[car fanatics]

Ford’s Hands-Free Parallel Parking Aid is a Hit 100,000 Times Over; Production Tripled to Meet Demand

Ford
Photo credit: Ford
January 26, 2012
By: CF staff

*More than 100,000 customers have placed orders for Active Park Assist, which helps drivers parallel park with the touch of a button and without ever touching the steering wheel

*Ford has increased production threefold to meet demand for the ultrasonic-based sensing system found on Focus, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX

*Active Park Assist will be offered on more models in 2012, including the new Ford Kuga

BRENTWOOD, UK, Jan. 25, 2012 – If proof was needed that parallel parking drives motorists to distraction, then more than 100,000 orders for Ford’s Active Park Assist feature makes the point loud and clear.

Ford has now tripled production levels for the technology, which calculates the optimal steering angle and quickly steers the vehicle hands free into a parking spot.

“Ford Active Park Assist takes all the stress out of parking,” said Ford engineer Kay Müller. “At the touch of a button, it enables you to park in the smallest of spaces, while at the same time reducing the risk of accidental damage to your vehicle and those surrounding it.”

A total of 102,460 European customers have specified Active Park Assist since it was introduced on the new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX at the end of 2010, with one-in-three buyers specifying it on those cars alone. A further one-in-five have ordered it on the new Ford Focus, which went on sale last year.

A third of European drivers surveyed by Ford last year said they struggled to parallel park. Many confessed to finding it more stressful than a trip to the dentist.

“The demand for Active Park Assist has been truly surprising,” said Gunnar Herrmann, the Ford engineering director who led the development of the Focus. “Even more customers will be able to benefit from this feature as we introduce it on new products in the future, starting with the new Ford Kuga later this year.”

Active Park Assist – how it works
*The driver activates the system by pressing a button, which activates the ultrasonic sensors to measure and identify a feasible parallel parking space

*The system then prompts the driver to accept the system assistance to park
*The system then takes over and steers the car into the parking space hands-free. The driver still operates the gears and the accelerator and brake pedals
*A visual and/or audible interface advises the driver about the proximity of other cars, objects and people and provides instructions.
*While the steering is all done automatically, the driver remains responsible for safe parking and can interrupt the system by grasping the steering wheel

[jaybird]

I have it for two years and it has always worked perfectly! :2thumbsup:

[Ix3understeer]

Audi is not impressed

[McLovin]

Another benefit of self park systems, when you are slightly impaired (alcohol,age, bad back or neck).
Also helps ease your concern if your wife just plain sucks at parking.

[Tonavi]

Cool feature but encourages people to pay even less attention to their driving skills.

[McLovin]

Tonavi;174555 Wrote:Cool feature but encourages people to pay even less attention to their driving skills.

WTF!!
How so?
Are you not there, in the car, with your eyes open every single time, engaged by using the gas-brake, etc. All while watching and learning from a system that does it perfect every single time.

If anything, many will be taught how it's done, and can hone their skills.

[greyhairedpete]

The best part of Ford's system is that it does the steering for you. It is a far superior system over Lexus.

[REVolution]

The system in the Lexus will steer for you. Its just not very consistent and won't work on hills.

[Tonavi]

Makes the rest of us proud that we can park our own damn car ourselves.

[McLovin]

I parallel park about 2 times a year.
Barely ever.
I, like many, am a suburbanite, surrounded by massive parking lots everywhere I look. No place to parallel park.
So sometimes it takes me a few attempts, because I am rusty. But you get it back fast.
Also, think about the cost of having to pay your deductible ($500-1000) if you tag someone.
Or better yet, if they don't have the sytem, and they tag you.

It can pay for itself.

[Tonavi]

Working downtown about 75% of parking is parallel. Out of at least 500 parking jobs I've never hit nor been hit by anyone.

---

BTW you having a self parking program doesn't stop anyone from hitting you.

[McLovin]

[McLovin]

I see that tonailfungus is desperately trying to find fault with yet another great Ford technology.

Keep reaching, fungus boy - LOL.

[greyhairedpete]

McLovin;174587 Wrote:I see that tonailfungus is desperately trying to find fault with yet another great Ford technology.

Keep reaching, fungus boy - LOL.

Tonailfungus....

[Tonavi]

Great, if questionably useful technology that Lexus already had.