丰田神奇新车抢先看

丰田的一位销售高管鲍勃•卡特称，在丰田看来，这些系统最终将装备更多主流车型，并对能耗和交通拥堵产生积极影响，因为“停停走走的开法”将因此而不复存在。

丰田密歇根研发中心正在开发的另一项技术是车车通讯，以及与停车信号灯和其他交通指示灯进行通讯的技术。车辆可在编程后避免相撞，或不再同时抵达某个路口。它们还能向邻近车辆发出有冰雪或其他危险情况的警告。

丰田将自己定位为自动驾驶领域的领军企业——这并不意味着福特（Ford），通用汽车（General Motors），日产（Nissan）及其他厂商对这项技术没有兴趣，也不意味着它们不擅此道。其他厂商可能比较低调，不愿抛头露面，宁可等到消费者和监管层的态度更明朗时再做打算。

但就像丰田1998年推出首款油电混动普锐斯（Prius）的经历所揭示的那样，突破性技术要获得广泛认可需要足够的时间；也需要耐心和愿意大笔砸钱的态度。目睹普锐斯在全球获得巨大成功的人都不应无视丰田在这辆家用产品上首开纪录的不懈努力，而它一度被很多人认为没什么前途。（财富中文网）

译者：清远

Toyota sees the systems eventually equipping more mainstream models and having a positive impact on energy consumption and traffic congestion because "start and stop driving" can be eliminated, said Bob Carter, a Toyota sales executive.

Another technology being explored in Toyota's research center in Michigan is car-to-car communication, as well as communication with stop lights and other types of traffic signals. Cars can be programmed to avoid colliding with one another or to avoid arriving simultaneously at an intersection. They can warn nearby cars of ice or other hazardous conditions.

Toyota has positioned itself among the leaders in the field of autonomous driving—which doesn't mean that Ford (F), General Motors (GM), Nissan (NSANY) and others aren't interested or skilled in the technology. Others may be reserving publicity until the sentiments of consumers and regulators are more clear.

But as Toyota demonstrated with the introduction in 1998 of its first Prius, featuring gas-hybrid propulsion, the widespread acceptance of a groundbreaking technology takes time; it also requires patience and the willingness to spend capital prodigiously.No one who looks at the global success of the Prius should fail to consider Toyota's first homely iteration, which seemed like an improbability to so many.