Ford introduces Roll Stability Control on new vehicles

By Michelle M. Czarka

Vehicle safety is the #1 concern consumers cite when researching or purchasing a new vehicle. The automotive industry is constantly at work engineering innovative systems to improve vehicle safety and handling, decrease the number of automobile accidents and provide a travel environment that cushions you and your family.

Recently Ford Motor Company, in keeping with its 100-year tradition of providing customers with vehicles suited to their lifestyle and safety demands, introduced its exclusive enhanced stability system. Roll Stability Control™ features roll-rate sensing and stability enhancement capabilities and works to assist drivers in maintaining vehicle control during extreme steering maneuvers. The system automatically engages counter measures to help drivers maintain maximum control of the vehicle and reduce the risk of rollover.

A team led by Todd Brown of Ford Global Core Engineering, Brakes and Chassis Controls Department, developed the RSC system to reduce the occurrence of rollover accidents. The technology grew out of the team's experience designing the AdvanceTrac® yaw control system introduced on the 2000 Lincoln LS and Jaguar S-type.

Volvo XC90 is one of vehicles to be equipped with RSC.

Ford plans to equip more than ½ a million 2005 Ford SUVs with RSC including their best selling Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer and Volvo XC90. The company will also offer this technology on its 2006 Econoline 15-passenger van. Roll Stability Control™ will be packaged with AdvanceTrac® chassis system which offers superior vehicle control through anti-lock brakes, traction control and electronic stability control.

Typical electronic stability control systems are designed to control yaw or skidding only but by coupling the RSC and AdvanceTrac® systems Ford is able to provide even greater safety benefits for the customer.

"Ford is bringing to market tomorrow's safety technology today," Brown explains. "We're very pleased to offer our customers the benefits of this new RSC technology, but Ford won't stop here. Where customer safety is concerned, our commitment is to continuously develop and implement innovative solutions."

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