Ford Extends Offering of Delphi's Enhanced Adaptive Cruise Control For Jaguar Vehicles

TROY, Mich., Aug. 26 -- Ford Motor Company will extend the availability of Delphi Corp.'s enhanced Forewarn® adaptive cruise control (ACC) with Forward Alert (FA) technology to 2003 Jaguar XKR models launching this October in the U.S., Canadian and Mexican markets. This marks the debut of adaptive cruise control in the U.S. for Jaguar. With the addition of Forewarn ACC as an optional extra on the supercharged XKR models, Jaguar customers in several markets around the world can opt for this convenient feature.

Ford initially introduced ACC on Jaguar vehicles in Europe. The system uses a high-performance, mechanically scanning, long-range radar sensor to help the driver detect objects up to 150 meters or 402 feet in the vehicles path. Delphi ACC is highly reliable, making more individual measurements on each horizontal radar scan than other systems. If the lane ahead is clear, the system will maintain the cruising speed set by the driver. When slower traffic is detected, the system will maintain a driver-selected headway (adjustable between 1.0 and 2.2 seconds) using throttle control and limited braking. The system also can detect if another vehicle crosses into the path from an adjacent lane and respond appropriately.

"Delphi's extensive vehicle electronics experience and engineering resources are key to our ability to develop and bring to market technologies that offer a high level of driver convenience and enhanced safety," said Jeff Owens, president of Delphi Delco Electronics Systems. "Adaptive cruise control is the perfect example of such a technology and we are pleased to collaborate with Ford and Jaguar to bring the convenient option of Forewarn ACC to Jaguar owners and now to U.S., Canadian and Mexican consumers."

New to Delphi's adaptive cruise control technology is a Forward Alert system. When the driver has enabled the FA system (regardless of whether ACC is on or engaged), audible and visual alerts will be provided to the driver that braking is required due to slower-moving vehicles ahead. Drivers can adjust system sensitivity to adapt alert levels to their preferred driving style and prevent nuisance alerts. It is important to note that the FA system will not warn of stopped vehicles or fixed objects ahead and should not be expected to prevent collisions in these situations.

Where standard cruise control provides added convenience for interstate highway travel, ACC gives similar levels of convenience on more congested roads and traffic conditions. The system includes driver information displays that indicate the set cruising speed and driver-selectable gap. Now with FA, drivers have the additional capability of receiving automatic alerts in nearly any type of road or traffic condition that they should brake for slower-moving traffic ahead, even when they are not operating with ACC on or engaged. And, if mud, snow or other material blocks the sensor, the system will warn the driver with a message.