Ford adds side-wind stability aid for Transit and Custom

AS winter storms hit, whatever their name, strong gusting winds provide an additional challenge to drivers, particularly those driving high-sided vehicles. But help is at hand for Ford drivers with a new side-wind stability aid.

All new Ford Transit and Transit Custom commercial vehicles are fitted as standard with a new technology that helps drivers stay in lane when their van is hit by a sudden crosswind or the turbulence created by a large truck.

Side Wind Stabilisation is an advanced feature that was developed by Ford engineers, and works by carefully applying the brakes on one side of the vehicle to reduce the effect of a side wind gust on the vehicle’s path.

Marc Suermann, chassis controls supervisor, Ford of Europe, said: “No-one likes that feeling when your vehicle gets caught by a wind gust, or you are passing close to a fast-moving truck.

“This new technology will help make driving less stressful for Transit drivers, particularly on those dark and stormy winter days.”

At vehicle speeds over 50mph, the Side Wind Stabilisation system monitors stability sensors 100 times per second. If a sudden gust is detected, the feature can become active within less than 200 milliseconds – the time it takes a top class athlete to react to the starting pistol.

Ford engineers tested the new system at a special test track which uses six powerful fans to generate crosswinds of up to 50mph, as well as on public roads in areas which are notorious for strong winds on the coast.

The Side Wind Stabilisation technology is offered on Ford’s latest Transit and Transit Custom models that feature the state-of-the-art Ford EcoBlue diesel engine, delivering significant cost of ownership and performance benefits, with fuel efficiency improved by up to 13% and low-end torque by 20%.

Advanced new driver assistance features for both models also include the Pre-Collision Assist emergency braking system – the first in the segment to feature Pedestrian Detection technology – that reduces the severity of some frontal collisions involving vehicles and pedestrians, or helps drivers avoid some impacts altogether.