Formentor capacitive steering wheel (not switches!!) for ACC

Idrossizina

Active Member
Sep 25, 2023
45
3
Hi, my new tribe edition has got capacitive steering wheel that cooperates with ACC in a lovely way. I don’t see any information regarding in the price list, thus my question is: is that feature a 2024 upgrade or is it that way since beginning?
 
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Idrossizina

Active Member
Sep 25, 2023
45
3
I'd be surprised if it did have a touch capacitive steering wheel, as the Formentor didn't have one before, there's no mention of it in the (UK) online brochure and VW have been moving away from them over recent years.

Actually, I think that there is a little bit of misunderstanding. I’m referring to capacitive steering wheel not to capacity switches on the steering wheel. That’s a different story and we all know that Formentor luckily is not fitted with that horrible stuff.
Our steering wheel feels the presence of a human hand through capacity sensors like the Golf 8 does, and not like Vw predecessors that require motion of the wheel to feel the presence of the driver. That is a wonderful sensor, because it makes possible to stop and go without pressing the button or depressing the gas to reactivate the car. To restart with ACC you just have to keep your hand on the steering wheel as long as the car in front of you goes away, while previous systems were disconnecting ACC after three seconds.
Again, my question: do you know whether your car is fitted with this wonderful stuff?
 

Wyld Stallyn

Be Excellent To Each Other and... Party On Dudes!
Mar 10, 2022
437
275
Actually, I think that there is a little bit of misunderstanding. I’m referring to capacitive steering wheel not to capacity switches on the steering wheel. That’s a different story and we all know that Formentor luckily is not fitted with that horrible stuff.
Our steering wheel feels the presence of a human hand through capacity sensors like the Golf 8 does, and not like Vw predecessors that require motion of the wheel to feel the presence of the driver. That is a wonderful sensor, because it makes possible to stop and go without pressing the button or depressing the gas to reactivate the car. To restart with ACC you just have to keep your hand on the steering wheel as long as the car in front of you goes away, while previous systems were disconnecting ACC after three seconds.
Again, my question: do you know whether your car is fitted with this wonderful stuff?
Mine has a steering wheel with lots of buttons and I run in sport mode, it prevents the start stop kicking in.🤓
 

Idrossizina

Active Member
Sep 25, 2023
45
3
Sorry, not talking about start and stop device here. But about acc stopping and starting the car in a queue…
 

Wyld Stallyn

Be Excellent To Each Other and... Party On Dudes!
Mar 10, 2022
437
275
Ow sorry, ACC Yep, that's switched off too, I just use the dangly pedal type things in the footwell instead. 😁👍
 

oldgitdave

Active Member
Mar 27, 2022
510
245
UK
Sorry, not talking about start and stop device here. But about acc stopping and starting the car in a queue…
Yep, mine does that; V2 Hybrid 2021, and it does work really well tbh. However, being an old git I do prefer to have more manual control.

With the heavy traffic here in the UK I found I'm watching out for it all the time, so simply driving it without acc is much less stressful! I do use it on the motorways though.
 

Idrossizina

Active Member
Sep 25, 2023
45
3
Yep, mine does that; V2 Hybrid 2021, and it does work really well tbh. However, being an old git I do prefer to have more manual control.

With the heavy traffic here in the UK I found I'm watching out for it all the time, so simply driving it without acc is much less stressful! I do use it on the motorways though.
So you don’t have to move the steering wheel but it’s enough to gently touch it? And thus the acc stays awake and ready in a standing queue for more then 3 secs?
If yes that’s capacitive steeering wheel.
 

oldgitdave

Active Member
Mar 27, 2022
510
245
UK
So you don’t have to move the steering wheel but it’s enough to gently touch it? And thus the acc stays awake and ready in a standing queue for more then 3 secs?
If yes that’s capacitive steeering wheel.
I really can't say whether it's a capacitive steeering wheel. But with acc engaged it will gently come to a halt behind a stopped vehicle, will pull away when that vehicle moves off and continue to follow at a safe distance.
I think these cars have a driver alert system too, so I guess if you let go of the steering wheel with acc engaged it will warn you.
 

Idrossizina

Active Member
Sep 25, 2023
45
3
Uhm that doesn’t clarify…
The test is: a car stops behind me, how many seconds does the ACC stay engaged? Just 3/5 secs, no capacitive, long time with your hand touching the wheel, capacitive
 

Idrossizina

Active Member
Sep 25, 2023
45
3
From Golf 8 manual

IMG_4911.jpeg
 

dashnine

Active Member
Oct 31, 2012
459
175
Warwick, UK
In the manual I downloaded when I got my car the text is slightly different (and more amusing):

The ACC remains active and the message ACC ready to start is displayed on the instrument cluster for a few seconds. You can extend or reactivate this warning by pressing the button or, depending on your vehicle’s equipment, by grabbing the steering wheel. During this time, the vehicle will move off again if the vehicle in front moves forwards.

I've not noticed that ACC only stays active if I 'grab' the steering wheel, I will test it next time I'm in the car. I do have Travel Assist as well (as above).
 

LetsForment

Active Member
Nov 28, 2022
214
55
South East England
Once it comes to a stop, it seems to always want me to touch the pedals before it will set off again. I much prefer this, in urban city environments there are so many situations where you don't want the car to just follow the one ahead blindly.

Vz2/phev here.
 
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Idrossizina

Active Member
Sep 25, 2023
45
3
Ok so it looks like older models are not equipped with a capacity steering wheel. Any other experiences?
 

dashnine

Active Member
Oct 31, 2012
459
175
Warwick, UK
In the manual I downloaded when I got my car the text is slightly different (and more amusing):

The ACC remains active and the message ACC ready to start is displayed on the instrument cluster for a few seconds. You can extend or reactivate this warning by pressing the button or, depending on your vehicle’s equipment, by grabbing the steering wheel. During this time, the vehicle will move off again if the vehicle in front moves forwards.

I've not noticed that ACC only stays active if I 'grab' the steering wheel, I will test it next time I'm in the car. I do have Travel Assist as well (as above).
I guess I should qualify I think ACC does always stays active, but then I usually hang onto the steering wheel anyway so I've not noticed letting go and ACC dropping out.
 

Idrossizina

Active Member
Sep 25, 2023
45
3
In the manual I downloaded when I got my car the text is slightly different (and more amusing):

The ACC remains active and the message ACC ready to start is displayed on the instrument cluster for a few seconds. You can extend or reactivate this warning by pressing the button or, depending on your vehicle’s equipment, by grabbing the steering wheel. During this time, the vehicle will move off again if the vehicle in front moves forwards.

I've not noticed that ACC only stays active if I 'grab' the steering wheel, I will test it next time I'm in the car. I do have Travel Assist as well (as above).
In fact, our Formentor, Manual doesn’t originally explaines that there is a new automatic touch steering wheel. While the Volkswagen ones are reporting that.
 

SRGTD

Active Member
May 26, 2014
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1,605
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