Ford mentioned Monday it will introduce a curve-control system on its 2011 Ford Explorer which will swiftly apply brakes to help drivers stay on course if they enter a curve as well quick. It may be the 2nd safety-related technology that Ford said it plans to debut about the Explorer, a vehicle that redefined the SUV segment within the 1990s but was the subject of a number of recalls in 2000 and 2001 because of rollover problems tied to its Firestone tires.
Last fall, Ford said it would introduce inflatable seat belts for rear-seat passengers on the Explorer.
"This is just our chance to really showcase all of our new safety technologies," mentioned Susan Cischke, Ford's group vice president of sustainability and security.
"We are all about family safety, and this is really a loved ones vehicle."
Ford said it plans to add the curve-control program to 90% of its North American crossovers, sport utilities, trucks and vans by 2015 and will eventually add it to all vehicles.
The curve-control program uses the exact same sensors as Ford's electronic stability-control system, which monitors the wheel speed, tilt of the vehicle and other inputs 100 times per second.
Stability control cuts the engine's power and applies the brakes to individual wheels if it senses a driver going off-course.
Ford mentioned it spent 18 months enhancing its software to produce the program. Paul Mascarenas, Ford's vice president of engineering for global product development, mentioned it required no additional hardware.
Mascarenas said Ford's curve-control system can slow the Explorer's speed by as much as 10 m.p.h.in one 2nd.
Ford decided to produce the system simply because U.S. government crash data show that about 50,000 significant crashes annually are tied to driving too fast on curves for example highway off-ramps and on-ramps.
Ford plans to reveal the style of its 2011 Ford Explorer in July, and production will start near the end of the year at its assembly plant in Chicago.
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