New Ford Focus Smart Driver Assistance Technologies Make Driving Easier

MELBOURNE – June 1, 2011: A substantial technology investment for the all-new Focus brings a new level of smart driver assistance features to Ford's small car range, offering customers an exciting array of advanced technologies generally found only in larger and more expensive vehicles.

These driver assistance features provide Focus customers with the ability to cope more easily with the pressures of modern motoring, giving them convenient new ways to deal with every-day challenges like parallel parking, driving safely on busy freeways and tackling the cut-and-thrust of city driving.

“Congested modern roads place extra pressure on the driver,” said Gunnar Herrmann, Ford’s Global C-Car Vehicle Line Director. “The all-new Focus gives customers an exciting range of smart new features that help to reduce driving stress, while improving safety and comfort behind the wheel.”

Painless parallel parking
The all-new Focus is available with Ford Active Park Assist, an advanced new system which automatically steers the vehicle into parallel parking spaces.

The system uses two ultrasonic sensors (one on each side of the vehicle) to scan for large enough gaps between parked cars – these gaps can be just 20 per cent longer than the overall vehicle length.

Once a suitable gap has been identified, the driver is informed and clear parking instructions are shown in the centre console display using simple text and graphics. The driver controls the accelerator and brake, and selects a forward or reverse gear, while the system turns the steering wheel completely automatically. The parking manoeuvres can be carried out at speeds of up to 10 km/h.

The front and rear parking sensors provide the usual audible warning to help the driver judge when the car is getting close to the surrounding vehicles. To assist accurate parking in tight spots, the system continues with multiple moves backwards and forwards until the vehicle is parked perfectly.

Active Park Assist will be fitted as standard equipment on the new high-series Titanium model, in both hatch and sedan bodystyles.

Comfortable freeway driving with Adaptive Cruise Control
For reduced stress when driving on freeways, the all-new Focus features an improved, radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control system, which helps to maintain a comfortable distance to other vehicles.

If the system detects that the vehicle in front is slowing down or is too close, it decelerates automatically to maintain the preset distance. Once the road is clear again, it will then accelerate back to the chosen cruising speed.

The system also incorporates a Forward Alert feature, which is designed to warn the driver via the cluster display and through a chime if there is a risk of a collision with the vehicle in front.

The system pre-charges the brakes to enable a quicker response when the driver presses the brake pedal, and in case of an imminent collision, it can automatically apply the brakes (with decelerations up to 3 m/sē) to reduce impact speed.

Adaptive Cruise Control will be available on the new high-series Titanium model, as part of an optional Sports Executive Pack, which also includes Bi-Xenon HID headlights with integrated static cornering lights and a power tilt/slide sunroof.

Speed Limiter helps avoid unintentional speeding
The Ford Adjustable Speed Limiting Device (ASLD) allows drivers to set their own personal speed limit, so that in demanding conditions – such as in unfamiliar city streets, or passing through extended roadworks on the freeway – they can concentrate on the road ahead without the worry of unintentionally driving too fast. This supports safer, less stressful driving, and reduces the chance of receiving unwanted speeding tickets.

By using enhanced Cruise Control switches on the steering wheel, the driver can adjust and set their personal top speed, for speeds above 30 km/h. When the vehicle reaches the pre-set speed, the engine management system intervenes to prevent further acceleration.

If required, the driver can override their chosen limit – to overtake, for example – by pressing hard on the accelerator. Once the vehicle speed drops back under the chosen speed limit, the system automatically re-activates again.

Cruise control with ASLD will be fitted as standard equipment on all mid- and high-series Focus models – Trend, Sport and Titanium.