Hasta La Gadget!

While Ford’s MyFord Touch is a popular option for tech-savvy drivers, it’s not always the most intuitive — some complain that basic tasks, like radio tuning, are relatively awkward. The company is very aware of the feedback, as it’s now supplementing the touch controls with “traditional” buttons and knobs. Both the latest F-150 and future vehicles will reflect the hybrid approach. Ford is still giving touchscreens some love with a MyFord Touch update due this summer, but it’s clear that the company will keep one foot in the analog world for a while longer.

Filed under: Transportation

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Via: SlashGear

Source: Ford

Self-driving cars are nothing new: Google, Lexus and Audi have all showcased the technology in prototype form before. But these autonomous vehicles are all designed to operate on public roads and handle unforeseen obstacles using advanced sensors like LIDAR. What about cars operating in a controlled environment like a private track? Ford engineers answered this question when they partnered with Autonomous Solutions Inc. to develop robot drivers to test vehicle durability. The GPS-based system (accurate to one inch) allows up to eight autonomous cars to operate simultaneously on the same track.

Durability testing is traditionally rough on both test vehicles and human drivers. The new technology, which is three years in the making, is now being used to test upcoming models (like Ford’s 2014 Transit van). It enables testing 24 hours a day, seven days a week with perfect repeatability. Vehicles send their position and speed to a central computer (monitored by a single person) via a low-latency wireless connection and receive instructions on what maneuvers to perform. This is actually quite similar to what Anki Drive is doing with toy cars. Motors control the steering wheel, gear shifter and pedals to simulate a driver following a predetermined route.

Ford plans to equip the cars with more sensors (such as radar and cameras) to allow a mix of human and robot drivers to operate safely on the same track together. Check out the gallery below and the company’s video and PR after the break.

Filed under: Robots, Transportation

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Via: New York Times

Source: Ford

Ford is recalling 465,000 vehicles due to numerous complaints over a leak near the fuel tank. The recall affects a handful of 2013 models, including the Fusion, Flex, Explorer, Taurus, Interceptor Sedan, Interceptor Utility, and the Lincoln MKZ, MKS and MKT. So far, 600 complaints have been filed as of the end of March.

Furthermore, it’s said that the leak could start a fire, as Ford points out that the leak is near the “ignition source.” However, the company says that they have not received any reports of fires or accidents caused by the fuel leak. Details on exactly the cause of the defect haven’t been disclosed, not exactly how big the leak is.

420,000 of the recalled Ford vehicles are located in the United States, Canada and Mexico, while the rest are located overseas. The Ford Fusion was redesigned last fall and it’s actually one of Ford’s best-selling vehicles. However, it’s seen a handful of recalls since the car’s redesign that many owners probably aren’t too happy about.

The Fusion was recalled back in December over the possibility of spontaneous engine combustion from leaks that could’ve lead to a fire. Nearly 80,000 Ford Fusions were involved in that recall, with about 19,000 more Fusions recalled the previous month over a lighting issue. Along with today’s recall, Ford is also recalling 23 2013 Ford Fusions for a steering gear problem that could result in loss of steering control.

Here comes the unfortunate part, however. Ford says it has a limited supply of new fuel delivery modules that would fix the fuel leak, so some Ford owners will get replacements soon, while other owners will have to wait until September in order to line up for the fix. No word yet on whether or not Ford will offer loaner cars to individuals affected by the delay.

VIA: Reuters

Ford recalls 465,000 2013 vehicles over fuel tank leak is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

From today onwards, those of you who own select Ford vehicles and are also Amazon customers who happen to make use of iPod touch, iPhone and iPad devices will have one added advantage – you can now wirelessly hook up to the Amazon MP3 app and tune in to your favorite Amazon Cloud Player music in Ford SYNC AppLink-equipped vehicles. All three kinds of devices – the iPod touch, iPhone and iPad are able to access your whole Cloud Player music library through the use of simple voice commands or audio controls. Folks rocking on the Android platform would have enjoyed such benefits since February.

Among the features of Amazon Cloud Player for iOS and Ford SYNC AppLink-equipped vehicles are voice recognition or dashboard controls, brought to you in high-quality 256kbps audio, the ability to play music that is stashed away in Cloud Player or to play back music stored on iPod touch or iPhone, not to mention free up local storage space on their devices as it stashes and accesses music in the cloud. One is able to obtain access in the Ford SYNC vehicles – the 2013 Ford Fiesta, Mustang, Focus, E-Series, C-MAX Hybrid, Expedition, Fusion, F-150 and Super Duty models. [Product Page]

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Loopwheels Bicycle Wheel Sports Integral Suspension, DIY Tumbler Is A Thing Of Beauty,

Ford has decided that this year, it will surpass its hybrid sales record. It’s highest annual amount of hybrids sold dates back to 2010, the year it sold 35,496 of its Fusion and C-Max hybrids. Currently, the car manufacturer has sold 29,561 hybrids this year alone, meaning that it only needs to sell about 6,000 more hybrids to beat its original record, a feat that it believes can be accomplished within this month.

Erich Merkle, the U.S. sales analyst for Ford, stated that the company is doing everything it can to grow its sales in the “largest hybrid markets in the country.” Ford’s hybrid market share reached 18% in April, but it still has a long ways to go to reach Toyota’s 58% hybrid market share. However, things are looking bright for Ford, with the company’s Fusion hybrid deliveries increasing by up to 5 times this past April.

While the sales of its hybrids are rising, demand for Toyota’s hybrids is decreasing. Sales of Toyota Camry’s hybrid decreased 26%, and the sales of the Toyota Prius have dropped 21% in April and 12% this entire year. Toyota stated earlier last month that the sales of its hybrids may fall short of its targeted 250,000 sales goal this year. While that’s bad news for Toyota, it’s great news for Ford.

Ford still has a long ways to go before catching up to Toyota’s hybrid sales, but with the demand of its hybrids going up and the demand for Toyota’s hybrids going down, it feels optimistic. The 3,989 sales of the Ford Fusion surpassed the 3,257 Toyota Camry hybrids that sold this year, although the Toyota Prius surpassed both cars’ sales combined with its 19,889 vehicles sold. It may be a long while before Ford can match up to Toyota, if it ever can, but even if it doesn’t, things are looking better for its hybrid sector. For more news related to Ford, be sure to check out our Cars Hub.

[via Bloomberg]

Ford plans to surpass its hybrid sales record this month is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.