Ford brings four-wheel drive tech to range of models

By Gerry Murphy

Ford Ireland is joining the four-wheel drive brigade with the company’s new Intelligent All Wheel Drive technology on a range of models including Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy.

The Irish launch of these Intelligent All Wheel Drive vehicles comes as the company expects to sell 139,000 all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles across Europe in 2016 – a 120% increase compared to 2014.

Ford now offers eight out of 17 vehicle lines in Europe with sophisticated all wheel drive or four wheel drive technologies, compared to three models in 2012. During 2016, Ford vehicles that are equipped with systems that help drivers tackle off-road terrain, improve grip on slippery roads, and even optimise performance for track driving, will include the all-new Ford Edge and Kuga SUVs; Ford Galaxy, Mondeo, Mondeo VIgnale and S-MAX passenger cars; all-new Focus RS high-performance hatchback; the new Ranger pick-up; and the Transit.

“We are delighted to be demonstrating these Intelligent All Wheel Drive vehicles to the media and customers in Ireland,” said Ciarán McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland.

“These vehicles enable us to offer a growing number of customers the right technology that meets the needs of their daily lives.”

The Ford Edge, Galaxy, Mondeo and S-MAX offer Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive, delivering a seamless transition of torque between all four wheels to provide a more secure footing on the road especially in slippery conditions.

Intelligent All Wheel Drive measures how the car’s wheels are gripping the road surface and can adjust torque delivery up to 50/50 between the front and rear wheels in under 20 milliseconds – 20 times quicker than it takes to blink.

By only delivering torque where and when it is needed, Intelligent All Wheel Drive has minimal impact on fuel-efficiency and CO2 emissions compared with permanent four-wheel drive systems. The Ford Transit also features a unique Intelligent All Wheel Drive system, offering class-leading traction and dynamics and featuring a selectable all-wheel drive lock mode for optimised grip in extreme conditions.

The technology uses sophisticated sensors to compare vehicle speed and individual wheel speeds to detect when a wheel is slipping, and also is able to predict when a loss of traction may occur from the driver’s use of the steering and pedals. The system can pre-emptively adjust torque distribution to avoid wheel spin, reducing the workload for drivers and delivering smoother journeys for passengers.

Mondeo prices with four-wheel drive will start at €34,895 for the 2.0-litre 150ps TDCi, the S-Max range starts at €42,185 and the Galaxy kicks off at €45,285.

“For an increasing number of fleet customers and, indeed, private individuals, all-wheel drive technology is one of the most effective ways to enhance safety and confidence. Anyone who ever has need to drive on rough terrain or who puts up significant mileage will recognise the multiple benefits that Intelligent All Wheel Drive can bring,” said McMahon.