Tag Archive for safety

2013 Ford Explorer: An SUV for Your Life

2013 Ford Explorer Most of us have things in our lives that are no-brainers: Pizza for dinner when you’re pressed for time; that gray sweater that goes with every outfit; your favorite CD to brighten your day. When it comes to buying an SUV, the Ford Explorer is a true no-brainer.

2013 Ford Explorer Display

With best-in-class highway mpg, a new Sport trim, and tons of available high-tech safety features, what’s not to love about the 2013 Ford Explorer?

Let’s start with the new Sport trim. Drivers who opt for this peppy model will experience a 3.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine with 365-horsepower, a sport-tuned suspension, 20-inch wheels, charcoal black leather seats, a black grille, and a six-speed transmission with paddle shifters. Distinctive and athletic, the Explorer Sport stands out from the pack.

2013 Ford Explorer Terrain Management

Worried about gas mileage? Don’t be! The 2013 Ford Explorer’s 2.0-liter inline-4 cylinder EcoBoost engine receives best-in-class highway fuel economy at 28 mpg. The base V6 engine is right behind that with 23 mpg.

Thinking about taking your 2013 Explorer on some unbeaten paths? Great! With the available Terrain Management System, you can select which terrain you will be driving on in order to experience optimal traction and control. Whether you are driving on sand, snow, ice, or mud, your Explorer can handle the drive.

2013 Ford Explorer Interior

Safety Features on the Ford Explorer don’t stop at airbags and seatbelts. Available safety features include a lane-keeping system, Blind Spot Information System, inflatable rear safety belts, cross-traffic alert, active park assist, collision warning, and automatic high beams.

So there you have it: the 2013 Ford Explorer in all its glory. Stop by Steamboat Motors to test drive the Explorer and be sure to check out our current sales – there is currently a Steamboat Discount on the 2013 Explorer!

Virtual Reality Simulator Helps Ford Make Driving Safer

How can an automotive company predict a driver’s behavior? And how can they make the car itself help to prevent driving dangers? The answer for Ford is through their VIRtual Test Track EXperiment simulator, as known as VIRTTEX.

A spherical dome mounted on a hydraulic system, VIRTTEX was recently updated to improve its 360-dgree field of view and high-resolution, digitally projected imaging. Ford developers use this virtual simulator to see how drivers react to other cars, pedestrians, and stationary objects alongside the road.

This kind of information is then used to develop in-car systems that will help prevent collisions and other automotive dangers. This is how Ford’s Lane Keeping and Collision Warning systems were developed.

Ford hopes that VIRTTEX’s updated projectors will help them to make even more improvements to their vehicles in the future. With such state of the art technology, there is no telling what they will come up with next.

Ford Fusion Will Soon Help Drowsy Drivers Stay on the Road

The North American International Auto Show will soon showcase the new Ford Fusion with its innovative safety technology to help keep drivers in their lane while driving.  Ford’s Lane Keeping System will debut on the first mainstream midsize sedan, the Ford Fusion.  This technology will also be offered on the Ford Explorer in 2012.

When turned on by the driver, the Lane Keeping System activates a digital camera mounted on the windshield in front of the rearview mirror.  This digital camera continuously scans the road to detect driver drowsiness and lane departure.  If the camera senses this danger, the system immediately vibrates the steering wheel to alert the driver and steers the car back into its lane.

The Lane Keeping System works at speeds above 40 mph and is showcased with a little green car between two lanes on the instrument cluster.  When driver drowsiness and lane departure is detected the car icon turns red and an audible chime goes off as well.  Also in the instrument cluster is an alert gauge with a steaming cup of coffee.  The closer the indicator gets to the cup of coffee, the more necessary it becomes for the driver to stop the car and rest.

Ford knows the importance of driving safety and is proud to offer features to help make this a reality.