Latest Braking Technology Helps Keep Cars on the Road

14 March 2000
Latest Braking Technology Helps Keep Cars on the Road, Reports Continental Teves

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 14 Most drivers are all too
familiar with inclement weather and the hazards that rain, sleet and snow
present while driving.  Engineers at Continental Teves, a leading supplier of
automotive safety and comfort systems, are doing their part to help motorists
travel more safely, through innovative braking technology that helps keep cars
out of trouble and on the road.
    The driving stability system known as electronic stability program (ESP)
is on constant standby to assist drivers as critical situations arise in the
twists and turns of driving.  It is an interactive safety system that
significantly improves vehicle stability - within physical limits -- in all
three areas of vehicle performance:  accelerating, cornering and braking.
ESP, through electrical sensors strategically placed throughout the vehicle,
analyzes steering wheel activity, wheel speeds, acceleration and the vehicles
rotation about its vertical axis (in technical jargon this is called yaw) and
continually compares this data to determine whether the actual course of the
vehicle corresponds to the desired direction.  If this is not the case, ESP
jumps into action.
    For example, before a car starts to skid (the rear wheels start to swing
out).  ESP activates the front wheel brake on the outside of the curve to
prevent the rear-end of the vehicle from breaking away.  Where necessary, ESP
intervenes in engine management as well.
    "ESP was not designed for luxury or high performance cars alone," states
Mark Sowka, Vice President, Electronic Brake Systems for Continental Teves,
N.A. "It's meant to enhance driveability and safety which makes it ideal for
all vehicles, including vans and SUVs."  ESP is the latest of many safety
technologies developed by Continental Teves.  Others include traction control
and four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS).
    Continental Teves' commitment to safety goes beyond engineering.  In an
effort to teach consumers about automotive safety technologies Continental
Teves developed the national safe driving initiative "Drive Safer America!,"
which is designed to educate consumers about the benefits of safe driving year
round, including the proper use of four-wheel ABS and other safety
technologies.  With the help of Indy Car Driver Lyn St. James, Continental
Teves has educated thousands on how to properly use ABS.  For more information
about Drive Safer America! visit http://www.drivesaferamerica.com .
    Today, according to Ward's, in 1999, 63.8% of the cars on the road today
are sold with ABS.  The J.D. Power Feature Contenting Report cites 92% of
respondents "definitely/probably" would like to have ABS on their next
vehicle.  Clearly safety is a priority for today's consumer.
    "ABS helps keep the car stable in braking," added Sowka.  ESP does that
and more.  It stands ready to automatically activate when starting, while
driving and when braking, which makes it user-friendly.  We are convinced that
once the consumer understands the advantages of ESP, people won't want to be
on the road without it."
    Currently Continental Teves' ESP is available on the BMW Z3, BMW 3-Series;
Mercedes C-class and M-class, the Lincoln LS, the Volvo S80 and Jaguar X200.
The list of future model vehicles to offer ESP grows almost daily.
    Continental Teves, Headquartered in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, is a unit of
Continental AG, Hannover, Germany.  With 1998 sales of US $2.3 billion,
Continental Teves is a world leader in the design, development and supply of
critical brake and chassis stability systems that contribute to driving safety
and comfort.  The company's North American headquarters is located in Auburn
Hills, Mich.  Visit Continental Teves North America on-line at
http://www.contitevesna.com .