2011 FORD EXPLORER EARNS IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK; DELIVERS SUITE OF STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 22, 2010 – The reinvented 2011 Ford Explorer, which offers a suite of innovative safety technologies, is the latest Ford vehicle to earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Ford now has eight vehicles on the road in the U.S. that have earned Top Safety Picks, which adds to Ford’s leading number of top U.S. safety ratings ever.

“The Ford Explorer sets a new standard for high-tech safety innovation,” said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “The Explorer offers several new innovative technologies, including available industry-first production rear inflatable seat belts, and Curve Control, which can help drivers maintain control of a vehicle if they enter a curve too quickly.”

To earn a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must receive a rating of “good” in offset frontal-, side- and rear-impact crash tests and roof strength evaluations, as well as offer electronic stability control.

Initial demand for the driver-aid technologies on the new 2011 Explorer has been strong. Of the first 19,000 orders received:

• 22 percent include adaptive cruise control with forward collision warning, active park assist and rain-sensing wipers
• 40 percent include BLIS^® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert
• 87 percent include rear view camera

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Ford Fiesta minicar earns IIHS Top Safety Pick status

Here’s some very good news for Ford: Its small, hip 2011 Fiesta minicar has won Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That’s a big deal any time, but especially when you’re trying to hawk a small car.

The ratings of “good” in all the crash tests were given to the Fiesta sedan and hatchback. Ford says now it has more Top Safety Picks than any other automaker, with eight vehicles getting the top designation.

Ford credits Fiesta’s extensive use of high-strength steels, a front crash structure and the most air bags in its segment helped the car perform well in IIHS testing. It even has a driver’s knee air bag. Fiesta’s energy-absorbing body structure is optimized for strength and stiffness and designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the passenger compartment. It didn’t hurt that electronic stabllity control is standard.

“Fiesta is proof that a small car can deliver big safety,” said Sue Cischke, Ford’s group vice president of sustainability, environment and safety engineering. “Fiesta combines rigidity and more air bags – smartly deployed – than its competition, as well as standard stability control.”

More than half of Fiesta’s body structure uses these high-strength or ultrahigh-strength steels in the floor structure, front rails, beams and in the ultrarigid, integrated body reinforcement ring designed to help better protect occupants in side impacts.

The air bags don’t just explosively inflate. The car has Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) sensors that determine occupant weight and seat belt status to optimize deployment force.

Lincoln MKT Adds To Ford’s Industry-Leading Number Of Five-Star Crash Test Ratings

by editor on February 23, 2010

in Indian Press Release, Web News Wire

by editor on February 23, 2010
in Indian Press Release, Web News Wire

* The all-new 2010 Lincoln MKT three-row luxury crossover received five-star ratings for both frontal and side-impact crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

* MKT offers a high level of crash protection as well as cutting-edge crash-avoidance and driver-awareness technology such as Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support, and a Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert system

DEARBORN, Mich. – Ford Motor Company added to its leading number of five-star crash test-rated vehicles as the 2010 Lincoln MKT earned top ratings for frontal and side-impact crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Lincoln’s three-row luxury crossover previously earned a 2009 Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Ford Motor Company has more Top Safety Pick ratings and more U.S. government five-star ratings than any other automaker.

Leading the industry in both five-star crash test ratings and Top Safety Pick awards is very significant because customers increasingly rely on NHTSA and IIHS ratings when choosing a new vehicle said Susan Cischke, Ford’s group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering.

A winning combination

The all-new MKT is attracting a balanced mix of Lincoln loyalists and new customers with its array of standard and optional crash-protection, crash-avoidance and driver-awareness features in addition to distinctive design, interior spaciousness, craftsmanship and fuel economy.

Since the MKT went on sale last fall, approximately 45 percent of MKT purchasers have traded in competitive models, most commonly the Acura MDX and Cadillac SRX. More than half of those buyers opted for the 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ engine.

Customer interest in MKT’s driver-awareness features has been strong as well. Nearly one in three purchasers of the MKT opts for Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support and three of four opt for a package that includes Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross Traffic Alert.

Our research shows that MKT customers are tech-savvy, and luxury vehicle buyers tend to be early adopters of new safety, audio, infotainment and powertrain features said Kate Pearce, Lincoln MKT marketing manager. Not only is the MKT packed with standard luxury features and state-of-the-art technologies, it is unsurpassed in its segment for highway fuel economy

Technology under the skin

The Lincoln MKT features Ford’s Trinity Front Crash Body Architecture. The energy-absorbing body structure is optimized for strength and stiffness and features octagonal front frame rails, engine cradle/front subframe and shotgun front structural members designed to absorb and redirect crash forces away from the passenger compartment.

Lincoln MKT also includes Side Protection And Cabin Enhancement Architecture (SPACE®) to optimize side-impact occupant protection. The SPACE system integrates a hydroformed high-strength steel tube in the floor that runs the width of the vehicle from B-pillar to B-pillar and reinforcements along the rocker panels to help protect passengers in side-impact incidents.

Lincoln MKT also features Ford’s Personal Safety System™, combining multiple technologies to tailor the air bag package and safety belt functions to the individual passenger and the accident circumstances. The system can identify variables, such as severity of the crash, weight of the individual passenger and safety belt usage, to adjust air bag deployment force.

The MKT’s array of advanced safety technologies raises the bar for luxury vehicles and pushes the new frontier of ’active’ crash-avoidance features that help drivers avoid or reduce the severity of accidents said Steve Kozak, chief engineer, Ford Safety Systems.

2010 Ford Taurus secures Five Stars from NHTSA due to Car Safety Technology

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec., 2009 – The strong-selling new 2010 Ford Taurus has earned top five-star crash ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is seeing good consumer response to its suite of advanced crash-avoidance technologies.

The redesigned Ford flagship sedan previously earned a “Top Safety Pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Ford Motor Company has more IIHS “Top Safety Picks” and NHTSA five-star ratings than any other automaker.

“The new Taurus is the Ford safety flagship with top safety ratings and advanced crash-protection and crash-avoidance technologies that you may not find in luxury vehicles that cost twice as much,” said Sue Cischke, group vice president for Ford Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “A stiffer body structure and new crash-avoidance technologies make the Taurus even safer.”

Ford Tops When it Comes to Safety, According to IIHS

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is responsible for crash-testing new vehicle models and reporting the results to help consumers make safer vehicle choices. Models that score exceptionally well in IIHS crash tests are given a “Top Safety Pick” award for their impact performance. It’s a designation which indicates a car, truck or SUV that goes above and beyond when it comes to occupant protection.

In light of recent testing of their 2009 models, it’s Ford Motor Company that’s earned more Top Safety Pick ratings form the institute than any other automaker, with a total of 16 vehicles to date. The announcement means that Ford’s surpassed their closest rival, Honda, this week.

Achieving the “Top Safety Pick” rating requires a vehicle to achieve top marks in front, side and rear impact testing, while also being sold with standard electronic stability control to help prevent a crash from occurring in the first place.

 

 

 

 

Most recently, the 2009 Ford Flex and Fusion models earned the rating from the IIHS, as did the Lincoln MKS and Mercury Milan. Ford partly credits extensive use of ultra-high strength boron steel in their B-Pillar for side impact protection.

Susan Cischke, Ford’s group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, comments “leading the industry in ‘Top Safety Picks’ is great news, because IIHS tests are some of the most demanding conducted outside of our own laboratories, and customers are increasingly relying on them when choosing a new vehicle”.

Breaking News: IIHS ROOF CRUSH REPORT

We expect media coverage Wednesday after the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety issues a study which claims that strengthening a vehicle’s roof reduces injury risk. Various SUVs, including the Ford Explorer, will be mentioned.    
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is issuing a statement (full copy below) that calls the report flawed and not helpful in NHTSA’s current rulemaking process. 

NHTSA is scheduled to issue its final rule on roof strength this summer. Ford and other automakers have been supportive of NHTSA’s efforts related to the roof strength issue.    

Ford is not issuing a statement as we, along with other manufacturers, are supporting the Alliance’s statement.  However, below are key messages on some of our leading safety technologies that can assist you with any customer or media inquiries:

Key Messages
·   Ford has pioneered advanced air bags and stability control, today offering systems as standard equipment on millions of vehicles.

·   Ford’s AdvanceTrac with RSC has the industry’s only roll sensing system that helps detect and prevent dangerous rollovers.

·   Millions of Ford vehicles have the system today that by 2010 will be available – mostly as standard equipment – on 5 million vehicles, while stability control systems (including RSC) will be available on 6 million Ford Motor Company cars, utilities and trucks.

·   Ford’s Safety Canopy side air curtain was the industry first application of a rollover activated curtain system, beginning with the 2002-1/2 Explorer Mountaineer.

Safety Canopy™
Ford was the first in the industry to offer rollover deploying side curtain air bags, known as Safety Canopy™, beginning with the 2002-1/2 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer.

·   Today, the Safety Canopy™ with rollover sensors – which helps protect vehicle occupants during side impact collisions and rollover accidents – is standard on nearly all Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Volvo and Land Rover SUVs, and on certain cars.  By the 2010 model year, all of our retail trucks and SUVs will have standard Safety Canopy™ with rollover sensors.  It also will be standard on some passenger sedans.

·   Safety Canopy™ is standard equipment on the 2008 Ford Escape, Edge, Explorer, Expedition, Sport Trac and Taurus, Lincoln Navigator and MKX, Mercury Mariner, Mountaineer, Sable, Volvo C70 and XC90, Mazda CX7 and CX9, Land Rover LR3, LR2 and Range Rover Sport.

·   Safety Canopy will be standard on the 2009 Ford F-150 and Flex, as well as the 2009 Lincoln MKS.
 
AdvanceTrac© with Roll Stability Control™
Ford’s first application of electronic stability control debuted on the 2000 model year Lincoln LS.  To help further mitigate rollover accidents, Ford Motor Company offers AdvanceTrac© with Roll Stability Control™ – an industry first which takes standard electronic stability control systems to a new dimension by using gyroscopic-effect rate sensors for both yaw and roll axes to sense unstable conditions and apply countermeasures to help the driver maintain control.

·   The 2003 Volvo XC90 was the first SUV to feature standard AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control™.  By the end of 2010, Ford Motor Company and its family of brands will have nearly 5 million vehicles on the road equipped with RSC, and more than 6 million with some form of electronic stability control.

·   AdvanceTrac© with Roll Stability Control™ is standard equipment on most 2008 Ford Motor Company SUVs, including Escape (gas engines), Edge, Explorer and Expedition, Sport Trac, Lincoln Navigator, MKX, and Mercury Mariner (gas engines) and Mountaineer, Volvo XC90, and on all E-350 passenger Wagons.

·   AdvanceTrac© with Roll Stability Control™ will be standard on the 2009 Ford F-150, Flex, Escape Hybrid, E-150 (gas) and the 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers Statement on IIHS Roof Crush Report
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers issued the following statement in response to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) study on roof strength and injury risk in rollover crashes.

“Unfortunately, there remains no definitive answer as to what effect roof strength has on injury risk in rollover crashes.  IIHS’ flawed analysis does not help to further inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) rulemaking that proposes to amend the agency’s standard on roof crush resistance as part of a comprehensive plan for reducing the serious risk of rollover crashes and the risk of death and serious injury in those crashes.  This comprehensive plan is intended to improve vehicle stability, ejection mitigation, roof crush resistance, as well as road improvement and behavioral strategies aimed at consumer education.

“The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which is committed to enhancing motor vehicle safety, supports current NHTSA efforts to develop a systems approach to further reduce rollover-related risks.  The Alliance also supports NHTSA’s efforts to enhance overall roof stiffness as part of its comprehensive plan to enhanced rollover injury mitigation.  Alliance members agree with NHTSA’s assessment that, by itself, changes to the roof crush resistance standard will have little overall effect in reducing rollover related fatalities, and that, according to NHTSA, amendments to the standard are desired because they may enable advanced rollover injury mitigation systems such as side curtain airbags that deploy during rollovers.

“Automakers understand that the most effective strategy for reducing rollover fatalities and injuries is avoiding a crash in the first place, and the Alliance is proud of its members’ successes in the voluntary introduction of critical safety enhancements such as electronic stability control (ESC), which the IIHS has said reduces by 56 percent the risk of a single vehicle crash.  ESC is currently available on 81 percent of MY 2008 vehicles (76 percent standard, 24 percent optional).  Additionally, to reduce the risk of injury if a rollover crash does occur, Alliance members have been developing rollover sensors for use with side curtain airbags to enable the bags to deploy in the event of a rollover.  Rollover air bags stay inflated longer to help keep occupants inside the vehicle.  76 percent of MY 2008 vehicles are available with side curtain airbags (83 percent standard, 17 percent optional).   More than a quarter of these are rollover airbags.  Finally, Alliance members are voluntarily installing advanced safety belt reminders in a many new vehicles.  According to the NHTSA, safety belts reduce rollover fatalities by 74 percent for passenger cars and 80 percent for light trucks.

“The Alliance is among many in the safety community that share the concern for enhanced safety.  As leaders in the area of research and development funding, automakers today produce automobiles that are safer than ever before.”

As always if you have any questions please feel free to contact me or utilize your local Direct Impact representative for assistance with any media inquiries you may receive.
Thank you,

Marisa Bradley / Ford Motor Company  /  Dealer Communications  /  313.845.3971  /  mbradl31@ford.com