FORD’S NEW CURVE CONTROL TECHNOLOGY

DEARBORN, Mich., June 28, 2010 – Ford Motor Company today introduced a new innovation – Curve Control – designed to help drivers maintain control of their vehicles when taking a curve too quickly.

Curve Control debuts as standard equipment on the all-new 2011 Ford Explorer going into production later this year, and will be offered on 90 percent of the company’s North American crossovers, sport utilities, trucks and vans by 2015.

The technology senses when a driver is taking a curve too quickly – a situation found to contribute to about 50,000 crashes each year in the U.S. – and rapidly reduces engine torque and can apply four-wheel braking, slowing the vehicle by up to 10 mph in about one second.

“Too many accidents stem from drivers misjudging their speed going into curves and freeway off- and on-ramps,” said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “Ford’s Curve Control technology senses a potentially dangerous situation and reduces power and applies brakes more quickly than most drivers can react on their own.”

Curve Control is effective on dry or wet pavement, and is expected to be particularly useful when drivers are entering or exiting freeway on- or off-ramps with too much speed. When a vehicle enters a curve too fast, the system responds to the driver’s steering input by rapidly reducing torque and increasing brake pressure to help keep the vehicle under control.

The patent-pending system works by measuring how quickly the vehicle is turning and comparing that with how quickly the driver is trying to turn. When the vehicle is not turning as much as the driver is steering – also known as “pushing” – Curve Control activates. The system applies the precise amount of braking required on each wheel to enhance the individual wheel braking of the traditional stability control system.

Based on Ford’s exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™), Curve Control uses sensors to measure roll rate, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, wheel speed and steering wheel angle, and runs calculations based on those inputs 100 times every second.

“Ford is developing technologies such as Curve Control and radar-based collision warning systems that can prevent crashes from happening in the first place,” said Paul Mascarenas, Ford vice president of Engineering for Global Product Development. “These new active systems designed to prevent accidents are the perfect complement for Ford’s leading passive safety systems – such as advanced airbags and high-strength vehicle structures – that protect occupants when a crash is inevitable.”
Curve Control is one of several new driver assist and safety technologies to be offered on the all-new Explorer. Other technologies include next-generation adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, state-of-the-art pressure-based airbag technology, the industry’s first inflatable rear seat belts and intelligent four-wheel-drive terrain management system.

Real-world benefits
Ford safety researchers found through analysis of government crash data that approximately 50,000 crashes annually in the U.S. involve driving too fast on a curve.

According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, freeway ramps “are the sites of far more crashes per miles driven than other segments of interstate highways.” In that 2004 study of more than 1,100 urban freeway interchange crashes, vehicle speed was noted as a “primary crash contributor.” About half of those interchange crashes occurred when at-fault drivers were in the process of exiting interstates and another 36 percent occurred when drivers were entering interstates.

“While we strongly encourage our customers to drive at safe speeds, systems such as Curve Control can be useful in unexpected situations,” said Ali Jammoul, Ford chief engineer, Chassis Systems.

Ford’s safety leadership record continues to grow
Ford has been awarded more five-star U.S. government ratings and Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety than any other automaker.

In 2009 Ford introduced radar-enabled adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, and BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert. These technologies – introduced on the new Ford Taurus and Fusion – help drivers avoid potentially dangerous crash situations by using radar to detect the relative position of other vehicles and warning the driver with a combination of visual and audio alerts.

On the 2002 Explorer, Ford launched the industry’s first rollover-activated side curtain airbags – called Safety Canopy® – as well as Roll Stability Control technology that goes beyond traditional stability control systems by measuring the vehicle’s roll rate to enhance vehicle stability.

Ford also introduced some of the industry’s first pressure-based airbag technologies that help deploy side airbags up to 30 percent faster on the 2009 F-150 and 2010 Taurus.

For more information
For supporting materials on Ford’s new Curve Control technology: Curve Control graphic, Explorer Driver Assist and Safety Technology and the Future of Safety fact sheets, photos and video.

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Ford predicts the electrification of America’s auto fleet to happen a lot faster than most have expected.

Nancy Gioia, Ford’s director of global electrification, told our colleague Jewel Gopwani at the Detroit Free Press that Ford expects 10% to 25% of its sales by 2020 will be vehicles that in some way run on batteries, up from about 2% now.

Of those electrified vehicles, 70% will be hybrids, 20% to 25% plug-in hybrids, the rest pure electrics.

For starters, Ford, which needs to give Lincoln new life as it kills off Mercury, says its new 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid has gotten an EPA sticker rating of at 41 miles per gallon in the city, 36 mpg on the highway. That beats what it considers the MKZ hybrid’s top mid-size luxury sedan rival — the 2010 Lexus HS 250h hybrid — by 6 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway. Ford also claims a top speed on battery alone of 47 mph vs. 25 mph for the Lexus.

Gioia says the 2020 estimate is a wide range because there are lots of unanswered questions about access to and affordability of electrified vehicles.

Hybrids will prevail for some time, she told Gopwani at a green car conference, because creating infrastructure for plug-in vehicles — charging stations and upgrades to the electric grid – has barely begun. Also, hybrids are more expensive than gas-only cars but still a lot more affordable than plug-in hybrids and all-electrics with their bigger, costlier battery packs. “Customers can see a reasonable payback period (on a regular hybrid’s extra cost) even at $2.80 a gallon,” Gioia said.

In a speech to the conference, Gioia stressed that automakers, in their product plans, must cater to customers’ needs, preferences and concerns about electrified vehicles. “The customer will decide who the winners and losers are and ultimately the pace of adoption of greener vehicles.”

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SUMMARY:

• The Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows Americans drive more than 600 billion miles on average during summer driving season, between Memorial Day and Labor Day
• Spending extra time before a trip to inspect your vehicle and prepare for unexpected travel conditions is good insurance against breakdowns and incidents
• Ford pre-travel checklist: Vehicle fluids and periodic maintenance schedules; tire conditions and inflation pressures; windshield wipers and lighting; and route planning

As the summer driving season begins and Americans gear up to hit the road, packing the right clothes and adding music to the MP3 player is foremost on many minds. But how many travelers consider the condition of their cars when planning a trip? Whether heading out to a local lake or prepping for a cross-country expedition, these tips from Ford will help you focus on your vehicle now so you won’t have to worry about it along the way.

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that more than three-quarters of summer road trips cover a distance of 50 to 249 miles each way. That means most drivers are at least an hour or more from home – and their local mechanic or dealership – making proper preparation of the family car all the more important. While getting stranded in the summer doesn’t pose the same risks inherent in winter travel, drivers can minimize the hassle and inconvenience of a breakdown and the chance of an accident with a few simple prep steps before setting out.

Check all fluids
Just as with people, fluids are critical for vehicles when the heat is on. Check your owner’s guide for the proper procedures to verify the following:

• Engine oil, including scheduling an oil change if it’s time   
• Coolant level
• Automatic transmission fluid (where applicable)
• Brake fluid
• Power steering fluid
• Windshield washer fluid 

Tires are your safety cushion
When you consider that tires are all that separates your car from the road, it’s essential you inspect your tires to ensure they’re going to make the journey safely.

• Examine the tread for excessive or uneven wear and deep gouges, and check sidewalls for bulging or cracking  
• Check and adjust tire pressures using the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations, not the maximum pressure listed on the tire sidewall. Manufacturer pressure recommendations are usually shown on a sticker affixed to the driver’s door and printed in the owner’s guide
• Don’t forget to check the condition and inflation pressure of the spare tire 

Visibility aids safety
Most people recognize that a good view out the windshield and windows is essential to safe driving. But how long has it been since you checked your brake lights, directional signals and headlights for proper operation?

• Check wiper operation and blade condition, replacing any blades that don’t clean the windshield on the first pass  
• With a helper, check operation of the brake lights (including the center high-mount brake light) and reverse lights
• Check operation of headlights (high and low beams), all directional signals and taillights

Plan your route and be aware of conditions
Regardless of whether you have a set destination – and route – in mind, or you’re seeing where the road takes you, a little knowledge of the route and conditions you might encounter can go a long way toward ensuring a safe and pleasant journey.

• Whether you’re using a portable GPS system or a built-in navigation aid like Ford SYNC® with Traffic, Directions & Information, make sure you have destination addresses and any cables/plugs/connectors needed to set up the unit  
• Be aware of changing weather and climate on long trips: Plains states can experience rapid severe thunderstorm development, while travelers crossing desert terrain should bring emergency water for passengers in case of a breakdown

One final note: If you’re bringing a pet along for the ride, never leave it unattended in the vehicle. In many states it’s illegal, and even seemingly mild temperatures can rapidly create a lethal environment inside a car – even with the windows cracked.

“Today more than ever, with vehicle quality soaring, it’s easy to forget that tires wear, bulbs burn out and washer fluid needs replenishment. Motorists preparing for vacation can save a lot of time and trouble by taking a few moments to inspect their vehicles before they ever leave the driveway. You don’t have to be a mechanic – the owner’s guide will tell you everything you need to know.”

– Kevin Markham, Ford Global Driver Safety, Dearborn Development Center

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