Outside of the battle on fuel
economy, safety, and in-car technology that has become the battleground of the
automotive industry over the last several years, other technology features are
becoming important parts for certain consumer segments. Take, for instance, the
ability to lock/unlock and start a car while never taking the key out of your
pocket, also known as passive entry and push-button start.
The 2013 Chevy Malibu offers a
four-door passive entry system that makes use of four small buttons that allow
the driver to unlock the driver’s door with a single press and all four doors
and the trunk with two presses — rounding out to the convenience of the midsize
sedan.
The system, which was first only
available on high-end luxury cars, uses the Malibu’s closed-loop wireless
communication system, thereby verifying that the proper key fob is within
acceptable range (of about three feet). Each fob is unique to its vehicle, so
there is “practically no chance of false unlocks” according to General Motors.
“Available passive entry on all of
the doors was a feature we wanted to offer our Malibu customers,” said Phil
Carlisle, Chevrolet Malibu product manager. “It’s small things like this that
can go a long way in making everyday use of your vehicle easier.”
A single press of the button on the
driver’s door handle unlocks the driver’s door. Engineers decided against
automatically unlocking the door upon the key fob holder approaching the
vehicle since the tactile-based approach provided better functionality and
increased control.
“This system truly keeps the driver
in full control of the car,” said Ron Asmar, lead engineer for vehicle access.
“We investigated fully passive systems where the key fob would automatically
unlock the door when a person was within a certain distance, and decided
against it. We wanted to make sure that the system prevented the car from
unlocking just because the person and fob were close to it, such as when
walking through the garage to take the garbage out.”
The passive entry system is
available on the top-of-the-line Malibu LTZ as part of the LTZ Premium Package
— an option that also includes High-Intensity (HID) Discharge headlamps and
driver memory seat and outside mirrors. The LTZ Premium Package currently
requires the addition of both the Electronics and Entertainment Package and the
Advanced Safety Package. For reference, here is what each of the two required
packages contain:
Electronics
and Entertainment Package
- Universal Home Remote
- Pioneer premium 9-speaker system
- 120-volt power outlet
- Rear Vision Camera
Advanced
Safety Package
- Forward Collision Alert – continually monitors the distance between you and the driver ahead; based on the proximity of the vehicle and your speed, a warning sound will alert you to a possible collision.
- Lane Departure Warning – a warning sound will alert the driver if the vehicle begins to cross a detected lane without signaling; an indicator light also flashes in the gauge cluster.
The 2013 Malibu is Chevy’s first
global midsize sedan that’s sold in nearly 100 countries on six continents.
Courtesy: GM Authority
