Despite the fact that large cities are making progress in infrastructure and mobility, few stop to see the issue of lighting, which for the automotive sector is of utmost importance. That is why Ford Europe developed a system that literally allows a vehicle to detect pedestrians in conditions of low light, if not none.
The device reaches the point of activating the car's brakes if necessary. To achieve this end, this technology works by means of a camera of last generation and sensors that record any movement.
Ford conducted a study in which they wanted to know what drivers are afraid of during night driving.
As a result of this research, 81% of respondents admitted being afraid of driving in low light, because vision is reduced and the possibility of accidents increases.
"We know that for some drivers traveling at night is a stressful experience, especially in large cities where it is common to see distracted pedestrians with the cell phone in hand. They can cross the street without being seen in the dark, leaving drivers with no time to react, "Gregor Allexi, Ford of Europe Security Engineer.
Videos: FORD: Introducing the all new Mustang 2015. (6th Gen)
WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.
Performance
There’s a 3.7-liter
V6. And the available 5.0-liter V8 will benefit from increased power
this year. But the real news is how Ford have paired Mustang performance
with the EcoBoost® engine.
Available 2.3-liter EcoBoost
The EcoBoost delivers efficiency with real
power to the Mustang powertrain lineup. A high-capacity direct injection
system precisely controls fuel delivery, while a new twin-scroll
low-inertia turbocharger means incredibly fast time-to-torque.
Exhilarating driving dynamics
The thrill you get behind the wheel of a
Mustang is a given. But now you can thank a fully independent rear
suspension for that rush. This design change not only improves body
roll, but also isolates road imperfections for a better feel.
Ford Mustang Marks 50 Years with All-New Sleek Design, Innovative Technologies and World-Class Performance
All-new sophisticated design clearly inspired by 50 years of Mustang heritage evolved to attract wider array of customers and expand global market availability
Mustang now available with three engines offering a broader power of choice – a more powerful 5.0-liter V8, a 3.7-liter V6 and an all-new fuel-efficient 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine
Mustang sets new performance and dynamics benchmarks for the brand with world-class handling, more precise steering control and enhanced ride comfort
The next chapter in the life of the iconic pony car begins today as the all-new Ford Mustang – loaded with innovative technologies and delivering world-class levels of performance – is simultaneously revealed around the globe in six cities on four continents.
"Ford Mustang inspires passion like no other car," said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, global product development. "The visceral look, sound and performance of Mustang resonates with people, even if they've never driven one. Mustang is definitely more than just a car – it is the heart and soul of Ford."
Mustang's impact goes well beyond the 9 million-plus cars sold in its 50 years of continuous production. It has made thousands of appearances in film, television, music and video games, and is the world's most-liked vehicle on Facebook. For the first time ever, Ford will bring Mustang to customers in key parts of Europe and Asia.
"We crafted this car with the goal of creating a contemporary interpretation of Mustang – an American automotive icon that symbolizes optimism and freedom for millions of people around the world," said Jim Farley, executive vice president of Ford global marketing, sales and service and Lincoln.
All-new shape, yet unmistakably Mustang
The clean-sheet design of both Mustang fastback and convertible evokes the essential character of the brand, retaining key design elements – including the long sculpted hood and short rear deck – with contemporary execution.
"You only get one chance to make a first impression, and when you see this car you immediately see a Mustang strong and true," said Moray Callum, Ford executive director, design, The Americas.
Several key design features define the all-new Mustang, including:
- A lower, wider stance with a reduction in roof height, and wider rear fenders and track
- The return of Mustang fastback with a sleeker profile enabled by more steeply sloped windshield and rear glass
- Three-dimensional, tri-bar taillamps with sequential turn signals
- Contemporary execution of the signature shark-bite front fascia and trapezoidal grille
Mustang convertible drivers will appreciate the standard multilayer insulated cloth top that gives the car a more upscale appearance and a quieter cabin. The new top lowers twice as fast as before, and has a sleeker profile when folded for open-air motoring.
The information and controls an active driver needs are all readily accessible in the aviation-inspired cockpit, which is executed with the highest degree of craftsmanship ever found in a Mustang. Large, clear instrumentation puts vehicle information right in front of the driver in the roomier cabin, while improved ergonomics and tactile switches and knobs provide better control. The added width and a new rear suspension contribute to improved shoulder and hip room for passengers, and a more usefully shaped trunk can accommodate two golf bags.
The Mustang experience
The way Mustang looks, drives and sounds is key to the visceral experience that makes drivers just want to get in and hit the road. With more options to choose from, there is a Mustang to fit any lifestyle. The upgraded V6 and V8 are joined by an all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine that brings state-of-the-art technology to Mustang.
Mustang GT continues with the latest edition of the throaty 5.0-liter V8, now featuring an upgraded valvetrain and cylinder heads that yield more than 420 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. A new intake manifold improves low-speed breathing for better fuel economy, idle stability and emissions.
"This EcoBoost engine delivers where a Mustang driver expects it to, with a broad, flat torque curve that pours out when you stand on it for easy passing or hustling down a twisty road," said Dave Pericak, Ford Mustang chief engineer.
The Mustang EcoBoost engine uses direct injection, variable cam timing and turbocharging to deliver plenty of usable performance and projected segment-leading fuel efficiency. A unique intake manifold and turbocharger housing enable it to deliver the performance Mustang drivers expect with output projected at more than 305 horsepower and 300 lb.-ft. of torque.
With at least 300 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque on tap from the standard 3.7-liter V6, even the most accessible Mustang delivers the performance customers expect.
Drivers will appreciate smoother shifts from the updated manual gearbox, while a reworked automatic transmission features new steering wheel-mounted shift paddles for drivers who want the choice between convenience and control.
Most nimble pony ever
When life throws drivers a curve, the all-new Mustang sets new handling benchmarks for the brand, delivering world-class dynamics and ride quality.
"We already set a very high standard for Mustang's dynamics with Boss 302, and our goal was to go above and beyond that with this new car," said Pericak.
Mustang features all-new front and rear suspension systems. At the front, a new perimeter subframe helps to stiffen the structure while reducing mass, providing a better foundation for more predictable wheel control that benefits handling, steering and ride.
The new double-ball-joint front MacPherson strut system also enables the use of larger, more powerful brakes. This is expected to be the best stopping Mustang yet, with three available brake packages.
At the rear is an all-new integral-link independent rear suspension. The geometry, springs, dampers and bushings all have been specifically modified and tuned for this high-performance application. New aluminum rear knuckles help reduce unsprung mass for improved ride and handling.
Smarter than your average pony
The all-new Mustang features a significant amount of innovative technologies providing drivers with enhanced information, control and connectivity when they want it. From Intelligent Access with push-button start to SYNC® and MyKey® in every Mustang built, plus available Track Apps, MyColor gauges and new Shaker Pro audio system, drivers will be able to customize their time behind the wheel.
The feeling of freedom and confidence Mustang instills in its drivers is amplified when they can take control of how the car behaves. On a twisty back road or a weekend track day, the driver can tap the toggle switches on the console to quickly adjust steering effort, engine response, and transmission and electronic stability control settings using the available Selectable Drive Modes to create the perfect Mustang at any time.
The advanced new Ford-developed stability control system is tuned to maximize Mustang's dynamic capabilities. When the time comes to turn up the wick at the track, Mustang GT includes standard launch control that enables drivers to achieve smooth, consistent starts every time.
When it's time to back off and relax for the drive home, available advanced driver-assist features including Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control can help ease the load, while SYNC AppLink™ lets drivers control their smartphone apps to listen to their favorite form of entertainment.
50 years of Mustang
April 17, 2014, marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the original Ford Mustang and each 2015 model celebrates the milestone with a badge on the instrument panel that includes the galloping pony logo and the words "Mustang – Since 1964." Mustang will continue to be built in the United States at Flat Rock Assembly Plant.
"From day one, we knew if we were going to build a new Mustang, we had to do it right," said Pericak. "We built a new Mustang from the ground up that is quicker, better-looking, more refined and more efficient, without losing any of the raw appeal that people have associated with Mustang for half a century."
Ford is encouraging developers, researchers and hackers to focus on using big data and open-source innovations using OpenXC
The launch of OpenXC marks the second developer platform to be offered by Ford
On the heels of launching its first software developer program, Ford
is now turning its attention to the growing trend in hardware hacking by
transforming vehicles into an experimental development environment.
The
OpenXC research platform from Ford is now out of beta and available to
all "makers" and do-it-yourselfers at http://openxcplatform.com.
Earlier this week at the 2013 International CES the Ford Developer Program was launched making the SYNC®
AppLink™ application programming interface (API) available for the
creation of smartphone apps that can be controlled inside the car using
your voice.
While AppLink is available in Ford vehicles now, OpenXC is focused on
the future as an open-source hardware and software platform developed
by Ford Research and Innovation to unleash the power of the open-source
hacker community to explore what can be done with vehicle data.
"Ford is committed to innovating with the help of software and now hardware developers," said Paul Mascarenas,
Ford vice president and chief technical officer. "By connecting cars
and trucks to wireless networks, and giving unheard-of access to vehicle
data, entirely new application categories and hardware modules can be
explored – safety, energy efficiency, sharing, health; the list goes on.
OpenXC gives developers and researchers the tools they need to get
involved."
The OpenXC kit includes a vehicle interface module based on the
popular Arduino platform developers can use to read data from the
vehicle's internal communications network. The hardware module provides
real-time access to parameters like the vehicle sensors, GPS receiver
and vehicle speed. The hardware module is connected to a smartphone or
tablet on which apps can be written to consume and use these data.
The read-only system is designed to keep everything isolated from the
vehicle control systems. The OpenXC website also provides schematics,
documentation and code for open-source hardware modules, including the
wireless solar-powered heads-up display developed by OpenXC co-founder Bug Labs.
"Through the OpenXC platform, we are paving the way for new
opportunities that will help us prepare for the future of transportation
where the automobile, mobile networks and the Internet cloud come
together in ways never before imagined," said Venkatesh Prasad, senior technical leader of Open Innovation for Ford Research and Innovation.
"OpenXC is an extension of the work being done at the Ford Silicon
Valley Lab focusing on big data, open-source innovation and user
experience," added Mascarenas. "We are enabling independent developers
to flesh out their ideas using affordable and accessible hardware and
software tools."
Some of the areas developers can target with OpenXC include:
Big data – Ford is increasingly a data-driven company fusing both
internal and external sources to guide product and marketing offerings
and support strategic decision making. In addition, vehicle data from
the growing list of sensing technologies built into the car can be used
locally to provide for the creation of a more personalized, convenient
and productive driving experience, and aggregated to help address
congestion and improve efficiency
Open-source innovation – Viewing the car as a platform and providing
access to real-time data allows for the rapid development of custom
hardware and software applications. Ford has extensive experience in
development of on-board and off-board applications for production cars
using the SYNC in-car connectivity system, and now the Silicon Valley
Lab is looking at open-source research using the OpenXC platform
User experience – Connectivity is an increasingly important part of
the total user experience while driving. Finding new ways to reduce
stress and keep the driver informed can make driving a more pleasant
experience
Early in 2012 Ford shipped the first OpenXC beta toolkits to universities such as the University of Michigan, MIT, Stanford University and HCL Technologies in India. Since that time, OSIsoft has sponsored a hackathon to create an application using vehicle data from OpenXC in combination with its enterprise data analytics platform.
At Michigan State University, a team of undergraduate students has built an Android app that uses OpenXC to collect data from the Ford MyKey® system into a centralized database and present it in visual report card format.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich.,
manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With
about 172,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's
automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln.
The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit
Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide,
please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
Technology that will redefine driver connectivity and interaction with their car. MyFord and MyFord Connect™ will be available this year on the 2011 Ford Edge, and it goes global with availability on 2012 Ford Focus. MyLincoln Touch will be standard equipment on new Lincolns beginning with the 2011 Lincoln MKX
New MyFord™ driver connect technology redesigns the driver’s interface with the car, matching modern consumer electronics screens and controls that have become the standard for ease-of-use and rich graphic displays
MyFord Touch™ organizes functions and settings with minimal menu layering for quick access – including personalization of relevant information to minimize driver distraction
MyFord Touch interface and graphics are powered by the next generation of Ford SYNC®, built on Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Auto platform. Advances include improved voice recognition, more connectivity ports including SD Card slot and WiFi capability
Lincoln to receive MyLincoln Touch technology as standard equipment on future models beginning this year with the 2011 Lincoln MKX
LAS VEGAS, The new MyFord TouchTM driver connect technology announced today at the 2010 International CES is designed to be powerful yet intuitive for drivers, blending strengths of the most proven interfaces in consumer electronics – including MP3 players and mobile phones – with a new generation of Ford’s award-winning SYNC® system.
“MyFord Touch, combined with new SYNC functionality, creates an experience that will cause people to fall in love with their vehicles again,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “It’s not just a technology; it’s an experience – one we hope will have people across the globe looking forward to spending time behind the wheel of their vehicle.”
MyFord, which will be branded as MyLincoln Touch and MyMercury Touch on respective Lincoln and Mercury brand products, redesigns the in-car interface, mirroring how consumers interact with most devices in their lives using touch-sensitive buttons, touch screens, thumb-wheel controls and voice recognition.
In that respect, MyFord is instantly familiar. Using reconfigurable displays and simplified voice commands, though, MyFord also can present multiple layers of information, just as the driver wants it.
“MyFord really is about managing information,” said Jason Johnson, Ford user interface design engineer. “Driving is the priority when you’re behind the wheel, so we’ve made it possible to simplify the content management so customers can drive with minimal distraction. In the end, what MyFord displays is really up to the driver.”
MyFord Touch instrument panel view
MyFord Touch layout
MyFord Touch retains the traditional car interior layout that has existed for decades – instrument cluster in front of the driver, center stack dividing the dashboard – and adds even more voice control plus full-color LCD screens for much of the visual information presentation. The information presented is customizable by the driver using a combination of voice controls, touch-screen technology and five-way cell phone-style buttons mounted on the steering wheel.
MyFord Touch displays information using two 4.2-inch full-color LCD screens flanking an analog speedometer and an 8-inch touch-screen LCD at the top of the center stack. A five-way switch on each side of the steering wheel crossbar – similar to the one found on most mobile phones and MP3 players – controls the information displayed on the corresponding instrument panel screens.
MyFord Touch center stack with 8-inch touch-screen and capacitive switches
“The steering wheel has all the necessary functions available in a very compact area, right where your hand falls as you grab the wheel,” said Johnson. “The five-way buttons will feel familiar to anyone who has used a mobile phone or MP3 player. Drivers aren’t forced to use a quirky or unfamiliar interface like a joystick or rotary knob.”
The left display, which is controlled by the left five-way controller, features information and settings for the vehicle: fuel economy, mechanical status, safety features.
The right display, controlled by the right five-way controller, contains infotainment information: audio settings, climate control, phone communications and navigation menus.
Those same right-hand functions also appear in the vehicle’s center stack, now augmented with capacitive switches and touch-screen technology, which subtly replaces most traditional knobs and switches.
Lincoln center stack applications will take touch-sensitive technology to the next level with fingertip “slider” controls for audio volume and fan speed. Occupants will slide a finger along the touch-sensitive slider bar to adjust settings as an LED chaser gives a visual representation of volume or fan speed.
Available touch-screen display
The 8-inch touch-screen center stack display is the key interface on MyFord Touch. Designers employed a four-corner solution for its layout, representing the four activities most important to customers: phone, navigation, climate and audio/entertainment functions.
Eight-inch LCD center stack screen showing four-corner layout
Regardless of what menus customers are viewing, a single touch on the appropriate corner will always bring up the desired functionality, and in most cases, a voice command also can be used to adjust the controls.
With the four-corner layout, functions are where they’re expected to be, and they’re always visible on the screen, so it’s clear and easy for users to understand where they are in the system.
Color also is used to give drivers intuitive visual cues between the central 8-inch MyFord Touch display and the instrument-panel-mounted 4.2-inch display. Phone and communications functions always are presented with an orange background, navigation with a green background, climate control with a blue background and audio/entertainment functions with a red background.
SYNC – behind the scenes Behind the displays of MyFord Touch driver connect technology, the next generation of Ford’s award-winning SYNC system runs the show, built using the Microsoft Windows Embedded Auto software platform.
SYNC has evolved from a standalone module providing voice-activated control for mobile devices to a fully integrated platform for Ford vehicles with MyFord – a technology that will become the global interior architecture for all future Ford products.
“With more than a million SYNC-equipped cars on the road already, it’s exciting to see Ford continue to push the envelope and explore new applications for Microsoft’s Windows Embedded automotive software,” said Kevin Dallas, general manager for Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Business division. “The car is returning to the place where consumers go to see high tech innovation.”
Features available through MyFord Touch, powered by SYNC include:
Media Hub
Additional USB port for a total of two USB 2.0 inputs
SD Card slot
RCA A/V input jacks
Internet Connectivity
Full WiFi capability including Internet “hot spot” connectivity and a built-in browser for use while in “Park” (late availability)
Integrated browser supports tabbed page navigation, “drag” to pan and scroll and a provides a 3-D carousel for bookmark browsing
Support for on-screen and USB-connected keyboards
RSS feed aggregator and text-to-voice reader
Mobile in-car WiFi “hot spot” capability through USB-installed air card or USB mobile broadband modem
Phone
Phone book contact photo download and 3-D carousel browsing
Birthday reminders
Enhanced error correction and reporting
Voice Recognition
Direct speech commands and “flattened structure” for quicker, more responsive voice control
Voice-command activation of selected climate control functions
Voice commands will be available for most radio functions, including AM/FM, HD RadioTM Technology and SIRIUS/XM® Satellite Radio
SIRIUS Game Finder application will facilitate automatic voice tuning for desired sporting events using commands such as “Tune to Detroit Lions game” or “Show NFL games”
Navigation
Improved visual presentation of SYNC Traffic, Directions & Information app adds directional arrows, street names and distance markers
Map-based navigation app provided by TeleNav via an optional SD Card
SD Card navigation includes SIRIUS Travel LinkTM services such as weather maps, movie listings, gas prices, and sports scores
SD Card navigation also adds cities point-of-interest information including ratings and amenities
Map data includes 3-D visual landmarks
Climate Control
MyTemp personalization allows the driver to store a preferred temperature, which is then accessible with a single touch of the MyTemp button
Different MyTemp settings can be programmed to different keys; multiple drivers in a household can each have unique MyTemp settings
Audio
AM/FM/CD, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, USB-connected MP3 players and memory sticks
New HD Radio capability
Song tagging capability via HD Radio Technology, allowing listeners to identify song information and store it for later use
Browse tracks by artist, scan lists of tracks with identical names, and browse through devices without having to change audio sources
3-D carousel album cover art and photo viewing displays allow easy scanning of available material, especially combined with Gracenote Media Management
Media player equipped with new “Podcast” source category
Enhanced Bluetooth® audio support including metadata, which allows additional command and control functions for capable mobile devices
Vehicle Setting Personalization
Ambient lighting color control using a 3-D carousel browser
Custom welcome messages
Saved and transferrable user profiles that can be ported between Ford vehicles equipped with MyFord
Door keypad code control using on-screen menus
Where available, Active Park Assist and Rear View Camera displays
Image and video uploading via SD card slot or USB 2.0 ports
SYNC Apps & Services
Traffic, Directions & Information offers personalized traffic reports and routing from INRIX, turn-by-turn directions, business search, sports, news and weather via SYNC and the user’s mobile phone
Downloadable destinations when coupled with the SD card navigation function; SYNC Service Delivery Network (SDN) will be able to send a destination directly to the vehicle
Vehicle Health Reports will download service reminders and vehicle information directly to the in-car displays
Improved 911 Assist™ capability with GPS location can call for help in the event of an air bag deployment
Flexible, upgradable and ready for global deployment
Built using the latest technology from the Windows Embedded Business at Microsoft, the second generation of SYNC has been designed from the outset to be expandable, allowing it to grow and add new features without requiring new hardware. By employing a Media Hub for interfacing with external devices and media, Ford has helped ensure compatibility with future innovations.
“The Media Hub is really the key to SYNC’s new upgradability,” said User Interface Design Engineer Johnson. “Take navigation: In the past, map data was stored on a hard drive and updates took hours to load from DVD. With SYNC and MyFord Touch, if you need a map update, you take the old SD card out of the Media Hub and pop in a new one. It’ll be the first time an automaker will offer something that competes with the cost and ease of personal navigation devices.”
The system also has been configured for global deployment from the start, using one hardware package in all regions worldwide. The identical global SYNC hardware will be outfitted with branding, languages and regionally appropriate applications while the host vehicle is on the assembly line, all using WiFi technology.
MyFord technology will not be exclusive to high-end products. As new and refreshed Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury models continue to arrive on the world stage, all will be outfitted with an implementation of MyFord driver connect technology.
“MyFord will become part of the global DNA of Ford products,” said Kuzak. “Across different models, different trim levels, even different countries, drivers immediately will know they’re behind the wheel of a Ford vehicle equipped with the technology, safety and convenience features they expect.”
