汽車駕駛員心目中的11大頂級配置

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.
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、併線、避免碰撞、並排停車等。有專家相信，到2020年自動駕駛汽車將成爲現實，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。

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!
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爲先進的新車換成一款舊車，或是配置不那麼齊全的車會怎樣？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。

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:
考慮到這一點，我列出了一份重要的行車配置清單，我認爲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，如果一輛車裏沒有清單裏的某些配置，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。

1. Push-button ignition/keyless start
（1）一鍵啓動/無鑰匙啓動

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.
我喜歡當我走近一輛汽車裏時，它能自動解鎖亮燈，而且不用從口袋或錢包裏往外掏鑰匙。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——尤其是在大冷天裏。

2. Rearview camera/backup warning system
（2）後視攝像頭/倒車警告系統

Several times, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has delayed rules for rear visibility that would require backup cameras since Congress required them in 2007, but they can't come fast enough for me. It is much safer to watch a screen on your dashboard that has helpful yellow guide lines than to twist your neck over the back of your seat, look around for blind spots, and then try to back up. And don't omit those helpful beep beep beeps that let you know when you've gotten too close.
美國國會早在2007年就要求私家車必須安裝倒車攝像頭，不過美國國家公路交通安全管理局（National Highway Traffic Safety Administration）已然數次推遲了強制安裝倒車攝像頭的法規。但是倒車攝像頭對我來說太必要了。有了它之後，你只需要對着中控臺上的屏幕以及屏幕上的黃色倒車線進行操作就行了，這比扭着脖子朝後看有沒有盲點要安全得多，另外還有非常有用的“滴滴滴”的聲音，提示你是否離後面的東西太近了。

3. Adaptive cruise control
（3）自適應巡航控制

It's real helpful in traffic when you have it; real dangerous if you think it is there -- and it isn't. Partial versions slow you down while others bring you to a complete stop. Though Lexus brought the first system to the U.S. in 2000, many domestic models didn't begin offering it until a decade later.
如果你的車上有自適應巡航控制系統，你就會發現它在行車時實在太有用了。不過如果你以爲你的車上有這個系統，而事實上卻沒有的話，那你就非常危險了。如果你的車和前車距離小於安全車距，有些版本的自適應巡航控制系統會控制制動單元進行減速，還有些版本會讓你的車子完全停下來。雖然雷克薩斯早在2000年就把第一款自適應巡航控制系統引入了美國，但許多美國本土車型直到2010年前後纔開始提供這一系統。

4. Blind spot detection
（4）盲點檢測

It's a radar-based system that detects vehicles travelling in parallel lanes and uses blinking lights in rear-view mirrors to warn when one is in the blind spot. It's very helpful in preventing you from veering into occupied space, along with the attendant horn-honking and name-calling. More advanced intervention systems apply the brakes to nudge the car out of danger.
盲點檢測系統是一個基於雷達的系統，當有車輛和你並行時，如果它進入了你的視線盲點，後視鏡上的閃燈就會閃爍，提醒你注意安全。這是個十分有用的配置，可以避免你變線時進入已經被佔用的車道，也能使你免遭被人狂按喇叭和破口大罵之苦。更先進的干預系統還可以通過控制剎車使你的車子脫離危險。

5. Navigation system
（5）導航系統

Manufacturer-installed or aftermarket, they save lots of hassle (except for those odd times when they lead you astray). Even if you know where you're going, you can program the navi to find out what time you are expected to arrive -- and then try to beat the clock.
不管是原廠的還是在汽配城加裝的，它們都讓我們省了很多事（除了有些時候它們也會莫名其妙地讓我們繞彎路）。即使你知道你想去哪裏，你也可以在導航上看看你大概到達的時間——然後可以努力在那個時間之內到達。6. Power tailgate close
（6）電動關閉後備箱

Nobody needs to be spared the less-than-onerous task of pulling down the tailgate of an SUV, but it is way more convenient, clean, and quick to push a button -- especially when your arms are full.
雖然大家都不在乎費點力氣把SUV的後備箱蓋按下去，但是如果只按一個按鈕就能關閉後備箱的話，那實在是方便多了，也乾淨多了——尤其是在你手裏抱滿東西的時候。

On the instrument panel
儀表盤上

7. Manual gear selection indicator.
（7）手動檔檔位指示

Ever find yourself in fourth gear when you thought you were in sixth? The gear selection indicator keeps your revs from bumping into high.
你是否曾經以爲自己掛的是六檔，後來才發現掛了四檔？檔位指示可以讓你避免掛錯檔導致發動機轉速過高。

8. Range.
（8）續航里程

Even if your car isn't electric, knowing the range-to-empty helps you plan your fill-ups while you hunt for the discount gas station.
就算你的車不是電動車，知道你的車離下次加油還能跑多遠，也可以讓你對下次加油的時間和地點心裏有譜，尤其是當你在找打折的加油站的時候。

9. Outside Temperature.
（9）車外氣溫

Even in an era of phones that also act as thermometers, seeing the ambient temperature on your dash in the morning allows you to calibrate.
這個時代雖然連手機都能當溫度計用了，但是如果能夠在車裏瞭解到車外的氣溫，還是有助於讓你根據溫度調整着裝。

10. Satellite radio
（10）衛星收音機

Several hundred channels, impeccable reception, and no commercials. A must for long commutes and road trips. your day.
有好幾百個頻道，在信號接收上也無可挑剔，而且沒有商業廣告，是居家旅行、長距離通勤的必備神器。

11. Heated seats
（11）電加熱座椅

They make cold starts in frigid weather bearable, but only if they warm up quickly -- say, in less than a mile. A heated steering wheel is often available as a package deal.
它讓寒冷冬天的冷車啓動變得不那麼難熬——但前提條件是它們能很快熱起來——比如在一英里之內。它一般會和電加熱方向盤放在同一個套餐裏供你選擇。