FORD RECEIVES INDUSTRY-LEADING SIX EURO NCAP ADVANCED REWARDS – AND FIVE-STAR RATINGS FOR NEW KUGA AND NEW FIESTA
- Ford achieves record-breaking six Advanced rewards for outstanding technological innovation from independent vehicle safety organisation Euro NCAP
- Ford’s MyKey system, which debuts on new Fiesta, and SYNC with Emergency Assistance technology, launched on all-new B-MAX, add to rewards already achieved for Driver Alert, Forward Alert, Lane Keeping Aid and Active City Stop
- Ford’s new Kuga and new Fiesta are both awarded maximum five-star safety ratings; New Kuga achieves 88 per cent for overall protection – the highest-ever rating for a mid-sized SUV; New Fiesta scores 83 per cent for overall protection
Brentwood, Essex, 28 November 2012 – Ford is the first car manufacturer to achieve six Euro NCAP Advanced rewards for outstanding technological innovation after it received awards for MyKey on new Fiesta and SYNC with Emergency Assistance on all-new B-MAX, new Fiesta, C-MAX, Focus and all-new Kuga.
Ford also received maximum five-star safety ratings for new Ford Kuga and new Fiesta from the independent vehicle safety organisation following its latest round of crash tests.
“MyKey and SYNC with Emergency Assistance are not just new technologies for Ford in Europe, they’re technologies never seen before in small cars,” said Andrew Johnson, supervisor, Automotive Safety Office, Ford of Europe. “We’re delighted Euro NCAP has recognised our commitment to make features such as these available to more and more customers.”
New Fiesta’s MyKey technology enables parents to place certain restrictions on young drivers to promote safer driving by limiting the vehicle’s top speed and lowering the maximum volume of the audio system. It also provides earlier low fuel warnings, prevents safety features including Electronic Stability Control and Active City Stop from being deactivated, and mutes the audio system if the driver and front seat passenger fail to wear their seatbelts.
In the event of an accident, SYNC with Emergency Assistance enables all-new B-MAX to assist the occupants to call the local emergency services operator in an industry-leading 26 languages, spoken in 40 European regions. It uses information from the on-board GPS unit, map and mobile network to pinpoint the accident location and calls emergency services via an occupant’s Bluetooth connected mobile phone. The technology is also available on new Fiesta, C-MAX, Focus and new Kuga.
Ford has already achieved Euro NCAP Advanced rewards for Active City Stop – a safety system designed to help drivers avoid low speed collisions – with all-new B-MAX and Focus. The Ford Focus also has already achieved Advanced rewards with Driver Alert; Forward Alert; and Lane Keeping Aid
“Euro NCAP Advanced rewards recognise safety innovation of the highest level,” said Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP secretary general. “Ford has demonstrated its commitment to making advanced safety features available on a wide range of vehicles and thoroughly deserves all of its rewards.”
In achieving a five-star Euro NCAP rating, new Kuga achieved 88 per cent for overall protection – the highest-ever rating for a mid-sized SUV; as well as 94 per cent for adult protection; and 86 per cent for child protection. New Kuga also offers SYNC with Emergency Assistance, Active City Stop and Blind Spot Information System that indicates with a warning light in the door mirror that a potential hazard is in the driver’s blind spot.
New Fiesta scored 83 per cent for overall protection in achieving its five-star Euro NCAP rating; 91 per cent for adult protection; and 86 per cent for child protection. As well as debuting MyKey, it offers segment-first Active City Stop, SYNC with Emergency Assistance, and a body of which more than 50 per cent is fabricated from high strength and ultra-high strength steels for additional accident protection.
“Safety is at the core of everything we do and these five-star ratings for both new Kuga and new Fiesta demonstrate the excellent safety performance of our vehicles,” said Stuart Southgate, director, Automotive Safety Office, Ford of Europe. “Ford engineers work extremely hard to deliver peace of mind to our customers and their family and friends that travel in our vehicles.”
Van Ratingen added: “To achieve a five-star rating, vehicles must offer excellent all round protection, and both Fiesta and Kuga meet Euro NCAP’s stringent demands. Kuga’s high score in the SUV category shows what can be achieved through innovative design and smart technologies.”
