Enhancements

Breaking Down the Ford Ti-VCT

Ford Ti-VCT makes its debut in the 2011 Mustang this summer and will quickly follow in the 2011 Fiesta, 2011 Edge and 2012 Focus. While improved fuel economy, peak horsepower and reduced emissions are tangible Ti-VCT benefits, it’s important to understand the whys and hows behind this engine evolution.

Camshafts

It all starts with the camshaft. Camshafts play a key role in engine power and efficiency. They regulate the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves, letting the air/fuel mixture into the cylinders and the spent exhaust gases out. The timing of the induction/exhaust events is critical to achieving a good balance of power and efficiency.

Regardless of engine design-overhead valve, single overhead cam or dual overhead cam-for many engines the cam and valve actuation is fixed.

With a fixed camshaft, engineers design and engine to perform well, but ultimately the engine is tuned with a specific purpose in mind. For example, fuel-efficient vehicles with fixed camshafts are tuned to perform fuel-efficiently. Many truck engines with fixed camshafts are tuned for maximum power and torque, and of course, performance vehicles are tuned for high performance.

Variable Cam Timing (VCT)

VCT was the next evolution of camshaft design and brought with it the ability to adjust cam performance. With VCT, the cam, depending on demand, can be shifted between advanced or delayed in milliseconds, resulting in enhanced efficiency under low-load conditions like highway driving and increased power for brisk acceleration.

Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT)

What Ti-VCT brings to the table is the ability to have the best of both fuel efficiency and performance.

With Ti-VCT the camshaft and valve timing are continuously monitored and automatically adjusted as engine demands change, hence the term “variable cam timing.” Ti-VCT technology is flexible, allowing the engine to operate at peak efficiency across an entire range.

The independent adjustment of intake and exhaust valve timing significantly contributes to maximum fuel efficiency when driving under regular conditions and it also allows the delivery of optimized power when full throttle is demanded. In other words-the best of both worlds!

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MyFord Touch Equipment

As a technology leader, Ford’s design and engineering teams set out to develop another Ford milestone to complement the personal technology trend. MyFord Touch will soon deliver the next generation of driver-connect technology and will redefine how drivers interact with their vehicle. With more voice commands, LCD screens that can be customized and five-way cell-phone-inspired switches, drivers can choose which information is front and center. Some of the key components are:

· Steering Wheel-5-way switches provide the driver with an easy interface to the instrument cluster and center stack controls.

· Instrument Cluster-Left Side-4.2-inch, color LCD cluster display can be tailored to provide the driver with traditional vehicle information. Right Side-4.2 inch, color LCD cluster display can be tailored to interface with infotainment/multimedia systems.

· Center Stack-8-inch, full-color touch-screen LCD display provides interface to phone, entertainment, navigation and climate. Touch-sensitive controls

· Media Hub-ports are located in the center floor console.

o 2 USB Ports- Both USB ports can be used to connect a device and listen to music or upload images.

o 3 RCA Jacks (yellow input jack=video connection, red and white input jacks=audio connections)-The RCA jacks can be used to connect a video device like a digital camcorder or a portable DVD player to the vehicle’s 8-inch screen and audio system (when parked).

o SD Card Slot-Used for personalization of pictures and much or for available navigation map database. A typical Secure Digital (SD) card is about the size of a postage stamp. Most consumer electronics devices use an SD card to store/share several gigabytes of data.

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3 Blink Lane-Change Signal

We are all familiar with how a turn signal operates. Move the lever up (right) or down (left) to activate the fully automatic signaling system. Most vehicles also incorporate a lane-change feature as well. This lets drivers, using the turn signal lever; indicate their intent to move left or right without fully engaging the signaling system.

The new “3 Blink” Lane-Change Signal feature will change this process slightly and works like this:

Press and hold the turn signal lever up or down for just a moment

The turn signals will blink until a turn is completed and then shut off

On existing vehicles, the turn signal lever would be held in the left or right position until the turn was completed. On the new signaling system, the lever will not click into a position. It will simply return to the middle position once the lever has been pressed and held to indicate a turn. To cancel a full turn signal, simply press the lever (left or right) again.

Lane-Change Signal Feature

Tap the turn signal lever up (right) or down (left)

The turn signals will blink three times and then automatically shut off

To indicate more than three blinks, the driver can simply press the lever again or hold the lever for a longer period.

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