What new option on the 2008 BMW 5-Series trumps all the competitors offerings?

The Spies have reliable information that this new system significantly outperforms the new S550's Distronic Plus and the Audi Q7's active cruise control implementation.

Active Cruise Control complete with Stop & Go.

Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go offers the driver greater support and ease of motoring. This innovative system, available as an option on automatic transmission versions of the new BMW 5 Series, comes with automatic distance control enabling the driver to cruise along smoothly and conveniently on highways or country roads. The system keeps a consistent following distance from the vehicle ahead even in stop-and-go traffic at very low speeds and applying the brakes where necessary until the car reaches a standstill.

The system uses radar sensors of the latest generation with an enlarged area of vision, offering the driver a choice of four distance settings. Once the distance the driver has chosen to the vehicle ahead is no longer maintained, the system will intervene, building up brake pressure to control the car accordingly. Then, once the road ahead is free again, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go will accelerate the car to the set speed.

This sophisticated control system is also able to reduce speed automatically to a standstill as a function of traffic conditions. In this case, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go slows the car to a standstill and holds it in position. The maximum brake force applied by Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go is 4 meters/sec2. Should the driver be required to intervene be¬cause the vehicle ahead is being decelerated very hard, the driver is warned to intervene by visual and acous¬tic signals.

In stop-and-go traffic, the system helps the driver by automatically maintaining the appropriate distance from the vehicle ahead, relieving the driver constantly having to apply the brakes in slow and unsmooth traffic. However, the driver still retains his responsibility, since after, for example, a short stop of more than three seconds, he is required to briefly press down the accelerator pedal or press the Resume button in order to re-accelerate the car. And even when Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go is activated, the driver is able to control the speed of his car at any time simply by giving gas or applying the brakes. Depressing the brake pedal while driving deactivates the system.