We like it when GPS is feeding us information, telling us when traffic is causing a problem and indicating when a bridge is out so that we can warm up our voices ahead of all the hootin' and a hollerin' required for our General Lee replica to clear the gap. However, we're not too keen on the All-Seeing Eye aspect of GPS, and that's what we're fearing in Ford's latest research. The company gave a $120,000 grant to the Auburn University's GPS and Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory to look into using GPS for accident prevention, and while results won't be unveiled until later this week, descriptions of "an early warning system that detects when a vehicle is about to lose control" and then tweaks vehicle traction and stability control settings based on the speed of the car and the severity of upcoming bends sounds a half-step away from the auto-braking assist in
Gran Turismo. Or, perhaps that's just Ford-speak for an
Aspid-like system for optimizing suspension based on road twistiness. Given that Ford no longer makes a car designed for going around corners quickly, we find that unlikely.
Update: Wes Sherwood from Ford took the time to comment, indicating that "wide-reaching privacy laws prevent the type of monitoring suggested in this post." That's very good to hear. Still no word on when the Mustang will get independent rear suspension, though.
[Via
Carperformance]
posted Oct 12th 2009 8:16AM
+1 for the dukes of hazard reference
How much longer until the GPS automatically slows the car down to the speed limit when you're running late for work?
You could probably turn it off when you need to?
I see that as an option at first for parents letting the kids borrow the car, but only a matter of time until Government Motors incorporates it into every one of their vehicles (or passes legislation requiring all auto manufacturers to have it) and Big Brother can control one more aspect of our lives.
in dubai all cars have an alarm that whines on if you go above the national speed limit, deal with it.
This isn't Dubai, so you deal with it.
Already being done. In Britain it is, or soon will be law that EVERY car be equipped with a speed sensor/GPS connected by satellite and monitored by the gov't. They can/will monitor your location and prevent you from exceeding the speed limit in wherever your location is.
Slowly and slowly, driving a car is becoming less about the driver, and more about the computer inside the car.
I wouldn't fear too much. That was the last of Fords cash, so they'll be going bankrupt any day now...
Between this and the health care debacle, I'm beginning to think I should move to the UK.
@Adam No it isn't it has been mooted by some think-tanks but it's nowhere near becoming law.
1984 Reference again :O, is that going to pop up on all of the sister blogs?
Hey, Ford engineer here. "Given that Ford no longer makes a car designed for going around corners quickly, we find that unlikely." is totally wrong. From Focus up to the rather large Flex, and across the new Lincoln brands, Ford's cars have fairly decent handling built in.
I think they were talking about an SVT Focus.
Never mind Motor Trend said this about the new Mustang:
Fast forward 20 years and the 2010 Mustang GT with the optional Track Pack has the best steering I have ever experienced in American car. Period. Accurate, linear, and wonderfully communicative, the Mustang's steering is in the same league as BMW 3 Series and Jaguar XF steering. Yep, you read that right -- I just put Mustang, BMW, and Jaguar in the same sentence.
But you know. It's cool to crap on American cars.
The Ford Mustang has a a solid live axle rear suspension, a thing disappeared in European and Japanese production cars for at least 20 years!
This saves a few hundred bucks per car and enables Ford to sell this thing suprisingly cheap (also good for the very american 1/4 mile), but it plain sucks in the corners. To claim it is anywhere near a decent IRS is just delusional.
Same article:
It felt light and nimble and fast, with hyper-aggressive turn-in, and terrific punch out of the corners.
Despite ceding more than 100hp to the Camaro, it easily ran with the big Chevy -- as long as the road was smooth. Throw any mid-corner bumps into the equation, however, and the Mustang's old-tech live rear axle would make its presence felt.
Just because it doesn't have the best technology available doesn't mean it's not designed to handle better than most.
I haven't encountered ANY Ford yet that isn't humbled and or embarrassed by my WRX or my 330xi on a curvy OR straight road. Ford is years behind most of the competition. I will say they seem to be heading in the right direction lately with build quality.
Well it would make more sense if it was stated like this, "Given that Ford no longer makes a car for sale in the US market designed for going around corners quickly, we find that unlikely."
@ chadow
Dude, your vehicular willy-waving is impressing no one. And besides which, you're comparing what is basically a 4wd rally car, and a top of the range 3 litre 4wd BMW, against a mass-market manufacturer's cars - the VAST majority which you'd come across are fwd and aren't sports cars. Do you feel proud of your achievement when you steam away from lights leaving that 1.6 litre Focus in your dust, and put the memory in your wank-bank for later?
The fact *you've* not encountered a Ford out there which can beat your cars means jack, my friend.
There is no willy waving. The article implied that Ford doesn't make a car designed for going around corners quickly, which was argued. I added my 2 cents ( as valueless as I KNOW that is, this is the internet after all ).
Ford does have a WRC Focus, they just have to changed nearly everything about a regular focus to make it competitive. Thats my point. Ford makes decent cars, but they have to be modified to compare to what other manufacturers make as production cars.
I just want to clarify that I wasn't saying that Ford cars have GREAT handling, but that they did put SOME effort into making the Mustang a car that performs in the handling department.
I never said that it would compare to a car that was MADE for handling like a Civic Si, WRX, Evo, etc.
Maybe the statement in the article is technically true. I just think it's unfair that everyone hates on Ford and other American car companies and that's okay. Ford is really trying these days.
For the record: I drive a Civic (non Si), before that I drove a 99 Accord V6. Before that, a Mazda 626 (which was a ford, and was a piece of crap....lost compression on 2 cylinders after 60k miles). I don't want to drive a manual transmission because it annoys me, and I want a car under $25k that's not a complete dog. Currently my top three choices are the Mustang V6, the Genesis Coupe Turbo, and the Jetta TDI. From the reviews I've read, this is the best-handling Mustang yet, so I'm not counting it out just yet, even though some would immediately take any import over any domestic . . .
You're not a man if you purchase a V6 Mustang. That's all there is to it.
"You're not a man if you purchase a Mustang. That's all there is to it." - there - fixed that for you.
@Tmacfan4321: You're wrong of course, because my manhood's not defined by what car I drive (did you miss the part where I drive a Civic now?). It's also not tied up with what people think; my best friend is going to give me crap for this and I still don't care. I do get tired of hearing it, which is why the other two options are still on the table.
I feel bad for the Mustang (especially the V6). Strip away the Muscle Car persona and what do you have:
Attractive Coupe
Decently Powerful V6
Quiet Ride with above-average handling (see Edmunds Inside Line Review)
Ford Sync (best iPod/iPhone integration available)
Nice stereo
Well-done retro interior styling
All priced cheaper than the V6 Accords, Mazda6s, and Altimas of the world.
The majority of boneheads will tell you you're not a man if you buy one.
@MF
You're kidding right? Fords (and all American cars) feel like cars riding on marshmallows, not tires. There seems to be this philosophy amongst the Big Three that people should be isolated from the road rather than connected to it. Power steering and power brakes have a completely artificial feel which do not take into account the road or driving conditions. Shoddy suspension and very little in the way of intelligent traction control is the norm... All of that is missing in most American cars (exceptions like the Ford GT and Chev. Corvette notwithstanding, though they come with their own set of problems). I have not owned an American car in more than 20 years but I do travel quite often and frequently rent cars from the major car rental agencies, most of which have predominantly American car fleets. Every time I get in one of those boats (no matter how big or small, they all feel like boats) I gasp at the utter incompetence of engineers and/or decision makers who allow this kind of utter and total craptastic product to make it out the door and be offered to people who will take it hurtling down the road.
Why do you think that it is that no other cars manufactured in any major car-producing nation in the world drive and feel the way that American cars that are produced here feel? Why is that? And why is it that even cars that American car companies produce for European markets actually drive more like European cars, not American cars? I'll tell you why: because no one in their right minds (except dumb-as-a-stick Americans) would ever drive a car that handles like that. I hope all the American car companies fail. Why continue propping up an industry that is so clearly incompetent and blind to reality and who continues making such shit products?!? If you don't believe me, just check the resale market. How much (percentage-wise) does a typical Honda or VW lose in value after one year on the road? How much does a typical Ford or Chevrolet or Dodge lose after the same amount of time? I rest my case. No one who has either a choice (because of cost) or a brain chooses the American car. And that's why the Big Three share of auto sales has fallen for four decades straight.
Last point to make: If you want to impress people don't tell them that you an engineer for Ford unless you specifically work on the Ford GT or on one of the racing teams. Admitting that is the same as admitting that you are a failure working for a company that is a failure.
@Tony
Drop the hate and get some experience. Old rental Tauruses should not define your opinion of a whole industry.
Go to your local Toyota dealer and test drive the #1 selling midsize car in the country, the Camry. Drive the 4 cylinder auto, for example. Then go down the road to the Ford dealer and test drive the competitor, the Fusion, same setup.
Try a Corolla, then try a Focus.
Or better yet, drive an Avalon, and then try a Taurus. Take it to an empty parking lot and do some pretend autocross if you like.
I guarantee you like the Ford ride/handling tuning a lot more than Toyota.
We don't make BMWs. But our cars don't cost BMW prices, either. Engineering is about tradeoffs, and Ford has made them wisely, I think.
Now, consider the competition. Honda has pretty good handling, but significant road noise. Tradeoffs Hyundai, Kia? Squishy. Mazda? Tight--oh, they're partly Ford owned. Oops. Subarus tend to be compliant, except for the Rally cars. How many people want to drive a rally car every day?
I can't wait until the European common platform Focus and Fiesta show up here in NA. They are *tight*.
I *am* proud to be a Ford employee. Our products are better than they have ever been in every way, and the stuff coming down the pipe is *spectacular*. Wish I could tell you more about it. Our quality is rivaling the best, our fuel economy too. Our cars are among the safest on the road.
Oh, and I did work on the GT program, a little. Not as much as I would have liked :-)
fords can handle just fine.
and oh yeah, screw IRS, SOLID AXLE FTW
As for the live axle:
"Ford Mustang captures Grand-Am Koni Challenge and SPEED World Challenge titles"
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/12/ford-mustang-captures-grand-am-koni-challenge-and-speed-world-ch/
@tony: you sir, are idiot, laughable one
@chadow: and how does your famous WRX do in WRC? oh, wait...
BWAHAHA!
@Yaroukh. Subaru didn't compete in 09, along with Suzuki, due to economic concerns. How is that relevant to the handling or performance? They were winning before 09 and they will be winning again after. If I made cars, I would rather get a "BWAHAHA" for not competing, than for the multitude of reasons most of the US automakers get laughed at.
And I don't mean to imply all our US cars are not for me. There are some US cars that perform fantastic and I would love to own. Chevys Camaro and Corvette, Pontiac G8 GT.....maybe even a Mustang. Definitely a Tesla.
While cars built for the USA market are no good in corners, European Fords are actually very good!
"Given that Ford no longer makes a car designed for going around corners quickly, we find that unlikely."
haha love it!
Hello? Do these damn editors do their research before they comment? Take a 2010 stang round some corners and tell us what you think.
Just because the thing can corner better than its predecessors doesn't mean it corners well relative to other sports cars.
Anyone who uses the term "stang" clearly has no credibility. Just saying.
This is old tech. Michael had this in the Knight Industry Two Thousand in 1982. KITT also had a flamethrower and a tear gas launcher. So, Ford, you're way behind on this one.
KITT also did that Turbo jumpy thingy too.. I'll bet that got +10 mpg easy
After having my GPS tell me I'm doing 600 m/ph once (on a bad signal in the Alps), I can't say I'm looking forward to this being implemented.
Maybe your signal was good and you were going that fast!!!! !!!!
The day that control of my car can be accessed by anyone or anything other than the person behind the wheel is the day I sell my car and move to a more bike and public transportation friendly city.
Really, people actually think it's a good idea to be able to take control of the car from me while I'm driving? Data will never be accurate enough to assess a situation better than a human can in all circumstances, and I only see this leading to more accidents than it prevents. Truly a horrifying idea to be stuck behind the wheel of a car that I can't control.
@kevin
You are not understanding. Your stability control (ESC) system on a newer car will take control from you (by firing the brakes on one or more corners) if it senses that you are in danger of spinning out. It can (and may very well) save you from a nasty outcome.
Presumably it won't be a stand-alone GPS unit, but integrated into the car. So it has access to the vehicle speed sensor, and won't be confused by poor radio reception. Most car navigation systems sold in Japan are already like that, they use inertial sensors and the vehicle speed sensor in addition to GPS. It's neat to see the position updated correctly through a long curved tunnel.
And I do hope systems like this becomes more common (i.e. GPS-based speed limiters and the like). Driving should only be done out of necessity, and under the most strict regulation and surveillance.
@kevin
I guess we should stop putting Anti-Lock Brake Systems into cars too because they "take control away from the driver" when the tires start to lose traction...
I guarantee that the ABS system can do a much better job at re-gaining traction and control than the average non-professional driver.
If this was implemented, (and I'll go on record as saying I would resist this as long as vehicles existed that didn't support this technology) I would expect all insurance premiums to fall from the sky. It amazes me that as more vehicles deploy better safety features, insurance premiums continue to rise or remain flat for most consumers. I'd like to stop getting screwed over by what I perceive as outdated methodologies for legalized discrimination.
This is idiotic. There are many areas in my city where people drive a considerable amount over the posted speed limit, and with everyone else doing that, it would be more dangerous for you to drive slowly and have people constantly weaving around you. While it'd be great if everyone could play nice and all drive at exactly the speed limit, that never happens in real life.
That would be annoying as hell.
They should have had ticket generation based on this for years now. The technology is there. Just have the unit provide data to law enforcement agencies when the vehicle exceeds the speed limit. No more lame Cops who let losers drive 1 mph over the limit. EVERYONE would be accountable for their speeding habits.
I also think we should have had auto speed limiting technology built into cars for awhile now. When you go from different speed zones, your vehicle automatically adjusts to this new limit so you can't drive over that limit. You disable it, you lose your license and your vehicle is impounded.
And for all you that would say there times when it is warranted, there is NEVER a time when normal citizens should be driving over the speed limit. If you or someone you know needs to get to a hospital or something like that, you should be in an ambulance or other emergency vehicle.
Wow.. you took the Blue pill didn't you?
I guess you are completely clueless what "emergency" means.
And the sad fact is, a lot of "speed limits" as they are posted, are artificially low for the purpose OF generating ticket revenue. Also, speed "limits" are adjusted on the same roads frequently. Remember the country wide limit of 55mph? Now some of those same roads have a posted limit of 75mph or even 80mph. So what made them so "unsafe" driving that road at 60mph when the limit was 55 as opposed to driving that road at 70mph when the limit is now 75?
"And for all you that would say there times when it is warranted, there is NEVER a time when normal citizens should be driving over the speed limit."
This above statement can only be caused by subjugating all your thought and decision making processed to someone else. in MANY occasions I have used an excessive burst of speed to avoid a very dangerous situation or get out of a pinch in a potentially dangerous traffic situation. When it is impossible to stop in time, sometimes the best thing is to accelerate through a potential disaster. Ever follow a drunk driver that is driving the speed limit? Every avoid a large object in the middle of the freeway when there is a pile of traffic behind you? What is better, accelerate around the object, or slam on the brakes when doing full speed and have a mile of cars pileup behind you? I can easily say that needing to "drive over the speed limit" has saved my life on more than once occasion, or at least let me avoid a very serious accident situation.
@ richard
Please take all means of defending yourself, and take them to the police department. Then, take all your unecessary money/belongings, and take them to your closest IRS office. Make sure to leave them the keys for your fancy new Prius--they will know what to do with it all. Any NORMAL citizen should never need these things.