Proton X50 Flagship’s L2 Autonomous Driving System Will Have Stop-Go Intelligent Cruise Control!

During the media preview event at the Sepang International Circuit, Proton has finally revealed the details on the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) of the Proton X50 that is exclusive to the top-range Flagship variant.

As you are probably aware, the Flagship variant of the Proton X50 will be equipped with Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities as standard – a feature that Proton has stated as a first in its class. In short, Level 2 autonomous driving includes sustained control for lateral movements (i.e. steering) in addition to longitudinal control, either accelerating and braking.

The main highlight of the Level 2 ADAS on the Proton X50 Flagship is the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), which can provide acceleration, braking, and steering assistance in certain driving conditions. Essentially, it combines the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system from the bigger X70 together with Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Centering Assist, which allows the car to follow another car ahead at a predetermined distance at speeds of up to 150 km/h.

On the ACC front, the system has also been improved from the one on the X70, with the addition of a stop-go function; allowing the X50 to brake to a complete stop depending on the vehicle ahead. If the vehicle ahead stopped for less than three seconds, the system on the X50 will resume driving (in adaptive cruise control) automatically without any driver input; otherwise, the driver will need to click on the resume button or apply the accelerator to resume cruise control.

The ICC system also gains an Overtake Assist feature, which automatically speeds up the car if the turn indicator was activated, along with a curve deceleration control which automatically applies the brakes slightly to help the car steer into the bend.

Being an assistance feature, the ICC system still requires the drivers to put their hands on the steering wheel at all times. A torque sensor within the steering wheel detects for driver input, and an audible chime will kick in to instruct the driver to keep their hands on the wheels if no movement is detected. If the driver’s hands were not detected for an extended period, the system will disengage automatically.

The Proton X50 Flagship variant is also equipped with Autonomous Parking Assist, or APA as proton calls it – another Level 2 autonomous driving assistance feature which can automatically park the car in both perpendicular and parallel parking spots, as well as exiting from tight parallel spaces.

To keep the drivers constantly mindful of their surroundings when using the APA system, the X50 requires drivers to keep their hands held on the parking assist button on the centre console. The system stops immediately if the driver releases the button – useful in the event of sudden obstacles – and can be resumed by holding the button again.

Other advance driver assistance features found on the Proton X50 Flagship includes forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), an improved blind spot monitor with indicators located within the side mirrors, and intelligent high beam control.