重要的行車助手

????現如今新車的選裝配置清單就像中餐館的菜單，很容易讓人挑花了眼。有各種設備可以輔助司機行車、剎車、并線、避免碰撞、并排停車等。有專家相信，到2020年自動駕駛汽車將成為現實，但是現實中沒有人想等到自動駕駛汽車的GPS系統和激光雷達完全成熟了再買車。目前某些高端新車從某種程度上說已經是在自動駕駛了。

????我喜歡任何能讓駕駛變得更安全、更簡單和更有效率的東西。但是危險可能潛伏在我們意想不到的地方。如果你把新買的一輛極為先進的新車換成一款舊車，或是配置不那么齊全的車會怎樣？舊車能像謳歌（Acura）RLX的自適應巡航控制系統那樣幫你避開路上的其它車輛嗎？對不起，這輛舊車沒有能夠控制剎車的自適應巡航系統，所以追尾是難免的。

????考慮到這一點，我列出了一份重要的行車配置清單，我認為這些配置應該安裝在每一輛汽車上。不可否認這份清單帶有濃厚的個人觀點。其中有些配置是安全性配置，有一些配置能提供數據，還有一些配置能提高行車的舒適性和娛樂性。它們共同的特點是，如果一輛車里沒有清單里的某些配置，我就會很想念它們。你自己的選擇可能和我有出入，不過以下就是我的建議。

Essential assists

????The list of electronic aids available on new cars today resembles the menu for a Chinese restaurant. There are devices to help drivers steer, brake, see, change lanes, avoid collisions, and parallel park. The self-driving autonomous car may become reality by 2020, as experts believe, but no one need wait for its GPS systems and laser radar to become commercialized until it gets here. Some high-end new models practically drive themselves.

????I'm in favor of anything that makes driving safer, easier, and more efficient. But danger can lurk in unexpected places. What happens if you exchange your Starship Enterprise for an older model or one that is less well-equipped? Expect the cruise control to automatically keep you from colliding with the vehicle in front of you the way your Acura RLX does? Sorry, the car you're driving doesn't have an adaptive system that applies the brakes. CRASH!

????With that in mind, I've composed an admittedly very personal list of essential assists that should be in every car. Some are for safety, others provide data, and still others make the ride more comfortable and entertaining. Their common denominator is that I miss them when they aren't there. Your own choices may differ, but here are mine:

（1）一鍵啟動/無鑰匙啟動

????我喜歡當我走近一輛汽車里時，它能自動解鎖亮燈，而且不用從口袋或錢包里往外掏鑰匙。當然，總有人在使用代客泊車服務的時候忘了把車鑰匙交給泊車司機，不過考慮到它的便利性，這點小代價是值得的——尤其是在大冷天里。

1. Push-button ignition/keyless start

????I love walking up to a car that unlocks and lights up by itself and then starts without pulling the key out of your pocket or purse. Yes, there is always the danger of forgetting to hand the key over to the parking valet, but that is a small price to pay for the convenience -- especially on a cold day.