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SPECIAL

Ford Territory

SPECIAL

Ford Territory

Sydney International Motorshow - Total Safety Performance

Staff, Thursday October 17, 2002.

Page 1 of 1

"Performance isn't just about making the quickest car," says Ford Performance Vehicles Managing Director, David Flint.

"Performance must be incorporated into the entire package ? acceleration, handling, dynamics and, most importantly, safety."

The foundation for this total safety approach is the standard fitment of every BA Falcon safety feature available in the new sedan range plus key Ford Performance Vehicles developments in primary safety.

The Pursuit ute also receives similar attention to total safety performance.

Flint said the Ford Performance Vehicles team had been part of the BA Falcon program since its inception, giving him total confidence in the product.

"The BA Falcon platform was engineered from the start to provide an exceptionally safe foundation for FPV performance."

Primary Safety

The best way to survive a crash is to avoid it in the first place, and Flint says the new FPV range excels in this area.

"The new BA Falcon body shell is almost twice as stiff as the already strong AU Series II body shell.

"This provides an exceptionally stable platform for consistent suspension performance, finer steering control and reassuring predictability during evasive action or hard braking."

The huge reserves built into this new structure allow major boosts in FPV suspension and brake performance to match the new Boss 290 drivetrain without compromise.

"The improved double wishbone front suspension, better steering feel and response in the BA Falcon have generated extra reserves for FPV premium performance upgrades to increase levels of grip and response to match the increased performance.

"That's teamed up with the new Control Blade Independent Rear Suspension and its excellent handling, superior stability and high levels of driver control, again because superior control and geometry are inherent in the original design."

Brake callipers that are 40 per cent stiffer, bigger diameter brake rotors and new electronic brakeforce distribution integrated into the ABS system provide a much higher brake performance benchmark for FPV to build on.

"FPV development of the BA Falcon?s improved front and rear suspension, steering and brakes, in combination with premium 18-inch wheels and tyres, lift performance even higher in terms of roadholding, handling and agility.

"This predictability and reassurance is enhanced by recalibrated traction control in the FPV sedan range," Flint says.

For the new Pursuit ute, the front suspension and steering upgrade, in combination with the constant track rear suspension that maintains the same geometry laden and unladen, deliver similar levels of engineering integrity as the sedan as a starting point for FPV upgrades.

Secondary Safety

The Ford Performance Vehicles range is built on a total crash safety package that is a quantum advance over its AU predecessor, which has already won a Gold Award in Engineering Excellence in 2001 for its safety package from the Australian Society of Automotive Engineers.

Flint says the BA Falcon body shell featured new front and rear chassis rails that offered more progressive crash performance, far exceeding current legislative requirements.

"Even though there are no set parameters for rear impact protection in Australia, opening a BA Falcon boot will quickly reveal the substantial safety structure built into the sides, the floor and around the rear seat area," Flint says.

The FPV sedan range is the only premium performance sedan range in Australia to offer a split fold down rear seat for extra luggage capacity, in keeping with the long distance capabilities of the new GT models.

The structural reinforcement to maintain the exceptional rear crash integrity with this facility is reassuring and immediately apparent on inspection around the rear seat luggage port.

Improvements to the front structure deliver major improvements in crash resistance. Foot well intrusion is reduced by 45 per cent, A-pillar movement cut by 40 per cent, instrument panel movement reduced by 30 per cent, brake pedal intrusion reduced by 55 per cent and steering column intrusion reduced by 53 per cent.

Relocating the fuel tank ahead of the rear axle is consistent with global best practice.

"There is much more to these improvements than abstract figures. The structural upgrades are so substantial and comprehensive that many are visible in the structure of the vehicle and generate a feeling of strength and refinement from behind the wheel.

"The GT heritage is built on a long line of models where exceptional performance was always balanced by a strong and long lasting body structure. These substantial crash safety upgrades are a 21st century update of the same priorities," says Flint.

The comprehensive list of safety features on GT include:

Ford?s advanced Intelligent Safety System (ISS) has monitoring devices, crash sensors and activation triggers electronically linked to produce an appropriate safety response for each individual accident situation. The Advanced Restraints Module is the electronic brain of ISS which decides the level of protection required.

• Standard dual stage airbags, controlled by a sophisticated combination of sensors to detect triggering thresholds, inflate in two stages: stage one for less severe crashes or stage one and two for more severe impacts. They also take into account the seating position of the driver and whether seat belts are in use. Energy management seat belt retractors and pyrotechnic seat-belt tensioners back them. Three-point seat belts are fitted for every seating position.
• Side airbags mounted in the outboard seat bolsters are contained within a special Deployment Augmentation Chute (DAC) in each front seat and are introduced for the first time in a GT (not available in the Pursuit). A new sensor on the lower B-Pillar feeds crash pulse data into the Advanced Restraints Module to decide the level of protection required. When triggered, the side airbag inflates the thorax or chest portion first, then inflates the head section. These side airbags enhance the significant side-engineering work completed for the AU Series II Falcon.
• Re-engineered door trims for greater occupant protection in side impacts including armrests made from crushable material. A foam block is also inserted into the door which spreads impact load and helps reduce the potential for injury.
• The Laminated Impact Protection Panel comprises a steel and foam sandwich introduced in the AU Series II, and re-engineered for the BA Falcon application to help push the driver?s legs away from the intrusion zone and reduce heel shock in a frontal impact.
• A new steering column made of collapsible sections now features energy control shear capsule mountings that work in association with the new dual stage airbags.
• Speed-dependent warning chime provides warning to a driver who is not wearing a seatbelt.

These active and passive safety developments are complemented by other detailed but important upgrades including ergonomic positioning of controls, improved driving position and seating, steering wheel mounted audio controls, exceptional headlight performance and extra driving lights, aerodynamic improvements for extra stability and the total integration of improved engine performance with other systems.

For further information contact:
Ford Australia Communications
Phone: 03-9359 8491

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