A few weeks ago, Ford Motor Company announced a new feature for the upcoming Fusion V6 Sport that will significantly reduce the negative impact of hitting a pothole.
AAA estimates that damage from potholes costs drivers in the U.S. nearly $3 billion a year, with individuals paying $300 per incident. With this in mind, Ford is introducing a continuously controlled damping system that promises to reduce the impact of a pothole on your vehicle and your wallet.
The system utilizes high-resolution sensors that send signals about road conditions to onboard computers that adjust the dampers every two milliseconds. When the sensors detect the edge of a pothole, the system immediately adjusts the dampers to their stiffest setting. This prevents the wheel from falling too deep into the whole, thus minimizing the impact with the other side.
“We tested and tuned this system by driving over countless potholes – subjecting Fusion V6 Sport to the brutal, square-edged potholes of our Romeo Proving Grounds to finesse the software,” said Michener. “It was long hours of not very pleasant work, but the results are well worth it.”
The all-new Fusion V6 Sport begins arriving in dealerships nationwide this summer.