The budget-friendly Essential Series is the perfect starting point for any journey with accurate turn-by-turn directions, spoken street names and lane assist with junction views.

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The 2012 Camry System includes features like Pandora internet radio control (when available), built-in Navigation package with state-of-the -art iGo Primo software featuring lane assist, Navteq US and Canada maps plus 11 million POIs and 3D landmarks and building graphics.

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For example, quite a few involve "lane assist" features that starkly indicate the options when coming to a fork in the road so that the driver avoids having to stare at the screen too long to figure out the right path.

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The active lane keeping assist monitors the lines on the pavement in front of you and sends a vibration through the steering wheel if you start to drift out of your lane.

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Ford's outfitted the Fusion Energi with a dizzying array of driver-assist tech, including a lane-keeping system, adaptive cruise control, driver alert system, active park assist, rear camera, blind-spot indicator system with cross-traffic alert and pull-drift compensation (phew).

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Instead, look for the technology to roll out gradually, building on systems that are already available, like adaptive cruise control, active braking, lane-keeping systems and parking assist.

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Its new steering assist feature will keep you in your lane up to 124 miles per hour, but you have to make turns manually.

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High-tech options include adaptive cruise control, rear parking assist with cross-path detection and a lane departure system that not only alerts you if the vehicle drifts out of the lane, but gently guides you back between the lane markers.

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