Ford is always at the helm of automotive innovation. So, it’s no surprise to the team at at The Reed Factor, when the 2016 Ford Edge lands on the showroom later this year, Ford will introduce the company’s innovative new technology set to redefine the idea of “power steering.”
The American automaker’s new adaptive steering will now make it easier for drivers to maneuver their SUV at low speeds while making the vehicle more enjoyable to drive and even more agile at higher speeds. Adaptive steering will be standard on Edge Sport and available on Edge Titanium.
“First and foremost, all Ford Motor Company products have to offer a great driving experience,” according to Raj Nair, the Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “This technology can help make vehicles easy to maneuver and fun to drive.”
Ford’s new adaptive steering changes the ratio between the driver’s actions at the wheel and how much the front wheels turn. In vehicles without the technology, this is a fixed steering ratio. With adaptive steering, the ratio will be continually changing as the vehicle’s speed changes which optimizes the steering response in all conditions.
So when the vehicle is at lower speeds, for example: pulling into a parking space or maneuvering in tight areas, fewer turns of the steering wheel are required. Adaptive steering makes the vehicle more agile and easier to turn as it dials more steering into the road wheel.
At highway speeds, the system optimizes steering response, letting the vehicle react more smoothly to each steering input.
The system – created in collaboration with engineers from TKAG, a Germany-based automotive supplier – uses a precision-controlled actuator placed inside the steering wheel, and requires no change to a vehicle’s traditional steering system.
The actuator – an electric motor and gearing system – can essentially add to or subtract from a driver’s steering inputs. The result is a better driving experience at all speeds, regardless of vehicle size or class.
After rolling out on the 2016 Edge, adaptive steering will be available for other Ford and Lincoln vehicles in the future. It is also being introduced in Europe, initially on Ford S-MAX and Galaxy.
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