Ford announces self-parking cars, future 16 year olds totally psyched

We've seen self-parking automobiles before, but Ford's system -- part of the company's new power steering technology -- not only works on hills (unlike the Lexus), but employs sensors that are also used on the road to monitor blind spots and notify the driver of approaching traffic. The auto-parking technology is set to debut on the 2010 Lincoln MKS sedan and Lincoln MKT luxury crossover vehicle, while the new-school power steering -- which uses the vehicle's battery rather than its hydraulic system, improving fuel economy and reducing carbon emissions in the process -- should be popping up in nearly ninety percent of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles by 2012. Pretty soonish, by auto industry standards, but not soon enough for the nation's tenth graders, who will need to perfect their three point turns if they want to get their licenses before the Spring Fling.

[Hey Ya @ Dec 30th 2008 1:04PM]

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury?

I'd rather have a Mercedes...

[liv @ Dec 30th 2008 1:08PM]

me too! I'm ordering my Mercedes SLR McLaren as we speak!

[Hey Ya @ Dec 30th 2008 1:18PM]

Sorry dude. It was a reference to the movie.

Guess you had to be a child of a 80s, and have seen all of these terrible movies the "Corys" did to catch that.

[tom @ Dec 30th 2008 1:22PM]

F- that!

No 16 years old wants to drive a Lincoln MKS or MKT . I used to drive a Van when I was in High school. People called it losers' cruisers, not to mention driving a "Lincoln" =(

[000000 @ Dec 30th 2008 1:33PM]

And I'd rather you not post but we all can't have everything we want.


I wish Ford would focus(pun not intended) all of it's resources on making a 40-50+ mpg car instead.

[Hey Ya @ Dec 30th 2008 1:40PM]

@000000

The comment was in reference to the movie, "License to Drive". Coincidentally, the picture accompanying this article is a Photoshopped poster from the movie.

I get that you're probably too young to have seen, or even heard of, the movie. So, I'll leave my comment at that.

[The Angry Intern @ Dec 30th 2008 1:44PM]

kids these days, I tell you! I remember the movie fondly.

"Did you ever think you'd see the day when a Mercedes could fit in the trunk of a Cadillac?" (loosely quoted as I haven't seen the movie in years)

[Scott Monty @ Dec 30th 2008 1:45PM]

@000000 We already have a car that gets 40-50 mpg. It's the Ford Fusion hybrid. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-neil19-2008dec19,0,1742816.story

And @AI2x: Ford did not participate in the federal loans that were given to GM & Chrysler. Our statement is available here: http://is.gd/dcC3

Scott Monty
Global Digital Communications
Ford Motor Company

[Crispin @ Dec 30th 2008 1:48PM]

Did anyone else get a small version of the movie poster about a week before this opened? Screw the Corys. I went to that movie to see Heather Graham.

[OneLove @ Dec 30th 2008 2:00PM]

Now I can safely ghost ride da whip!

[Bob @ Dec 30th 2008 2:01PM]

@ Scott Monty

Too bad it still cost $10K more than my 2008 Toyota Yaris Sedan that is NOT a hybrid and gets over 40 MPG highway, over 30 MPG with 100% city driving. Heck, the Yaris Hatchback gets almost 50 MPG for some people. Until they sell a hybrid for $15K-$20K, I won't even test drive one.

[Jeff @ Dec 30th 2008 3:17PM]

@Bob

You're a douche

[Adam @ Dec 30th 2008 5:18PM]

I appreciate the movie reference... and would have made it myself if it wasn't there plain as day.

80's movie references and technology... what more could you ask for in a site?

[Brazen521 @ Dec 30th 2008 6:03PM]

@Bob

Second that.

[steven @ Dec 30th 2008 9:29PM]

Bob, you are a douchebag. Your Toyota Prius is a piece of shit. And it looks like one to. The people who drive Prius' are arrogant pricks.

[deedeedee @ Dec 30th 2008 9:59PM]

Why is new Ford Mondeo not avaiable in the US? It looks fantastic and I'd totally go for the Mondeo over the new Accord. Also the US version Focus looks like total crap, where as the International version actually looks real sexy. What the hell????


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Mondeo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Focus_(International)

[Bob @ Dec 30th 2008 10:38PM]

Steven, are you serious? Where did you learn to read? I don't own a lame Prius, in fact, I said I wouldn't even test drive one unless they were $15K-$20K... Read before you flame someone.

[Setnev @ Jan 4th 2009 3:14PM]

@steven

Um i think you're the douche bag for not reading the post correctly. He never said he had a Prius, he has a Yaris. I guess you didn't see that it said "NOT a hybrid".

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Dec 31st 2008 12:11AM]

@BOB

At least you can get more than two people in the Ford Fusion and still have room for each persons golf clubs.

[000000 @ Jan 2nd 2009 8:26AM]

@Hey Ya

My apologies. I didn't get the reference. I need to see that movie again.

Lately I've just been getting urked by all the anti U.S. Auto Industry stuff.

[Bob @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:48AM]

@ I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY

Actually, the Yaris *looks* small, but it's not. The four door sedan I have could easy fit 4 people and all 4 golf clubs, and probably still have room for a fifth person and set of clubs. It looks small from the outside, but it's not that much smaller.

[ash @ Dec 30th 2008 1:05PM]

I wonder if I have to tip my car for parking itself.

[i-i @ Jan 1st 2009 1:27PM]

only is the SHITE car is perfectly aligned, and on1 of the 2 vehicles is not painted silver, is not on an ingrade, not raining, not snowing, no wind, no high sun....

Ahhh, just park the stupid go cart yourself...

WTF, you little panty wearing men can't park a toy car?

I learned to drive on grand marquis size cars... AND I CONSIDER THOSE SMALL CARS!

where is my big block!!!???


i-i

[Al2x @ Dec 30th 2008 1:05PM]

Ford, how about we worry about selling cars first, instead of wasting your newly found government jackpot money to make unneeded things like self-parking.

[Chris Are @ Dec 30th 2008 1:07PM]

So setting your car('s features) apart from the competition isn't focusing on selling them?

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Dec 30th 2008 1:18PM]

@ Chris Are

So they should focus on luxury that the masses can't afford rather then the efficiency we all need?

[Ben @ Dec 30th 2008 1:24PM]

Ford was the only one of the "Big 3" auto manufactures who DID not take a government handout.

[Miguel @ Dec 30th 2008 1:26PM]

You do realize that R&D for something like this takes something on the order of months, if not years, right? That this was developed long before the highly recent cash infusion from the government? That to install a ready-for-market feature costs next to nothing, and will allow the manufacturer to recoup the costs spent on development?

Or better yet, that this is Ford Motor Company, which didn't take any money from the government loan*? That all the government monies went to Chrysler and GM? That they aren't burning through your dollars at all?

Oh, and just FYI, because the new power steering is electric instead of hydraulic, it saves on weight, thus improving fuel economy de facto.

*That's right: loan. Unlike Wall Street financial wizards, the auto industry has to pay back every dime plus interest to Uncle Sam...and can be disqualified for the loan at a moment's notice.

[Nelson @ Dec 30th 2008 1:30PM]

Even if they were taking a bailout loan, that money wouldn't be going toward this development.

The development was completed a while ago.

The money would be going toward them trying to sell this new technology, and the cars inwhich it's contained.

Happy now?

[zephead @ Dec 30th 2008 1:56PM]

Me = fail at parking

Self-park = good

[Chris Are @ Dec 30th 2008 2:20PM]

@Amish Pirate

I'm not saying auto makers shouldn't be focusing on fuel economy/ alternate sources. In fact I think our government should be heading that a hell of a lot more than they have been (thank God that's going to change soon).

All I was saying is it's Ford's job to sell cars- one sells cars by setting one's cars apart from that of the competition. That's what they're doing.

[amneziac @ Dec 30th 2008 10:19PM]

@Ben, shouldn't you have put 'not' in caps?

[Scott T @ Dec 31st 2008 11:44AM]

Ford didn't take the bailout money.

The park assist will sell cars.

[RioRyan @ Dec 30th 2008 1:05PM]

Just turned 16.. gotta start working on those turns.. maybe my little brother won't.

[TavisJohn @ Dec 30th 2008 1:11PM]

Your little bro won't have to worry about it... When EVERY car on the road does this. (IE even the old existing cars)

So yes your little bro will still have to learn those turns and how to parallel park.

[r3loaded @ Dec 30th 2008 1:38PM]

Parallel parking is an art in itself...learn it!

The people who take about 20 manoeuvres to park while I'm waiting to pass by exasperate me...

[Bob @ Dec 30th 2008 2:07PM]

Not to sound cocky (and at the risk of being flamed), but I get the parallel parking thing first time everytime... I don't see why it's all that hard for people.

[skyblaze @ Dec 30th 2008 1:09PM]

what the hell is she wearing...

[000000 @ Dec 30th 2008 1:30PM]

Haha. 80's clothes... 80's clothes...

[ILoveApple @ Dec 30th 2008 1:10PM]

Is that Wilson on the right?

[oakie @ Dec 30th 2008 1:13PM]

Marty - "Mind if we... park?"
Lorraine - "Marty! I'd love to park!"
Marty - "what?"
Lorraine - "Marty! WTF are you doing?!"
Marty - "I'm parking the car. I'm from the future."

[ED @ Dec 31st 2008 7:45PM]

Good times.

Oops, pun not intended!

[hustler @ Dec 30th 2008 1:14PM]

Nothing new.

[skant @ Dec 30th 2008 1:14PM]

it's really not that difficult

[knitevulture @ Dec 30th 2008 1:16PM]

Making the future generation lazier and lazier, good job ford.

[superhobo @ Dec 30th 2008 1:18PM]

But how does it compare to BMW's version?

[Miguel @ Dec 30th 2008 3:20PM]

Ford's system relies on the ultrasonic sensors (essentially sonar) used for blind spot and backup warnings to detect distance between vehicles, unlike the cameras used in Lexus' system. BMW's system is only a prototype debuted on a last-gen 7 series. It isn't in production yet. Ergo, Ford's consumer version is better than BMW's non-existent consumer version.

[Miguel @ Dec 30th 2008 3:22PM]

Oh, PS:

BMW's demonstrated prototype wasn't for parallel applications anyway.

[aggrazel @ Dec 30th 2008 1:18PM]

When I was in drivers ed I failed the parallel parking every single time in practice. But when I took the test for real I passed it the first time, no problem. I've never failed at parking since!

[Xoyuji @ Dec 30th 2008 1:18PM]

Not when will the self driving car be announced.