The company is all set to create future-ready cars.
Ford are looking to transition from an automotive company to an auto and mobility company by offering customers semi-autonomous vehicle technologies through the Ford Smart Mobility plan. The company is working towards being the world leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, customer experience, and data and analytics. The first step in this direction is the unveiling of the new Ford Kuga SUV, a car that features technologies to take the driving experience to the future. These are Ford’s new SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system and innovative driver assistance systems including Ford’s Perpendicular Parking technology for hands-free parking, the Active City Stop collision avoidance system and the Adaptive Front Lighting System to enhance low-light visibility. In addition the Kuga also feature a hands-free liftgate and Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive.
Ford has recently tripled their investment in driver assist technology, and this is the first step towards the development of fully autonomous vehicles. Currently being developed, and expected to be rolled out in the next three years, the Traffic Jam Assist system will take over control of the steering, acceleration and brakes at the touch of a button, to ease driver stress in heavy traffic situations on the motorways, effortlessly keeping the vehicle centred in the desired lane and at pace with the vehicle in front, while the Fully Active Park Assist will take over parking duties. Further semi-autonomous technologies already introduced by Ford include Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, a camera and radar-based system that detects vehicles and people in the road ahead; and Intelligent Speed Limiter, which could help prevent drivers from exceeding speed limits, and potentially incurring costly speeding penalties.
Ford CEO Mark Fields also confirmed FordPass, the company’s new customer experience platform that is set to debut this year in Europe. New partners for FordPass include BP (British Petroleum) and Mobile City, a leading mobile parking payment company. FordPass also will integrate Ford Carsharing, run with Germany’s Flinkster Carsharing.
These and more innovations in the years to come could see Ford leading the charge to the cars of the future.
