Next-gen Ford Ranger makes safety a priority

MANILA: Aside from modern in-car technologies, Ford is giving the next-generation Ford Ranger advanced safety features. 

The carmaker has developed passive and active safety features, improved vehicle structure, and driver assistance technologies for the pickup. 

With the all-new Ranger, Ford engineers spent "thousands of hours" developing and testing the pickup truck's safety via computer modelling and comprehensive physical testing, according to a release. 

Ranger models made by computer-aided engineering (CAE)  were built to replicate various accident scenarios, including full-frontal, frontal offset, pole test, rear offset crash tests, pedestrian impacts, roof crush tests, and more.

Ford also conducted hundreds of physical tests to ensure vehicle safety performance was met and to validate the CAE modelling.

The all-new Ranger's safety features include: 

• Post-Collision Braking
• Pre-Collision Assist
• Evasive Steer Assist
• Reverse Brake Assist 
• Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) 
• Lane-Keeping System with Road Edge Detection 
• Cross Traffic Alert 
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go 

Ford’s Post-Collision Braking system applies the brakes after a collision to reduce the risk of another collision. The system automatically engages with moderate brake pressure when an initial collision has occurred.

The all-new Ranger's Pre-Collision Assist uses a wide-view windscreen-mounted camera and radar located near the front bumper. The camera and radar scan the road ahead and detect a potential collision with another vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist directly in front the vehicle.

If an imminent collision is detected by the system, it emits an audible and visual warning to prompt the driver to brake. If the driver fails to respond in time, Ford's improved Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system will activate. 

A segment-first feature, Evasive Steer Assist helps the driver avoid potential collisions with a slower or stopped vehicle ahead by providing a boost to the steering. This allows the driver to steer with less effort when a collision cannot be avoided by braking alone.

Reverse Brake Assist helps drivers to avoid or mitigate potential collisions with moving vehicles, stationary pedestrians, and objects while reversing. If the system detects a collision with these, it will apply the all-new Ranger's brakes. 

If a faster-moving vehicle enters the Ranger’s blind spot zone, BLIS will alert the driver via a small light in the side mirror, so he or she knows not to change lanes.

Designed for use on rural roads at speeds from 65kph, road edge detection uses a front camera to monitor road edges 50 meters in front of the vehicle, day, or night.

Where a paved road becomes a soft verge, gravel hard shoulder or grass, the system provides gentle steering support as required, to prevent the vehicle from drifting off the road.

With the all-new Ranger’s Cross Traffic Alert system, it will alert the driver of a vehicle approaching from the sides when reversing. 

New to the Ranger is Adaptive Cruise control with a Stop-and-Go feature, which lets drivers set a cruising speed for the vehicle and then maintain a set pacing distance from the vehicle ahead.

When that vehicle slows down, the Ranger does the same, even down to a stop in traffic. When traffic picks up speed, the cruise control maintains the Ranger's pre-set speed and distance. 

Photos from Ford

Also read: WATCH: Ford tests footsteps, bicycle bells for Directional Audio Alerts