It seems Toyota’s ultimate goal is for even the driver to become a passenger, having today outlined a system which will incorporate brake application into satellite navigation technology.

Using GPS data and a rear-mounted camera, the system will acknowledge an upcoming stop sign and calculate whether the driver has applied enough brake force to stop in time, if not the system takes over bringing the car to a halt.

Previously, Toyota has taken driving out of the hands of drivers with its self-parking system, which has achieved debatable success.

The typical GPS system in most cars is only accurate to around 15m, presumably this kind of technology would only be implemented on premium Lexus models where the high-end GPS software is accurate to within as little as 30cm.

The system is more than just a technological showcase, with Toyota set to release new models in Japan carrying the system in the near future.

Thankfully it appears as though the system relies on road markings unique to Japan, so it seems unlikely that it would make it into Australian spec vehicles.

Source: MotorAuthority

Honda has promised its hundreds of formula one staff a $2000 bonus should Jenson Button or Rubens Barrichello win a race in 2008. The move, which would cost the Brackley based team in excess of $1.5m per victory, would apply not only to mechanics and engineers but also to the cleaners of the Brackley factory, according to the team’s HR director John Marsden.

Marsden told HR delegates at a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development conference in London this week that the motivation scheme is designed to encourage team spirit. He also said it is hoped that the monetary incentive will keep employees motivated to stay at Honda rather than switch to rival teams.

“Everyone gets a bonus if we win — from the race staff to the cleaners,” he is quoted as saying by the publication Personnel Today. “I want everyone to feel part of the team,” Marsden added. “People need to be faced with a thought process about what they would lose if they left you,” he said. (GMM)

Although it’s still in pure conceptual form, the idea is so innovative that it’s worth a look. Based on the need for a vehicle that handles passengers like a sedan and yet parks like a subcompact, the City [Zen] is designed to do just that. With three modes, the [Zen] can adapt to almost any situation.

The system can change its body position according to the car’s speed and situation on the road. For example, in highway mode, this gives the car a long wheelbase, focusing on aerodynamics and center of gravity. City mode, on the other hand, gives the driver a higher vantage point and shortens the wheelbase. Parking mode shrinks the vehicle to its smallest footprint by making the car’s body nearly vertical. Throughout these movements, the passenger seats remain in the proper position, thanks to the all-mechanical system.

Obviously, the [Zen] is more of a conceptual design study than a real-world prototype, so production is not even contemplated. However, as electric drivetrains become more common, their non-traditional form factors will open up the possibility for cars like the [Zen]. It might still be another couple of decades before we see something like it in the flesh, but as long as people continue to need individual, convenient and on-demand transport, there will be innovations in the field.