Ford has been on a quest to come up with a dream car that would suit the needs of moms. So what does that dream car look like?
Some time ago Ford asked kids for help to design a dream car for their mothers. Their innovative responses included an underwater car; a race car with a smoothie dispenser and a private pool; a robot chauffeured limousine so that moms could indulge in pamper sessions while being driven around, and a car equipped with a washing machine and kitchen that runs on love instead of fuel.
Ford would like to think that the EcoSport, one of the vehicles driving SUV sales in Europe and the USA, is not too far from the ideal dream. It is built and designed to make life a bit easier – whether it’s negotiating the school run, fetching loads of groceries, collecting the laundry or nipping off for a pamper session or coffee date with friends.
Here are five reasons why we think the EcoSport is the dream car for any mom:
It is affordable – EcoSport has the affordability of a compact car, with the versatility and spaciousness of an SUV. The 1.5l engine delivers excellent fuel consumption and the Powershift automatic gearbox increases fuel efficiency even further. That said, EcoSport is no slouch and has more than enough power on tap when you need it. It has space – there is enough space to comfortably seat five adults. The cabin has a generous amount of practical storage compartments, including a glove box that can keep up to six beverage cans cooled. The rear seats have three reclining settings and folds down easily when additional cargo space is needed.
It’s safe – safety is a special concern when the passengers are little people. The EcoSport boasts an array of airbags, including airbags for the driver and front passenger as standard, offering extra peace of mind. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) is available on all models ensuring that the wheels never lock-up, and coming to a halt can happen quickly on slippery road surfaces.
It has good ground clearance and assists with those tricky hills – The EcoSport has high ground clearance of 200 millimetres, and has exceptional ability to wade through 550 millimetres of water. The hill launch assist feature, available on the PowerShift derivative, makes pulling off on a slope an absolute doddle, offering the driver time to smoothly accelerate, either up- or downhill, without rolling or losing control.
It is fun to drive! This car makes driving fun and intuitive with an array of smart features. It offers Ford SYNC®, the voice-activated in-car connectivity system powered by Microsoft. This means the driver can keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel while choosing their favourite music and making phone calls using voice commands. Ford is continuing with its efforts to build that dream car that will meet all the needs of every mom. But for now, it can be said that the EcoSport comes pretty close to filling the brief! Head to Coscharis Motors and purchase an EcoSport for your wife.
… Plans to Sell Self-Driving Cars by 2025
Although Ford plans to have its driverless cars on roadways by 2021, they won’t sell them to the public until 2025.
Recently, the American automaker revealed plans to have self-driving cars on roadways by 2021, but they will be used for ride-hailing services. Those vehicles are aiming to function without steering wheels or pedals, but don’t expect to get your hands on one until 2025.
The company’s CEO, Mark Fields, recently delivered a speech at Ford’s headquarters and said “around mid-decade we’ll make vehicles available for people to purchase for themselves,” referring to driverless cars.
In addition, Ford wants its autonomous vehicles to be accessible to “millions of people, not just those who can afford luxury cars.”
Ford is hardly the only automaker focusing heavily on self-driving cars. Volvo recently launched its Drive Me program that will put self-driving cars into the hands of everyday drivers in select areas, while Google has teamed up with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to outfit a fleet of Chrysler Pacifica minivans with its self-driving technology. Then there’s the controversial Autopilot that Tesla has rolled out to its Model S and Model X vehicles, although that’s semi-autonomous as the American electric automaker works towards full autonomy.
Fields also admitted that Ford may not be first to market with self-driving cars, but that’s because it wants to make sure its cars are affordable for millions of people.
