2016 Edge to Debut Ford's Adaptive Steering

Ford will introduce adaptive steering to improve steering feel at various speeds on the 2016 Edge mid-size SUV, Ford has announced.

Ford will make its new iteration of power steering standard equipment on the top-of-the-line Edge Sport and an option on the Edge Titanium trim level.

Adaptive steering changes the ratio between the driver's actions at the steering wheel — the number of turns — and how much the front wheels turn. In vehicles without the technology, this is a fixed steering ratio. With adaptive steering, the ratio continually changes with vehicle speed, optimizing the steering response depending on the driving conditions.

At lower speeds, such as when pulling into a parking space or maneuvering in tight areas, a driver can make fewer turns of the steering wheel. At highway speeds, the system optimizes steering response, so it can react more smoothly to each steering input, according to Ford.

The system was created in collaboration with engineers from TKAG, a Germany-based automotive supplier. It uses a precision-controlled actuator — an electric motor and gearing system — that's implanted in the steering wheel that can add to or subtract from a driver's steering inputs. The result is a better driving experience at all speeds, regardless of vehicle size or class.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet