Intelligence leads the way. This is a key label in today’s auto industry. Many car brands compete not only on price, features, and design but also on intelligence. The main battleground for intelligence is in driver assistance. Many new energy vehicles now standardize these features. Traditional carmakers also enhance their fuel vehicles. They face a clear “generational gap” in the smart experience for fuel vehicle users. They respond with advanced driver assistance systems that rival those of new energy brands. For example, SAIC Volkswagen embraces market competition. The brand follows a “fuel and electric together, intelligence together” strategy to carve out a unique competitive edge. With the launch of the 2024 Tiguan L Pro and the Atlas Pro, the Pro family declares the intelligence of fuel vehicles. This year’s fifth-generation EA888 engine and the “Pro family” series significantly boost the intelligence and competitiveness of fuel vehicles.
In the assisted driving section, it partnered with Zhuoyu Technology to create IQ.Pilot. Today, we experience the 2026 Pro family. It features a unique dual-camera visual assistance system. It also includes a one-piece end-to-end technology. This marks a significant leap into the 2.0 stage of intelligence. The advancements are substantial.
SAIC Volkswagen and ZHUOYU Technology began deep cooperation in 2018. In 2024, the Tuguan L Pro will debut with ZHUOYU’s core dual-camera stereo vision system and IQ.Pilot driving assistance system. This marks Volkswagen’s first introduction of driving assistance in the fuel vehicle market. Fuel vehicles face clear challenges in adopting driving assistance systems compared to electric vehicles. To address this, SAIC Volkswagen and ZHUOYU developed a nonlinear optimization control algorithm tailored for fuel vehicle power characteristics. They improved hardware cooling and worked tirelessly with all related suppliers to establish communication protocols and functional adaptations for all associated components. This collaboration enabled rapid mass production of the driving assistance feature. So, by 2026, is it good to use?
The three new models launched are the SAIC Volkswagen Tiguan L Pro, Tiguan L Pro, and Teramont Pro. They all use the IQ.Pilot developed in collaboration with Zhuoyu. This system employs end-to-end model technology, integrating dynamic BEV, static BEV, and binocular enhanced OCC networks. The first model achieves optimal perception with minimal computing power. The second model significantly enhances system recognition and driving capabilities. Together, they improve human-like driving across all scenarios. In practice, features like efficient lane changes, smooth highway on and off ramp navigation, and obstacle handling work seamlessly. The key experience emphasizes “human-machine co-driving.”
The Touareg L Pro we test drove features many sensor components. However, the main driving assistance components are just the cameras around the vehicle. The key component is the 8-megapixel dual-eye camera located inside the top window. This camera uses biomimetic design to simulate human vision. It gathers spatial 3D information through binocular disparity. The system relies entirely on data, not preset rules. This solution offers a cost-effective, pure vision driving assistance hardware scheme. It does not use lidar or high-precision maps. Instead, it depends on strong visual instincts, algorithms, and data accumulation to solve problems. The system can flexibly adjust decisions based on actual road conditions, allowing for continuous upgrades in experience. Maps remain very important. High-speed navigation requires map data. The system uses BEV perception and basic map information for driving assistance. It obtains data from map providers. The system combines extensive data accumulation with continuous algorithm optimization. It uses cameras to convert the surrounding scenes into a bird’s-eye view, reconstructing static road elements and topology in real time. This enables high-precision omnidirectional perception.
The camera uses the central control screen for 3D modeling. It dynamically displays the vehicle’s surroundings, obstacles, and lane markings in a visual format. The system presents information clearly. It shows road conditions accurately. It includes countdowns for traffic lights. It tracks small cars, large trucks, non-motorized vehicles, and pedestrians. However, it displays some objects inaccurately. Many irregular shapes appear as small cones.
The system’s end-to-end algorithm offers several advantages. It uses interpretable decision logic and real-time reasoning to create driving trajectories. This method reduces information loss and enhances the driving experience. The decisions align closely with human driving habits. It also predicts more efficiently and improves the system’s ability to engage with traffic participants. This boosts drivers’ trust and sense of safety in the assistance system. In short, the focus is on “human-like” and “intuitive” qualities.
For highway navigation, press the set button on the left side of the steering wheel when navigation starts. This enables highly automated travel between points A and B. The system can follow other vehicles. It supports lane changes and overtaking slower vehicles. It can also choose better routes. However, keep your hands on the steering wheel. Stay alert and be ready to take control.
On the highway, it functions similarly to advanced driver assistance systems. It selects lane changes efficiently. The system can automatically center the car in its lane. You can manually adjust the distance to the car ahead. Even if the car in front moves quickly, this system responds like an experienced driver. You won’t worry about sudden deceleration from the car ahead causing jerky reactions. Riding inside feels reassuring.
The lane change is textbook. It signals, steers, and merges quickly. No cars behind meet safety requirements. The strategy varies in similar situations. The vehicle adjusts promptly to special conditions. It maintains a safe distance from the car in front.
In congested areas, the system prioritizes safety. When it detects slow-moving vehicles ahead, it may hesitate to change lanes. This can lead to unnecessary lane changes or misjudgments in following vehicles. Experienced drivers make similar mistakes. The system has room for improvement, just like humans.
Its main feature is its avoidance capability. For example, when driving at high speed, if the vehicle encounters an obstacle that occupies too much of the adjacent lane or crosses the lane markings, the system quickly and accurately identifies it using high-precision sensors. It considers the current speed and surrounding traffic conditions. The system then automatically maneuvers the vehicle to avoid the obstacle. The entire process requires no driver intervention. The vehicle adjusts its direction and maintains stable steering and speed control to navigate smoothly. This provides extra redundancy for unexpected situations and significantly enhances driving safety.
After navigation, it can automatically plan on-ramps and off-ramps. It identifies ramp entry and exit points in advance. At the right moment, it switches lanes smoothly. It gradually approaches the ramp while choosing the timing based on route signs. The planning and actions for entering and exiting the ramp are smooth. Drivers don’t need to worry about sharp turns or weaving in the lane. The success rate and comfort level remain high.
In the urban area, the system activates driving assistance. It mainly faces different types of “participants” on the road. These can be cars, people, small animals, or sudden strange objects. The system focuses on recognizing these unusual items.
During the test, we experienced the Touareg Pro. It responded quickly to small objects, like a Coke bottle, and to props that suddenly entered the driving lane. When faced with larger objects, it executed decisive emergency stops. Even in extreme distance scenarios, it managed to brake firmly at the last moment, avoiding collisions.
When faced with obstacles like dead branches, small animals, or strange discarded objects on the side of the road, the vehicle typically maneuvers around them. It smoothly changes to an adjacent lane to avoid the obstacle before returning to its original lane. The movements are gentle, so passengers remain calm. In our experience with the SAIC Volkswagen Pro family’s assistance system, most of the time felt smooth. For a system that costs only 5,000 yuan (700$), it exceeded my expectations. While the driving assistance features are not perfect, they handle common driving scenarios and distractions on highways well. Many details impress, making it a reliable choice. Its dependable performance, user-friendly features, and affordable pricing are its core competitive advantages.