wraith has a heads-up display, voice command support and an infotainment system with multi-touch trackpad and 10-inch screen.
Start saving your pennies. The Rolls goes on sale this fall.
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