First appearing almost a decade ago in a less complicated variant, self-parking systems have almost started to become mainstream as optional extras on many of today’s cars, from premium models to econoboxes.
The BMW i3 is a modern car which also has an optional self-parking system that is cleverly-named Parking Assistant and the way it works is not unlike other similar systems on the market.
While slowly driving on a crowded street and looking for a space to park, a radar-based sensor on the side of the front bumper detects if the car can fit in a spot and the tells the driver, which can then stop, continuously press a button and the car will then park by itself. The only driver intervention is keeping the aforementioned button depressed.
During the BMW i3’s European press ive in Austria, a Romanian rally driver called Vali Porcisteanu decided to spice up the whole self-parking feature of the car with a rather amusing stunt.
After somehow tinkering with the Parking Assist button in order to keep it pressed (rubber bands, anyone?), he quickly jumped out of the car Dukes of Hazzard style and left the car to completely park itself with absolutely no one in the car.
It’s kind of like a modern take of a cowboy jumping off his horse before actually stopping in front of the saloon in the Wild West, but keep in mind that you shouldn’t try this with your i3, as there are plenty of things that can go wrong.
By Alex Oagana