Mahindra XUV700 ADAS engaged to play cards in a moving SUV: Is it safe? [Video]
Mahindra XUV700 became one of the most affordable cars to offer advanced Level-2 ADAS features in the Indian market. While it is a safety feature and helps the driver to reduce fatigue, many are exploiting the feature. Here is a video by Shubham_0464 shows how the occupants of XUV700 including the driver of the car play cards while cruising on the highway.
The short video shows the driver with his feet up on the seats and playing cards on the move. Mahindra XUV700 gets Level-2 autonomous features, which means that it can keep the car in the lane, change the speed according to the speed of the vehicle in front and also apply autonomous brakes during emergencies.
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It looks like the driver of the car has engaged the ADAS and is enjoying the game of cards. While it may look like fun, it is highly unsafe. Even Mahindra directs the driver of the vehicle to keep their hands on the steering wheel all the time. If the driver lifts the hands completely from the steering wheel, the XUV700 will play warning sounds and vibrate the steering wheel too.
To ensure that the driver keeps their hands on the steering wheel, Mahindra also disengages the system after a set of warnings. The ADAS is an assistive system and cannot manoeuvre the vehicle completely on its own. Also, such systems can fail, especially in India where lane markings may disappear suddenly. ADAS rely on lane markings and without them, it is cannot maintain the car inside the lane.
Many such incidents with Tesla car owners
In many instances, we have seen several Tesla drivers engaging in similar activities. Tesla cars offer full autonomous systems and drivers take advantage by watching movies and doing many things that they might not have done with the steering wheel in their hands.
Such driving can be dangerous on public roads. While many countries have rules for autonomous cars, there are no such rules in India yet. We hope that with the growing breed of such autonomous and semi-autonomous cars on the Indian roads, the government will make new laws to address the problems.
Waiting period close to one year
Mahindra XUV700’s waiting period has gone through the roof. After the Thar, the waiting period for the XUV700 is now close to one year due to high demand in the market.
The car comes with a 2.2-litre mHawk diesel and a 2.0-litre mStallion petrol engine. It is quick and can do 0-60 in just 5 seconds. Mahindra offers three driving modes with the all-new XUV700 that will change the behaviour of the engine. Mahindra has not revealed the official power and torque figures of the all-new XUV700.
The petrol engine generates a maximum power of 200 PS and a peak torque of 380 Nm. While the diesel mHawk generates a maximum of 155 PS and peak torque of 360 Nm. Mahindra has not revealed the transmission options as of now.
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