DEARBORN, Mich., June 3, 2009 – It's an everyday maneuver that can add stress and elevate blood pressure in novice and veteran drivers alike. It's parallel parking.
Active Park Assist, an all-new driver aide technology available in the distinctive new 2010 Lincoln MKT three-row luxury crossover vehicle, will address the "top 10" anxieties in the parallel parking process. They are:
Will I find a parking spot?
Will my vehicle fit?
Am I lined up correctly?
Did I "cut it" properly?
Am I in?
Am I too far from the curb?
Am I sticking out?
Am I too close in front or back?
Do I have to try again?
Will I be embarrassed?
How it Works
At the push of a single button on the Lincoln MKT center console, Active Park Assist initiates the parallel parking process.
Once the system is activated it begins scanning for an appropriate parking spot, eliminating anxiety number one. When a suitable space is detected an audible signal will sound and the cluster-mounted message center will display a space found notification.
Active Park Assist will coach the driver with a prompt when to stop, shift to reverse and let the system take over. Anxiety number two is eliminated as the system will not select an inappropriately sized space.
Anxieties numbers three and four are eliminated as Active Park Assist will calculate the appropriate trajectory, regardless of the distance between the Lincoln MKT and the vehicle parked in the space just ahead. Furthermore, the trajectory determined by the system will properly place the vehicle in the selected space.
Anxieties five through eight are addressed by Active Park Assist with the calculated trajectory, or the "cut it" element of the parallel parking maneuver. All steering is performed by the system, so the driver only needs to brake. Active Park Assist also properly positions the Lincoln MKT relative to the curb.
Anxiety number nine is addressed with coaching messages. If the vehicle is not positioned properly in the space, the system will continue to coach the driver for proper placement. The driver will shift and brake normally, but the system steers the vehicle throughout the maneuver.
Anxiety number ten is addressed by the system as Active Park Assist will park the vehicle swiftly and surely, every time. System accuracy will position the MKT properly, and embarrassment is thankfully avoided.
Active Park Assist is enabled by Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) which is standard on 2010 Ford vehicles equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6.
Active Park Assist is optional on the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 equipped Lincoln MKT, on sale at Lincoln dealerships, late this summer.
For more information:
Active Park Assist Fact Sheet
Source: www.ford.com.
