Watch CBS News

Hill-Hold Technology Frees Drivers To Let Go Of Brake

DETROIT (WWJ) - We've all needed an extra hand at one time or another, but what about an extra foot?

The 2012 Chevy Sonic offers just that – an "extra foot" with standard hill-hold technology on all manual transmission models that can help novice and veteran stick drivers better manage hills.

Hill-hold technology makes navigating hilly terrain with a manual as effortless as an automatic, allowing drivers to get started without rolling backward or forward.

In a Sonic equipped with hill-hold, a pitch sensor detects the tilt of the body when the car is stopped on a slope and sends a signal to the stability control system. This triggers the electronically controlled brake hardware to keep the wheels clamped for up to two seconds after the driver releases the brake pedal.

"It will retain the braking force that the driver applied with the chassis control system and hold the vehicle in place," John Buttermore, lead development engineer for the Sonic, said in a release. "That's long enough for the driver to safely apply the accelerator and let out the clutch for a smooth start, always heading in the right direction."

Hill-hold is like giving Sonic drivers a third foot, enhancing both the safety and the convenience of driving in hilly terrain.

The Chevy Sonic is a sub-compact car starting at $14,495, including a $760 destination charge.

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.