According to a recent report released by AAA, drivers have shelled out over $15 billion over the past five years paying for car repairs caused by potholes. Break it down and that’s $3 billion annually wasted on everything from perforated tires to busted suspension components.
To relieve the financial burden on drivers, Ford recently developed a “diabolical” 1.2-mile span of test track complete with reproductions of some of the world’s worst road hazards and potholes. It was developed to help Ford find new ways to create heavier-duty chassis systems that can stand up to the most rutted and potholed roadways. The challenging course is one part of a 50-mile test tack in Lommel, Belgium, where Ford conducts ongoing tests to aid research for future vehicles. Over the past few years Ford’s team has been searching the globe to find the worst road hazards, with a goal of creating replicas of them at the test facility.
What are the results of testing? Well, coming up on the 2017 Fusion V6 Sport is a brand-new technology called Continuous Control Damping with Pothole Mitigation. The system adjusts the suspension when it senses that a wheel has fallen into a pothole, which protects the suspension from suffering damage. In addition, current systems like Ford’s Electronic Stability Control help drivers keep control when driving over difficult obstacles, while the company’s Tire Pressure Monitoring System quickly alerts drivers when there may be a punctured tire.
As you’ll see in the video below potholes don’t just affect cars, they also affect the comfort and physical safety of passengers. Check the spot out now for more details.