Potholes are more than just a nuisance. They can cause expensive damage, and are often unavoidable. According to AAA, potholes cause nearly $3 billion in damage to vehicles in the United States alone. Fortunately, Ford has come up with a way to mitigate this problem.
Exclusively for the upcoming Fusion V6 Sport, Ford's new computer-controlled shock absorber system uses continuously controlled damping to protect your car and your wallet.
The system uses 12 high-resolution sensors that relay road information to onboard computers. When the system detects a pothole, it automatically adjusts the dampers to their stiffest setting, stopping the wheel from falling too far into the hole, and smoothing out the impact.
“We tested and tuned this system by driving over countless potholes – subjecting Fusion V6 Sport to the brutal, square-edged potholes of our Romeo Proving Grounds to finesse the software,” said Michener. “It was long hours of not very pleasant work, but the results are well worth it.”
The EcoBoost-powered 325-horsepower Fusion V6 Sport begins arriving in dealerships across the country this summer.