2009 FORD EXPLORER ADDS TRAILER SWAY CONTROL TO AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES
DEARBORN, Mich., March 18, 2008 ““ Ford will bolster the 2009
Explorer by including Trailer Sway Control. Trailer Sway Control joins
an already impressive list of standard safety features, including
industry-exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control).
“When
we first introduced AdvanceTrac with RSC on the Explorer in 2004, we
offered customers enhanced safety by including roll sensing,” said
Steve Kozak, Ford’s chief safety engineer. “Now with Trailer Sway
Control, we are helping our customers who tow trailers achieve an
enhanced level of control of their load. Ford is committed to
continuing to develop features and technologies that help make the
driving experience easier and safer.”
Unlike competitors’
electronic stability control systems that only use yaw rate sensing,
Advance Trac® with RSC® utilizes a roll-rate sensor to determine the
vehicle’s body roll-rate and roll angle, along with yaw rate sensing.
If the unique roll-rate sensor detects a significant roll angle, the
system applies additional countermeasures “” such as applying brakes to
one or more wheels or reducing engine power “” to help the driver
maintain control of the vehicle
Trailer Sway Control works in
conjunction with AdvanceTrac with RSC to determine from the yaw motion
of the vehicle if the trailer is swaying and take measures ““ such as
applying precise braking or reduced engine torque ““ to help bring both
vehicle and trailer under control.
In general, the National
Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) both agree stability control
systems could save thousands of lives annually.
Ford Motor
Company continues to advance its safety leadership. AdvanceTrac with
RSC is currently standard equipment on most 2008 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury
SUVs. By 2010, AdvanceTrac with RSC will be standard equipment on more
than 5 million Ford and Lincoln Mercury trucks, crossovers, SUVs and
vans.
In addition to AdvanceTrac with RSC and Trailer Sway
Control, Explorer offers a comprehensive suite of standard safety
features, including:
- Safety Canopyâ„¢,
Ford’s exclusive side impact protection system, featuring side curtain
air bags that help protect front and rear outboard passengers in both
rollovers and side impact crashes. The curtains are designed to slip
between the occupant and the side window. The Safety Canopy is designed
to stay inflated for several seconds, as rollover crashes often last
much longer than side impact crashes. - Ford’s Belt-Minder®,
a safety belt reminder technology for the driver and front passenger
that takes over after the initial safety belt reminder stops chiming.
If the driver or front passenger remains unbuckled, the system chimes
and flashes a warning lamp for six seconds every 30 seconds for five
minutes or until the driver buckles up, whichever comes first. - Intelligent Safety Systemâ„¢, a
suite of advanced adaptive technologies working together as a system to
help protect occupants, including dual-stage front air bags and
occupant classification.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford
Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn,
Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across
six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100 plants
worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include
Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The
company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.
For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.
