Lincoln MKS Adds to Ford’s Industry Leading Number of 5-Star Goverment Crash Test Ratings
Talk about ‘beauty and brains.’ The 2009 Lincoln MKS may come in a pretty package, but it also comes with some seriously smart safety technology. What better reason to explain why Ford Motor Company’s new premium brand flagship recently earned top ratings for both frontal and side impact tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), adding to Ford’s leading number of 5-star crash test-rated vehicles.
Lincoln’s full-size sedan also recently earned a “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), by getting top ratings in high-speed front and side crash tests, as well as a rear crash test simulation. Ford Motor Company has more “Top Safety Picks” than any other automaker.
Going the Extra Mile for 5-Star Safety
When it comes to safety Ford doesn’t settle for less than the best. When NHTSA originally tested MKS, it received a five-star side crash rating and a four-star/five-star frontal crash rating. Ford re-calibrated the driver airbag and scored the top five-star rating in a second NHTSA crash test. Ford reacted quickly and made the change within the first 90 days of MKS production. The five-star crash test rating applies to MKS cars produced after Sept. 16, 2008.
Sedan of Steel
MKS got some of its core strength from the use of lightweight aluminum-coated boron steel – one of the strongest weld-able materials – in the body structure’s B-pillars. Ford engineers also located the side door intrusion beams to help manage and absorb energy during side impact crashes.
Top Shelf Safety Technology
The Lincoln MKS is equipped with a comprehensive package of the latest in active and passive safety features to provide a high level of protection for all occupants. Standard safety features include dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, seat-mounted side air bags, safety belt pretensioners and load-limiting retractors and driver seat positioning sensor.
The Occupant Classification System (OCS) uses a sophisticated sensor to determine, via weight, whether the front passenger seat is empty, occupied by a child seat or small or large adult occupant and can deploy the air bag with the appropriate force as needed.
The adaptive collapsible steering column is a new feature for Lincoln. The column will collapse, during an impact, dependent on the position of the driver and whether he or she is belted.
The Lincoln’s safety system uses both G-force and pressure-based sensors to monitor the crash pulse and pressure inside the front door cavity. Information is sent to the Restraints Control Module (RCM). The RCM signals deployment of appropriate restraint devices, such as pretensioners, retractors and air bags, all within 100 milliseconds.
Other key safety features include Safety Canopy® System, AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control system, Ford’s Belt-Minder®, a safety belt reminder technology. Additional standard safety features include an anti-theft perimeter alarm, Battery Saver, Child Safety Locks, glow-in-the-dark trunk release, illuminated entry, LATCH (Lower Anchors & Tethers for Children) and a tire pressure monitoring system.
Tags: 5 Star Rating, Ford, Ford Motor Company, Industry Leading, Lincon MKS
