Porsche explores self-driving tech

Even Porsche isn't ignoring the move towards self-driving technology. The firm's new Panamera sports sedan debuts a newly developed technology called InnoDrive. It works in conjunction with the adaptive cruise control system and satellite navigation data to scan 3km ahead and adjust the car accordingly for the most efficient performance, says stuff.co.nz. Its development is part of Porsche's move into autonomous driving technology. Speaking at a technical presentation on the new model, Dr Gernot Dollner, product line director for Panamera, explained the company's direction. "Right now that's very important that [InnoDrive is] an assistance system; it is far away from autonomous driving," says Dollner. "You can take your hands off [the wheel] for a couple of seconds but the driver is still in control, he's still responsible. "Of course all these systems . . . coming to the car are the first step in that direction [autonomous driving]. "We have defined various levels of autonomous driving and level five is a car without a driver, which doesn't really make sense for Porsche because they are driver-oriented cars. "We are now on level two. Level four would be autonomous driving on special roads, like the autobahn, or for a special time, but we are a way from that." Dollner says Porsche customers like to drive the cars. “Once they will discover our cars have an everyday use; if you're in a traffic jam it also makes sense to have autonomous help in a traffic jam, so it will be of relevance for Porsche.”