Ford technologies help make winter driving safer and easier by being tested and proven in some of the harshest winter conditions in the northern hemisphere.
As winter tightens its grip on the UK, motorists face an increased risk of accidents and delays due to ice, snow and reduced visibility. Ford’s test drivers have a wealth of experience driving in these poor conditions and offer sensible suggestions for trouble-free motoring during winter.
All new Ford vehicles are available with a variety of features designed to assist drivers in low temperatures. The new Ford Fiesta for example, has a Torque Vectoring Control system which enhances cornering capability on snow and ice.
The Ford Quickclear windscreen technology melts snow and ice away at the touch of a button avoiding the need to scrape the ice off manually in freezing temperatures, or wait for the heating system to come up to temperature.
In case of an accident, SYNC with Emergency Assistance helps place a call to emergency operators in 26 European languages and gives the Ford Fiesta’s GPS coordinates. The feature is also available on Ford’s B-MAX, new Kuga and Focus models.
Driving on snow and ice can send some motorists into a blind panic but it need not be so stressful. Ford engineer, Eddy Kasteel, spends his winters testing vehicles on frozen lakes in northern Sweden and has some simple tips for safe and trouble-free driving on cold and slippery surfaces:
“It’s important to reduce your speed in wintry conditions because braking distances can be 10 times longer or more. Fortunately, advances in electronic technology mean today’s Fords make it a lot easier to drive on snow and ice – like new Fiesta’s Torque Vectoring Control and Electronic Stability Control. Even the very best drivers don’t have the car control skills to compete with systems such as these.”
