Ford announces self-parking cars, future 16 year olds totally psyched
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted December 30th 2008 1:02PM
posted December 30th 2008 1:02PM
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.
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury?
I'd rather have a Mercedes...
me too! I'm ordering my Mercedes SLR McLaren as we speak!
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.
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" =(
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.
@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.
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)
@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
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.
Now I can safely ghost ride da whip!
@ 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.
@Bob
You're a douche
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?
@Bob
Second that.
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.
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)
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.
@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".
@BOB
At least you can get more than two people in the Ford Fusion and still have room for each persons golf clubs.
@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.
@ 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.
I wonder if I have to tip my car for parking itself.
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
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.
So setting your car('s features) apart from the competition isn't focusing on selling them?
@ Chris Are
So they should focus on luxury that the masses can't afford rather then the efficiency we all need?
Ford was the only one of the "Big 3" auto manufactures who DID not take a government handout.
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.
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?
Me = fail at parking
Self-park = good
@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.
@Ben, shouldn't you have put 'not' in caps?
Ford didn't take the bailout money.
The park assist will sell cars.
Just turned 16.. gotta start working on those turns.. maybe my little brother won't.
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.
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...
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.
what the hell is she wearing...
Haha. 80's clothes... 80's clothes...
Is that Wilson on the right?
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."
Good times.
Oops, pun not intended!
Nothing new.
it's really not that difficult
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!
Making the future generation lazier and lazier, good job ford.
But how does it compare to BMW's version?
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.
Oh, PS:
BMW's demonstrated prototype wasn't for parallel applications anyway.
so thats where the 16$ billion is going.,they need to get with the program n borrow some designers from honda nissan toyota.,to stay alive.,