Never Get Locked Out With Help From GM

The "Thinking Key" Debuts With Buick, May Spread

Imagine locking your keys in your car and your car unlocking the door for you.  No this isnt a futuristic Stanley Kubrick movie, this is the new "Thinking Key" from GM. 

The new key doesn't require a button press or even a keyhole. Instead it sends out a constant stream of data to the vehicle that includes where the key is located. That helps the car decide whether the doors should be locked or unlocked based on pre-programmed behavioral scenarios.

"It does a lot of the thinking for you," said GM Engineer Dave Proefke. "It tries to determine your intended action and perform that action for you."

The key comes equipped with the 2011 Buick LaCrosse and selected other General Motors models.

"With push-button start available on the CXL and standard on the CXS, LaCrosse owners can enter the vehicle, push a button to start the car and away they go," said Proefke.  Fumbling for your keys will soon be a thing of the past. 

Buick's thinking car key knows when it has been left behind in a vehicle. Automatically sensing a lockout situation, it will alert the driver that the keys are still inside the vehicle. If the driver attempts to manually lock the doors, the fob system will keep the doors unlocked.

One of the common key fob myths is that someone could capture its signal and use it to steal a car. With advanced key fob technology, signals are encrypted and change with every button push. Stealing signals is virtually impossible.

What are further implications of this technology?  Most likely smart phone apps.  More than a few companies are working on phone apps for unlocking doors, as we covered on our blog recently. 

If you want to see the Lacrosse and the thinking key in action, visit West Herr GM in East Aurora online or in person today.