Road Reality » Under the Hood (In Depth)

Opinion: Distance to Empty? (w/Poll)

John Suit — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:00:01 +0000

Starting about 15 years ago, some vehicles began shipping with Distance To Empty (DTE) computers on-board. These DTE computers take a few variables into account and give the driver a running update of how many miles he or she may drive before they run out of fuel. Now that I’ve owned a few vehicles which feature these displays, I have come to realize that there are two ways manufacturers calculate DTE: Optimist, and Pessimist (my own names for them). Read on for the explanation of each and which one I think is better.

The variables in calculating distance to empty – the ones I know of – are these: Amount of fuel, Recent fuel economy and Current fuel economy. The way these variables are used is the difference between Pessimistic and Optimistic calculations.

2009 Lincoln MKS

The 2009 Lincoln MKS which I owned was a pessimist when it came to calculating DTE. The 2010 Nissan Maxima which I currently own is optimistic. Whereas the Lincoln started with a number based upon previous fuel mileage and never went above that number until the next fill-up, my Maxima’s DTE display can go up and down, on a minute-by-minute basis.

2010 Nissan Maxima

This leads to something I don’t like: the Maxima’s number varies greatly as I drive, by as much as 10-20 miles. Moving at a constant rate for several miles, followed by bumper-to-bumper traffic, leads the DTE display to go down 5-10 miles each time, which can be stressful for a driver to see. The Lincoln’s DTE display stayed at the same number when the current fuel economy was higher than expected, and only dropped based on real usage of gas. This leads to less “range anxiety,” a term recently used for electric vehicles.

In the future, I think it would be best if the automotive manufacturers in our country standardized on a single way to calculate the DTE display, and I further suggest that they standardize on a Pessimistic view.

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by John Suit

Toyota Announces Repair Bulletin for 2004-2007 Prius, over Cooling

John Suit — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:00:59 +0000

The Toyota Prius has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the last year, seeing unintended acceleration and other recalls. Now, Toyota has announced a Repair Campaign. While not a safety recall, it’s still a fairly serious issue. From the press release, it looks like some 378,000 Priuses in the US can develop an issue with the hybrid drive’s cooling system. Click past the jump for more details and the press release.

Hybrid batteries require cooling to keep them in their optimal operating temperature, so any automaker who produces a hybrid car needs to add a second cooling system. On the 2004-2007 Prius, apparently a fault in the water pump for the hybrid cooling system can allow air bubbles to be introduced into the cooling fluid, which leads to hotter components and eventually the car goes into “fail safe” mode, which reduces engine power. The check engine light will illuminate as well, a secondary indication of a moderate to severe problem.

According to Toyota, the repair campaign will begin in early December, 2010. Owners who bring their vehicles in will have their water pumps replaced with a newly-designed one, free of charge, so long as they schedule that appointment before November 30th, 2013. As a side note, no accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of the water pump issue.

This is another fault with a Toyota product, and isn’t going to do any good for their already tarnished reputation. I would expect more hybrid buyers to consider the offerings from Ford, Nissan and others, as an alternative to the immensely-popular Prius.

Show Press Release

by John Suit

Source: Toyota

Update: Ford’s EcoBoost F-150 Runs Baja 1000 in 38 Hours!

John Suit — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:00:48 +0000

Remember in September, when Ford announced that they were torture-testing their new EcoBoost-powered F-150? Well, the results of the Baja 1000 off-road race are in, and the twin-turbo F-150 ran the entire race in 38 hours. Just finishing the Baja 1000 is an accomplishment, but the F-150 had a well-used engine in it. Click through the jump for details and the press release.

First, a random EcoBoost V6 was pulled off the assembly line in Cleveland and hooked to a dynamometer, which measures engine power. It was run for an equivalent of 150,000 miles before being mated with a 2011 F-150 chassis, and then it towed and hauled. Then it was put into the truck that ran the Baja 1000. To say it was a broken-in engine is putting the scenario mildly.

The last test, the Baja 1000, added another 1,061 miles to the odometer on the engine, and it completed the race without fail. Now, the engine is being transported back to Ford’s powertrain laboratory for a teardown and inspection, the results of which you can be sure will end up here on Road Reality.

Meanwhile, the fact that the engine didn’t blow up is a sign that Ford has a tough engine on its hands, which is great, since they plan on using the EcoBoost V6 in most of their lineup. You can already buy an EcoBoost V6-equipped Ford Edge, Flex, Taurus and now the F-150, as well as Lincoln MKS, MKT and MKX.

Congrats to Ford’s race team for completing the race!

Show Press Release

FORD F-150 WITH TORTURE-TESTED ECOBOOST ENGINE FINISHES 2010 TECATE SCORE BAJA 1000 IN 38 HOURS

F-150 EcoBoost™ race truck, with an engine that has the equivalent of 10 years of rugged use, finished the grueling Baja 1000 in just over 38 hours, traveling 1,061 miles
The same stock EcoBoost engine endured the equivalent of 150,000 harsh user miles on the dynamometer, then was installed into a new 2011 Ford F-150 to work as a log skidder in Oregon, towed a 11,300-pound trailer at a high-speed NASCAR track and beat the competition in a steep-grade towing contest at Davis Dam

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 20, 2010 – The 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost race truck with the torture-tested “hero” engine finished one of the most grueling desert endurance races in the world – the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 – in 38 hours and 20 minutes, after 1,061 miles.

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine used to power the race truck performed spectacularly in the harsh terrain and extreme temperature swings of the Baja California Peninsula. The truck endured hard accelerations – often at full throttle – and stiff decelerations across the mountains at temperatures that swung between freezing and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Though the EcoBoost engine entered the race with the equivalent of 10 years worth of rugged use, its inherent performance advantages – twin turbochargers and direct fuel injection – helped it complete the race.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in a stock engine – especially one that’s been through what this one has,” said driver Mike McCarthy. “This EcoBoost engine didn’t miss a beat. It took a beating and kept right on going. This is one tough engine.”

Earlier this fall, the engine was randomly selected off the line from the Cleveland Engine Plant to be put through a series of rugged exercises to test its long-term durability. It was installed in a 2011 F-150 at the Kansas City Assembly Plant then traveled to Oregon where it worked as a log skidder. Next, the truck towed 11,300 pounds at high speeds around a NASCAR track in Florida before towing up steep grades in Arizona against competitive trucks.

Last week, the engine was removed from the F-150 and installed in a race truck to take on the extreme conditions and terrain of the Baja 1000 in Mexico. In last year’s race, fewer than half of the competitors – many with modified engines – finished this race.

The Baja 1000 represented the culmination of the F-150 EcoBoost torture test program, demonstrating the durability and capability of the class-leading 3.5-liter EcoBoost truck engine. Viewers can visit http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/f150/2011/experiencef150 to view each of the episodes as they are posted.

“While racing is action-packed and exciting, it serves a very real purpose for our engineers to learn about vehicle and engine performance that directly benefits our customers,” said Cliff Irey, Ford Truck Motorsports manager. “Baja race is no different. In the last 30 hours we learned a tremendous amount about the durability of this new F-150 engine, the EcoBoost. And we’re delighted to report that the EcoBoost engine showed it was up to this test.”

The engine that powered the race truck goes next to Ford’s powertrain laboratory for a teardown and inspection.

The EcoBoost truck engine produces a best-in-class 420 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,500 rpm and 365 horsepower at 5,000 rpm. Up to 90 percent of its peak torque is available from 1,700 rpm to 5,000 rpm, which helps drivers stay in the power.

“The Baja 1000 is always a tough race, and many of our customers and enthusiasts saw this event as the ultimate challenge,” said Eric Kuehn, chief engineer of the 2011 Ford F-150. “It was an outstanding opportunity to showcase the 3.5-liter EcoBoost truck engine’s durability. We took an engine that’s stock and essentially 10 years old, and raced on the same course with highly modified competition with up to 800 horsepower.”

by John Suit

Source: Ford

Cadillac Escalade – Gone in 14 Seconds? (w/video)

John Suit — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:00:49 +0000

Fourteen seconds. That’s about the time it takes to unlock, get into, and start my car. For car thieves, that’s how long it takes to steal a late-model GM SUV – including the Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Suburban – says a report from Detroit’s WXYZ, an ABC affiliate. The reason the vehicles are so easy to steal? They’re missing safety and theft deterrent features found on almost all cars these days. Continue past the jump for a more in-depth explanation and WXYZ’s own video.

2011 Cadillac Escalade

If you get into your car and try to shift from Park to Neutral, chances are you won’t be able to, unless you’ve turned the car on. Apparently, in late-model GM SUVs, the shift lock mechanism, which normally stops the shift from Park to Reverse, Neutral or Drive, is easy to beat, literally. It’s not strong enough to withstand the force from someone determined to get it out of Park. Also, try to turn the wheel, and I bet it won’t go very far before locking. That’s another safety feature which works as a theft deterrent, because you can’t push a vehicle except in the direction the steering wheel was left in. After all that, won’t the SUV’s built-in alarm system go off? No, it won’t. And the side window glass is easy to break as well, allowing easy entry.

2011 Chevrolet Tahoe

What does this have to do with stealing an SUV? Don’t you have to drive it away from the scene of the crime? Not so. Once the gear shift lever is in Neutral, without the steering wheel lock, you can use another vehicle to push the stolen SUV to wherever you want. The report even says it takes thieves around 20 minutes to strip the expensive SUVs of their wheels, trim, navigation systems and other pricey bits.

2011 GMC Yukon XL Denali

So what’s GM doing to fix this? For 2010 and 2011 models, they beefed up the shift lock, but thieves are still able to break it, but GM says it’s testing a newer, stronger shift lock, to keep parked vehicles in Park. They’ve also replaced the side window glass on 2010-and-up models to be harder to break. The third thing they’ve done is re-instate the steering wheel lock, which they removed from their vehicles several years ago when they started using keys with computer chips in them.

Go ahead and watch the video below – it shows an in-depth view into just how easy it is to steal a GM SUV, and has some startling statistics concerning the stolen vehicles.

WXYZ’s Report:

by John Suit

Source: WXYZ via AutoBlog

Ford’s new EcoBoost F-150 Gets Endurance and Durability-Tested

John Suit — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:00:38 +0000

The news is quickly making it through the automotive industry (and the posts here on Road Reality) that Ford is expanding its line-up of EcoBoost-equipped vehicles, including the 2011 F-150 full-size pickup truck. Ford’s EcoBoost engines combine turbochargers and direct injection to create more power while keeping the all-mighty MPGs in check. Now, they’ve released a set of endurance and durability tests for the 2011 F-150, powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. Read on for more details and the requisite pictures.

Test 1: Baja 1000

Each year, a bunch of teams prepare off-road vehicles for the Baja 1000 race, which runs through the desert on the west coast of the US and parts of Mexico. This year, Ford will be fielding a team driving an EcoBoost-equipped F-150 for the 30-plus hour race, which features temperatures from freezing to well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The terrain will also test the truck, with lots of dust and other particles needing to be filtered out of the high-tech engine.

Test 2: Hauling

A lumber company in Oregon will be employing a new EcoBoost-ed F-150 as a “log skidder,” which will test its ability to haul heavy loads up steep hills. The logs are expected to weigh thousands of pounds, a good test for the engine, which features 420 foot-pounds of torque, for those of you keeping track.

Test 3: NASCAR

After hauling, the same truck will be hauling two Sprint Cup Ford Fusion cars around the track at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida, for 24 hours straight. It’ll be run wide open, at speeds expected to be in excess of 90 mph, stopping only to fuel up and change tires. The fuel, by the way, will be regular 87-octane.

Finale: Tear-down

After all the racing, towing and track-running, the engine will be torn down to show how its internal parts have held up to some of the most hazardous vehicle environments and activities.

After all is said and done, I expect nothing but perfect results for the EcoBoost V6, since it’s already logged hundreds of thousands of miles in Ford’s internal testing, and probably millions of miles in customer cars, since the engine is available in the Ford Edge, Flex and Taurus, as well as the Lincoln MKS and MKT. It’s making its way across Ford’s lineup, much in the same vein as Nissan with their “VQ” series 3.5-liter V6 engine, which is available in all their full-size cars, crossovers, SUVs, not to mention some of the Infiniti luxury vehicles.

Stay tuned for the results, since Ford has also said they’re going to produce a series of web-based documentaries, so hopefully I can feature those here on Road Reality. Click below to see the full press release from Ford. After the press release, check out the high-resolution picture gallery of Ford-sourced images featuring their race-prepped Baja F-150.

Show Press Release

RUNNING HOT AND COLD: FORD F-150 WITH ECOBOOST ENGINE TAKES ON BAJA 1000 OFF-ROAD DESERT RACE

A 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost™ engine will take on the demanding Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 long-distance desert endurance race later this year, marking Ford’s EcoBoost engine racing debut. Ford trucks have won more Baja 1000 titles (13) than any other four-wheel manufacturer
Ford will equip the F-150 off-road race truck with the same stock EcoBoost engine that already has experienced 150,000 equivalent miles of dyno testing and other real-world tests as the final step in the durability torture tests
The EcoBoost truck engine is tested to the equivalent of more than 1.6 million total miles of harsh customer use in the lab, in test cells and on the road
The new F-150 EcoBoost has 420 lb.-ft. of torque – more than any competitive half-ton truck – and provides an unequaled combination of capability and fuel economy
Racing the EcoBoost truck engine under these conditions, which include temperature swings from just above freezing to well above 100 degrees, harsh terrain and at least 30 hours driving the course, helps validate the testing of the new truck engine

Dallas, Sept. 23, 2010 – The 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost stands ready to challenge and conquer the harsh environment that makes the world-famous Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 an unparalleled test of man and machine – and the world racing debut for Ford’s EcoBoost engine.

Ford will enter a 2011 F-150 in November’s prestigious long-distance desert endurance race, powered by a stock version of the new 3.5-liter EcoBoost truck engine that will be available in the 2011 F-150 early next year.
The engine was selected randomly off the line from Cleveland Engine Plant to prove out the rigid durability and reliability tests the engine endured during development. The Baja 1000 race is part of an extensive torture test program by Ford for customers to see for themselves the extreme durability testing and development of the class-leading EcoBoost truck engine.

Viewers can visit fordvehicles.com/2011F150 to get an exclusive look at how first an EcoBoost truck engine endured thousands of miles on the dynamometer and in the laboratory to ensure 150,000-mile durability for even the most demanding F-150 customer before taking on real-world challenges.

On the same site will be a series of web-based documentaries hosted and narrated by Mike Rowe of the popular Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs. These documentaries will show the toughest challenges the 2011 F-150 EcoBoost faces in the real world, including:

Hauling timber

The 2011 F-150 EcoBoost joins a lumber company in Oregon, working as a log skidder to show off its best-in-class hauling and 420 ft-lbs of torque. This severe duty involves dragging logs weighing thousands of pounds up steep grades. The 2011 F-150 EcoBoost replaces larger, heavy-duty machinery to perform the task.

24 hours of NASCAR

Following its work in the Pacific Northwest, the same 2011 F-150 EcoBoost heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida to demonstrate its best-in-class towing capability of 11,300 pounds. The truck will tow a pair of Sprint Cup Ford Fusions for 24 hours around the 1.5-mile oval. Befitting the track, site of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season finale, the fully stock 2011 F-150 EcoBoost will run at full throttle, reaching speeds in excess of 90 mph on the straights, stopping only for tires and more 87 octane fuel.

Teardown

After all the pulling, towing, desert racing and much more, viewers will get an inside look at the durability of the EcoBoost when Ford engineers tear it down to evaluate the extensive testing program.

“The engine going into our race truck for the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 is the same engine going into the 2011 Ford F-150 that customers can purchase starting next year,” said Eric Kuehn, chief engineer of the 2011 F-150. “No special blocks or structural upgrades. We are fully confident that because of the strict testing the 3.5-liter EcoBoost truck engines underwent before we started manufacturing, it will take anything the desert can dish out.”

Ford will compete in full-size stock class, which includes competitors with unlimited V8 engines. For safety, a full roll cage is added to each truck. Also allowed for competition are modifications to the suspension, tires and wheels.

Built Ford Tough testing
Durability and reliability are key in this type of racing environment. Temperatures can range from just above freezing at night to nearly 120 degrees during the day and the yet-to-be-announced race course may go from just above sea level to more than 8,500 feet above and back down again.

Three avenues that test and validate all truck engines are computer analysis, laboratory work and in-vehicle exercises. All the tests together replicate more than 1.6 million miles of customer usage – the harshest-use customer. A customer profile reflecting extreme-use driving style, road types and vehicle usage, including maximum towing and payload situations, was developed to underpin the testing program.

For the 2011 F-150 EcoBoost, that includes analytical time, dynamometer testing at full boost, in-vehicle test time, thermal test cycles ranging from 20 degrees Fahrenheit to 235 degrees Fahrenheit, fatigue testing with engine running nonstop between peak horsepower and peak torque and road tests.

In addition to being durable and reliable, race engines have to perform. Desert endurance racing’s extreme environment is where the 3.5-liter EcoBoost truck engine’s inherent performance advantages – twin turbochargers and direct fuel injection to boost performance – will shine. This strategy produces 420 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,500 rpm and 365 horsepower at 5,000 rpm – all on regular fuel. The EcoBoost truck engine has up to 90 percent of its peak torque available from 1,700 rpm to 5,000 rpm.

“The torque starts right away and is very consistent right up to the engine’s redline. That performance is so key to the duty cycle of an off-road racer,” said Cliff Irey, Ford truck motorsports lead.

Off-road racers – like many F-150 customers – spend most of their time between 20 mph and 50 mph, accelerating and decelerating. Another similarity is the F-150s in the Baja 1000 will be fueled with regular pump gasoline rather than specially blended racing fuel that is almost four times as expensive.

“In addition to durability, reliability and top performance, we expect the EcoBoost to get outstanding fuel mileage to the point of saving one or two fuel stops during the race,” Irey said.

Pushing production engines to the limit in this harsh environment is nothing new for Ford. The new 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine standard in the 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty, 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and the 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150 helped a Raptor R earn a podium finish in the 2008 Baja 1000.

It’s part of a Ford heritage that includes more Baja 1000 and Best in the Desert titles than any four-wheel manufacturer. Earlier this year, Ford swept the top eight places in Class 1400 – “Trick Truck” class of the Best in the Desert’s Las Vegas to Reno event.

“The desert racing environment has been a tremendous laboratory for Ford over the years,” said Kuehn. “We’re eager to watch the 3.5-liter EcoBoost truck engine prove its durability, reliability, performance and fuel economy in this tough setting.”

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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 159,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

by John Suit

Source: Ford

Ford Develops new Airbag, will debut in 2012 Focus

John Suit — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:00:05 +0000

Ford’s not sitting on their laurels. After introducing a slew of new models this year, they’ve apparently got a couple more aces up their sleeves. Car buyers looking for safer vehicles may want to look at the upcoming 2012 Ford Focus when it goes on sale early next year. The new airbags will feature internal tethers and vents to better shape and distribute forces, which will protect drivers and passengers better than existing airbag technology.

The internal tethering system shapes the airbag to increase chest protection, while the vents will protect smaller drivers, who benefit from lesser forces. The new airbags will be standard on the 2012 Focus, and should make their way through the Blue Oval’s product lineup as each vehicle gets a mid-cycle refresh or full redesign.

As a bonus, the pictures released by Ford showing off the new airbag also show a rendered view of the new Focus’ interior.

Once Ford releases actual photos and specifications of the 2012 Focus, you can bet we’ll have them here on Road Reality.

Show Press Release

ALL-NEW FORD FOCUS LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE AIRBAG TECHNOLOGIES THAT ENHANCE CRASH PROTECTION

All-new 2012 Ford Focus will offer an exclusive suite of innovative airbags that help customize protection in the most common frontal and side crashes
Focus is launching Ford’s next-generation driver-front airbag with enhanced chest protection technology designed to help reduce chest and rib injuries
Innovative side airbags help enhance chest protection for front seat occupants with shoulder vents that deliver varying levels of pressure based on the size of the occupant and how much of their shoulder blocks the vent
Focus will be Ford’s first car ever with a front passenger airbag with adaptive venting designed to help enhance head and neck protection by better matching deployment force with occupant size
The next-generation airbags will debut as standard equipment on the all-new Ford Focus on sale early in 2011 in North America. The new airbags will roll out on other Ford vehicles in the next few years

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 16, 2010 – The all-new 2012 Ford Focus will launch exclusive airbag technologies that enhance protection for front seat occupants in the most common frontal and side crashes.

The suite of new innovations includes Ford’s next-generation driver-front airbag with enhanced chest protection technology. The new airbag uses a reconfigured curve-shaped tether system that pulls in the lower section to create a “pocket” to help lessen the impact of the airbag on the driver’s chest and ribs in frontal crashes.

Ford’s innovative side airbags feature unique shoulder vents that stay open and reduce pressure for smaller occupants who typically benefit from reduced forces. Taller occupants whose shoulders block the vent could benefit from the higher pressures.

Focus also will be Ford’s first car ever to feature front passenger airbags with adaptive venting technology that diverts some of the gas from the airbag inflators through vents outside of the airbags. The restraints control module – the control center of Ford’s advanced safety systems – adjusts the level of venting based on seat position.

The new passenger airbag is designed to help enhance head and neck protection by better matching deployment force with occupant size. This innovative system uses a small pyrotechnic device to force open the vent and can provide less pressure in the airbag when it’s sufficient to help protect the occupant.

“This is our most advanced airbag system ever in a Ford car, and is designed to enhance protection for front occupants in the most common types of crashes,” said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “Each of these airbags uses innovative technologies to help customize airbag protection to the occupant.”

The new airbag technologies debut as standard equipment on the all-new 2012 Ford Focus, which goes on sale early next year in North America. They will be rolled out to other Ford vehicles in the next few years.

Data drive new airbag design

Ford’s new driver-side airbag was designed to enhance chest and rib protection based in part on Ford’s biomechanical research. In particular, Ford found this type of enhanced chest protection technology would be especially helpful in more serious crashes.

“While seat belts and airbags provide proven protection for drivers of all ages, elderly drivers remain at higher risk of injury than younger drivers due to the nature of collision forces,” said Frank Heitplatz, Ford supervisor of occupant safety integration. “Decades of biomechanical research at Ford continue to spur refinement of the safety technologies in our vehicles to further reduce the risks of severe injuries.”

Focus’s strength on safety

In addition to the new airbags, the new Focus’s vehicle structure provides enhanced crash protection as well as improved vehicle dynamics.

High-strength steels comprise 55 percent of the Focus’s body shell, and ultra-high-strength and boron steels make up more than 31 percent of its skeletal structure. These advanced materials help the structure meet crash regulations across world markets, while minimizing the vehicle’s weight to help maximize fuel economy.

“High-strength steels were key to delivering the lighter weight and higher strength we needed for structural efficiency,” said Shawn Morgans, Ford technical leader in body engineering. “We believe the materials used on the new Focus are setting a new benchmark in the small car segment.”

Ford was the first automaker to begin airbag research five decades ago. It fielded an airbag test fleet in 1971, offered a driver-side airbag in 1985 and standardized driver and front passenger airbags in most vehicles by 1993. In recent years, Ford has introduced a variety of crash protection systems – ranging from canopy airbags to knee bolsters – designed to improve occupant protection. Ford has the most Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety of any automaker.

# # #

by John Suit

Source: Ford