At this year’s North American International Auto Show, Jan 8-22 at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Ford proved itself to be not just an innovator of automobiles but also of the automobile show experience.
You may not think actual vehicles and virtual reality should have anything to do with each other, but Ford found a way to bring them together. Auto show attendees got a high-tech surprise when Ford treated them to live augmented reality presentations of some of its new vehicles. The experience came complete with an interactive virtual demo of new features the car manufacturer is rolling out.
The new Ford GT and its redesigned digital dashboard focused attention on the brand’s performance vehicles, which include the Fiesta ST, Focus ST, Focus RS and Shelby GT350 Mustang. Ford called its updated and more streamlined EcoSport a “fun, capable and connected compact SUV.” And Ford’s new autonomous (driverless) vehicle, the Fusion Hybrid, got a sleeker design and new technology, too.
But a big draw for Ford was its reveal of the 2018 F-150 pickup truck, a more modern and streamlined version of its previous model. The F-150 has been updated with a standard 10-speed transmission, a diesel engine option, and adaptive cruise control, meaning you can not only set the speed at which you want to travel but the distance you want to stay away from other vehicles. There’s also a Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection feature that audibly warns you of an impending collision, then brakes for you.
Modern, high-tech options include blind-spot warning sensors, lane-keeping technology, a high-end Bang & Olufsen audio system, and a 4G LTE modem with a WiFi hot spot that can connect up to 10 devices at one time. Many of these options are available in other Ford vehicles but they’re brand new in the pickup truck category.
If you missed the Ford showcase this year, check out the pictures below.
