They say that times are tough all over, but you won’t feel that way when you get inside the 2011 Lincoln MKX. New, industry-exclusive technologies and engaging design featuring world-class craftsmanship and materials further elevate the midsize luxury crossover.
Leading the wide-ranging innovations is the all-new MyLincoln Touch driver connect technology, which delivers a smarter, safer, simpler way to connect drivers with in-car technologies and their digital lives. MyLincoln comes standard on the 2011 Lincoln MKX, providing drivers a whole new experience behind the wheel.
The dramatic freshening of the 2011 Lincoln MKX extends to all areas of the vehicle: new features and technologies not available anywhere else, new exterior design, new interior design with increased use of genuine materials, new powertrain with unsurpassed fuel economy, improved driving dynamics and new tires and wheels all combine to deliver an unparalleled luxury experience.
Introducing… MyLincoln
The industry-first MyLincoln Touch experience, powered by Lincoln SYNC®, replaces traditional vehicle buttons, knobs and gauges with clear, crisp LCD screens and five-way buttons like those found on cell phones and MP3 players. The screens can be personalized to display information relevant to each individual driver using a simple button click, voice command or touch screen tap.
The electronic finish panel on the 2011 Lincoln MKX demonstrates all the advantages of this touch-sensitive technology in a beautiful, engaging package. Activated features display amber light. When turned off, signature Lincoln White lighting is displayed.
In addition to the usual audio and climate control features, the touch-sensitive technology also operates the volume and fan controls, which is exclusive to Lincoln.
Customers can swipe their fingers along the slider to adjust the volume. The slider features 10 distinct touchpoints; three full swipes bring the system to maximum volume. Customers also can touch anywhere along the slider to get a corresponding increase or decrease in volume.
The fan control is operated in a similar fashion. On both the volume control and the fan control, the distinctive Lincoln White lighting acts as a chaser.
Brimming with technologies and craftsmanship
Standard MyLincoln Touch and remote start lead the list of features or technologies on the 2011 Lincoln MKX, including: MyLincoln Touch, Lincoln SYNC, Easy Fuel, SecuriCode™ keyless entry, Blind Spot Mirrors, MyKey, Cross Traffic Alert and AdvanceTrac® with RSC (Roll Stability Control™).
The interior of the 2011 Lincoln MKX reflects an even greater emphasis on what defines Lincoln DNA: luxury, craftsmanship, genuine materials and sharper execution.
Gentle details that bring out Lincoln standards of quality and excellence include brightwork on the vents, genuine stitching on the doors and softer armrests with upgraded materials. The cupholders, with available ambient lighting, are found beneath the independent sliding leather-covered console lids, which feature decorative stitching. A power tilt/telescoping steering column and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel are available.
All-new leather-trimmed seats, comfort sections and standard tuxedo stripe embrace the new Lincoln DNA sew style. More genuine aluminum appliqués are standard, with aluminum accents on the door added to the spears on the instrument panel.
The two available wood accents – Olive Ash and Walnut Swirl – on the steering wheel, dashboard and doors add character and form; each selection has a livelier, natural appearance, adding even more character to the interior. Whether customers select aluminum or wood, the increased use of genuine materials in the 2011 Lincoln MKX ensures that each interior will be distinctive.
Learn more about the 2011 Lincoln MKX.
Quotes
“With its combination of style, performance and uncompromising luxury, the Lincoln MKX has brought new customers into the Lincoln showroom in a way that very few products have before. Lincoln customers tell us they care most about style and technology, and the new Lincoln MKX meets these needs perfectly. The new MyLincoln Touch technology will change the way customers interact with their vehicles while its new design language gives the vehicle a distinctive and stylish silhouette we know customers will love.”
– Derrick Kuzak, Group Vice President, Global Product Development
“The 2011 Lincoln MKX represents no-compromise luxury. Every attribute – technology, ergonomics, material selection, power, fuel economy, driving experience – is a standout. Plus, it’s wrapped in a beautiful package. Everything about the 2011 Lincoln MKX is vibrant and luxurious. Our MyLincoln Touch system will draw people in, helping them discover that the new Lincoln MKX delivers a total driving experience not found anywhere else.”
– Elaine Bannon, Chief Engineer of the 2011 Lincoln MKX
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Posts Tagged ‘MyKey’
Just Say ‘Yes’ to No Compromise Luxury
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010Tags: 2011, 2011MKX, AdvanceTrac, Blind Spot Mirrors, Cross-Traffic Alert, easy-fuel, Ford, Fordmotorcompany, Lincoln, MKX, MyKey, MyLincoln, MyLincoln Touch, NAIAS, roll stability control, RSC, SecuriCode, SYNC
Posted in Lincoln - text | No Comments »
Now, That’s What You Call a Really Smart Car
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
Techies aren’t easily duped – if a technology doesn’t deliver on its promise the failure is quickly detected and poseurs are eliminated from the playing field. So, being called “official” anything at International CES (Consumer Electronics Show®) might as well be called the Techie Seal of Approval.
So, without further adieu, the official vehicle of the 2010 International CES to be held Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas is the hot-selling 2010 Ford Taurus, the smartest full-size sedan in America.
Moreover, Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally will deliver the opening keynote address at CES, the world’s largest consumer technology trade show and a make-or-break event for the $172 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. There, Ford also will announce enhancements to its award-winning Ford SYNC® communications and entertainment system as well as new technology that builds on the company’s connected-car leadership position.
What makes Taurus tech-worthy?
As the official car of CES, the Ford Taurus will be featured prominently with technology demonstrations and in signage, brochures and other written materials at the show.
As Frank Davis, executive director of Ford Product Development notes, the all-new Ford Taurus is a perfect fit for CES. In addition to its expressive styling, the vehicle is loaded with advanced features, making it a virtual dream come true for avid techies.
The Taurus also offers the latest application of SYNC – Traffic, Directions & Information – along with 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Report. SYNC’s USB port and Bluetooth capability connects to MP3 players, memory sticks and smartphones, making them accessible by voice control – a more convenient and safe way to use these devices in the car.
For techies with teenaged drivers, Taurus offers MyKey™, a feature that allows parents to program a key that can limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume to encourage teens to drive safer and improve fuel efficiency.
In addition to Multi-Contour Seats with Active Motion, voice-activated navigation, SYNC and MyKey, other class-exclusive technologies available on the Ford Taurus include:
- EasyFuel® Capless Fuel-Filler – a self-seal system without a traditional fuel cap. No lost, dangling, or spinning caps. It seals automatically, every time.
- SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry Keypad – a feature that allows you to unlock the driver’s door by entering a five-digit code via a flush-mounted keypad
- Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support – a feature that allows you to set a cruising speed and uses radar technology to automatically adjust your speed and warn you if you’re getting too close to the vehicle in front of you
- Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross Traffic Alert – a feature that uses radar technology to warn you of vehicles in your blind spot and alert you to oncoming traffic when you’re backing out of a parking spot
- Sony Audio® System – a surround sound system that delivers Dolby® Digital 5.1 sound through 12 high-quality Sony speakers
- Available EcoBoost™ V-6 – a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine that delivers the output of a V-8, 365 horsepower, without compromising its V-6 fuel economy
In addition to being named official vehicle of the 2010 International CES, the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO was dubbed Esquire magazine’s first-ever “Car of the Year.”
Quotes
“The all-new Taurus is Ford’s technology flagship, offering more user-friendly technology to help keep you safe and connected than cars twice its price. And there’s no better venue to show it off than CES. Even the most zealous techies are careful with their money. Taurus offers an unprecedented array of technologies typically reserved for luxury cars at a price that is affordable.”
– Frank Davis, executive director Product Development
“Consumers demand the latest on-the-go innovation in their cars. Ford automobiles are built with cutting-edge technology that makes driving safer and more enjoyable. We are thrilled to welcome Ford to the 2010 International CES and to name the new Ford Taurus as the ‘Official Car of CES.’ We also look forward to hearing Ford’s Alan Mulally kick off the 2010 CES with his opening keynote address on Thursday, Jan. 7.”
– Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association® (CEA), producer of the International CES
Tags: 2010 Ford Taurus, Alan Mulally, CES, Consumer Electronics Show, Ford, Ford Motor Company, Ford SYNC, Frank Davis, MyKey, Official Vehicle
Posted in Ford Cars - text, Ford Taurus - text, Ford Technology - text | No Comments »
Check Out Ford’s Chat With the Inventor of MyKey
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
Ford Safety Manager, Andrew Sarkisian, says MyKey Technology is about Motivation, not Control
Check out Ford’s latest live chat with Safety Strategy Manager, and MyKey™ inventor, Andrew Sarkisian. The chat focused on Ford’s technology—MyKey, and gave an introspective look into its unique features that encourage safe driving habits in teens.
Ford’s MyKey, now standard equipment across many Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models, allows owners to program their vehicle with a key to limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume. MyKey also encourages safety belt usage, provides earlier low-fuel warnings and can be programmed to sound special chimes at 45, 55 and 65 mph.
Sarkisian was personally motivated not only by teen driving statistics, but by watching his own two teenage daughters get behind the wheel for the first time. He and his wife Sharon knew they couldn’t always sit in that passenger’s seat and offer direction—and so the idea behind MyKey began.
Check out the live chat. Click Here
Quotes:
“You want to teach them these good habits early on. But how can we keep them motivated when we’re not in the passenger seat? That’s where MyKey comes in.”
- MyKey™ inventor, Andrew Sarkisian
“I see MyKey as offering a little peace of mind for parents. I can’t always be there. But I think about what I would tell my kids when they were learning to drive. I’d tell them ‘Buckle your seat belt.’ ‘Watch your speed.’ ‘And turn down that radio.’ MyKey is a choice. It’s just one more tool in mom and dad’s toolbox.”
- MyKey™ inventor, Andrew Sarkisian
Check out Ford’s latest live chat with Safety Strategy Manager, and MyKey™ inventor, Andrew Sarkisian. The chat focused on Ford’s technology—MyKey, and gave an introspective look into its unique features that encourage safe driving habits in teens.
Ford’s MyKey, now standard equipment across many Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models, allows owners to program their vehicle with a key to limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume. MyKey also encourages safety belt usage, provides earlier low-fuel warnings and can be programmed to sound special chimes at 45, 55 and 65 mph.
Sarkisian was personally motivated not only by teen driving statistics, but by watching his own two teenage daughters get behind the wheel for the first time. He and his wife Sharon knew they couldn’t always sit in that passenger’s seat and offer direction—and so the idea behind MyKey began.
Check out the live chat. Click Here
Quotes:
“You want to teach them these good habits early on. But how can we keep them motivated when we’re not in the passenger seat? That’s where MyKey comes in.”
- MyKey™ inventor, Andrew Sarkisian
“I see MyKey as offering a little peace of mind for parents. I can’t always be there. But I think about what I would tell my kids when they were learning to drive. I’d tell them ‘Buckle your seat belt.’ ‘Watch your speed.’ ‘And turn down that radio.’ MyKey is a choice. It’s just one more tool in mom and dad’s toolbox.”
- MyKey™ inventor, Andrew Sarkisian
Tags: Ford, Ford Motor Company, Ford Technology, MyKey
Posted in Ford Safety | No Comments »
FORD’S MYKEY TEEN-SAFETY TECHNOLOGY HONORED
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009FORD’S MYKEY TEEN-SAFETY TECHNOLOGY HONORED, PRAISED FOR POTENTIAL LIFE-SAVING BENEFITS
Ford Motor Company’s MyKeyTM teen-safety driving technology topped the American Automobile Association’s (AAA) top technology picks for new vehicles and earned the 2009 Traffic Safety Achievement Award from a panel of judges at the New York International Auto Show’s World Traffic Safety Symposium.
MyKey, which soon will become standard equipment on the 2010 Ford Focus and many other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models, allows owners to program a key that can limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume. The new technology also can completely mute the audio system if front occupants are not belted. The feature is designed to help parents encourage their teen-agers to drive safer and more fuel efficiently, and increase safety belt usage.
Ford’s Focus on Teen Driver Safety
MyKey “may hold potential to increase the safety of teen drivers,” wrote W. E. Van Tassel, Ph.D., with AAA National Driver Training Programs, in a recent article for The Chronicle of ADTSEA.
The Symposium judges previously honored Ford’s Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program – which teaches teens advanced driving skills – with the 2007 Traffic Safety Achievement Award for Community Service. Two years earlier, the Symposium honored Ford for its exclusive VIRTTEX driving simulator, which has been used almost exclusively for safety research, including an extensive teen study earlier this decade.
These efforts, combined with Ford’s hands-free, voice-activated SYNC connectivity technology, are part of Ford’s holistic approach to helping teens – the riskiest on the roads – drive more safely and reduce risks that lead to many of the approximately 6,000 U.S. auto fatalities each year.
MyKey’s Safety Appeal
MyKey can help promote safer driving, particularly among teens, by encouraging safety belt use, limiting speed and reducing distractions. In addition to the more aggressive belt monitor with audio mute as well as top speed and audio volume limits, MyKey provides earlier low-fuel warnings and can be programmed to sound chimes at 45, 55 and 65 miles per hour to encourage driving within posted speed limits.
About 50 percent of those who would consider purchasing MyKey also said they would allow their children to use the family vehicle more often if it were equipped with the technology. The added seat time can help teens build driving skills in a more controlled setting, complementing graduated licensing laws that give young motorists more driving freedom as they get older.
According to NHTSA, teens are more likely to take risks such as speeding – a contributing factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes – and less likely to wear safety belts than older drivers.
QUOTES
“The 2009 World Traffic Safety Symposium is tackling the issue of safer teen driving. As Ford’s new MyKey safety technology will help encourage teens to drive safer and use their seat belts, we’re proud to present Ford with this award.” – Mark Schienberg, president of the New York International Auto Show
“Ford’s commitment to providing motorists of all ages with a safe and satisfying driving experience extends beyond our introduction of industry-leading crash protection and crash avoidance systems. New technologies such as MyKey build on that commitment by encouraging responsible driving behavior.” – Susan Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering
Tags: AAA, American Automobile Association, award, Ford, Ford Motor Company, MyKey, New York Auto Show, safety, teen safety, World Traffic Safety Symposium
Posted in Ford Safety - text | No Comments »
2010 ESCAPE ADDS NEW SAFETY AND DRIVER AID TECHNOLOGIES
Friday, March 6th, 2009Ford’s great Escape just got greater.
The 2010 Escape, the small SUV with the best crash test ratings of any vehicle in its class, is increasing its technology leadership with the addition of five new features that improve safety, reduce driver distractions and aid drivers by automatically parallel parking their vehicle.
The new Escape, in showrooms this summer, will add MyKey™ teen-safety technology, Integrated Spotter Mirrors – both offered standard (MyKey on XLT and above models) – optional Rear View Camera System and SYNC with real-time Traffic, Directions and Information. The new model also will be the North America’s first SUV to offer Active Park Assist, which uses an ultrasonic-based sensing system and Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) to position the vehicle for parallel parking, calculate the optimal steering angle and quickly steer the vehicle into a parking spot.
The 2010 Escape’s new features include:
Integrated Spotter Mirror – a consumer-friendly, affordable blind spot technology that consists of an outside rearview mirror designed with a secondary convex spotter in the top outer corner, which is aimed exclusively at the driver's blind spot. When traffic enters the driver’s blind spot on either side of the vehicle, it is visible in the secondary convex mirror, helping provide the driver broader peripheral view.
MyKey – allows owners to program a key that can limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume. MyKey also encourages safety-belt usage, provides earlier low-fuel warnings and can be programmed to sound chimes at 45, 55 and 65 miles per hour. This feature is standard on Escape models featuring a message center cluster, including XLT and above.
Rear View Camera System – uses an exterior camera embedded in the rear of the vehicle that sends images to a video display in the rearview mirror or the navigation system screen to help enhance visibility directly behind the vehicle when the driver is in reverse. Ford is leveraging the affordability of high-quality video cameras to widely offer the technology with navigation systems. The rearview mirror system allows customers to choose an even more affordable version of the technology.
Active Park Assist – uses an ultrasonic-based sensing system and Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) to position the vehicle for parallel parking, calculate the optimal steering angle and quickly steer the vehicle into a parking spot. The technology is a major leap forward in speed and ease of use compared with the camera-reliant systems offered by competitors. Ford’s system requires less driver interface and reduces the risk of selecting a parking spot that is too tight. Ford’s Active Park Assist also works in downhill parking situations, unlike competing systems.
Next-gen SYNC – Ford is expanding its connectivity leadership by introducing exclusive new SYNC real-time information features that deliver personalized news updates to drivers’ mobile phones while helping them navigate around trouble spots, saving time and fuel. The new Escape is one of the first vehicles to feature this optional next-generation system – SYNC with Traffic, Directions and Information – which leverages industry-leading voice-recognition software, integrated GPS technology and a customer’s Bluetooth-capable mobile phone. SYNC’s new services provide simple hands-free access to personalized traffic reports, precise turn-by-turn driving directions and up-to-date information including business listings, news, sports and weather.
Safety Standard
The 2010 Ford Escape’s standard safety technologies also include:
- AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) – the world’s only system with a gyroscopic sensor that actively measures and helps prevent both side-to-side “yaw” and roll movements
- Safety Canopy® – a side air curtain technology offering protection for the first and second seating rows, and helps provide rollover and ejection protection with extended deployment in rollovers
- Personal Safety System™ – a suite of seven safety technologies, including new dual-stage front air bags for the driver and front-seat passenger, side air bags and a front passenger sensor system
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System – alerts drivers when tire pressure is low. Properly inflated tires not only are important for safety – they also can help improve fuel economy.
Quotes
“The Ford Escape is one of few vehicles that earned both the government’s highest possible 5-star crash safety ratings and a ‘Top Safety Pick’ in the hotly contested small SUV segment. These new technologies will help to take the new Escape to the next level of safety and driver satisfaction.”
- Susan Cischke, Ford’s group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering
“Our vision with SYNC, MyKey and other new technologies is to be a technology leader, making it affordable for millions – just as Ford has done with safety and fuel-saving technologies. We are a car company that through market-driven, customer-focused innovation is learning to think and act like an electronics company, leveraging partnerships with fresh technology leaders.”
- Doug VanDagens, director of Ford’s Connected Services Organization..
“We know people want to stay connected in their vehicles, so Ford is continuing to deliver that connectivity for them responsibly and safely. Our SYNC research backs up what most of us instinctively know – that it is better while driving to place a call using a voice interface than dialing manually, because you can keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.”
- Susan Cischke, Ford’s group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering
“Safety is a top consumer purchase consideration, second only to fuel efficiency, and smart technologies are increasingly in demand. So Escape’s new safety and driver assist technologies, along with its top crash safety ratings and unsurpassed highway fuel economy is a combination that’s hard to beat.”
- Tedros Mengiste, Ford's Escape and Mariner marketing manager
Tags: 2010 Ford Escape, Active Park Assist, AdvanceTrac, Ford Motor Company, Integrated Spotter Mirror, MyKey, Personal Safety System, Rear View Camera System, roll stability control, safety, Safety Canopy, SYNC, Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Posted in Ford Safety - text | No Comments »
DigiKnows Episode #1 – An Insider’s Look at Ford MyKey™
Monday, February 23rd, 2009Tune in to Ford DigiKnows to Talk to the Experts Live: Episode #1 - An Insider’s Look at Ford MyKey™
Ford DigiKnows – Episode #1 – An Insider’s Look at Ford MyKey™
Live Interactive Streaming Video Event
February 24, 2009 - 12:00 Noon ET
Join us live: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ford-weekly-digiknows
Watch the archive: http://www.youtube.com/user/fordvideo1
Here are the episode #1 archives:
About DigiKnows #1: Ford’s MyKey™
In our inaugural episode on February 24 at 12:00 noon ET, Michael Collins takes a look at Ford’s MyKey™ with Tom Miller, Manager MyKey™ Engineering and Andy Sarkisian, Manager Safety Planning and Strategy.
Ford’s MyKey™ is a programmable feature that allows parents to limit top speed and audio volume of vehicles so kids drive more safely. A seatbelt minder makes sure driver and passengers stay buckled up. A set speed alert chimes to encourage teens to drive more safely. This feature will be standard on the 2010 Focus as well as many other upcoming Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models.
Links:
Tune in to UStream.tv to watch live and ask questions
Watch the Ford DigiKnows archives
Michael Collins’ biography
New Teen Safe-Driving Technology
Tackling Teen Driving Risks
Ford MyKey Fact Sheet in Flickr
Tags: DigiKnows Weekly Interactive Video Event, Ford, Ford Motor Company, Michael Collins, MyKey
Posted in Ford Safety - text | No Comments »
Tune in to Ford DigiKnows Weekly Interactive Video Events
Monday, February 23rd, 2009Tune in to Ford DigiKnows to Talk to the Experts Live
Now you can talk to the people at Ford about what matters to you. Join us every week for Ford DigiKnows – a series of live interactive steaming video events. Each week our intrepid host, Michael Collins, takes you the behind the scenes for the scoop on all things Ford. The DigiKnow live streaming events let you talk with the experts from Ford, as they take you under the hood for a look at new and innovative Ford technologies. DigiKnows helps you uncover another side of Ford.
Tune in to Ustream.tv to watch live at 12:00 noon ET and ask questions directly as the action unfolds: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ford-weekly-digiknows
If you’re unable to participate in the live event, please visit our YouTube channel for show archives.
About Michael Collins, host of Ford DigiKnows
Born and raised in Detroit, Michael Collins says he's been hooked on broadcasting since he was a kid. An Emmy-winning radio and television news anchor, Michael has also produced entertainment segments for ABC's The View, VH-1, E! Entertainment, Fox News and CNN. Michael loves producing live video for the web because it’s immediate and interactive. He says "As a kid, the process of 'live' broadcasting fascinated me. It still does."
Links:
Tune in to UStream.tv to watch live and ask questions
Watch the Ford DigiKnows archives
Michael Collins’ biography
Tags: DigiKnows Weekly Interactive Video Event, Ford, Ford Motor Company, Michael Collins, MyKey
Posted in Ford Safety - text | No Comments »
2010 FORD TAURUS DELIVERS CLASS-LEADING TECHNOLOGIES
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009The new 2010 Taurus keeps Ford’s brand promise to bring technology to market at an affordable price.
Available this summer, Ford’s new 2010 Taurus will start at $25,995 – the same price as 2009 models but with more class-leading features, new technologies and perceived quality that rivals German luxury sedans. A wide selection of optional customer-focused technologies also will be available on the 2010 Taurus, including:
Adaptive Cruise Control – This technology allows the driver to set the vehicle cruising speed while using radar technology to monitor traffic travelling up to 600 feet ahead, automatically adjusting Taurus speed to help maintain a safe distance between vehicles.
Collision Warning – Using a radar sensor to sense moving vehicles ahead, the Collision Warning system provides a visual “heads-up” warning signal transmitted across the base of the windshield and an audible warning when slower moving traffic is detected ahead.
Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start – This new Taurus feature allows the driver to enter the car and start the engine by carrying the fob as they approach and enter the vehicle.
SecuriCode™ Keyless Entry – Enables vehicle access by unlocking the driver’s door using a five-digit code on the new keypad system flush-mounted in the driver’s side B-pillar.
MyKey™ – When enabled, MyKey features a Persistent Beltminder® with Audio Mute until safety belts are buckled, an earlier low-fuel warning, and consistently engaged AdvanceTrac® stability control, Blind Spot monitoring, Cross Traffic Alert and Forward Collision Warning.
Auto High Beams/ Rain-Sensing Wipers – Sensor technologies switch headlights to high intensity when no other vehicles are detected. Rain-sensing wipers use an advanced optical sensor to detect the intensity of rain and/or snowfall to adjust wiper speed.
Easy Fuel™ Capless Fuel Filler – An industry-exclusive feature that self-seals without a traditional fuel cap.
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS™) – When an approaching vehicle enters the defined blind spot zone, an indicator alert provides warning to the driver in the corresponding side view mirror.
Cross Traffic Alert – This industry-exclusive system, which leverages the existing BLIS technology, functions only while the vehicle is in reverse and warns when cross-traffic appears within three car widths.
Ford SYNC® – Fully integrated, SYNC is an in-vehicle voice-activated communications and entertainment system, with 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Report and GPS-based features including business search and call completion. SYNC connects to MP3 players, iPods, memory sticks and PDAs. SYNC’s 911 Assist™ will place a call to a local emergency operator in the event of an air bag deployment incident. The latest version of SYNC adds Traffic, Directions and Information, providing turn-by-turn route guidance, and the ability to access content by personalized favorites such as region, subject matter or sports team.
Multi-Contour Seats – Available on an industry-exclusive basis for driver and passenger, the seats feature six-way lumbar support and subtle rolling pattern massage. The bottom cushion features Active Motion, which provides minute but continuous pelvis movement, stirring a change of muscular activation helping a driver avoid back pain.
Quotes
“Taurus personifies the Ford brand promise – an engaging driving experience, expressive design, class-leading technologies, all offered at an unmatched value. Taurus raises the bar on the full-size sedan segment with an unprecedented offering of technologies typically reserved for luxury cars. The premium craftsmanship and attention to detail, combined with outstanding driving experience will redefine what customers should expect in a full-size sedan”
- Jim Farley, Ford’s Group Vice President of Marketing and Communications
“Multi-Contour seats will be a real benefit for long distance drivers, or people with back trouble. The key is their subtlety. Active Motion is enough to help relieve fatigue but not enough to be distracting to a driver.”
- Steve Michell, Ford Product Design Engineer
Tags: 2010 Ford Taurus, Adaptive Cruise Control, BLIS, Ford Safety, Ford Taurus, Ford Technology, MyKey, SYNC
Posted in Ford Taurus - text | No Comments »
SAFETY
Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008Ford Recognized for Developing Vehicle Safety System Technologies
Ford has made vehicle safety a priority, and our efforts have earned numerous awards and acknowledgements. The 2008 Taurus was rated the safest full-size car in America. And, Ford has produced more NHTSA 5-star-rated vehicles than any other automaker. With a total of 16 IIHS Top Safety Picks so far, our 2009 lineup has received more than any other brand.
Besting the Toyota RAV-4 and Honda CR-V, the 2009 Ford Escape and Escape Hybrid achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which also named Mercury Mariner and Mariner Hybrid to the top of the small sport utility vehicle segment.
New vehicle safety technologies include:
Collision Warning with Brake Support – Being introduced in 2009, this “active” safety radar system helps drivers avoid rear-end accidents by detecting moving vehicles ahead and alerting the driver by means of an alarm and warning light.
Ford’s MyKey™ – Ford’s programmable feature that allows parents to limit top speed and audio volume of vehicles, and set speed alert chimes to encourage teens to drive more safely and more fuel efficiently. This feature will be standard on the 2010 Focus as well as many other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models.
Personal Safety System® – Using the weight and size of the front-passenger seat occupant, the system, which is currently being legislated into all vehicles driven in the U.S., instantly deploys the appropriate airbags exactly at the correct velocity in the event of an impact or rollover.
AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ – The only electronic stability control system with two gyroscopic sensors to actively measure and help control both yaw and roll movements. More than one million vehicles feature Ford’s industry exclusive AdvanceTrac with RSC.
Tags: Ford Safety, IIHS Top Safety Pick, MyKey, teen driving
Posted in The Ford Story - text | No Comments »
TACKLING TEEN DRIVING RISKS
Friday, October 17th, 2008Ford’s MyKey technology and nationwide driver’s education help give parents piece of mind.
As National Teen Driver Safety Week kicks off, Ford is expanding Driving Skills for Life, the award-winning driver’s education program. The program launched in 2003 and to date has trained approximately 332,000 young drivers. Ford also recently introduced MyKey™ technology, which helps parents encourage teens to adopt safer driving behaviors through safety-belt usage, lower audio volumes and a limited top speed. MyKey will become a standard feature across many Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models in early 2009.
A recent Ford-commissioned survey by Harris Interactive Study shows that 57 percent of parents worry about teens driving while on a cell, and 34 percent of survey teens admitted to talking on their phones while driving. Also 44 percent of teens surveyed own up to speeding; 53 percent of parents worry about their teens driving too fast.
Parents like MyKey technology, as it can limit a vehicle’s top speed to 80 mph and be programmed to sound special chimes at 45, 55 or 65 miles per hour. But not surprisingly, initially 67 percent of teens polled said they didn’t like it. However, if using MyKey would lead to greater driving privileges, as 50 percent of parents had indicated, that number dropped to only 36 percent.
MyKey features include:
- Persistent Ford Beltminder™ with audio mute. With MyKey, Beltminder automatically mutes the vehicle’s audio system at the first chime until the safety belt is secured. The reminder chimes, which stop after five minutes in the standard system, also continue every minute until the belt is buckled.
- If MyKey is in the ignition, features such as Park Aid and BLISTM (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert will always be on and cannot be disabled.
- Earlier low-fuel warning. Rather than a warning at 50 miles to empty, MyKey provides a warning at 75 miles to empty.
Results of Harris Interactive Surveys
Parents
- Worry most about teen driving: Talking on cell (57%), Speeding (53), Distracted by others (51), Texting (51)
- Feature favorability (Extremely/Very Important or Important): Limits top speed (76%), Seat belt reminders (72), Limits radio volume (63)
- Consider purchasing such technology (parents of teens who drive primary vehicle): Yes (50%), No (28), Not sure (22)
– Note, 24% (almost half of those who would consider purchasing) would give their teen(s) more access to the vehicle.
Teens
- Driving behaviors: Speeding (44%), Talking on cell (34), Drowsy driving (22) Distracted by others (17), Texting (15)
- Speed/Volume limit favorability: Unhappy (67%), Neutral (21), Like (3)
- Same with more access to family vehicle: Unhappy (36%), Neutral (39), Like (24)
Quotes
“Ford has a long-standing commitment to safety, as we seek to improve crash protection, crash avoidance and safe driving behavior. When it comes to teens, while others lobby to increase the legal driving age, Ford is using extensive research to develop educational and technological solutions to help reduce the loss of young lives on our roads.”
- Susan Cischke, Ford Group Vice President of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering
“The Driving Skills for Life program is just one example of Ford’s overall commitment to safety. We know it can work. The State of Illinois piloted a teen driving safety program based on DSFL this year and has seen a remarkable reduction in teen auto fatalities by more than 50 percent.”
- Jim Graham, Community Relations Manager of Ford Motor Company Fund
Tags: Ford Safety, MyKey, teen driving
Posted in Ford Safety - text | No Comments »
NEW TEEN SAFE-DRIVING TECHNOLOGY
Monday, October 6th, 2008Ford’s new MyKey system allows parents to encourage teen-agers to drive safer and conserve fuel
As part of its ongoing commitment to technology and safety, Ford will launch MyKey – a new technology that allows parents to limit the vehicle's top speed and audio volume – next year as standard equipment on the 2010 Ford Focus and many other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models.
MyKey, another affordable innovation from the company that introduced SYNC™, also encourages safety-belt usage, provides earlier low-fuel warnings and can be programmed to sound chimes at 45, 55 and 65 miles per hour.
More time behind the wheel gives young drivers invaluable road safety experience. A recent Harris Interactive Survey conducted for Ford shows that many parents would allow teens to drive more often if their vehicle was equipped with MyKey, complementing graduated licensing laws by helping teens build their driving skills in a more controlled setting.
With MyKey, parents also can reinforce fuel-efficient driving. Ford research shows that driving 55 mph instead of 65 mph consumes 15 percent less fuel. As well, if MyKey is in the ignition, features such as Park Aid and BLIS™ (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert cannot be deactivated.
Quotes
"Ford not only offers industry-leading crash protection and crash avoidance systems, we also are committed to developing new technologies such as MyKey that encourage safer driving behavior. MyKey can help promote safer driving, particularly among teens, by encouraging seat belt use, limiting speed and reducing distractions."
- Susan Cischke, Ford Group Vice President of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering
"We've upgraded an existing, proven technology – the SecuriLock passive anti-theft system – with some simple software upgrades to develop a new unique feature that we believe will resonate with customers. We also developed MyKey's functions in such a way to quickly spread it across multiple vehicle lines, giving us the ability to go mass market in the spirit of other Ford innovations such as safety belts, stability control and SYNC."
- Jim Buczkowski, Ford Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering Director
Tags: Ford Safety, MyKey, teen driving
Posted in Ford Safety - text | No Comments »
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