| Unless you're in the market for a new car, a luxury | | | | -- The driver activates the system by pressing an |
| vehicle at that, my sharing information with about | | | | instrument panel button, which activates the |
| two Lincoln models – the MKS and MKT – | | | | ultrasonic sensors to measure and identify a feasible |
| may seem like a pointless exercise. Then again, if | | | | parallel parking space. |
| you're still a few years away from purchasing a new | | | | -- The system then prompts the driver to accept the |
| car and you're interested in a Ford or Mercury model, | | | | system assistance to park. |
| then Active Park Assist will interest you. | | | | -- The steering system then takes over and steers |
| Active Park Assist is a self parking feature developed | | | | the car into the parking space hands-free. The driver |
| by the Ford Motor Company, an option that will be | | | | still shifts the transmission and operates the gas and |
| offered in the Lincoln MKS sedan next summer as | | | | brake pedals. |
| well as in the Lincoln MKT crossover. But, by 2012, | | | | -- A visual and/or audible driver interface advises the |
| Ford is expected to roll out this feature as an option | | | | driver about the proximity of other cars, objects and |
| across its entire car line, therefore your future | | | | people and provides instructions. |
| Mercury Milan or Ford Edge will offer this option. | | | | -- While the steering is all done automatically, the |
| So what is Active Park Assist? That's easy: it is a | | | | driver remains responsible for safe parking and can |
| technological features that uses an ultrasonic-based | | | | interrupt the system by grasping the steering wheel. |
| sensing system and Electric Power Assisted Steering | | | | Clearly, not every driver will need this feature but for |
| to steer the vehicle into a parking spot. Moreover, | | | | people who regularly need to find parking in tight |
| Electric Power Assisted Steering also improves fuel | | | | New York City parking spaces and for those folks |
| economy by up to 5%, while reducing CO2 emissions | | | | who are recovering from surgery which has impacted |
| and enhancing performance, compared with traditional | | | | their upper body, Active Park Assist could certainly |
| steering. | | | | come in handy for them. |
| "With the touch of a button, Lincoln MKS and MKT | | | | Ford hasn't put a price on Active Park Assist, but |
| drivers can parallel park quickly, easily and safely | | | | you can expect that it won't be a low cost option, at |
| without ever touching the steering wheel," said | | | | least initially. Once the technology catches on and |
| Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of Global | | | | spreads to other cars in Ford's fleet, the price should |
| Product Development. "This is another example of | | | | come down. |
| exclusive Ford smart technology, such as Ford SYNC, | | | | Look for Ford to share more information this Spring |
| that makes the driving experience easier and more | | | | as we get closer to the introduction of the all new |
| enjoyable for our customers." | | | | Lincoln MKT. |
| Here's how Active Park Assist works: | | | | |