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Ford to Infuse Product Lineup With Advanced Vehicle Safety Systems

6 January 1999

Ford to Infuse Product Lineup With One of the World's Most Advanced Vehicle Safety Systems

    DETROIT, Jan. 6 -- Ford Motor Company this year
will continue to revolutionize vehicle safety with its introduction of
advanced technology enabling Ford cars and trucks to analyze accident
conditions and activate safety devices to help better protect a range of
occupants in a variety of frontal crash situations.
    "Ford is the first automaker in the world to announce a safety commitment
this far-reaching," said Neil Ressler, vice president - Research and Vehicle
Technology and Ford's chief technical officer.  "Millions of our customers --
and their families -- stand to benefit from the state-of-the-art technologies
that help create a world-leading safety system."
    Ford's Advanced Restraints System features nearly a dozen technologically
advanced components that work together to help front-seat occupants receive
significantly enhanced protection during frontal crashes -- taking into
account their seating position, safety belt use and accident severity.
    Elements of the system -- which features technologies such as crash
severity sensors, a driver-seat position sensor, a passenger weight sensor,
safety belt usage sensors, dual-stage inflating air bags, safety belt
pretensioners and energy management retractors -- will debut on vehicles
beginning this year.
    The company will introduce these new technologies on new and significantly
freshened models until all Ford passenger cars, trucks and sport utility
vehicles have the complete Advanced Restraints System.
    "Ford is changing the very nature of vehicle safety," Ressler said.  "We
are moving beyond mechanical devices for occupant safety and are now adding to
the mix a fully integrated, computer-driven system that 'thinks' about and
responds to different conditions.  This truly marks an evolution in occupant
protection."