Ford continues new product push – 2010 Escape, Mercury Mariner
2009 Ford Escape
Ford updated the Escape and it’s sibling, the Mercury Marinerwith new bodies for 2008 and with new powertrains for 2009. So what’s left to update you might ask? The technology and safety of course! For 2010 Ford has added the integrated blind-spot mirrors and the MyKey system as standard equipment. MyKey lets owners (parents in particular) set restrictions on things like radio volume, speed limit and seat belt chime reminders to name a few, all aimed at helping new drivers be safer on the road.
Available features include the new Active Park Assist, a feature first shown on the Lincoln MKS. This system allows the vehicle to parallel park itself with only throttle and brake inputs from the driver. Head on over to Autoblog for the official press release.
Ford EcoBoost 3.5L V6
Some good news from the auto industry. Just the thing I need at 7:45 AM on a Friday! Anyway, Ford has spent $55 million to upgrade the tools at the plant, which has been idle since 2007, to produce the new 3.5L EcoBoost V6. This engine is probably one of the most advanced in Ford’s history, and will feature gas direct injection (GDI) and turbocharging to produce the power of a V8 with the fuel efficiency of a V6. The engine is slated to appear in the Ford Flex, Taurus SHO, Lincoln MKS and MKT. There is also a possibility that the plant might produce other engines from the EcoBoost family sometime in the future (rumors of I4 EcoBoosts come to mind…) For the full article, and Ford’s official press release, head on over to Autoblog.
Ford is bringing a parking assist system to market this year, starting with the Lincoln MKS. Unlike the system offered by Lexus, which uses cameras to see a spot, the Ford system uses ultrasonic sensors to measure empty spaces and determine if there is enough room to fit your car in. It will control the steering of the car, all you have to do is control the throttle and brakes. From everything I have read online, this system has a much higher success rate for reviewers than the Lexus system, which some (read the Jalopnik article) have found so frustrating to use that they give up and end up parking the car them self. Just another example of how the Domestics are fighting back with smarter technologies.
