Cars & Autos | Tuesday 18 July, 2017 2:59 pm |

The 2017 Lincoln Continental has earned the highest award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, securing the coveted Top Safety Pick+ for the flagship sedan of the Lincoln Motor Company. Complementing Continental’s success, is Lincoln MKZ and Lincoln MKX, which both earned top safety marks in their segments.

The Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection available on Lincoln vehicles earned a superior rating. The system, which is designed to reduce the severity of, and in some cases even eliminate, frontal collisions – including those involving pedestrians – uses radar and camera technology to provide a collision warning to the driver. If the driver does not respond in time, it can automatically apply the vehicle’s brakes.

The Lincoln Continental, MKZ, and MKX, equipped with Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, avoided collisions in track tests at 20 km/h and 40 km/h. The system’s forward collision warning component also meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration criteria.

Lincoln’s available adaptive LED headlamps also earned a good rating, providing ample lighting on a straightaway and on most curves. The headlamps use high-beam assist, a feature that automatically switches between high beams and low beams, depending on the presence of other vehicles.

The vehicles are available with a suite of intuitive, driver-assist technologies. Their Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection uses camera and radar technology to monitor the vehicle’s proximity to other vehicles and pedestrians. If a potential collision is detected, the system can alert the driver with visible and audible warnings and, if needed, pre-charge the brakes and increase brake sensitivity to help provide full responsiveness.

The lane-keeping system uses a forward-facing camera to detect lane markings. It can apply steering torque and alert the driver with a steering wheel vibration should sensors detect drifting.

All three of the winning Lincoln vehicles are equipped with BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert, which uses radar sensors to alert drivers with lights in their sideview mirrors if another vehicle is detected in blind spots. When drivers are backing up, the system can detect a vehicle approaching from either side, notifying drivers with a warning light and an audible tone.

An auto hold feature keeps the car at a complete stop without the driver having to press and hold the brake pedal – making stop-and-go driving more relaxed for Lincoln owners. Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection is an available technology that can avoid some frontal crashes, or lessen the severity of such events.

Vehicles qualify for a Top Safety Pick+ if they have good ratings in five crashworthiness tests – small overlap front; moderate overlap front; side; roof strength; and head restraints – plus an available front crash protection system that earns a superior or advanced rating, and good or acceptable headlights. The Lincoln Continental delivered on all aspects