Ford adds Electronic Stability Programme to Transit standard specification

Ford of Britain is adding Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) as standard equipment to the New Ford Transit's comprehensive package of both active and passive safety features for 2007.

"By October next year, all Transits, except for petrol-engined and All Wheel Drive variants, will have ESP as standard. Previously a £250 option on panel vans, ESP is now standard at £250 which is extremely favourable when compared to the new panel van competition," said Steve Kimber, commercial vehicles director, Ford of Britain. "This action reinforces the leadership position of new Ford Transit in this highly competitive market, and shows we are once again responding directly to the requirements of our customers."

The new Ford Transit's ESP system is advanced and operates seamlessly under all driving conditions. It constantly monitors via sensors the desired and the actual driving direction. In case of significant differences it interacts with the brake and motor management system in order to stabilise the vehicle.

Under slippery road conditions or during extreme steering manoeuvres, ESP applies brake and torque adjustments as required to help avoid dangerous oversteering and understeering. ESP stabilises the vehicle, and enhances the benefits of the standard Anti-lock Braking and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution systems.

The standard ESP system on Transit also includes the following driver safety aids:

BRAKE TRACTION CONTROL, which assists vehicle pull-away

ACTIVE YAW CONTROL to enhance sideways grip

ROLL OVER MITIGATION, which helps prevent the likelihood of a rollover condition during tight, steady state cornering

ROLL MOVEMENT INTERVENTION prevents the vehicle from sliding sideways or tipping over on slippery surfaces in sharp curves, in extreme steering manoeuvres or at high speeds.

HYDRAULIC BRAKE ASSIST which increases the brake pressure applied by the driver in emergency braking situations. It senses an emergency braking situation by measuring the speed with which the brake pedal moves down. The system then automatically applies full braking power, which reduces the stopping distance by up to 20 per cent

LOAD ADAPTIVE CONTROL controls the ESP function in relation to the load carried by the vehicle. Sensors determine the actual load weight by evaluating the power needed for accelerating. Correlating with the engine management system, ESP applies more braking force where needed

"We have already made sure that the new Transit is not just great to drive but very safe to drive as well," said Phil Collareno, Ford of Europe's Vehicle Line Director for Commercial Vehicle Product Development. "Now, we're pleased to be able to standardise ESP as a direct response to driver demands for even further reassurance, particularly in poor, wet and slippery driving conditions."