Car Blog

Ford Motor Company introduced a new innovation – Curve Control – designed to help drivers maintain control of their vehicles when taking a curve too quickly.

Curve Control debuts as standard equipment on the all-new 2011 Ford Explorer going into production later this year, and will be offered on 90 percent of the company’s North American crossovers, sport utilities, trucks and vans by 2015.

The technology senses when a driver is taking a curve too quickly – a situation found to contribute to about 50,000 crashes each year in the U.S. – and rapidly reduces engine torque and can apply four-wheel braking, slowing the vehicle by up to 10 mph in about one second.

“Too many accidents stem from drivers misjudging their speed going into curves and freeway off- and on-ramps,” said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “Ford’s Curve Control technology senses a potentially dangerous situation and reduces power and applies brakes more quickly than most drivers can react on their own.”

Curve Control is effective on dry or wet pavement, and is expected to be particularly useful when drivers are entering or exiting freeway on- or off-ramps with too much speed. When a vehicle enters a curve too fast, the system responds to the driver’s steering input by rapidly reducing torque and increasing brake pressure to help keep the vehicle under control.

The patent-pending system works by measuring how quickly the vehicle is turning and comparing that with how quickly the driver is trying to turn. When the vehicle is not turning as much as the driver is steering – also known as “pushing” – Curve Control activates. The system applies the precise amount of braking required on each wheel to enhance the individual wheel braking of the traditional stability control system.

Based on Ford’s exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control(TM)), Curve Control uses sensors to measure roll rate, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, wheel speed and steering wheel angle, and runs calculations based on those inputs 100 times every second.

“Ford is developing technologies such as Curve Control and radar-based collision warning systems that can prevent crashes from happening in the first place,” said Paul Mascarenas, Ford vice president of Engineering for Global Product Development. “These new active systems designed to prevent accidents are the perfect complement for Ford’s leading passive safety systems – such as advanced airbags and high-strength vehicle structures – that protect occupants when a crash is inevitable.”

Curve Control is one of several new driver assist and safety technologies to be offered on the all-new Explorer. Other technologies include next-generation adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, state-of-the-art pressure-based airbag technology, the industry’s first inflatable rear seat belts and intelligent four-wheel-drive terrain management system.

Real-world benefits

Ford safety researchers found through analysis of government crash data that approximately 50,000 crashes annually in the U.S. involve driving too fast on a curve.

According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, freeway ramps “are the sites of far more crashes per miles driven than other segments of interstate highways.” In that 2004 study of more than 1,100 urban freeway interchange crashes, vehicle speed was noted as a “primary crash contributor.” About half of those interchange crashes occurred when at-fault drivers were in the process of exiting interstates and another 36 percent occurred when drivers were entering interstates.

“While we strongly encourage our customers to drive at safe speeds, systems such as Curve Control can be useful in unexpected situations,” said Ali Jammoul, Ford chief engineer, Chassis Systems.

Ford’s safety leadership record continues to grow

Ford has been awarded more five-star U.S. government ratings and Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety than any other automaker.

In 2009 Ford introduced radar-enabled adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, and BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert. These technologies – introduced on the new Ford Taurus and Fusion – help drivers avoid potentially dangerous crash situations by using radar to detect the relative position of other vehicles and warning the driver with a combination of visual and audio alerts.

On the 2002 Explorer, Ford launched the industry’s first rollover-activated side curtain airbags – called Safety Canopy® – as well as Roll Stability Control technology that goes beyond traditional stability control systems by measuring the vehicle’s roll rate to enhance vehicle stability.

Ford also introduced some of the industry’s first pressure-based airbag technologies that help deploy side airbags up to 30 percent faster on the 2009 F-150 and 2010 Taurus.

The 2011 Ford Mustang, which made history when it became the first car ever to deliver more than 30 mpg and 305 horsepower, has set a new record by running 1,457 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway while averaging 48.5 mpg.

The Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge was designed to demonstrate that a stock production Mustang V-6 could run 1,000 laps and 533 miles on a single of tank of fuel. With the aid of fuel efficient driving techniques by Ford engineers, the Mustang far surpassed its goal of 1,000 laps.

“To see a Mustang post average fuel economy of 48.5 mpg while running at Bristol is impressive,” said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. “The new V-6 engine along with the advanced six-speed transmission in the car is a key element in delivering both fuel economy and performance for Mustang.”

Ford is committed to being a fuel economy leader in every segment it competes in and Mustang’s leads in its class along with other Ford fuel economy leaders like the Ford Fiesta, Fusion Hybrid and new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, America’s most fuel efficient luxury sedan.

The Challenge team, which included NASCAR star David Ragan and four Ford Mustang engineers, completed the challenge in 17 hours and 40 minutes, showing off the 2011 Mustang V-6′s class-leading fuel economy by averaging 48.5 mpg over the course of the 776.5 miles logged during the Challenge. That distance is more than the two complete NASCAR Sprint Cup events that take place in Bristol every year.

Ragan pushed the Mustang past the 1,000-lap mark at 7:26 p.m., 12 hours and 26 minutes into the Challenge, but the car wasn’t close to being out of fuel. Mustang engineer Seong Park was behind the wheel when it finally came to a halt (on the backstretch) of the famed NASCAR track at 12:41 a.m. local time.

Other Mustang Challenge team drivers included Tom Barnes, Jonathan Mehl and Carl Ek, who along with Park, rotated through one-hour driving stints during the event, which took place at the world’s fastest half-mile track.

“When we hit 1,000 laps we still had a quarter of a tank of gas left,” said David Ragan, driver of the No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing, and the man who drove the 2011 V-6 Mustang past the 1,000 lap mark. “The last driving stint before I passed 1,000 laps I was averaging 43.7 miles a gallon and that is unbelievable. These guys have run the distance of more than two Sprint Cup races at Bristol and they still have fuel left. Congratulations to everyone behind the Mustang and to everyone at Ford, because this 2011 Mustang V-6 is really something special.”

A team of Ford engineers prepared for the challenge by implementing fuel efficient driving tips like minimizing the use of air conditioning, steady and consistent driving, avoiding sudden stops/starts and by keeping the RPMs low. The engine in the Mustang is powered by a lightweight, all-aluminum 3.7-liter dual-overhead-cam (DOHC) V-6 engine that uses advanced engineering to deliver its combination of power and economy. Twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) adjusts the valve train in microseconds depending on driver inputs, further contributing to the engine’s overall efficiency. The Mustang used in the challenge is a stock production vehicle that can be purchased through a Ford dealer.

“This is beyond our wildest dreams,” said Tom Barnes, the lead engineer for the Ford Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge. “There have been a lot of people who have done a lot of things in preparing this 2011 Mustang V-6 to run the Mustang 1,000 Lap Challenge and have the success we have had today. It was great when we went past the 1,000 lap mark with David, but nobody could ever imagine that we still had five hours ahead of us. This is a fantastic feeling and it shows again what a great car the 2011 Mustang V-6 is.”

More than 51,000 consumers registered their guesses for the event at www.mustang1000lapchallenge.com. One lucky consumer that correctly guessed 1,457 laps will be randomly drawn from all correct entries and will win their own 2011 Mustang V-6.

The Electrification Coalition (EC) today released the results of a national poll that showed across-the-board support for electric vehicles and the Coalition’s plan–reflected in recent bipartisan legislation–to deploy them.

“The results of this poll surprised even us,” EC President Robbie Diamond said. “Regardless of party affiliation, the American people are in favor of a national plan to deploy electric vehicles and infrastructure, starting in cities selected in a competitive process. Typical Americans have seen firsthand the consequences of our addiction to oil, and they not only understand the enormous potential of electric vehicles, but have made it clear that they will support policymakers who lead on this issue.”

Among other results, the poll showed that:
– Electric cars are seen favorably by majorities across party, ideology,
and education level.
– Voters believe electric cars will lead to increased security, more
jobs, and a cleaner environment.
– Voters support using tax credits, loan guarantees and other incentives
to create a system for building and recharging electric cars.
– Voters overwhelmingly prefer a candidate who supports the proposal to
employ temporary, targeted incentives to deploy electric vehicles in
select geographic areas.
– Of particular appeal in the plan was its ability to test the
deployment of electric vehicles in select areas instead of an
immediate full national rollout, and immediate credits to offset costs
of electric vehicles.
– The more voters heard about these proposals, the more they supported
them.

The nationwide poll of 1,000 likely voters was conducted from May 26 through June 1 by The Mellman Group, Inc. and Ayres, McHenry & Associates, Inc. For full poll results, please go to http://electrificationcoalition.org/pollresults.pdf.

On May 27, Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate introduced legislation designed to advance the wide-scale deployment of electric vehicles and to develop the infrastructure needed to support them. The legislation echoes recommendations put forward by the Electrification Coalition, in which geographic areas would compete to be selected as electrification deployment communities: specific areas in which targeted, temporary financial incentives are employed so that all of the elements of an electrified transportation system are deployed simultaneously.

The all-new 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid coupe is set to debut at dealers on August 24, 2010, with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) starting at $19,200, plus a destination and handling charge(1) of $750, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

Developed as a stylish, driver-focused vehicle with an emphasis on efficient performance, the all-new 2011 Honda CR-Z introduces a sleek two-passenger coupe design with quick, sporty handling to the gasoline-electric hybrid segment. A 1.5-liter iVTEC 4-cylinder engine works with Honda’s unique, compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system to supply both power and efficiency to the CR-Z. A sport-focused, six-speed manual transmission is a first for any mass-produced hybrid. An automatic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is available and includes steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual-like gear-ratio control.

A new, exclusive 3-mode drive system allows the driver to configure the vehicle’s responsiveness for Sport, Normal or Econ (Economy) driving modes. Driver efficiency tools include Eco Assist(TM) and Eco Scoring, which together can help drivers find improvements to efficient driving styles, while also comparing economy achievements to previous trips as well as the life of the vehicle.

The CR-Z is available in two equipment grades – the well-equipped CR-Z (base) and the feature-rich CR-Z EX. Standard features on the CR-Z include an AM/FM/CD/USB audio system with six speakers, automatic climate control, power windows and door locks, remote entry, cruise control, and more.

The CR-Z EX adds a 360-watt AM/FM/CD high-power audio system with seven speakers – including a subwoofer – Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, leather-wrapped steering wheel and more. The CR-Z EX is available with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System(TM) with Voice Recognition(2).

The CR-Z demonstrates the Honda commitment to safety in the vehicle’s design and construction. The Advanced Compatibility Engineering(TM) (ACE(TM)) body structure is designed to help protect vehicle occupants in a frontal collision. Additional safety technologies include Vehicle Stability Assist(TM) (VSA®); standard dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; standard front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); side-curtain airbags; active head restraints; an anti-lock braking system; a tire pressure monitoring system; and a pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle.

EPA(3) MPG
Model Transmission MSRP(1) City/Hwy/Combined

CR-Z 6-Speed Manual $19,200 31/37/34
CR-Z CVT $19,850 35/39/37
CR-Z EX 6-Speed Manual $20,760 31/37/34
CR-Z EX CVT $21,410 35/39/37
CR-Z EX with Navi 6-Speed Manual $22,560 31/37/34
CR-Z EX with Navi CVT $23,210 35/39/37

Additional media information, including detailed pricing features and high-resolution photography of the 2011 Honda CR-Z, is available at www.hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com.

(1) MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $750.00 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.

(2) The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System(TM) is available on the CR-Z EX model in the United States, except Alaska. Please see the navigation system manual for details.

(3) Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Toyota announced manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) for the 2011 Tacoma, the best-selling compact pickup truck in North America.

The base MSRP for the 2011 Tacoma will range from $16,365 for the Regular Cab 4×2 equipped with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission, to $27,525 for the Tacoma Double Cab 4×4 long bed with a 4.0-liter V6 and five-speed automatic.

All 2011 Tacomas will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Baja California (TMMBC) in Baja California, Mexico and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (TMMTX) in San Antonio, Texas.

For 2011 Toyota has discontinued three low volume manual transmission models and added five four-cylinder, four-speed automatic models. The new models include: Access Cab 4×2 PreRunner; Double Cab 4×2; Double Cab 4×2 PreRunner; Regular Cab 4×4, and Access Cab 4×4.

Added features include a newly designed grille on all Base, SR5, TRD Off-Road, TRD Sport and X-Runner models. All Regular Cab models will now include air conditioning as standard equipment and 15-inch styled steel wheels will be standard on 4×2 Regular Cab models. Models with the available six-disc CD changer now come with integrated satellite radio (subscription required). A new Convenience Extra Value Package for Double Cab models adds cruise control, a sliding rear window with privacy glass, remote keyless entry and steering wheel audio controls. One existing color, Black Sand Pearl will be changed to Black.

The 2011 Tacoma line offers two engines: a 2.7-liter DOHC four-cylinder that produces 159 horsepower with 180 lb-ft. of torque and a 4.0-liter DOHC V6 that produces 236 horsepower with 266 lb-ft. of torque. In both engines, variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) provides strong low-end and mid-range torque.

An Electronic Throttle Control System with intelligence (ETCS-i) helps optimize performance and fuel economy. The V6 engine can be teamed with either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. Four-cylinder models offer a choice between a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic transmission. When equipped with a V6 Tow Package Access Cab models have a maximum tow capacity of 6,500 pounds.

Standard on all Tacoma models is the Toyota Star Safety System(TM), which includes the anti-lock braking system (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC). An Automatic Limited-slip Differential (Auto-LSD), which uses brake intervention to help reduce tire slippage at the rear wheels, is standard on all Tacoma models.

The 2011 Tacoma will begin arriving at Toyota dealerships in late July.

Other Porsche Highlights Include Silver Plant Quality Award in Europe for plant that manufactures 911 and Boxster

Once again underscoring its reputation as a true premier automobile manufacturer, Porsche has reclaimed what is arguably the industry’s most prestigious position/ranking as the highest-ranked nameplate in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Initial Quality Study (IQS).

This highest ranking represents the fourth time in five years that the Porsche brand has been ranked highest among IQS nameplates.

Of course a car’s quality begins in the factory where it is built and in the highly regarded category of “Assembly Plant Quality Award,” Porsche’s acclaimed Stuttgart assembly plant–where the 911 is made–received the Silver plant quality award for Europe.

“Reclaiming the top spot among nameplates in the IQS ranking is not only gratifying for all of us at Porsche, it tangibly reflects our absolute commitment to providing our customers with the highest possible quality and ownership experience,” said Detlev von Platen, president and CEO, Porsche Cars North America. “We take great pride in this award which is a demonstration of the very hard work of everyone in the Porsche organization, especially our highly-renowned designers and engineers and the people who build them. Of course it goes without saying that here in the U.S. our very devoted dealers deserve a lot of accolades as they interface with our customers on a daily basis.”

The IQS serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership. It captures problems experienced by owners in two distinct categories–quality of design and quality of production (defects and malfunctions). Results of the Study are presented using a problems-per-100 vehicles (PP100) metric, often referred to as “things gone wrong.” The study includes quality comparisons by manufacturer, assembly plant, model, and platform.

Porsche averaged just 83 problems per 100 vehicles, well under the industry average of 109 problems per 100 vehicles.