Hedgehogs and BMWs

[quk@sievers.com (Phil Payne)]

Perhaps Audi's "hedgehog" commercials have got BMW rattled.  Today's  
"Independent" contains a full page advertisement for BMW's Wildlife Acoustic 
Information Link:
 
     Available in the United Kingdon.  A BMW for the animal kingdom.

     In children's fiction it was Dr Dolittle who talked to animals.
     Today, thanks to doctors at the Bavarian Institute of Zoology, it
     is the engineers at BMW.  At frequencies above 20,000Hz, sound
     becomes inaudible to most humans.  A hedgehog, on the other hand, 
     can detect frequencies up to 45,000Hz.  For this reason BMW have
     developed the concept of WAIL (Wildlife Acoustic Information Link).
     This operates on the same ultra-sonic echo-sounding principle as 
     BMW's Park Distance Control System.  Sonic waves are emitted from 
     the front bumper producing a warning call which alerts stray 
     animals to the approaching car.  This then encourages them to jump
     into the nearest hedgerow.  Available from April 1 on selected 
     models, we believe it will be a resounding success with all road 
     users.  Both the two and four legged varieties.


--
 Phil Payne
 phil@sievers.com
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club