Ford Announces Self-Parking Car Technology

NEW YORK — Sit back, relax and let your car parallel park itself _ without a single scratch or ding to your bumper.

That's what Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday about its new self-parking technology, which it announced will debut as an option on the 2010 Lincoln MKS sedan and the new seven-passenger Lincoln MKT luxury crossover vehicle.

The technology uses ultrasonic sensors on the front and rear of the vehicle, combined with electric power steering to angle and guide it into a snug parking space _ all with the push of a button.

Ford isn't the first to introduce cars that practically park themselves. Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus luxury line has a video camera-based parking system that can calculate whether the vehicle has enough clearance for a particular spot.

But Ford's technology is easier to use and works in downhill parking situations, unlike competing systems, according to Ford's president of the Americas, Mark Fields.

"This one-touch function will be much safer to use and less intimidating," Fields said. "It's all part of our strategy to introduce smart technology to a vehicle that will make our lives easier."

The driver will still need to shift the transmission and operate the gas and brake pedals, as a visual or audible driver interface advises about the proximity of other cars, objects and people. Still, the driver never has to touch the steering wheel.

The sensor system also monitors blind spots, and can notify the driver with a warning indicator light in the side view mirror if something is detected or if traffic is approaching. Meanwhile, the electric power steering can improve fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions because it is powered by the vehicle's battery rather than hydraulic pump systems, Ford said.

The company plans to fit nearly 90 percent of its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles with electric power steering by 2012.

The parking assistance technology will be featured at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, and will be available in its new models in mid-2009.

Among Detroit's automakers, Ford is considered the best positioned to weather the industry slump and has said it does not need federal loans to survive, but its sales have withered and its stock has plunged.

Fields said pricing on the new models wasn't available, but added he believes it's an affordable way to eliminate unease about parking.

"I don't know about you, but when I was taking my driving test, parallel parking was the most stressful part," he said.

Comments

[sampan]

I like to drives a car-bmw verymuch Because it's good !!!!
http://www.car-bmw.fusionthai.net

[MsAttitude]

Is this a joke?

[NoOneSpecial]

Ford's next earth shattering technology leap:

Installing little spritzers in the car that give it a constant "new" smell whenever you get in.

Because consumers love the smell of a new car.

Will add another $750 to the price tag.

[shastaman]

If youve been by a FORD dealership lately it looks as though this technology is working out pretty well for them!

[mcamp52]

Pathetic. These American car companies simply don't get it.

[MoeB]

Well, great Ford. A car that parks itself. Big whoop. How many MPG's does it get?

[raechel]

Well. Here we are in the middle of an economic crisis. And a global climate crisis. Ford is providing us with -- ta da! -- a car that parks itself so we won't have to learn how to parallel park. I'm speechless.

[rogerse]

If congress is to busy filling their pockets to pass any legislation for the big 3 oh well.

[solarian]

how about making a car that is afordable

[gmmonko]

It already exists. Volkswagen, Smart already do it. Not just a camera it is a full working system.

[layman]

They should be given an award for that, which nobody has asked for, and besides, it's couple years late as it has already been done.by the Asian years ahead. They really don't produce cars that the majority of the population wants. They really have no clue why they are not doing well ?????? What the heck is their priority ??/

[jdlund]

It's a cool feature and all, but I will never buy a Ford car. I mean self parking may be nice (for those like my wife who have no ability to parallel park) but I also value reliability. Ford cars suck. They break down constantly, and are consistently bogged down by both manufacturing and design defects. They cut corners far too often to trust anything they make. Anyone who trusts Ford at this point deserves what they get. Ten bucks says a couple thousand of these will suddenly emerge with this pesky little defect that whenever you hit the self-park button the car goes in reverse and promptly explodes. But what the hay, Ford factors in the cost of wrongful death suits when they weigh the benefits of cutting corners so I'm sure your grieving relatives will get a nice check in the mail.

[Buffalo72]

Let's see if I have got this right.
1) I read the comments and whines about the worthlessness of the self park feature. Where were you people when Lexus did this a year or so ago? Gosh, it was "brillant engineering" then.
2) jdlund doesn't know what he is talking about. In the November issue of Consumer Reports they say that Ford autos are now equal or better than Toyota and Honda products. So when he says "Ford cars suck" he is at best grossly misinformed. He probably has never owned a Ford product.
3) Next, the whiners who comment about fuel mileage and design of Ford products should go read the Car and Driver web site (link below) where they compare the new Ford Fusion Hybrid to the Toyota Camry Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid and the Chevy Malibu Hybrid. Their opinion: I am sure you think the Camry is best. It is good, but comes in second to the Fusion. The Altima was third. C and Driver says "Impressive hybrid machinery, major mpg, video cluster invites driver into the game, superb quality". Their conclusion: Ford hits one over the fence and into the ionosphere.
4) Or how about the evaluation of the new pickups evaluated by Truck Trend http://www.trucktrend.com/roadtests/pickup/163_0902_2009_half_ton_truck_comparison/index.htmll) where the new Ford F150 came in second place to the Chevy Silverado, while the Toyota Tundra came in 5th place and the Nissan last place.

[Buffalo72]

5) Today, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced the following:
DEARBORN, Jan. 7, 2009 – The all-new 2009 Ford F-150 became America’s safest full-size pickup by earning 5-star ratings in both government crash tests, in addition to the “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and an unmatched list of advanced standard safety features.
The 2009 F-150 – the 2009 Motor Trend Truck of the YearTM – recently earned 5-star frontal- and 5-star side-impact crash-test ratings, the highest possible scores in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests.

I have no beef if you want to buy a Japanese car. I think on balance they make good autos. But when you say that the American auto makers don't make good cars, you clearly don't know what you are talking about. Having owned four Fords in the last 10 years ( one used at purchase - a 98 Ford Explorer for the kids to drive to school ), a 2005 F250, a 2007 Ford Edge and a 1999 Ford Expedition and only doing regular maintainance with NO major repairs on any of them, your thinking is as obsolete as in the early 80s when people thought American cars were great (which they weren't) and Japanese cars "crap". In fact, I may just buy a Ford Fusion Hybrid when they come out in the spring. What a great vehicle and 8 mpg BETTER than the Camry.

[mexamerican]

i'll take care of the effing parking. how about those geniuses build a car that'll give me fifty miles a gallon? talk about insipid useless "advances." no wonder they're bankrupt.

[biged441]

its soooo hard to park, thank goodness Ford addressed this pressing issue - who is awake in Detroit?

[biged441]

are they joking - did someone really ask for this? is it all the asian drivers? We want better mileage and green cars idiots! not self parking - please, this is all starting to hurt