Posts Tagged ‘IIHS’

2010 FORD MUSTANG SCORES 5-STAR SAFETY RATINGS

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

2010 FORD MUSTANG COUPE EARNED THE U.S. GOVERNMENT’S TOP 5-STAR CRASH-TEST RATING

2010 Ford Mustang Scores 5-Star Safety Ratings

The 2010 Ford Mustang coupe has earned the U.S. government’s top 5-star crash-test rating, adding to widespread acclaim for the new car’s unmistakable design and upgraded performance that builds on the formula that’s made it America’s favorite pony car for 45 years. Ford has more U.S. government 5-star-rated vehicles than any other brand and more Top Safety Pick ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety than any other automaker.

Structurally Strong
The new Mustang uses high strength steel in its body structure and uses ultra high strength steel in the door intrusion beams for additional side impact protection.

The Mustang’s considerable body stiffness contributes to the coupe and convertible’s driving performance and has a parallel benefit in accident protection. While the coupe’s body structure is approximately 31 percent stiffer than the previous Mustang platform, the convertible’s is more than twice as stiff – creating a structure that helps protect the cabin from deformation and intrusion during an impact.

The front structure’s crush zones are computer-designed to absorb energy in a controlled manner and help dissipate it before it can reach the passenger compartment. Ford engineers have run thousands of design iterations of the Mustang’s front rails to arrive at an octagonal shape that helps spread crash forces evenly to help protect occupants.

Technologically Advanced
State-of-the-art technology adds to the convenience and safety of the 2010 Mustang, from the availability of the latest version of Ford SYNC®, with new features 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Report, to standard AdvanceTrac® Electronic Stability Control, which complements the all-speed traction control and standard anti-lock braking system (ABS).

Additional standard safety equipment includes Beltminder® and the Personal Safety System™ – a system that includes dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, safety belt pretensioners and Beltminder.

Sales Leader
Mustang remains the number one selling sports car by a wide margin, with the new 2010 model driving showroom traffic. In April, Mustang had nearly a 40 percent share of the retail sports car segment.

QUOTES:

“The Mustang offers top safety ratings that, like its design and performance, other sports cars cannot match.” – Sue Cischke, Ford Group Vice President of Ford Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering

“We’ve made many upgrades to the new Mustang that contributes not only to the car’s safety, but also to its driving enjoyment thanks to a stiffer structure. – Steve Kozak, Ford Chief Engineer for Safety Systems

“Interest in the fast, fun and affordable Mustang remains outstanding. The feedback from our dealers and customers is that we’ve taken the new 2010 Mustang to a new level of excellence.” – Steve Ling, Ford Car Marketing Manager

Tags: 2010 Ford Mustang, 5-star crash-test rating, Ford, Ford Motor Company, IIHS, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, safety, Top Safety Pick

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LINCOLN MKZ EARNS TOP SAFETY PICK

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

EXTENDS FORD’S INDUSTRY LEAD IN CRASH RATINGS

The new 2010 Lincoln MKZ luxury midsize sedan – arriving in dealerships now – is giving Lincoln showrooms another boost after earning a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The new MKZ offers more standard luxury features than its Lexus and Cadillac competitors and further solidified Ford Motor Company’s industry-leading number of Top Safety Picks.

Structurally strong
The structure of the Lincoln MKZ helps it withstand intrusion in many accidents, including the most common frontal and side impacts.

The tailor-welded B-pillars between the front and rear doorframes are stronger at the top of the vehicle – from below the beltline upward – than at the bottom. This helps to channel energy below the level of the occupants. At the torso level and above, the structure helps to prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment.

Front and side-protection elements on the MKZ include:

The first use on a Ford vehicle of dual-phase, high-strength steel rails on the front end;
Two energy absorbing foam blocks between the inner door panels and interior trim, aligned with the occupants’ chest and hip ;
Side-intrusion beams inside the door, anchored at the hinge and latch areas;
Tailor-welded steel in the B-pillar structure with extra thickness – nearly a quarter inch of solid steel – above the beltline; and
Front-seat side air bags for front occupants and side-curtain air bags for head protection in both rows.

Segment-exclusive features
The new Lincoln MKZ also offers segment-exclusive features, including:

First-in-class Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) with Cross Traffic Alert (CTA), which makes navigating traffic and parking lots safer and easier.
AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control system, which comes standard on all Lincoln vehicles, can predict the vehicle’s intentions using a sensor to detect and measure over-steer and yaw by monitoring the vehicle’s speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When the system senses wheel slip, engine torque is reduced and braking is applied where needed to help keep the car tracking safely on its intended path.
Optional SYNC® with 911 AssistTM. When a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC, the system is ready to assist in placing a call directly to a local 911 emergency operator in the event of an air bag-deploying accident. The key advantage of SYNC 911 Assist is speed, as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators.
SOS Post Crash Alert System, which activates the horn, emergency flashers, automatically unlocks doors and turns on the interior/puddle lamps when an air bag is deployed. The system activates the emergency flashers when a spinout is detected.

Additional standard safety features on the Lincoln MKZ include:

Ford’s Personal Safety System®, which includes safety belt pretensioners, load-limiting retractors, dual-stage front air bags, driver-seat-position sensing and crash-severity sensing;
Ford’s BeltMinder™ system, which chimes and flashes a warning lamp for six seconds every 30 seconds for five minutes or until the driver buckles up, whichever comes first; and
The LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system, which provides convenient mounting points for compatible child seats.

QUOTES

“Earning a ‘Top Safety Pick’ is great news because the Insurance Institute’s tests are some of the most demanding conducted outside of our own laboratories, and customers increasingly rely on them when choosing a new vehicle.” – Susan Cischke, Ford Group Vice President of Ford Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering

“The new MKZ continues to build on Ford’s leading safety heritage and proves that a high level of safety can come in a midsize package.” – Steve Kozak, Chief Engineer, Ford Safety Systems

“In addition to its top safety rating, the new MKZ is packed with technology, Lincoln’s signature high-end features, class-leading interior quietness, and is unsurpassed in its segment for highway fuel economy.” – Greg Scott, Ford Marketing Manager for Fusion, Milan and MKZ

Tags: 2010 Lincoln MKZ, crash ratings, Ford, Ford Motor Company, IIHS, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, safety

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2010 FUSION HYBRID EARNS ‘TOP SAFETY PICK’

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

2010 FUSION HYBRID EARNS ‘TOP SAFETY PICK,’ GIVES FORD HYBRIDS BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND SAFETY COMBO

Car buyers seeking fuel efficient hybrids with top safety ratings in a variety of vehicle segments can look forward to a one-stop shopping trip. Only at a Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealership will they find not one but two top-safety-rated hybrids from which to choose.

Ford is the only automotive brand to offer two hybrids that have segment-leading fuel efficiency, “Top Safety Pick” awards and exclusive safety technologies.

The all-new 2010 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid – the most fuel efficient midsize cars in North America – has received a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Fusion Hybrid offers 41 mpg city – beating rival Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg – and its stable mate the Escape Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient SUV on the market and also garnered a “Top Safety Pick.” Fusion and Escape’s Mercury hybrid counterparts, the Milan and Mariner, also received the top rating.

Side impact protection
Fusion and Milan get some of their core strength from the use of lightweight high-strength steel in the body structure. The structure of the Fusion helps it withstand intrusion in a side impact. The tailor-welded B-pillars between the front and rear doorframes are stronger at the top of the vehicle –from below the beltline upward – than at the bottom. This helps to channel energy below the level of the occupants. At the torso level and above, the structure helps to prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment.

Segment-exclusive features
Among the segment-exclusive safety and driver aid technologies on the new Fusion and Milan are Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert (CTA).

BLIS with CTA uses two multiple-beam radars in the rear quarter panels (one per side) for two different – but important – purposes. BLIS checks the defined blind spot zone, which is about 10 feet from the back of the bumper to the outside mirrors. When a vehicle is detected, an amber light in the outside mirror of whichever side the vehicle is on lights up. The driver is still responsible for any lane changes, but the BLIS is there to help.

Cross Traffic Alert notifies the driver of impending traffic when backing out of a parking spot and warns the driver when a vehicle is detected within three car widths of either side of the car. As with BLIS, the driver is warned with a light in the outside mirror on the side of the traffic. A warning beep is also sounded.

911 Assist
For safety and security, the 2010 Fusion and Milan also include 911 Assist, an exclusive new feature integrated into the award-winning Ford SYNCTM hands-free system. 911 Assist is designed to aid occupants in placing a call directly to a local 911 emergency operator if an accident that activates an air bag or the emergency fuel cutoff occurs. Unlike competitive systems that are routed through an intermediate call center, 911 Assist places the call directly to the 911 operator to speed response time. Ford Escape also features SYNC with 911 Assist.

Safety and Security
Fusion and Milan’s standard safety features also include six standard air bags, Ford’s Personal Safety System®, AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control system, BeltMinder® safety belt chime and warning lamp, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and LATCH – the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system.

Quotes
“Customers no longer have to choose between fuel economy and safety – now they can have both with the Fusion and Escape hybrids.” – Susan Cischke, group vice president, Ford Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering
“The new Fusion and Milan continue to build on Ford’s leading safety heritage and prove yet again that a high level of safety can come in a midsize package.” – Steve Kozak, chief engineer, Ford Safety Systems.

“We know people want to stay connected in their vehicles, so we’re delivering that connectivity for them responsibly and safely. Our research backs up what most of us instinctively know – that it’s better while driving to place a call using a voice interface than dialing manually, so you can keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.” – Susan Cischke, group vice president, Ford Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering.

Tags: 2010 Fusion, 2010 Fusion Hybrid, fuel economy, IIHS, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), safety awards

Posted in A Year In Review: 2009, Ford Cars - text, Ford Fusion - text, Ford Safety - text, Ford and the Environment - text | No Comments »

FORD F-150 OUTPERFORMS COMPETITION IN IIHS SIDE-IMPACT CRASH TESTS

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

Unique 'K-Bag Feature Helps Ford F-150 Outperform Competition in New IIHS Side-Impact Crash Tests

When they say “Built Ford Tough” about the all-new 2009 F-150 they aren’t just talking about brawny stuff like high strength steel. They’re also talking about cushiony features such as air bags – the kind of air bags other trucks wish they had, namely a “K-Bag”.

The all-new 2009 Ford F-150 – which features exclusive “K-bag” side air bag technology – provides better side-impact crash safety ratings than the Chevrolet Silverado and Dodge Ram, according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Special “K-bag”

Among the truck’s unmatched list of advanced standard safety features is its patented “K-bag” technology, a new front seat-mounted dual-chamber side air bag named for its unique shape, which is designed to help protect the rib cage from excessive crash forces during a side impact. This air bag is supported with a state-of-the-art side crash sensing system that uses pressure pulses from the impact to deploy the air bag 30 percent faster than a conventional system.

America’s safest full-size pickup

The F-150 earned an IIHS “Top Safety Pick” last November and quadruple 5-star government crash test ratings in January – making it the only full-size pickup to achieve both top crash-test ratings. Combined with the most standard safety features in the segment, the F-150 is America’s safest full-size pickup.

More exclusive occupant protection

Also new to the 2009 F-150 is Ford’s standard Safety Canopy® side-curtain air bag rollover protection system, which helps protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollovers and side impact crashes. The air bag is designed to stay inflated for several seconds for additional protection in rollover crashes, which often last longer than side impact crashes.

Ford’s Personal Safety System – also a standard feature – is made up of a suite of protection technologies, including dual-stage front air bags and occupant weight classification, working together to help protect occupants.

Most sophisticated electronic stability control

The F-150’s standard offering of Ford’s industry exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) also met a newer requirement that vehicles must offer electronic stability control to earn IIHS’s top rating. The system is the world’s most sophisticated electronic stability control, helping prevent skidding and rollovers. It goes a step beyond typical stability control systems with a gyroscopic roll sensor that determines both the vehicle’s body roll angle and roll rate.

Lighter, tougher structure

The F-150’s safety leadership also is built on the solid structure that underpins the truck’s legendary “Built Ford Tough” durability and capability. The truck has an all-new hydroformed steel front end – including use of tubular ultra high-strength, lighter weight steel that contributes to its unsurpassed fuel economy in the full-size pickup truck segment.

Tags: 2009 Ford F-150, Ford, Ford Motor Company, IIHS, K-Bag, Side-Impact Crash Test

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SAFEST FULL-SIZE PICKUP

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

2009 Ford F-150 Becomes Safest Full-Size Pickup by Earning Top 5-Star Crash Ratings

Look out! The all-new 2009 Ford F-150 is even tougher than previously thought. Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year™ recently became America’s safest full-size pickup by earning 5-star frontal and side-impact ratings in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests, as well as the “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Oh yeah, it also boasts an unmatched list of advanced standard safety features.

Tradeoffs? Not with the F-150, which has the best combined safety, capability and fuel economy ratings of any other half-ton truck thanks to advanced lightweight materials… breaking the myth that stronger vehicles are less efficient.

On a roll: The new F-150 led Ford’s F-Series lineup to a 32nd straight year of truck sales leadership in 2008. F-Series finished the year with 50,448 more unit sales than its nearest competitor. In addition, for the 27th year in a row, F-Series is once again America’s best-selling vehicle of any type. That’s right – including cars, crossovers, SUVs, trucks or vans. Since the all-new 2009 F-150 went on sale in October 2008, F-Series has actually gained market share, increasing from 31 percent of the full-size truck market in the first nine months to 37 percent in the fourth quarter.

The Toughest Truck
The F-150’s safety leadership is built on the solid structure that underpins the truck’s legendary “Built Ford Tough” durability and capability. The new truck has an all-new hydroformed steel front end – including use of tubular ultra-high-strength lighter weight steel that contributes to its unsurpassed fuel economy in the full-size pickup truck segment.

New to the 2009 F-150 is Ford’s standard Safety Canopy® side-curtain air bag rollover protection system, which helps protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollovers and side-impact crashes. The air bag is designed to stay inflated for several seconds for additional protection in rollover crashes, which often last longer than side-impact crashes.

Ford’s Personal Safety System is made up of a suite of protection technologies, including dual-stage front air bags and occupant weight classification, working together to help protect occupants. Added to this is a Ford first – the new “K-bag,” a front seat dual-chamber side air bag named for its unique shape, which is designed to help protect the rib cage from excessive crash forces during a side impact.

Towing Safety and Convenience
The new F-150 has standard safety and towing aid technologies – including Advance Trac® with Roll Stability Control™ (RSC®), a first for the F-150 – that help customers more confidently use the truck’s segment-leading towing and hauling capability. The Ford-exclusive stability control system uses a gyroscopic sensor that uniquely helps detect and prevent both skidding and rollovers.

The system offers as standard integrated Trailer Sway Control technology, which helps determine from the yaw motion of the truck if the trailer is swaying and takes measures to help bring it under control. An available Integrated Trailer Brake Controller technology allows direct operation of the trailer’s electronic brakes with more confidence than typical aftermarket systems.

Tow Haul Mode changes shift points under acceleration, keeping the truck at a higher rpm and further up in the power range to improve the towing experience by avoiding unnecessary shifts in rolling terrain. The technology also prevents the transmission from shifting up in gear when the vehicle crests a hill, and provides downhill brake support that allows the transmission to downshift, letting engine-compression braking slow the vehicle and maintain a steady speed.

Tags: 5-star, IIHS, NHTSA, safety

Posted in A Year In Review: 2009, Ford F-150 - text snippets | No Comments »

Focus Keeps Costs Down

Monday, September 8th, 2008

Ford Focus Outperforms Competition in Repair Cost Affordability

Ford Motor Company’s hot-selling and fuel-efficient Ford Focus is significantly less expensive to repair than 19 other small cars, including the Toyota Prius, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported last week.

Keeping Repair Costs Low
In a recent series of crash tests, IIHS determined that Ford Focus had the lowest repair costs among those tested. Compared to the Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Rabbit, which sustained about $4,000 or more in damage in a single test, the Focus sustained about two-thirds less damage. IIHS praised Ford for equipping the Focus with bumpers that keep their repair costs relatively low. In three of four tests, the Focus’s bumpers protected sheet metal and most other expensive parts from damage, the Institute concluded.

Typically, each of the four tests inflicted more than $1,000 in damage. For example, in the full-width bumper test, the Focus sustained less than $600 in repair costs, compared with the Hyundai Elantra, which sustained nearly $5,000 in damage – almost one-third of the car’s sales price, the IIHS reported.

Designing with Damageability in Mind
Ford Motor Company vehicles are less costly to repair, in part because the company works closely with insurance companies to ensure vehicle designs include damageability and cost of ownership targets.

Ford also references insurance-related data pertaining to average repair costs and loss frequencies from Highway Loss Data Institute, Insurance Services Office, IIHS and NHTSA in vehicle target setting. With this data, Ford is able to benchmark its vehicles against the competition and determine where best to focus its efforts in order to achieve lower collision repair costs, which ultimately result in lower insurance premiums for customers.

How the Tests are Done
To assess a vehicle’s collision loss, IIHS uses a crash barrier that resembles a car bumper, with a foam cover on it. The institute rams vehicles straight-on at 6 mph into their front and rear bumpers and at 3 mph into one front and one rear corner. In almost all the tests, damage extends beyond the bumper. The impacts often buckle the hood, poke out headlights, and smash through grilles, besides damaging the cosmetic bumper cover and the metal bumper bar beneath it.
In the U.S., passenger cars are required to withstand a 2.5-mph impact with no damage. Better bumper designs can reduce those costs dramatically without requiring carmakers to make radical changes, the Institute says.

Tags: , Ford Focus, IIHS

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Posts Tagged ‘IIHS’

2010 FORD MUSTANG SCORES 5-STAR SAFETY RATINGS

2010 FORD MUSTANG COUPE EARNED THE U.S. GOVERNMENT’S TOP 5-STAR CRASH-TEST RATING

LINCOLN MKZ EARNS TOP SAFETY PICK

EXTENDS FORD’S INDUSTRY LEAD IN CRASH RATINGS

2010 FUSION HYBRID EARNS ‘TOP SAFETY PICK’

2010 FUSION HYBRID EARNS ‘TOP SAFETY PICK,’ GIVES FORD HYBRIDS BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND SAFETY COMBO

FORD F-150 OUTPERFORMS COMPETITION IN IIHS SIDE-IMPACT CRASH TESTS

Unique 'K-Bag Feature Helps Ford F-150 Outperform Competition in New IIHS Side-Impact Crash Tests

SAFEST FULL-SIZE PICKUP

2009 Ford F-150 Becomes Safest Full-Size Pickup by Earning Top 5-Star Crash Ratings

Focus Keeps Costs Down

Ford Focus Outperforms Competition in Repair Cost Affordability

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