Ford

Coupe, Convertible, News

Ford Mustang adopts world-first knee airbag

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The all-new Ford Mustang is the first vehicle to be equipped with a new type of knee airbag that is integrated within the lid of the glove box.

Ford says that utilising the glove box lid instead of the instrument panel helps maximise passenger space. Rather than a textile fabric airbag, the technology consists of a moulded plastic design, sandwiched between the outer and inner glove box lid surfaces.

At 46cm long and 28cm wide, the glove box airbag weighs 65 per cent less than a conventional knee airbag but offers comparable protection. In the event of a collision, a tiny gas generator inside the glove box lid inflates the bladder in 20 milliseconds, pushing the lid exterior outwards to provide leg protection. The weight reduction also improves fuel efficiency and the innovation has so far been granted 23 patents.

"This is a new way of thinking about airbags. We went back to the drawing board and in the course of a year went through hundreds of prototypes to get it just right," said Ford restraints manager Sean West. "With this design we were able to combine the functions of two separate parts into one single part to save on space, weight and components; and move the instrument panel further forward, ensuring there was more room for the front passenger."

Altogether the all-new Ford Mustang is equipped with eight airbags as standard and has been awarded the highest-possible safety standard by North American authorities. 

Available as a fastback or convertible with 5.0-litre V8 or 2.3 EcoBoost engine, it's on sale in the UK from £29,995 with right-hand drive for the first time in more than 50 years of production.

News

Ford develops ultra clean air filtration system

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Ford has introduced a new filtration system that offers drivers cleaner air than in rural locations, even when stuck in city traffic.

The new air filtration system introduced in the all-new Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy utilises activated charcoal - similar to advanced gas masks, respirators, and spacesuits. The air quality sensor detects carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide levels outside the car and shuts down incoming air. As required, it also automatically switches on the advanced filtration and air recirculation. The new filter is 50 per cent more effective than its predecessor at blocking ultra-fine particles that are more than one thousand times smaller than the width of a human hair.

Blocking almost all nitrogen dioxide - a key trigger of asthma - and up to 99 per cent of pollen, and gaseous pollutants and odours, Ford found during testing that the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and particle concentrations inside the car were equal to or lower than was the case outside the car in rural locations - even when test vehicles were driven in the city, on the motorway, in traffic jams and through tunnels.

Sneezing while driving at 60 mph may result in 'driving blind' for up to 20 metres. More than a quarter of Europeans suffer from hay fever, according to Ford with sufferers a third more likely to be involved in a collision.

"At Ford, we aspire to improve people's lives through innovation, whether it be advanced lighting technologies that better highlight potential dangers or an advanced filtration system that pumps ultra clean air into the vehicle's cabin," said Ken Washington, vice president, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering.

"Ford's filtration technology is of a quality one would only usually expect in luxury cars. The team drove test vehicles in areas of heavy congestion and concentrated pollution, such as tunnels and urban areas to prove out the system," said Volker Scheer, technical expert, Environment and Health, Ford of Europe."

Coupe, News

Ford Apollo Edition Mustang up for auction

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Ford has created a unique, Apollo Edition Mustang to Celebrate the innovation and inspiration of Apollo Missions.

The special Mustang is set to benefit Experimental Aircraft Association youth education programmes as it goes under the hammer at the Gathering of Eagles charity event, July 23, at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015.

All proceeds from the sale of the car will benefit EAA youth education programmes, including the Young Eagles, which has provided free introductory flights to more than 1.9 million young people since 1992, helping grow the next generation of aviators.

"The Apollo programme delivered astonishing innovations in technology and achieved a national goal of landing the first human on the moon," said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors. "The entire programme was extraordinary - one of our nation's greatest technological achievements. With this year's stunning Apollo Edition Mustang, we salute that spirit of American ingenuity with the quintessential American automobile - Ford Mustang."

Design and engineering teams Led by Ford Design Manager Melvin Betancourt, transformed the 5.0-litre 'pony car' into the Apollo Edition Mustang - with 627 horsepower and 540 lb.ft of torque.

The exterior features a one-of-a-kind glossy pure white and pure black non-production paint scheme that delivers a creative connection with the NASA Apollo program. There's a carbon fibre front splitter, rear diffuser, rocker mouldings and accent treatments, along with unique LED underbody lighting to symbolise atmospheric re-entry.

Performance enhancements include a Ford Performance supercharger and shifter, X-pipe with side and rear exhaust, sport-tuned suspension, six-piston Brembo brakes and custom Forgiato 21-inch performance wheels. 

The theme carries into the cabin with exclusive interior details, including performance gauges, modified instrument cluster, unique sill plates and embroidered elements in seats, trim panels and floor mats.

The Apollo Edition Mustang was modified by MAD Industries, led by Chris Mangum. Interior enhancements were designed by Ford's Betancourt and Nicole Rush, and created in-house by Ford's design fabrication team. Additional contributors to the project include Ford Performance, Eibach Springs, Carbon 2 Carbon, BASF automotive refinish, Gibson performance exhaust, Pirelli tires, Forgiato wheels, Rigid Industries LED lighting, SourceSE by sPod, 3M window film, PIAA Corporation, Brembo, APR performance, FOCAL/The Source AV and Odyssey battery.

The Apollo Edition Mustang will be on display all week in the Ford hangar at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015.

Crossover, Electric, SUV, News

Ford EcoSport gets new upgrades

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The Ford EcoSport has received new styling upgrades, improved driving dynamics and new equipment for 2015.

Customers can now specify the compact SUV without the rear-mounted spare wheel, while interior improvements include standard partial leather seats for Titanium models and additional chrome detailing. Driving dynamics have been improved with revisions to the springs, dampers, rear torsion beam, Electronic Stability Programme, and Electronic Power Assisted Steering settings.

Convenience and comfort are also enhanced with a Winter Pack - featuring heated windscreen, heated mirrors and heated front seats. Models specified without the rear-mounted spare wheel feature a tyre mobility kit as standard, while the rear swing-gate design for those vehicles also has been revised to allow easier access to the bootspace with partial opening.

Inside, privacy glass is available for all EcoSport trim levels, while the Winter Pack also adds rear seat ventilation at floor level to improve comfort for rear passengers in cold weather. The restyled interior has a charcoal black lower instrument panel, centre console and door boards. The instrument cluster now features a light dimming function and chrome-surround rings to match the electric window switches.

Refinement has been enhanced with thicker sound deadening materials in the doors and dashboard, as well as tighter seals around the pedals. Engine and gearbox matching has been revised to offer more low speed torque and better drivability.

'Significant' improvements to the EcoSport's driving dynamics follow development work at the Ford Lommel Proving Ground, where 50 miles of test tracks include replicas of European road surfaces. This resulted in a stiffer rear torsion beam being added, offering 'greater control of body roll', and revised spring and shock absorber rates improve damping.

A 10mm reduction in ride height lowers the car's centre of gravity for improved handling, and Electronic Stability Control and power steering systems also have been specifically tuned for European roads.

The 1.5-litre TDCi also now offers 95PS, a 5PS improvement, and delivers 64.2mpg and 115g/km CO2. The 125PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost delivers 52.3mpg and 125g/km CO2, while the 1.5-litre Ti-VCT engine delivers 44.8mpg and 149g/km CO2. All engines now meet Euro Stage 6 emissions standards.

Further technology that will be available later this year for EcoSport, for the first time including satellite navigation and Rear View Camera to help drivers manoeuvre the vehicle when in reverse.

Prices for the revamped Ford EcoSport start from £14,245 OTR and is available to order now, for an October delivery.