Promoting Mobility

The automatic ramp system fits under the door entrance and features a smart ramp that retracts on contact with obstructions. To reduce ramp angle, the right rear suspension features a kneeling system much like that on many high-tech commercial buses, compressing the suspension and lowering that corner of the vehicle. The reduced ramp angle makes entry and exit much easier.

In terms of mainstream visibility, Ford has pushed the limits of high-tech mobility for the past two years, creating specialized adaptive concept vehicles for display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas and the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Launched in 2003, the new Go Mobility Ford Expedition brought more than a look at currently available O.E. and aftermarket adaptive products--it offered a glimpse of the future.

Built in cooperation with Bruno Independent Living Aids and Ride Rite Division, the Expedition featured kneeling equipment to aid ingress and egress, front and rear proximity sensors, tire-pressure and temperature sensors, an integrated power liftgate (with voice-activated, manual, or key-fob triggered controls), and a docking system behind the rear seats providing safe storage for wheelchairs.

Beyond those currently available products, the Expedition also featured hands-free entertainment, heating, cooling, and radio controls as well as advanced telematics. Blue Tooth(R) technology and a docking system were incorporated into the vehicle, allowing occupants to access personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell-phones, and other devices. Tipping its hand as to the future direction of technology, the Expedition's Personal Information Management service connected the PDA with other systems within the vehicle, making information more universally accessible and customizing vehicle settings to occupants' specific needs.