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3 features to look out for that make city driving and parking easier

And which cars have them.

SOMETIMES PARKING AND carrying out other manoeuvres can be a bit tricky in crowded city centres and car parks. Thankfully, there is some technology that can make this a little bit easier. Keep an eye out for the following features if you are looking for a car that makes a breeze of tight spaces.

City Mode

‘CITY’ mode is found in Fiat Group cars. By pushing the CITY button, usually found on the steering wheel, the power assistance is increased for steering at low speeds. This makes the steering lighter, lessening the effort required to turn the steering wheel. You can essentially turn the steering wheel with one finger. Parking operations are easier, so this function is particularly useful for driving in city centres. 

CITY mode is found on the Fiat 500, Fiat Panda, Fiat Punto and Fiat Tipo models.

Rear-wheel steering

When manoeuvring at low speeds, rear-wheel steering systems turn the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front wheels thus reducing the car’s turning circle. This makes parking and turning in tight spaces easier.

Cars with rear wheel steering include the new Audi A6, A7, A8 and Q7, Lexus GS, LC 500, LS 500 and RC as well as many other models from BMW including the new 5 Series, Ferrari, Mercedes and Lamborghini. 

Variable steering racks

You can also look for cars with a variable steering rack which reduces the minimum turning radius of a vehicle.

The new BMW 3 Series M Sport models will have variable steering, the Ford Focus ST has variable steering as does the Fiesta ST and Mustang. 

There are many more models out there with these features, you just have to do a bit of research.

READ: Review – The Subaru Impreza is an exceptionally safe and reliable family hatchback >

READ: Should I buy a hybrid? Here are the pros and cons >

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Locojoe
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    Oct 20th 2021, 8:54 AM

    Hopefully there are no nuclear power plants nearby.

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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Oct 20th 2021, 9:15 AM

    More natural global warming

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Oct 20th 2021, 9:57 AM

    @Gerard Heery: Large Volcanic eruptions cool the planet, Ash and in particular Sulphur Dioxide reflect the Sun’s heat, and anyway human activity emits 120 times more CO2 than all the world’s volcanos combined (24 billion v 0.2 billon).

    https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earthtalks-volcanoes-or-humans/

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    Mute Gerrard
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    Oct 20th 2021, 3:17 PM

    @David Jordan: great the humans will stop a ice age happening

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    Mute Stephen Nix
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    Oct 20th 2021, 9:27 AM

    Is there more active volcanos recently? Im watching a youtube channel by bushcraft bear who does daily videos from la palma. Fascinating stuff and its getting pretty bad there.

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    Mute Splat
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    Oct 20th 2021, 10:00 AM

    @Stephen Nix: Careful what you watch

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    Mute Stephen Nix
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    Oct 20th 2021, 12:49 PM

    @Splat: its not a conspiracy channel or a news channel. Its someone who lives on the island doing daily reports.

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    Mute Barry Teehan
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    Oct 20th 2021, 9:11 AM

    Maybe Aso needs a giant but t plug…

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    Mute Franny Ando
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    Oct 20th 2021, 2:38 PM

    The Earth is angry at the way it’s being abused.

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    Mute Gerrard
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    Oct 20th 2021, 3:20 PM

    The earth made humans to protect it from asteroids or comets in the future and if it can’t stop them invent tech to colonise other planets … evolution my friend

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