► Google Maps built-in live lane guidance
► ‘New benchmark for navigation’
► Debuts on Polestar 4 soon
The Polestar 4 will become the first car to deploy an integrated live lane guidance system from Google Maps. An extension of its existing ‘Google built-in’ infotainment set-up, this will show drivers exactly which lane they should be using, in real time, via the driver display.
It’s intended to reduce the stress of last-minute lane changes, which will understandably appeal to many drivers. But the cynical might say it’s also another example of the driver giving away responsibility to the machine they’re supposed to be fully in charge of.
According to Polestar, it detects which lane the car is in ‘by using Google’s advanced AI in the vehicle to analyse elements on the road, like lane markings and road signs.’ It relies on a forward-facing camera to do this, and is presumably in no way going to be foxed by a broken-down truck, bad weather or faded white lines.
When navigating via Google Maps, the Polestar 4’s 10.2-inch driver display – the equipment formerly known as a digital instrument cluster – will show all the available lanes for the chosen route, as well as which one the car is currently in.
‘Visual and audio’ cues will then aim to get the driver to change lanes in plenty of time when required.
Head of UI/UX at Polestar, Sid Odedra makes the following pitch: ‘Over the past five years, Polestar’s collaboration with Google has delivered many new features for Polestar owners. Live lane guidance continues the path of Polestar’s driver centric UX strategy, reducing driver stress and improving safety by making missed exits and last-minute lane changes much less of a worry.’
Our recent experience of various Polestars – including our Polestar 4 long-termer – makes us rather wish the firm would concentrate on finishing things properly first before embarking on new features. The car’s Google operating system has been glitchy throughout our loan, and a lacking substitute for properly user-friendly and ergonomic interior design.
Director of product management for Google Maps, Andrew Foster, remains keen, as you’d expect: ‘Polestar has been a close partner since 2020 when Polestar 2 launched as the first car with Google built-in. Now, Polestar 4 will be the first to integrate our groundbreaking live lane guidance which will help people drive with even more confidence and set a new benchmark for navigation across the auto industry.’
We’ll have to wait until we’ve tested it to see just how ‘groundbreaking’ it really is. And that might take a little time, as the update is only over-the-airing ‘in the coming months’ to customers in the USA and Sweden initially.
More markets and ‘road types’ are promised ‘in the future.’
CJ is a former Associate Editor of CAR, and now runs parent company Bauer Media’s Digital Automotive Hub – the in-house team that provides much of the online content for CAR and sister site Parkers.co.uk as well as helping out with CAR magazine. He’s been writing about cars professionally (if that's the right word) for nearly two decades, though attempts to hide this fact with an extensive moisturising routine.
By CJ Hubbard
Head of the Bauer Digital Automotive Hub and former Associate Editor of CAR. Road tester, organiser, reporter and professional enthusiast, putting the driver first
